June 23rd – 26th at Canby Grove Christian Center

Oregon Christian Writers is pleased to introduce the wonderful editors, agents and mentors who will join us for the Summer Conference. For editors and agents, pay particular attention to types/genres of writing they want to acquire.

Registration | Classes and Workshops | Faculty | Location and Lodging

Keynotes

Becky Wade ~ Keynote Speaker, Author, and Mentor

Rachel Dodge ~ Keynote Speaker, Author, and Mentor

Agents

Blythe Daniel ~ The Blythe Daniel Agency ~ President

Blythe Daniel is a literary agent, author, and marketer. Her agency markets books through podcasts, blogs, launch teams, and traditional media. They represent adult nonfiction and select fiction along with several children’s fiction and nonfiction. Blythe has been the publicity director and marketing director for Nelson Books, now HarperCollins Christian Publishing and has spent the last 18 years as a literary agent. The agency represents new and best-selling authors primarily in the Christian market. Blythe and her mother, Dr. Helen McIntosh, co-authored Mended: Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters (Harvest House) and I Love You Mom: Cherished Word Gifts from My Heart to Yours (Tyndale). Blythe and her daughter Calyn coauthored Let’s Be Friends: A Tween Devotional on Finding and Keeping Strong Friendships (Harvest House). Blythe, her mom, and Blythe’s son William have coauthored I Love You, Dad: Words to Honor and Humor You. Blythe is married and lives in Colorado with her family.

Nick Harrison ~ WordServe Literary – Literary Agent

Barbara Roose ~ Books & Such Literary Management ~ Literary Agent

Books & Such Literary Agent Barb Roose loves partnering with aspiring and established authors to achieve their publishing career goals. As a traditionally published author with past award-winning experience sales and megachurch executive leadership, Barb understands the tensions and triumphs embedded in a writer’s publishing journey. Her heartbeat is helping others achieve their goals as well as increase representation and publishing opportunities for people of color. Barb represents both Christian adult fiction and Christian nonfiction with an emphasis on nonfiction. She lives in Northwest Ohio and is the proud mother of three adult children. Whenever possible, Barb prefers to eat dessert first. She welcomes queries that meet agency submission guidelines at booksandsuch.com.


 Barbara is looking for: women’s issues, Christian living issues, devotionals, race & culture, memoirs, narrative nonfiction, limited Christian fiction such as BIPOC historical and women’s fiction

Barbara is not looking for: fantasy, cookbooks, sci-fi, YA books, poetry, children’s or picture books.

Workshops: “Hitting the Right Pitch”
“The Inside Scoop”

Editors

Andrew Breeden ~ The Upper Room daily devotional guide ~ Acquisitions Editor

Andrew Garland Breeden is acquisitions editor for The Upper Room daily devotional guide. He is a graduate of Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt University Divinity School. He has been with The Upper Room for more than ten years. Andrew loves spending time outdoors hiking, cycling, and rock climbing. He lives in Charlotte, Tennessee, a beautiful and rural part of the state.

The Upper Room is looking for short meditations (devotionals) of 250–300 words that address daily situations and help readers see the connections between Scripture, their own life situations, and what God is doing in the world.

The Upper Room is not looking for poetry, fiction, cartoons, humor, or meditations built on alliteration, puns, or situations that would require extensive explanation for other cultures.

Workshop: “Writing a Meditation for The Upper Room”

Coaching Class: “What I’ve Learned”

Michelle Adserias ~ Today’s Christian Living Magazine ~ Editor

Michelle Adserias is the editor of Today’s Christian Living Magazine, a print and digital publication focused on recounting inspirational stories. She does some freelance writing and photography on the side as well. Michelle’s work has appeared in Refresh Bible Study Magazine, Heart Magazine, A Cup of Comfort for Teachers, and Canoe Magazine. She also has numerous images available on Shutterstock.

 Michelle resides in Central Wisconsin with her husband, Peter. They have four grown children, one daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. They enjoy the peace and quiet of rural living and as much traveling as their schedules allow.

Michelle is looking for: Nonfiction inspirational articles

Michelle is not looking for: Editorial essays, teaching articles, devotionals, or poetry

Workshop: “Interacting with Publishing Professionals”

Coaching Class: “What I’ve Learned”

Sherri Langton ~ Bible Advocate and Now What? ~ Associate Editor

Sherri Langton, associate editor of the Bible Advocate magazine (baonline.org) and of Now What? e-zine (nowwhat.cog7.org), has worked for more than 30 years in Christian publishing. She is an award-winning freelance writer whose work has appeared in Focus on the Family publications, In Touch, The Upper Room, Today’s Christian Woman, Marriage Partnership, Discipleship Journal, Decision, LIVE, and other publications. She writes on assignment for AG News and Standard. Sherri also has contributed to two Chicken Soup for the Soul volumes, My Turn to Care, Teatime Stories for Women, Becoming a Godly Man, Faces of Faith, Hurray God!, and Understanding Depression and Suicide: Hope in the Darkness. In addition, she teaches workshops at several Christian writers’ conferences. Sherri lives in Denver, Colorado, and plays drums at her church.

Sherri is looking for nonfiction articles, personal experiences.

Sherri is not looking for fiction, devotions, sermons.

