2021 Conference Staff
Robin Miller
Position: Conference Director
Conference Task(s): It would probably be much easier to note what details of the conference DON'T fall under Robin's job description. Then again, none really come to mind. If it has to do with conference, she oversees.
Robin Miller, writing under the name Robin Caroll, is the best-selling author of over 30 novels, including the best-selling, critically acclaimed Deliver Us From Evil.
Robin.grew up in Louisiana with her nose in a book. She still has the complete Trixie Belden series, and her love for mysteries and suspense has only increased with her age. Robin’s passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others and come alongside them on their faith journey—aspects Robin weaves into each of her published novels. Best-selling author of 30+ novels, ROBIN CAROLL writes Southern stories of mystery and suspense, with a hint of romance to entertain readers. Her books have been recognized in several awards, including the Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, and more.
When she isn’t writing, Robin spends quality time with her husband of over three decades, her three beautiful daughters and two handsome grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home in the South.
Web Site: http://www.robincaroll.com
Contact E-mail: cd@acfw.com
Pam Hillman
Position: Conference Treasurer
Conference Task(s): Pam handles all of the accounting and bookkeeping aspects of the annual conference.
Pam Hillman spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn’t afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove an old Allis Chalmers 110. When her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn’t mind raking. Raking hay doesn’t take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that’s the kind of life every girl should dream of!
Her debut historical romance, Stealing Jake, was an EPIC eBook Awards finalist. Claiming Mariah, her second novel, won Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart. As past treasurer of ACFW, Pam continues to give back to the organization as Conference Treasurer. She lives in Mississippi with her husband and family.
Web Site: http://www.pamhillman.com
Contact E-mail: ct@acfw.com
Casey Miller
Position: Appointment Coordinator/Conference Sponsorship Liaison
Conference Task(s): Schedule all conferee ACFW appointments (with Agents, Editors, Mentors, PR/Media Professionals, and Paid Critiquers) and oversee the sponsorship program. Also assists with the virtual conference setup, and virtual appointments.
Casey Miller is a husband, father to three daughters, and grandfather to two rowdy grandsons. With experience as an independent business owner, he’s accustomed to scheduling appointments and organization. With a heart for the Christian fiction industry, Casey helps organize, set up, and execute book signings and events.
Contact E-mail: appts@acfw.com
Dineen A. Miller
Position: Registration Desk Specialist
Conference Task(s): Oversee the registration desk.
Dineen Miller is an Amazon bestselling and award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction, but only recently discovered she has a sublime addiction to writing and reading romantic comedies. In addition to these, she’s been known to write romantic suspense and has dabbled with thrillers and fantasy under her pen name, Neena Roth.
Needing additional outlets for her creativity, she’s designed several coloring books under her own name and under Hue Manatee Art, and has crocheted too many afghans to count. No, she does not have cats, but she is a dog-mom to two furry rescues that answer to wiggle butt and snuggle boy. And She’s married to an punny guy, who thinks she’s unique.
For all the deets, silliness, and a free book, sign up for her newsletter at https://bit.ly/DineenMillersNewsletter
Web Site: http://dineenmiller.com
Contact E-mail: dineenmiller@mac.com
Rachel Hauck
Position: Conference Worship Leader
Conference Task(s): Conference Worship Leader
"At the age of six, I knelt at the altar of a Tulsa Methodist church and gave my life to the One who loves me. The truth is, and always will be, I belong to Jesus. That's always first and foremost in everything I do; from writing to leading worship and everything that falls in between."
Rachel Hauck is an award winning, best selling author of twelve novels with more to come. It’s her desire for readers to find hope and escape in the stories she writes, and inhale a bit of the fragrance of Jesus’s love. Rachel is a past president of ACFW and served for many years on the Executive Board.
With a true heart for Christ, Rachel is an exceptional worship leader who brings deep spiritual meaning to what has become one of the highlights of conference for many attendees.
Web Site: http://rachelhauck.com
Contact E-mail: rachel@rachelhauck.com
Brandilyn Collins
Position: Prayer Room Coordinator and Emcee
Conference Task(s): Brandilyn's ministry to the conference includes ensuring that there is always someone on hand to pray with conference attendees in the Conference Prayer Room...even if it means filling the time slots herself, which she does quite often.
In addition, Brandilyn also serves as Conference Emcee, delighting all in attendance with her wonderful sense of humor while continually encouraging members in their walk with Christ.
Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e . . ."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn's awards for her novels include the ACFW Book of the Year, now Carol Award (three times), Inspirational Readers' Choice, and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice.
Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). The Writer Magazine named Getting into Character one of the best books on writing published in 2002.
When she's not writing, Brandilyn can be found teaching the craft of fiction at writers' conferences. She and her family divide their time between homes in the California Bay Area and northern Idaho.
Web Site: http://brandilyncollins.com/
Contact E-mail:
Gabrielle Meyer
Position: Carol Awards Coordinator
Conference Task(s): Coordinating the ACFW Carol awards
Gabrielle Meyer lives in central Minnesota on the banks of the upper Mississippi River with her husband and four children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing fiction and non-fiction inspired by real people, places, and events. She has published over twenty-five books, including historical fiction from Bethany House Publishers and Barbour Publishing, Contemporary and Historical Romances with Love Inspired Books, and Cozy Mysteries and Devotions with Guideposts. You can learn more about Gabrielle and her books at www.gabriellemeyer.com.
