by Steve Laube
This past weekend nearly 700 novelists, editors, agents, and industry professionals gathers in St. Louis for the 10th annual American Christian Fiction Writers conference.
It is always invigorating to be with so many highly creative people and to be a part of the discovery and development of tomorrow’s bestselling authors.
I had over 30 one-on-one appointments and editor meetings, taught three classes, and had dozens of “hallway” meetings of all kinds. Our agency had 47 clients in attendance too. This was the first time Karen Ball, Tamela Hancock Murray, and I were together at the same event since they joined the agency. What a blast! It is so great to have them as a part of our agency.
Saturday night was the Awards Banquet Gala and our agency had five clients who were award winners.
Genesis Awards (for unpublished authors):
Historical Fiction: Johnnie Alexander Donley
Historical Romance: Sarah Ladd
Carol Awards:
Novella: Carrie Turansky
Mystery: Elizabeth Goddard
Long Historical: Susan May Warren
Congratulations to all!
In my opinion, if you are a novelist writing for the Christian market, you owe it to yourself to consider attending next year’s event which will be held in Dallas. Check the ACFW (www.acfw.com) for more information.
Dallas!!! Woo-hoo! I’m there.
The ACFW conferences always provide Christian authors with dynamic opportunities to learn, to sharpen their skills in the craft of writing, to network, to make new friends, and to renew acquaintances with longtime colleagues. I’ve never heard anyone say that they regretted joining the ACFW or attending one of our conferences.
I sure hope so. I’ve been to ACFW since 2005 and it was tough to miss this one.
Angie
This was my first ACFW conference. Loved it!!!!! Steve and Tamela did a wonderful (and funny) workshop on Rejection, which should be a required course for every unpublished author.