As Steve Laube reported on Monday, ICRS was enlightening, entertaining, energetic, and frenetic. (I ran out of “e” words.) One “s” word I looked forward to upon my return home? Sleep!
As a member of AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), I entered ICRS infused with a great amount of love and support from many sisters in Christ because the AWSA conference takes place just before ICRS.
Earlier, I introduced Steve at his State of the Industry speech, an annual highlight of the AWSA conference. Each year a different industry leader is chosen to give the speech. This was Steve’s second time, and his message was one of hope, realism, and practical advice for the many professional writers and speakers in attendance. As always, his encouragement was well-received.
The following day at the AWSA Golden Scroll Awards Banquet, I was overjoyed that one of my talented authors, Lynette Eason, won a Golden Scroll Merit Award for her book, No One To Trust.
I was also thrilled when the Fiction Editor of the Year prize was awarded to Andrea Doering of Baker Publishing Group. I heartily concur with Lynette’s sentiment, “She makes each of her authors feel special, not just because we write for her house, but because she cares.”
To learn more about this year’s many outstanding winners, visit this link.
Once the AWSA activities subsided, we were on our way to ICRS meetings and events. Several of our agency’s authors held book signings, and we were delighted to spy many of our authors’ books on the ICRS floor, either as ARCs (Advance Reader Copy = ARC), final editions, and/or prominently pictured on booth displays. As always, publishers displayed slick catalogs showing offerings for seasons to come. Even a cursory review indicates that CBA publishing is an exciting, informative, and uplifting place to be. I didn’t notice silly gift items this year, but I did see many friends at the CAN (Christian Authors Network) booth, my friends Suzanne and Shawn Kuhn at the Suzy Q booth, and of course, awesome friends at the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) booth.
One ICRS highlight is the announcement of Carol Award finalists. This year I am once again so very proud of the agency’s authors on this list! They are:
Romantic Suspense:
Under a Turquoise Sky by Lisa Carter, Abingdon Press, editor Ramona Richards
No One to Trust by Lynette Eason, Revell – a Division of Baker Publishing Group, editor Andrea Doering
Short Novel:
Rescuing the Texan’s Heart by Mindy Obenhaus, Love Inspired (Harlequin), editor Melissa Endlich
Historical:
With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden, Bethany House (Baker) Publishing, editor Raela Schoenherr
Speculative:
A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes, Enclave Publishing, editors Jeff Gerke and Karen Ball
Young Adult:
Samantha Sanderson at the Movies by Robin Caroll, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editors Kim Childress and Mary Hassinger
My take on ICRS is still Yes!
Smaller? Yes!
Fewer freebies? Yes!
Lots of quality participants? Yes!
A fun place to go? Yes!
Great fellowship? Yes!
Worth my time? Yes!
I didn’t want to repeat information that Steve wrote on Monday, so for his excellent review of ICRS and great information on the business of CBA, please visit his post.
Your turn:
Do you go to ICRS?
If not, do you have plans to go, or would you like to go?
As a writer, how do you think you would benefit from attending ICRS?
Will you go to ICRS in Cincinnati next year?
The How-To of Legacy
Congratulations to Lynette and Andrea! And congratulations to the Carol Award finalists.
Thanks for sharing, Tamela. It sounds like a great opportunity to learn more about the publishing business.
Great report, Tamela. I loved my time at ICRS two years ago and hope to go again soon! Since the next one is in Cincinnati it may be very doable for me. It’s about a 5-1/2 hour drive and one of my first cousins lives there. I can combine a visit with them before a day or two at ICRS. We’ll see how it plays out over the next year!
Congrats to all the winners! Sounds like it was a great event.
Fun to read both of your reports and get the industry scoop. Yes I have been to ICRS a couple of time, several years ago. Amazing networking. Cincinnati is only 3-4 hours from me. Would be fun to go! Congrats to all the winners too.
Is the ICRS a good investment for those of us who are moving up but who haven’t “arrived”? I got an agent last year, am polishing my second manuscript, but don’t have a publisher yet. Please say yes. I can always use a good excuse to visit my alma mater. Go Bearcats! Class of 98 🙂
LOL Patricia! Your new agent can give you advice closer to the time. Have fun and congratulations!
Interesting post, Tamela, thanks. I’ve never been to ICRS, or any writing convention for that matter. I know it’s beneficial to form connections and get your name out there, but I’ve just never considered going. I might, though, if afforded the opportunity. Nice post!
I always enjoy ICRS at any sizes of the mi– but so wish more of industry would come and more meeting of the mind to support and strengthen the industry– if we all work TOGETHER helping each other, maybe, just maybe this world would be a better place. As we look around at today’s headlines we can see that THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL AND CHRISTI’S TRUTH AND LOVE needs to go out– so we all have our work cut our for us! I enjoyed equipping about 100 authors at the CBA/ CAN author bootcamp– a true honor to encourage and equip others. (My publisher #HarvestHouse generously gave all authors attending free books– so there were some freebies at ICRS:) Thanks Steve, Tamela and team for ALL your hard work!
Pam Farrel
Thank you, Pam, for stopping by!
sorry for typos . . . yep we need editors!