What’s So Great About Florida Christian Writers Conference

by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson

For the past four years, Mark Hancock (who serves as Director of FCWC alongside me) and I have worked hard to bring the best in Christian publishing to Florida Christian Writers Conference.

This coming year’s conference is no exception. And, this year we offer a few changes and surprises I’d like to share with you. Here are the first four.

Change/Surprise #1: Dr. Alton Gansky and the NEW Pastors Track

Shortly after last year’s conference, I received an email suggesting a Pastors Track. “I know several pastors who want to see their sermons turned into viable books. But they don’t know how…” the email read. “Have you considered a pastors’ track?”

Well now … no. No, we have not. But will we? Yes. Yes, we will.

So, while at Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference I cornered retired pastor and best-selling author, Dr. Alton Gansky, and asked what he thought of the idea. He agreed that the idea was superb (of course I held his coffee hostage at the time, so he may have only agreed to get the java back …).

Seriously, I can think of no one better to lead this track. We decided to begin the sessions on Wednesday (rather than on Thursday as most of the conference runs) and to end on Friday afternoon, thereby allowing those pastors who need to get back to their pulpits by Sunday the opportunity to do so.

If you are a pastor—ordained or licensed or serving fulltime in that role—or you know someone who is, and would like more information, please click on the link above. The month of October offers a $100 discount on the cost of registration.

Change/Surprise #2: Ben Wolf is now leading the Teen Track

We were heartsick but supportive two years ago when Bryan Davis told us of his decision to stop leading the teen track. God is moving him in other directions and, of course, we respect what God is doing—even when we don’t like it. Last year Bryan’s daughter Amanda took over, but this year Amanda’s amazing job at Disney is keeping her too occupied to devote time to the track. After prayer as to who to ask to lead the group, God brought Ben Wolf’s name to mind. I contacted him via text, asked if he might be interested, and … well, I’ve never heard such excitement. Especially via text!

Ben promises to bring something new and different to the track, as each new leader should. And, just like with the pastors’ track, the teen track is $100 off during the month of October. For more information, be sure to click on the link above.

Change/Surprise #3: Edie Melson and the NEW A-Z Nonfiction Track

Last year, after an unexpected illness took our journalism track leader … and then another unexpected illness took our fill-in … we asked Edie Melson if she could step in (literally, at the last minute) and lead the ongoing class. Are you ready for this? She looked at me with unblinking eyes and said, “Something told me to pack all my journalism notes … and I did!”

God is good. That’s all I can say.

This year I went to Edie with a fresh idea. What if we could pack as much as possible into a Nonfiction Track. “A to Z,” I told Edie. “Everything and more that you can think of.”

“Let’s do it!” she said.

And so we will. Edie will take writers from hobbyist to professional and we cannot wait to hear the results.

Change/Surprise #4: Angela Hunt Is Back at FCWC

After a few years of trying to get our schedule in line with that of best-selling author Angela Hunt, we’ve finally hit the jackpot. “Angie” will be at FCWC 2017, leading the fiction track. And who better? With over 125 books (no, that’s not a typo) ranging from children’s picture books to nonfiction to (naturally) fiction.

Angie has won so many awards, don’t be surprised to hear that she has added a room onto her home to house them all. (Okay. I made that up. That’s what we call hyperbole …)

If you write fiction, now is the time to join us at FCWC. I mean, seriously. Who better to glean from?

We have even more changes and surprises coming your way. Stay tuned for them, or head over to FloridaCWC.net for all the news that is … the new news.

TWEETABLE
What's so great about the Florida Christian Writers Conference, @FloridaCWC @EvaMarieEverson (Click to Tweet)

Eva Marie is a multiple award-winning author and speaker. She is one of the original five Orlando Word Weavers critique group members, an international and national group made up of critique chapters. She served as the original president from 2000 to 2007 and is now president of Word Weavers International, Inc. Eva Marie served as a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild for several years and has taught at a number of writers conferences nationwide. During the 2010-2011 school year, Eva Marie served as an adjunct professor at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. She describes it as one of the best times she ever had while working. Eva Marie also serves as director of Florida Christian Writers Conference (along with Mark Hancock).

She is both a past and current student at Andersonville Theological Seminary where she plans to receive her Masters in Old Testament Theology sometime before her ninetieth birthday. Eva Marie and her husband make their home in Central Florida where they are owned by one very spoiled dog, a funky chicken, and two hearts-full of grandchildren.

*Carol Award Winner for The Potluck Club

**ICRS Gold Medallion Finalist

***Multiple awards, including 2012 Inspirational Readers Choice Award & Maggie Award (Chasing Sunsets), 2013 Maggie Award & 2013 Christy finalist for Waiting for Sunrise, 2014 AWSA Golden Scroll Award (Slow Moon Rising), 2015 AWSA Golden Scroll Award (The Road to Testament)
****CBA Bestseller List several months running and a finalist for Retailers Choice Awards, 2013