April Carpenter, Conference Director and President of Byhalia Christian Writers, is pleased to announce the workshop leaders for the 2018 Mid-South Christian Writers Conference.
Author and speaker Brandilyn Collins is this year’s keynote speaker. Her workshop, “The Four Ds: Desire, Distancing, Denial, and Devastation,” focuses on what your character wants and how this desire leads to the other three D’s. Connect with Brandilyn at http://brandilyncollins.com.
Our other workshop leaders are:
Johnnie Alexander imagines heart-tugging stories in multiple genres whether she’s home in Tampa or Memphis. Her website, Novelists Unwind, features videotaped interviews with inspirational authors. She is the marketing director and a board member of the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference. Sharing Johnnie’s vagabond life are Griff, her happy-go-lucky collie, and Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon. Connect with her at www.johnnie-alexander.com or on her Facebook Author Page (JohnnieAlexanderNovelist).
Patricia Bradley lives in North Mississippi and loves to write romance and suspense with a twist of romance. Her books include the Logan Point series and two sweet romances for Harlequin Heartwarming, all available at Amazon. Her workshops on writing include two online courses with American Christian Fiction Writers and presentations at the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference in Collierville, TN. When she has time, she likes to throw mud on a wheel and see what happens. Visit Patricia’s website at http://ptbradley.com.
With over a half million sales, Hallee Bridgeman is a best-selling Christian author who writes action-packed romantic suspense focusing on realistic characters who face real world problems. Her work has been described as everything from refreshing to heart-stopping, exciting and edgy. Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide her. Visit Hallee’s website at http://www.halleebridgeman.com.
Tracy Crump has published two dozen stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul and other anthologies as well as numerous articles and devotionals. As co-director of Write Life Workshops, she has led workshops and webinars on writing for Chicken Soup since 2008. She also edits The Write Life, a free e-newsletter with callouts. She lives with her husband in north Mississippi, has two sons and two perfect grandchildren, and believes Grandma is the most beautiful word in the English language.
Alice Faye Duncan is a librarian in Memphis, Tennessee. She writes fiction and non-fiction for children and has been writing picture books for Simon and Schuster since 1995. Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968 will be released in September 2018. Her book 12 Days of Christmas in Tennessee will be released in September 2019. Visit Alice Faye’s website at http://www.alicefayeduncan.com.
Gary Fearon is a songwriter, writer, musicologist, and Creative Director for Southern Writers Magazine. He has written over 300 songs and jingles for numerous advertisers such as Polaroid and created countless song parodies for national radio shows including The Rush Limbaugh Show. His instructional book A Guide to Songwriting Structure is scheduled for publication in 2018. Visit Gary’s website at www.garyfearon.com .
Bethany Jett is a military wife and homeschool boy-mom who is addicted to suspense novels and all things girly. She is an award-winning author, speaker, ghostwriter, Vice President of Platinum Literary Services, Inc., and co-owner of Serious Writer, Inc. In her spare time, Bethany is working on her Masters degree in Marketing: New Media and Communication. Bethany writes on living brilliant at BethanyJett.com. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Carolyn Tomlin had taught 33 years in public school and at Union University when she heard God calling her to write for the Christian market and to help others learn this skill. Today, she co-teaches the Boot Camp for Christian Writers and has taught over 3,000 people to write-to-publish. Her published magazine and newspaper articles number over 4,500 in both the Christian and secular markets. She’s published 17 books which are mostly focused on teaching writing skills. Carolyn is married to Dr. Matt Tomlin, a Baptist minister. They have two adult children and six grandchildren. Shelter dog Ernest Miller Hemingway shares his life with their family and visits nursing homes with Tomlin. https://carolyntomlin.com.
Jon Woodhams has been involved in Christian publishing for more years than he cares to admit. He has worked for David C. Cook, in curriculum development and fiction editorial, and for WaterBrook Multnomah. He has been an editor with Guideposts fiction since 2011, and his series, Miracles of Marble Cove, Secrets of the Blue Hill Library, Mysteries of Silver Peak, and Tearoom Mysterious have more than a million copies in print. A native of Michigan, he now lives in the Memphis area.
