Belinda Pollard

Karen Kepert, Christian songwriter and author of the children’s picture book Scruffy and Silk, talks about the challenges of packing a lot of meaning into a small word count, and how her songwriting began seemingly from nowhere and grew in surprising ways.

Author, blogger, and Instagrammer, Nicci Toomey, began blogging her way through a very difficult time in her life, and her writing grew into a book and a ministry.

Laura Thomas, who describes herself as a late bloomer in her writing career, speaks about facing rejection and finding support on the path to publishing 9 books across non-fiction, romantic suspense and teen and children’s fiction.

Chrissy Garwood, author of the River Wild Christian Romantic Suspense series and the YA Fantasy River series on being a ‘genre butterfly’ and how she dealt with the idea that someone in Christian ministry doesn’t sit around inventing stories.

Donita Bundy, author of the Armour of Light Christian urban fantasy series, former Somerset Writer in Residence, high school creative writing teacher, blogger and preacher, on writing multiple first-person POV and the challenges of faith-driven creativity.

Nikki Florence Thompson, writing teacher and author of the memoir Fight, Flight and Faith, shares how an unusual partnership with a good editor helped strengthen and refocus her book, and about God’s tenderness in comforting and encouraging the fearful.

Colin Buchanan, well-known for his hilarious children’s songs and country music, shares his discoveries about navigating the insecurities of a creative career, and how to write fun and kooky material while also being soberminded with God’s truth.

Kristen Young, author of speculative fiction and non-fiction, winner of the 2021 Realm Award, on the writing and traditional publishing process, and how we can make a difference with our words, no matter how we might struggle.