Conference Schedule

Free breakfast at the Terrace Grille in the hotel included in your hotel room rate.

CE 01: Exploring Kid Lit's Many Faces with JPC Allen, Bettie Boswell, Victor Hess, Bitsy Kemper, Annika Klanderud, and Julie Lavender CE 02: Kickstarter: The What, Why, and How of Crowdfunding Your Books! with Emilie Haney CE 03: The Author's Blueprint: Building Buzz Through Tours and Tech with Colleen Coble CE 04: The Silent Storyteller: Mastering Body Language in Writing with Carrie Stuart Parks

Make face-to-face connections with ACFW members from your area. Tables will be designated by zones for this buffet-style meal. Swap stories and contact information, share local research interest, and establish friendships or the beginnings of new ACFW local chapters.

WS 01: Unmasking Perfection with Joy Massenburge WS 02: Winning Readers with Humor with Karen Witemeyer WS 03: The Story Equation with Rachel Hauck WS 04: Critiquing: The Art of Being Constructively Nice with Bruce Judisch

WS 05: Self Defense and Swords: A "Touch and Try" Workshop with Natalie Nyquis WS 06: Writing Quotable Dialogue with Joni M. Fisher WS 07: Pinterest Marketing Strategies: A Goldmine for Novelists WS 08: Canva Shortcuts: A Social Media Tool for Writers

WS 09: Avoiding the Pitfalls of the Rising Star with Tracey Bateman WS 10 : Responding to Rejection: The Choice is Ours with Bethany Turner WS 11: Romance-ology Q&A with Pepper Basham, Mary Connealy, and Julie Lessman WS 12: Creating a 5-Year Writing Plan with Lisa Jordan

Milestones Celebrations Dinner. ACFW will bestow another honor for member novelists whose careers have reached significant publishing milestones. This special recognition will be awarded to novelists who have reached landmarks of 25, 50, 75, 100, or 100+ published novels (traditionally, QIP*, or a combination), and they will receive a beautiful ACFW pin marking that accomplishment. Pins will be reserved based on criteria determined during authors’ registration for the conference. An author must be present at the Thursday night dinner at the conference in September to receive their pin. As stated earlier, pins are awarded for book titles in increments of 25, rereleases not included. This is not only an honor, but a photo opp that will resonate throughout the industry.

Meeting with the Zone Coordinator, Zone Directors, Area Coordinators, and Chapter Presidents

Come bask in worship music. Bring your laptop, tablet, or paper to write as you are inspired.

Free breakfast at the Terrace Grille in the hotel included in your hotel room rate.

Start your day off with morning worship and don't miss all of the daily announcements!

Large books signing for all authors with books in the bookstore. Will be open and advertised to the public!

WS13: Switching Genres & Staying Sane with Sandra Bretting WS14: The Art of Subtext: What’s Left Unsaid in Powerful Fiction with Cher Gatto WS15: Creating a Series Bible with Cara Putman WS16: Playing Well with Others with Sarah Hamaker

WS17: Behind the Pages with Robin Jones Gunn and Janet Grant WS18: Growing Your Newsletter Round-Robin Style with Sami Abrams WS19: Mastering Book Marketing: Essential Online Strategies for Authors with Matt Jones of Jones House Creative WS20: Challenges and Blessings of the Writing Life with Rick Barry

12:30 pm - 12:50 pm will be the State of Industry panels with agents and editors 12:50 pm - 1:45 pm lunch

Rehearsal for all Carol Award and Genesis finalists

WS21: The Author's Voice Amplified with Melissa LaShure, Rebecca Reed, and Rebecca Yauger WS22: Career Writing with Kimberley Woodhouse WS23: The Architecture of Narrative Structure and Serendipity in Storytelling with Marshall Monroe WS24: Kansas ABC

Finalists WITH card allowed to enter at 5:30pm. MUST Have Ticket to Enter

We will begin book pickup and bookstore close-out on Sunday morning, beginning at 9:00 am. To expedite your pickup, please bring your inventory sheet, and be prepared to sign the accounting/inventory sheet. Please do not attempt to box the books yourself, as staff requires certain information and counts and will box your books. Books will NOT be available for pickup prior to Sunday morning at 9:00 am. IF your flight is prior to that, you MUST notify the staff at cd@acfw.com and ct@acfw.com prior to August 14, 2025. If books are not picked up by Sunday at 11:00 am, they will be considered donated to hotel staff.

Pick up your registration packet

Deep Dive with Angela Hunt The Master Storyteller's Workshop: Take Your Manuscript to the Next Level

AI Automation for Authors: Streamline, Automate, and Save Time with Kate Angelo

The Author's Design Toolkit: Using Canva for Social Media & More with Pepper Basham

Polish Your Proposal Before You Pitch with Rachel Hauck and Cara Putman

By invitation only: A private reception to honor all contest finalists, as well as other award recipients, special guests and speakers, and sponsors.

This session is designed not only to orient you to the conference but also help you meet others, all while having some fun.

Official opening of the conference given by CEO, Colleen Coble Prayer and Worship Introduction of the Lifetime Achievement Recipient by Cynthia Ruchti Address given by Lifetime Achievement Recipient by Robin Jones Gunn

Opt-in inclusion of a pizza party (ticket required) 6:30-7:30, followed immediately by a fun night focusing on mystery/suspense/thriller, hosted by Rick Acker, Colleen Coble, and Cara Putman

Opt-in inclusion of a pizza party (ticket required) 6:30-7:30, followed immediately by a fun night focusing on contemporary and romance, hosted by Pepper Basham, Joy Massenburge, and Kathleen Y'Barbo

Opt-in inclusion of a pizza party (ticket required) 6:30-7:30, followed immediately by a fun night focusing on historical fiction/historical romance, hosted by Angela Hunt

Opt-in inclusion of a pizza party (ticket required) 6:30-7:30, followed immediately by a fun night focusing on sci-fi/fantasy/allegoric - hosted by Emilie Haney (who writes as E.A. Hendryx)

Opt-in inclusion of a pizza party (ticket required) 6:30-7:30, followed immediately by a fun night focusing on Children's through YA

Welcome to the 2025 ACFW Conference! Come pick up your registration packet.

Authors who have already signed up to have their books in the bookstore....bring your books and your inventory sheets, as well as any promotional materials you may have purchased packages to exhibit to the bookstore.