Terry's 22-year, award winning journalism career was highlighted by seven years as a sportswriter and editor with The Philadelphia Bulletin, the largest-circulation afternoon newspaper in the nation; leading The Mercury of Pottstown (PA), as its editor, to a Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Writing; and serving as Executive Editor of a multi-national newspaper firm—Ingersoll Publications—with papers in the USA, England, and Ireland.
     In 1996 Brennan transferred his successful management career to the non-profit sector, as Vice President of Operations for the Christian Herald Association, Inc., the parent organization of four New York City ministries, including The Bowery Mission.
     Now a Management Consultant in New York City, Brennan also won the Freedoms Foundation award for editorial writing and is an accomplished interviewer and story-teller, trained by two decades in journalism and a broad range of experience in both the profit and non-profit business sectors. His first novel, The Sacred Cipher, will be published by Kregel Publications in July of 2009.

Emily formerly taught Bible at Messiah College and now speaks to thousands of young people each year on the issue of healthy relationships. Emily enjoys injecting humor into heavy topics that others fear to tackle.
     As Coordinator of Educational Services at the local Care Net pregnancy center, Emily developed the "Waiting–The Smart Choice!" abstinence education program. Using skits and humor, the program has a 99% positive response from students in public school settings and is especially effective in helping teens understand how sexual baggage resulting from past choices can affect their future relationships and marriage.
     Her first book, If I'm Supposed to WAIT, Why Do I Have Hormones NOW? (Life Cycle Books, 1999) was picked up for a national promotion by the Family Research Council. The book was released in 2003 by Christian Publications and Wingspread under the title, Why Say NO When My Hormones Say GO? This book was released in Spanish by Portavoz in Spring, 2006. 
     Other books in the relationship series include What Do I Say to a Friend Who is Gay? (Kregel, 2006) and Help! My Family’s Messed Up! (Kregel, 2008). You, Me, and WHO? (Kindred, 2006) is a book of devotionals for dating teens. Emily's stories appear in national publications such as Guideposts and Chicken Soup for the Soul.
     Emily and her husband, Dr. Gene Chase, have been married for 34 years. They attend West Shore Evangelical Free Church in Mechanicsburg, PA. They have three married children. 

Carol has been published nationally and internationally in magazines and journals such as Discipleship Journal, Moody, Prism, Pray!, Christian Home and School, Twin Capes Traveller, and The Bulletin of University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. She runs her own editing and writing business, Cool Copy, which specializes in editing and writing in the corporate and advertising worlds. While working for 15 years in the retail industry, holding positions as manager and buyer, Carol also served as a corporate trainer. She is a CLASS graduate and speaks at retreats and conferences through the Mid-Atlantic. Carol is also a pastor's wife, ministering with her husband, Rev. Les Cool.

Mike turned to writing in 1998 as a means of emotionally dealing with his brother-in-law's tragic motorcycle accident. After writing non-fiction for nearly four years he tried his hand at fiction . . . and fell in love. The author of supernatural suspense titles The Hunted and Scream, Mike lives in Hanover, PA with his wife, three daughters, and black lab (who follows him around everywhere). He is also a recent colon cancer survivor.

Wanda, a best-selling author of critically acclaimed suspense, has been described as a unique and powerful new voice in Christian suspense. Her newest release, Shepherd's Fall, the first in a new 3-book series from Random House/WaterBrook, explores the world of bounty hunters struggling to keep God, family, and integrity at the center of their dangerous and tumultuous lives. Her nonfiction release, Why I Jumped, was featured on Oprah and Good Morning America.

Pierre is a husband, father of three children, professional project manager, and  published Christian writer.  He is a regular contributor to Pray! magazine. He writes and blogs about Christian living and spiritual growth on his Web site at www.christiangrowthnetwork.com. He has also developed and maintains two other Web sites: www.godhealstoday.com and is currently developing www.testimoniesofjesus.com where you can share your personal testimony with the world.

First-timer's Orientation (& for the perpetually nervous) with Joyce Magnin - Weds, 6:15 pm
Teens Write! Thursday 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Paid Critiques - Picture books, children's fiction and nonfiction, articles, devotionals, short stories, fantasy
 

David is the co-director of Mission International, a ministry whose primary mission is to assist the indigenous church in the Middle East and Northern Africa. He and his family live in the Colorado Springs area and have been in missions work for over 20 years. God has given David a special love and passion to reach the Muslim world for Christ. This passion has led David into many difficult areas of the world such as the war-torn Republic of Chechnya – Russia, the West Bank of Israel, Kosovo, China, Turkey, and Iran. He has just returned from his third trip into Iraq where his ministry is assisting the indigenous Iraqi church.  
     David also is the author of No Escape from Grozny – A Christian Working in War-Torn Chechnya. This moving book is David’s personal story of his work with war orphans and Chechen refugees from 1997-2006. David is presently writing several more books about his work in Iraq and Iran.
    Click here for an ASSIST News article about Mission International. And for an article about David's latest time of ministry in Iraq click here.