Coaching Class: “How to Get Published”

Rachel Pfeiffer ~ Focus on the Family Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines ~ Editor

Rachel Pfeiffer serves as the editor for Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse magazine and as a contributing editor for Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Jr. magazine. As an editor for these magazines, she acquires and edits stories to entertain children and help them grow in their faith. She graduated from Taylor University with a degree in professional writing and has published a variety of freelance articles. When she’s not curled up with a good book, she can often be found hiking the beautiful mountains in Colorado.

Rachel is looking for fiction (historical, sci-fi, contemporary) and nonfiction (devotionals, quizzes, history articles, science features, kid profiles).

Rachel is not looking for fantasy.

Workshops: “From Fact to Fascinating: Nonfiction Kids”

“Writing for Focus on the Family”

Authors / Mentors

Tara Johnson ~ Author

Tara Johnson is an author and speaker and loves to write stories that help people break free from the lies they believe about themselves.

Tara’s debut novel Engraved on the Heart (Tyndale) earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was a finalist in the Carol and Christy awards. Tara has been published by Tyndale House, Annie’s, and Guideposts. In addition to being published in a variety of digital and print magazines, she is a certified body language expert and has been on radio, television, and podcasts. She is a history nerd, especially the Civil War, and adores making people laugh. She, her husband, and children live in Arkansas.

Workshops: “Body Language 101”

“Tightening Up Sagging Middles”
“Songwriting for the Novel Writer”

Angela Ruth Strong ~ Author

Angela Ruth Strong survived breast cancer, works as a flight attendant, and uses her own crazy life experiences as inspiration for the stories she writes. Her books have earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been nominated for a Christy, won a Cascade Award, and become Amazon bestsellers. She and her husband also got to play extras when her novel Finding Love in Big Sky was adapted for film. To help aspiring authors, Angela started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho and blogs regularly on inspyromance and learnhowtowriteanovel.com.

Workshops: “Red Carpet Reads”

“Your Story Matters”

Taylor Bennett ~ Author

Taylor Bennett is a twenty-first century author, speaker, and educator with a vintage soul and an insatiable appetite for the finer things in life . . . most specifically, food and travel. Her goal is to use amusing anecdotes and inspirational prose to help both old souls and the young at heart discover the old-Hollywood glamour hiding within their daily mundanities. Visit her blog at http://breakfastattaylors.com, pull up a chair, grab a croissant, and prepare to venture into the world of old-fashioned romanticism one bite (or blog post) at a time!

Coaching Class:

S.E. Clancy ~ Author

Accounting by day, author by night. Kinda like a superhero with a pencil and no cape. Award-winning young adult fiction writer, represented by Books and Such Literary Agency. Always on the prowl for Jesus, coffee, and shenanigans.

Workshops: “Bookkeeping Basics for Authors”

Jason Hague ~ Author

Jason Hague is the author of Aching Joy: Following God through the Land of Unanswered Prayer (NavPress, 2018), winner of the Cascade Award for best memoir in 2019. He is the associate pastor of Christ’s Center Church in Junction City, Oregon. Jason is a husband and a father to five children, including Jack, his 18-year-old son with nonverbal autism. Jason has written extensively on the subject of faith and autism, special needs families, and his own journey from grief to acceptance of his son’s condition. He has written for Christianity Today and Ann Voskamp and has been a guest on Focus on the Family. Jason blogs at JasonHague.com, and on his Facebook page, Jason Hague Writer. He is currently finishing a new book, Mid-Faith Crisis (IVP), with his friend Catherine McNiel.

Coaching Class: “Writing Your Spiritual Memoir”

Amy Earls ~ Author

Best-selling author Amy Earls writes fiction that explores intersections between life issues and faith. An advisor of first-year college students, she holds a master’s degree in education for adult learners, with an emphasis on writing. Amy lives in Oregon’s Willamette Valley with her husband, two daughters, and a never-dying goldfish.

Coaching Class:

Erica D. Vetsch ~ Author

Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com and you can find her on Facebook at The Inspirational Regency Readers Group where she spends way too much time!

Workshop: “The Art of the Novella”

Coaching Class: “What I’ve Learned”

Carmen Schober ~ Author

Carmen Schober is a versatile professional editor, essayist, best-selling author, and influencer. She earned a master’s degree in English literature and creative writing at Kansas State University, where she also served as a writing instructor. Her contemporary romance novels, After She Falls and Pretty Little Pieces, garnered attention from industry leaders like Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, and World Magazine. In addition to her writing pursuits, Carmen loves to share her knowledge and passion through teaching. She empowers fellow writers with The Writer’s Map as they navigate their unique pathways in the publishing world.

Workshop: “The Writer’s Playground”

Coaching Class: “What I’ve Learned”

Leann Barna ~ Mining Company Media ~ Owner

Leann Barna holds an M.A. in Cinema and Television with a focus on Screenwriting, as well as an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Regent University. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Strategic Media at Liberty University, she brings a rich academic background to her craft.

As an award-winning screenwriter, Leann has contributed her talents to renowned institutions like Disney, NBCUniversal, Affirm/Pure Flix, and others. Her expertise extends to film festival production, where she serves in judging and programming roles for events like the DTLA Film Festival and the Artemis Women in Action Film Festival.

Leann is also the founder of Mining Company Media, dedicated to nurturing emerging screenwriters and overseeing select production projects. With a keen eye for storytelling and a commitment to excellence, Leann continues to make significant contributions to both academia and the entertainment industry.

Workshops: “Screenwriting – Television Series”

“Screenwriting – Feature Films”

“Pitching Your Project as a Feature Film”