February 9, Newsletter and Extended Learning

February 9, Newsletter and Extended Learning
Sunday, February 9, 2025 by Cindy K. Sproles

Yep, it's donut time, folks. Thirteen days and counting. Only a prince would buy his wife chocolate-covered KRISPY KREME donuts in crunch, crush, er uh...chew...desperate times! And I have a prince.

Here we are, thirteen days away, and so much has happened. You see when you direct a conference, especially a Christian conference, Satan loves to stick his nose into things.

You order pens. The order is accepted, the money is withdrawn, and the next day, a note from the pen company. "OOOPPPS!" (Folks, they said, OOOPS), "We're out of stock on that pen." I walk to the wall in my office and gently bang my head against the textured surface. Thirteen days out, and now they tell me... oops.

Oh, well. Re-order, plead for fast shipping, and then dump them on Terri's porch. That's the plan.

All that said, despite the craters I've fallen into this week, things work out. God has a way of doing that WHEN we have the right attitude. So, rejoice in the Lord always...right? And bring me chocolate-covered donuts.

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Extended learning is up. This week's learning comes from Andrea Merrell on adding dimension to your characters. I personally think this is important in non-fiction and fiction. Regardless of what you write, nothing should be flat. So click here for Andrea's awesome lesson on character building.

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?We still have approximately 23 off-campus slots available for conferees. Tell your friends Asheville calls. The COVE calls. God calls. They have to answer. Click here to register for off-campus registration. Off-campus registration includes meals at the Cove, conference registration, and facility fee. You must locate your housing off campus. There are a few hotels listed at the bottom of our registration page.

?JUST A HINT - Booking via 3rd party sites like Hotels.com, Priceline.com, etc. Check your ability to cancel. Should a slot open on campus and you want to take it, many times when you book your off-campus hotel via a 3rd party, you are stuck with NON-REFUNDABLE. Just sayin'! Check before you click that nifty cheap price.

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?Links for Pre-Conference purchases if you want:

?We have decided to add these links for you in advance. Everything we offer can be purchased via our bookstore at the conference, but some folks would like to add it before or after the conference.

?MP3s - These are the mp3s of the full conference. They are only available to conferees. So, don't try to have your unregistered friends purchase them. If they are not a conferee, their money will be refunded. The MP3s are things that you will have forever. So, we recommend you purchase them. You'll have all the keynotes and all the classes for future reference. COST is $50

?2026 Conference Pre-Register - This allows you to HOLD A SPOT for on-campus housing. What pre-registration does: It only holds a spot for you to register for on-campus housing in 2026. We will contact you in August or early September to verify that you plan to attend. At that time, we will include a link to pay a deposit or in full. If we do not hear from you in the specified time noted when we contact you, you forfeit your $25 pre-registration. It drops into our scholarship fund. If you respond, we will subtract that $25 off your final price for registration. Consider attending in 2026. You can pay via this link, or you can pay at the bookstore at the conference.

?BOB BOX - The Bob Box is our conference's way of giving back. Each year, we sponsor Bob Hostetler in his fhttps://ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/critiquesand...undraising efforts for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Bob has two grands who have cystic fibrosis, and the funds given to the foundation have already helped both of his grands. Consider giving to the Bob Box. All funds collected are matched at the conference, by Christian Devotions Ministries, and then those funds are doubled by the company that Bob's son works for. Talk about double-dipping! Help us, help others.

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?Conference details - I'm not going into these details in this newsletter. Instead, I am forwarding you to our CONFERENCE UPDATE PAGE. You'll find everything you need to know right there. All your information on check-in, what to wear, name badges, and everything else is on that page. I'm getting too old to repeat myself. I did it much too much with four little boys years ago. In fact, now that I ?think of it, they're 43 and 44, and I still repeat myself. Just visit the page for your updates and information.??

I will remind you that early bird classes begin at 1 p.m. Stop by Shepherd's Inn and get your nametag, LEAVE YOUR BAGS IN YOUR CAR unless you're flying, and then head to the 3rd floor Training Center next door. Dress comfortably and modest. Need I say more?

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Mentoring and critiques - There are a few slots left -- not many, but a few. Visit our Mentoring and Critique page (if you are a latecomer to the conference, let Terri know when you ask about mentoring). She can see if someone will carry additional mentoring.?

Also, Terri will go over signing up for 15-minute appointments during the general session on Friday evening.

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FINALLY (You thought it would never arrive, didn't you?)

Who Are You?

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! ….

1 John 3:1 NIV

I've been accused of being a bee. Always on the go, working, writing, doing tons of things. I find it hard to sit down and rest. In our church service today, our minister asked, "Who are you?" I looked at my husband and said, "Tired." He chuckled.

My plate is always full, even when I don't want it to be. This is why I try not to work on Saturday and Sunday. Well, until I'm 13 days out from our conference, I have no choice. Anyway, I began asking church friends, "Who do you think I am?" Everyone said they were busy except for Miss Libby.

Miss Libby is ninety-one. Anytime I ask her how she is, she responds, "I'm rejoicing in the Lord." And she is sincere. Today, when I asked her who she thought I was, she cupped her sweet little hand around my face and said, "Baby, you are His daughter."

I smiled and pressed her hand tight against my cheek as tears filled my eyes.

It's thirteen days out from the conference. Last-minute things have to be finished. Books balanced to take to our accountant for our 990 filing, personal taxes, Bible study prep, church staff meeting, a surgical consult for my husband in Knoxville an hour and a half away, re-orders, loading up conference stuff, sending invoices, paying bills for the conference. I started a new novel and turned in the one that was due to the publisher. Then, yesterday, I got shingles on my right eye. Yep. Stress will do that to you.

I don't regret one single thing I do. My day is very organized. I accomplish most everything easily and plan it out so my nights are free. But it's still a lot of work.

My best guess is that you have a lot on your plate as well. And that stress is probably weighing down on you, too. You have folks like me saying, "Just write," AND I'm guessing your taxes are due, too.

I want you to read what John wrote, "?See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! …"

?Did you take note? What great love the Father has lavished on you that YOU should be called a child of God. Now, imagine this. God presses His palm against your cheek, smiles, and calls you son or daughter. Now, you cover His hand with yours and squeeze your FATHER'S hand--Abba Father. You got chills? You should.

As we approach our conference, I completely understand the stress that haunts you. Some of you are staying off-campus, and maybe you're staying in a hotel alone for the first time. Some may suffer from anxiety, fear, and weariness: excitement, lack of sleep, or even second thoughts about coming. Don't--because you are His child. It's important to know who you are. It doesn't matter what the world calls you. What matters is the only name Christ calls you. CHILD.

Prepare this week. Relax. We'll see you in a few days.