The opportunity to have personal appointments with Editors and Agents is a valuable highlight of the conference. These provide a great way to learn first-hand about the writing industry, to pitch your manuscript or work-in-progress, and to brainstorm ideas, get encouragement, and benefit from industry professionals.
All appointments are available on a first pay, first slotted basis. Appointments will be scheduled by the Conference Appointment Coordinator, Casey Miller. Appointments will be scheduled the week prior to conference, so if you want an appointment, please register by August 27, 2021! All times are CDT for the virtual conference. You will select multiple choices for your appointment needs when you register for the conference. You will be sent your appointment information a week prior to the virtual conference so that, if requested by the person you have an appointment with, you may submit documents to Casey, who will ensure the information is passed along to the correct person.
One of the most valuable connecting points at the ACFW conference is the opportunity for editor appointments. So many authors, so little time. In these appointments, an editor will quickly assess “Is this a storyline that interests me? Does this author demonstrate knowledge of the craft and of the Christian fiction industry? Is this worth exploring further?”
2021 Editors
Linda Fulkerson
Organization: Scrivenings Press LLC
Title: Editor/Owner
Web Site:
Linda Fulkerson began her writing career as a copyeditor and typesetter at a small-town weekly newspaper. She has since been published in several magazines and newspapers, including a two-year stint as a sportswriter, and is the author of two novels, two novellas, and several non-fiction books. In 2020, she purchased Mantle Rock Publishing’s backlist and founded Scrivenings Press LLC. She and her husband, Don, live on a ten-acre plot in central Arkansas. They have four adult children and eight grandchildren. Linda enjoys photography, RV travel, and spoiling her two dachshunds.
Currently Seeking: ABOUT SCRIVENINGS PRESS:
Scrivenings Press LLC is a traditional, royalty-paying publisher of clean and Christian fiction. Our Expanse Books imprint publishes YA and adult speculative fiction, and our ScrivKids imprint publishes upper middle-grade fiction.
We only accept proposals for CLEAN fiction. No sexual content, foul language (including euphemisms), crudeness, vulgarity, abuse, or graphic violence will be permitted in our books. Stories do not have to include a religious theme or content, but if they do, we will not accept proposals for books that are “preachy” in nature. Stories that do include a religious theme must be nondenominational so that anyone who embraces a Christian worldview can enjoy them.
We are interested in proposals for Romantic Suspense, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, Mysteries, Speculative fiction, and Upper Middle-Grade fiction. We also publish at least two novella collections each year—a contemporary romance theme in February, and a Christmas romance-themed collection around October.
We do NOT publish the following:
• Erotica
• Horror
• Children’s picture books
• Memoirs, Poetry
The preferred manuscript length for Scrivenings Press is 55,000-90,000 words, but we will consider other lengths.
Rochelle Gloege
Organization: Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Title: Senior Acquisitions Editor
Web Site:
Rochelle Gloege is a senior acquisitions editor at Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Based in Minnesota’s beautiful Twin Cities, she has had the privilege of working with many best-selling and award-winning authors during the more than twenty-five years she has been editing and acquiring for Bethany House.
Currently Seeking: Update coming soon
Cynthia Hickey
Organization: Winged Publications
Title: Editor
Web Site:
Cynthia Hickey is a multi-published and best-selling author of cozy mysteries and romantic suspense/thrillers. She has taught writing at many conferences and small writing retreats. She and her husband run the publishing press, Winged Publications. They live in Arizona and Arkansas, becoming snowbirds with three dogs. They have ten grandchildren who keep them busy and tell everyone they know that "Nana is a writer."
Currently Seeking: Have a fiction story that doesn’t fit into a traditional publisher’s niche? Then we may very well be the publisher for you. We are a royalty paying ebookand print publisher that is actively seeking new clients. We are looking for clean romance that leaves the reader with a warm, fuzzy feeling at the end.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Fiction or non-fiction that is well-written and will appeal to readers. Genres: romance, romantic suspense, mystery, historical romance, science fiction, fantasy, New Adult, Young Adult, or any combination thereof
Tina James
Organization: Love Inspired
Title: Executive Editor
Web Site: http://www.loveinspired.com%20%20%20
Tina James is Executive Editor for Love Inspired Books. From the moment she learned to read she could usually be found at a bookstore or the public library searching for a good book. She has been with Harlequin for over twenty-five years and has had the opportunity to work on many series lines and special projects. She is seeking heartwarming inspirational contemporary romance and compelling inspirational contemporary romantic suspense projects.
Currently Seeking: Tina is actively acquiring inspirational romance for the Love Inspired series (contemporary romance 55,000 words) and the Love Inspired Suspense series (contemporary romantic suspense 55,000 words). We’re looking for compelling stories with engaging characters, a sustained conflict and an emotionally satisfying romance. The focus must always be on the hero and heroine as they overcome the obstacles in their paths to find love together. The Christian faith element is integral to all storylines but should feel natural not preachy. Books submitted to Love Inspired Suspense need to be high intensity suspense from start to finish, not mystery or cozy mystery. The book should open with danger, and the hero and heroine need to remain in danger throughout the book and in each other’s company the vast majority of the time. It should be equal parts suspense and romance. Guidelines: https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit
In addition, Tina is currently looking for longer trade paperback fiction (80,000-100,000 words) in a variety of genres for Love Inspired Trade. In general, Love Inspired Trade publishes contemporary fiction, suspense/thrillers, historical fiction and historical romance. We are not currently seeking Amish fiction and would be highly selective when it comes to contemporary romance. Specifically, she would like to see the following for Love Inspired Trade: historical mystery, historical thriller, or contemporary mystery with humor (something like Only Murders in the Building). She would also love suspense/thrillers, but they would have to be distinctly different from the books Love Inspired Trade currently has on their list.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
As there are multiple Love Inspired editors attending, please only request an appointment with ONE of us.
Guidelines: https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit
Jessica Sharpe
Organization: Bethany House Publishers
Title: Senior Editor
Web Site:
Jessica Sharpe is an acquisitions editor at Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. She has been editing fiction for over fifteen years and has worked with several best-selling and award-winning authors. Life has taken her from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains to Asia to New York City, but she’s currently based in the Twin Cities.
Currently Seeking: Update coming soon
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
Authors are welcome to bring a writing sample of their project.