Newsletters

December Newsletter and Updates

(I need to share something quickly. A personal note. I've been criticized for my newsletters being lengthy. So, I've tried to just put important information here. But the truth is, my nature is a nurturer - an encourager. To prevent that stifles me and takes the joy I find in leading this conference away. I've taken away my encouragement notes at the end of these newsletters. But I can no longer do that. So, I am adding back the part of this newsletter that I feel is most important - Your encouragement. Read the news and stop if you wish. No one says you have to read my heart, but if you are willing, it will remain at the end.  - Cindy)

Thanks to my trusty local sidekick, Denise Jenkins, we are all caught up on housing. I have to stop right now and say that I am one director who never has to worry. God has provided me with folks who just take the reins and run. No micro-managing for me. Terri Kelly, my assistant director) and I work throughout the year on conference details. She keeps me up-to-snuff so I don't forget things (these days, forgetting is a habit). Terri and I pull this conference together yearly, and without her, I'd certainly be lost. Then there is Denise Jenkins, who is a local blessing. She will come to my house, and together, we pull our hair out at the roots with housing. We check and recheck registrations to be sure we've not missed any. Bennie Jones, Kevin Spenser, and Wendy Leech keep our bookstore in order (this is a really tricky job, so thank goodness for detail-oriented folks. Then the contests would not roll without Sarah Loudin Thomas, who is not only an award-winning, top-notch author, but she loves us enough to do this job. And finally, Andrea Merrell, who runs our devotion contest. Each year, I just say...it's time, and they jump on the horse and take off. I want to publicly thank them RIGHT NOW!

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
I call it good news, but some will say bad. BUT! Our on-campus housing is SOLD OUT. There are still 24 slots for off-campus available, so if you have friends who wish to attend, get them on the stick. FYI - God sells us out every year, and we've been praying for Him to see those He'd have to attend to sign up. These last 24 places are OFF-CAMPUS. That means their registration, facility fees, and all their meals at the Cove are included. Off-campus conferees will have to secure their own housing at one of the hotels at the foot of the Cove's entrance. There are three hotels just feet from the Cove and within 2-3 miles another three. So, hurry up and encourage folks to register before those slots fill. See our registration page.

CLASSES AND SCHEDULE
Our classes are up on the site - just click the word site, and you'll go to that webpage. Please note that things are always subject to change. This is just how conferences roll. Our schedule is up and running, and again, this probably will change. The Cove manages to change it on us at least twice a season. I'd just keep an eye out and know that according to attendance on the campus, a shift in meal times kicks our schedule out the door, and we start over. We'll let you know when that schedule is final, and you can print it. We do have a printable PDF up on the schedule page, but like I said, that will probably change before our conference (several times).

 MENTORING AND CRITIQUES  (click for page)
Our mentoring and critique slots are filling quickly. Mentoring is a 1-hour individual slot where, for a small price, you can get 1 full hour of private mentoring. This is so important if you are working on a manuscript and need a little direction.  Below are our mentors in RED. Perhaps you are trying to decide how to work your ministry into your writing or vice versa, Billy can help you. Or maybe you're writing a screenplay - Billy and Lori can guide you there. If you need help with your website look and content, Social media, and marketing, Edie and Tammy are amazing. Writing guidance, there is Larry, Linda Gilden, Andrea, and Denise Loock. Speaking and podcasting brings a new faculty member, Linda Goldfarb (hopefully, I didn't miss one.) My point is these are top folks in the industry. Our conference may be small but we packed to the gills with good and knowledgeable folks. If you want mentoring or critiques. A lot of our faculty have agreed to do those personal critiques - again, money well spent. Just visit the page, choose a mentor or critiquer, and notify Terri. 

APPOINTMENTS  (Click for faculty page)
Just like the big conferences, we offer 15-minute appointments with our industry professionals. These are free and we encourage you to look over the faculty. Even if you have nothing written to present, pick their brains. Ask them questions that you have and network. Get to know them. They are folks you will want to know for your future work in the writing industry. 

We will talk about appointment sign-ups on Friday night at the conference. Your job for now, is to just look over the faculty and see who you'd like to talk to. We'd love for every one of you to speak with just one professional. This is a great learning experience

We have two agents and both are with the prestigious Steve Laube Agency. Bob Hostetler and Lynette Eason are here to look at your work and get to know you. Both Bob and Lynette have sold over 1 million books which in and of itself is mind-blowing. They both still actively write, but their love of writing is now shared with helping others reach their writing goals. 

We have Larry Leech, who represents Bold Vision Books, and Edwina Perkins, who represents End Game Press. So they can guide you on what publishers are looking for on their shelves.

Edie Melson, Tammy Karasek, and Vincent Davis are our resident social media, book launch, and Amazon gurus.

Linda Gilden and Linda Goldfarb not only write books together, but Linda Gilden is a pro on non-fiction and writing using personality types, while Linda Goldfarb can guide you in podcasts. Both ladies are great with speakers.

Eva Marie Everson, Taryn Souders, and Sarah Loudin Thomas are amazing writers. Eva and Sarah are top-notch in novels, while Taryn knocks middle grade out of the park. 

See, we got you covered. One super faculty. Oh, and of course, Eddie Jones and I are around - both of us do personal coaching and writing help, as do so many of our faculty. So, if you are looking for one-on-one help in your writing, Eddie or I can either help you or point you to the right person to help you.
 
Also, each newsletter is posted on the website  at https://ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/newsletters  

CONTESTS (click for contest page)
Our contest deadline is early January, and we have to have enough folks entering their work in order to hold a contest. A contest is not a contest without entrants. You don't have to have a completed book. Just a couple of chapters, but entering a contest is good for your writing career. It instills confidence in you, teaches you to enter and win or lose, and presses you to meet deadlines and to do your very best work. If you're working on a manuscript, fiction or non-fiction, enter the Sparrow Award. If you love devotions, enter our Kingdom contest. All those entries go on to be published on ChristianDevotions.us.
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Scholarships - Our scholarships have all been awarded. These scholarships are provided by the amazing Cecil Murphy, mentor and author extraordinaire. Cec has over sixty years in the publishing world, and his books, ghostwriting, and mentoring are like none other. We are grateful for this amazing man and his kind heart. Thank you, Cec.

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 Finally, for your encouragement:

I have recently been rewatching "The Chosen." It's one of those beautifully done shows that gives me pause. The episode I watched last was with Nathaniel. He'd failed at his job - his dream job, and as he sat under a fig tree calling out to God, his words resonated with me. "Do you see me? This was all for you. Do you see me?"
 
Later, when Nathaniel meets Jesus, he is stunned when Jesus says, "When you sat under the fig tree, I did not turn my face from you. I saw you. I saw you." At that moment, tears came to my eyes because I can remember countless times (even recently) when I have repeated those same things in the midst of my failures. "Lord, this is for you. Do you see me?"

I can say with 100% truth that YES! He saw me and did not turn His face from me. He saw me. It's hard to imagine that when we claim to write for God, our work isn't all accepted. After all, we do it all for Him. But in our failures, God teaches us, moves us, and directs us when our hearts are willing. Success is not always what we think it should be, but success in Christ is all it should be. 

When you hit bumps, fall into failure, stumble and fall, remember, He sees you. The question becomes, that even in your failure, are you willing to keep up the fight? Your success will come in His time and when it serves to bring Him great glory through you. 

Learn, study, and keep up the work. Your writing will succeed.
Cindy Sproles
Director