Contact E-mail: carolawards@acfw.com
Ken Raney
Position: Conference Booklet Designer
Conference Task(s): Head designer for the 2023 Conference Booklet and the Storyfest booklet
Ken Raney's illustrations have appeared in Highlights for Children, National Geographic Traveler, Campus Life, Christianity Today, Virtue Magazine, and Step-By-Step Graphics. His first children's picture book, Stick Horse, was published by Medlicott Press. It's Probably Good Dinosaurs are Extinct followed from Simon & Schuster, and has been translated into Japanese, and republished in a textbook from Harcourt Brace. Raney currently is freelancing as an illustrator and designer in the Christian publishing industry as well as publishing an entertainment website for Christian teens and tweens
Web Site: http://www.ClashEntertainment.com
Contact E-mail: kenraney@mac.com
Suzanne Wesley
Position: Conference Administrative Assistant
Conference Task(s): Suzanne will be monitoring and conducting the onsite general session presentations throughout conference. She will also be assisting in the conference office as needed.
Suzanne honed her skills in promotional marketing and branding while working in a high-pressure, corporate environment for over 10 years. She continues to provide high-quality graphic design and copywriting services to authors, non-profits, and other businesses from her Indiana home office as a freelancer. Suzanne also regularly creates and runs presentations for her home church, and feels blessed to be able to use this technology experience to help behind-the-scenes at the ACFW conferences.
Web Site: http://www.suzannewesley.com
Contact E-mail:
Heather Tipton
Position: Conference Administration
Conference Task(s): Overseeing the onsite conference office!
Heather Tipton makes her home near the crystal shores of Sarasota, FL. Thanks to the freedom her full-time, bill-paying job provides, she's also a part time beach bum. When asked how to best describe her life, she replied, "I'm a living, breathing, walking cliche, because I love long walks on the beach." A member since 2004, she takes great joy in serving at the ACFW conference.
Contact E-mail:
Robert Turner
Position: Contests Coordinator/Conference Administrative Assistant
Conference Task(s): Robert oversees all of ACFW's contests and monitors feedback and assists contests coordinators as needed. Onsite, Robert also assists the conference office in various ways. You'll see Robert doing a multitude of tasks, including entry to meals and general sessions as well as overseeing the sponsorship items to attendees.
Robert Turner recently retired after a 28-year career in with the 138th Fighter Wing of the United States Air Force. Instead of keeping F16s flying, he now tinkers with his camera and his vintage BMW convertible. Robert has been married to bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo since 2010, leading him to consider writing a book about how to survive as the spouse of a writer. It will be fiction, of course.
Contact E-mail: contests@acfw.com
Bella Miller
Position: Bookstore
Conference Task(s): Overseeing sales, setup, displays, and signings. Happy to help you pick out a new book!
Bella is currently a junior at UALR, double-majoring in History and English, with plans to attend law school following graduation. She enjoys reading, video games, and art.
Contact E-mail:
Teresa Haugh
Position: Genesis Coordinator
Conference Task(s): Coordinating ACFW's Genesis Contest for unpublished writers
Teresa Haugh and her husband live in sweet home Alabama. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Montevallo and took extra Shakespeare classes for fun. She is a proud retiree of the U.S. Forest Service, Alaska Region, where she worked in Public Affairs. She has interviewed twenty-five authors for ACFW’s Author of the Week web page. She writes contemporary and speculative fiction.
Contact E-mail: genesis@acfw.com
Cynthia Ruchti
Position: ACFW Professional Relations Liaison
Conference Task(s): Promotion of conference and Storyfest, coordinating with media guests, etc.
Cynthia Ruchti had proposals demystified for her at an ACFW conference years ago. In the space of that one workshop, she went from "steep learning curve" to "Isn't this fun?" (almost). Now, in her roles as author of more than 35 published books and literary agent for Books & Such Literary Management, she has participated in the creation, critique, review, or reconstruction of many hundreds of proposals. She takes them seriously...with a side of humor. Cynthia is also ACFW's professional relations liaison. She and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin. https://www.cynthiaruchti.com
Web Site: https://www.cynthiaruchti.com
Contact E-mail: acfwrelations@acfw.com
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Remingon Miller
Position:
Conference Task(s): Overseeing the Storyfest swag room and Storyfest crew
Remington is a breaking news reporter and online editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.Previously, she was a reporter for UA Little Rock's The Forum and KUAR 89.1.
Remington enjoys the way journalism opens eyes and creates an informed community. She has covered lifestyle, entertainment, crime and race and ethnicity stories. She enjoys working with audio, photography and writing. She graduated from UA Little Rock with a degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Journalism and a degree English, with a minor in race and ethnicity studies.
An avid reader, Remington almost has enough books to be considered her own library!
Contact E-mail:
Gage Taylor
Position: Storyfest Worker
Conference Task(s): Assist with the swag room setup and other aspects of Storyfest, the bookstore, and conference in general.
Contact E-mail: