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
Amanda Bostic
Organization: HarperCollins Christian Publishing
Title: Publisher for Fiction
Web Site: http://www.thomasnelson.com
Amanda Bostic is the Publisher for Fiction at HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan). She traces her love of story back to her first reading of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe when she was in 2nd grade, and she’s still amazed by the fact that she’s been getting paid to read books for more than ten years. She loves any great story, but is particularly drawn to suspense and thrillers, contemporary, women’s fiction, and Southern fiction. She makes her home in Nashville with her husband Randy and their two children.
Currently Seeking: We are looking for fresh voices that will appeal to both the Christian market and to the broader general market. We’re passionate about finding great writers, who have great hooks, who genuinely care about and are willing to invest in their readers, and who are fun to work with. I’m most interested in romantic suspense, suspense, Southern fiction, women’s fiction, and romance.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
For unpublished authors, please only request a meeting if you have a completed manuscript.
If you are scheduled an appointment with Amanda, please send a 1-2 page pitch the week before that includes your hook, your bio, details on your social media involvement, and sales figures for any published works.
Stephanie Broene
Organization: Tyndale House Publishers
Title: Senior Acquisitions Editor
Web Site: http://www.tyndale.com
Stephanie Broene is a senior acquisitions editor on the fiction team. For fifteen years, she has loved working with authors to help them cultivate and bring their stories to the page, managing the publishing process from the idea phase to finished product. She loves studying what makes a story work and is constantly amazed at the way good stories can entertain and communicate truth in a powerful way. Stephanie holds a bachelor of arts degree in English with minors in writing and psychology from Calvin University. Outside of work, she and her husband love to be active and enjoy life with their three young kids.
Currently Seeking: She is currently seeking contemporary women’s fiction, Southern, mystery, suspense, romantic suspense; historical romance, WWII fiction, and other historical fiction.
Not seeking YA, sci-fi, fantasy, or biblical.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
We prefer that authors request an appointment with only one representative from Tyndale, and also that debut authors have a complete manuscript before requesting an appointment. I am happy to accept one-sheets but am most interested to hear a well-crafted, intriguing pitch that catches my attention and pulls me into your story, as well as a brief author bio.
Andrea Doering
Organization: Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Title: Executive Editor
Web Site: http://www.revellbooks.com
Andrea Doering serves as the Editorial Director of Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. With more than 30 years of publishing experience, she has held positions in academic, children’s, and trade publishing, and has had the pleasure of working with authors such as Annie F. Downs, Lisa Bevere, Emily P. Freeman, Ted Dekker, Lynette Eason, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Susan May Warren, Jane Kirkpatrick, Laura Frantz, and Shelley Shepard Gray. Twice awarded ACFW’s Editor of the Year, Andrea holds a Master’s in English/Creative Writing from the University of Maine, and lives in New York.
Currently Seeking: What I’m looking for:
Romantic suspense, contemporary romance, some historical romance.
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.
Rebecca Germany
Organization: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Title: Senior Editor, Fiction
Web Site: http://barbourbooks.com
Rebecca Germany is the Fiction Editor for Barbour Publishing who has been with the company for thirty years. The daughter of an English teacher, she developed a love of story at a very young age and has appreciated how God moved her life in such a way that she can enjoy stories and the authors behind them every day on the job. She lives in Ohio where her activities outside work include gardening, quilting, and raising chickens and ducks.
Currently Seeking: Currently seeking historical romance, historical women’s fiction, Regency romance, Amish romance. Finished word counts range from 75,000 to 100,000. Still open to the occasional novella collection with 3 to 4 stories.
Not currently interested in Biblical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, YA or children’s fiction
Guidelines: http://barbourbooks.com/pages/writersguide.aspx
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: Currently seeking historical and women’s fiction, as well as romance in all its inspirational forms, including historical, dual time, and suspense. Rochelle prefers stories with a strong sense of place and interesting, relatable characters. Elements of mystery are welcome. No children’s or apocalyptic fiction/sci-fi. Authors are encouraged to bring a writing sample of their project.
Katie Gowrie
Organization: Love Inspired
Title: Love Inspired Associate Editor
Web Site:
Katie Gowrie is the Associate Editor for Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense. She graduated from Carleton University with a degree in Journalism and English Literature, but a short stint on the municipal politics beat affirmed for her that her true passion for storytelling lies in fiction. After completing her publishing certificate and an internship at Quill and Quire, she got her first job in publishing in the Harlequin proofreading department. She loved it so much, she kept working up and has been with the publishing house for nearly ten years. She finds it rewarding to have worked on such a range of romance titles and is incredibly inspired by the people who write them. When she’s not reading or editing, Katie loves watching crime shows and historical dramas, traveling (whenever she can), and hanging out with her family.
Currently Seeking: I’m looking for: uplifting contemporary romance and gripping romantic suspense of 55,000 words for Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense. I love stories featuring tight-knit communities, family dynamics (even the messy kind!) and friendships. I also love seeing heroines in law enforcement or in traditionally male-dominated fields. Also, Westerns and holiday stories!
Cynthia Hickey
Organization: Winged Publications
Title: Editor
Web Site:
Multi-published and Amazon and ECPA Best-Selling author Cynthia Hickey has sold over a million copies of her works since 2013. She has taught a Continuing Education class at the 2015 American Christian Fiction Writers conference, several small ACFW chapters and RWA chapters. She and her husband run the small press, Winged Publications, which includes some of the CBA’s best well-known authors. She lives in Arizona with her husband, one of their seven children, two dogs, one cat, and three box turtles. She has eight grandchildren who keep her busy and tell everyone they know that “Nana is a writer”.
Currently Seeking: Have a fiction story that doesn't fit into a mold? Want to enter the publishing world but don't want to do it all alone? Winged Publications is a royalty paying ebook/print publisher that is actively seeking new clients who are committed to their readership and willing to be a part of a publishing family. We are looking for clean and/or inspirational romance or fiction that leaves the reader with a warm, fuzzy feeling when they turn the last page.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
If you are scheduled an appointment with Cynthia, please submit a one-sheet prior to the appointment.
Elizabeth Jackson
Organization: Tyndale House Publishers
Title: Fiction Acquisitions Editor
Web Site: https://www.tyndale.com/fiction
Elizabeth Jackson is a fiction acquisitions editor at Tyndale House Publishers, where she is involved in many steps of the book development process and works alongside novelists on their publishing journey. An avid reader who loves good stories, Elizabeth enjoys meeting writers, talking with authors about their manuscripts, and partnering in bringing great fiction into the world as published novels. When she’s not in the office, you might find her reading a novel from her expansive book collection (preferably in her favorite park on a sunny day!), running in the great outdoors, or maybe even watching a British television show.
Currently Seeking: Elizabeth is looking for full-length novels with compelling hooks and great writing in the following categories:
• Women’s fiction (historical or contemporary)
• Southern fiction (historical or contemporary)
• Contemporary romance and contemporary rom com
• Historical fiction (including dual-timeline fiction)
• Historical romance
• Suspense
Elizabeth does not acquire YA or children’s fiction and is not currently looking for sci-fi, magical realism, fantasy, or thrillers.
We prefer that authors request an appointment with only one representative from Tyndale and that debut authors have a complete manuscript before requesting an appointment. Please come prepared to discuss the hook of your story and what makes it uniquely marketable.
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 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: I am 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
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: Currently looking for unique historical novels, suspense / romantic suspense, women’s fiction, and #ownvoices stories. Not interested in children’s/YA or fantasy/sci-fi. I love new and interesting takes on established genres and vibrant narrative voices.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
Authors are welcome to bring a writing sample of their project.
Janyre Tromp
Organization: Kregel Publications
Title: Editor
Web Site: http://www.kregel.com
Janyre Tromp has worked in the CBA industry for more than twenty years, spending time in both marketing and editorial. Currently, she is a developmental and acquisitions editor for Kregel Publications by day and a writer at night. For the record, you pronounce her name Jan-air . . . like the stove, but not like the book. She loves talking about books and interacts regularly with authors on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/JanyreTromp) including biweekly writing and editing tips.
Currently Seeking: Kregel is a family-owned publisher who loves working with a variety of talented authors who regularly earn awards and achieve a best-selling status. Right now we’re looking for romance and its various subgenres, and historical and its various subgenres, approximately 70,000 to 90,000 words. We are not looking for speculative, fantasy, sci-fi, horror, or allegory. Ultimately, Kregel is interested in fiction that is entertaining and from a distinctly biblical worldview, with exceptional storytelling and a spiritual arc; with relatable characters, believable action, and natural dialogue. Kregel does not want blatantly preachy or agenda-driven stories.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
I will talk with prospective authors at any stage of the writing process. For serious consideration, an author not previously published in the genre being pitched must have a completed manuscript. Requests a one sheet and/or proposal submitted prior to meeting.
Guidelines: http://www.kregel.com