Larry J. Leech II

Larry has been a professional writer since 1981, including five years as editor/managing editor of Christian Retailing magazine. During that time he had more than 2,300 articles published. For the last four years he has been a book editor and writer for CBA clients. He also is president of Word Weavers, a highly successful writers group in the Orlando area with more than 100 members, three sister groups, and forty published writers; leads a fiction-only critique group; teaches creative writing to middle and high school students; and conducts one-hour and three-hour workshops devoted to helping writers improve their craft.

Called by Bostonia Magazine "perhaps America's foremost authority on popular culture," Rick is convinced that the "culture wars" and threats to our Christian civilization can be uniquely met by Christian writers and creative believers. He has written and taught on media, music, and history. He was Charles Schulz's editor on "Peanuts," Johnny Hart's on "BC," and collaborated on a book with Dr. Seuss.  Rick is also a former political cartoonist, comics editor for three newspaper editors, editor of Marvel Comics, and a writer for Disney. He is the author of 59 books and serves as the managing editor of Rare Jewel Insight. Rick is co-author of The Secret Revealed (FaithWords, 2007).

David Pierce

David Pierce has had a dozen short stories published in Alfred Hichcock’s and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazines. He’s taught mystery writing workshops at Taylor University in Ft. Wayne, IN and works as a writing mentor for The Writer’s Loft, a continuing education program at Middle Tennessee State University, where he is also an adjunct professor of English. He’s co-written two children’s books with his comedian wife Chonda Pierce, both published by Zonderkidz (Tales from the Ark and Tales from the Manger). His new nonfiction book was released by WaterBrook Press in March of 2009 titled Don’t Let Me Go. What My Daughter Taught Me About the Journey Every Parent Must Make.

Michele is a writer, speaker, and voiceover talent who purposes to bring God's joy and hope to discouraged hearts. A graduate of the Christian Writers Guild, her writing credits include Vista, Parents Magazine, Adoptive Families Magazine, an entry in The One Year Life Verse Devotional (Tyndale 2007), and several articles for The Tri County Record. When she is not spending time with her husband and son, she is often online blogging, vlogging, and social networking.

Mabel has worked as a New Jersey Public School Educator for more than thirty years.  She serves on the Board of Directors of C.A.R.E. Ministries, Inc., and teaches Sunday School at The First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, NJ.  She is the author of The Double Dutch Club Series for girls and The Also Rans Series for boys (Moody Publishers/Lift Every Voice, Chicago). Mabel says, "I continue to be amazed by the powerfulness of God's Word, for His Living Word truly has the ability to heal wounded souls. Through the stories He has blessed me to write, I consider it an honor and a privilege to use the written word as a means of offering hope, encouragement, and inspiration to hurting children."             

Vonda is an author and speaker with a heart for women and their families. Her first women’s book, Seeing through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe, “takes a hilarious journey through all things female as we search for truth in a counterfeit world.” Appropriate for small group or individual study, the book is published by Regal/Gospel Light. She is also the author of a children’s mystery series, The Bitsy Burroughs Mysteries. The third book in the series, Bitsy and the Mystery at Hilton Head Island, is a SIBA Book Award Nominee.
     A retired RN and freelance writer, Vonda’s articles frequently appear in magazines such as HomeLife, ParentLife, Christian Single, and Focus on the Family publications. Vonda is also a playwright and lyricist, and her scripts have been performed in churches around the country. She is a frequent instructor at writer’s conferences and enjoys mentoring and encouraging new writers.
     Vonda and Gary have two daughters and four grandchildren. They’ve been married 40 years—and are still happy about it! 
     As one who tries—and often fails—to be like Christ, Vonda is thankful God continues to take her messes and use them for His glory!

Continuing Session - How to Develop a Writing & Speaking Ministry to Women
Paid Critiques - Children's novels, articles, and short stories; YA/Tween novels, articles, and short stories; sketches & skits; plays & drama; and nonfiction books and articles.
 

Those who were at our 2007 conference will remember Becky's moving presentation on the Children of Swaziland. She will have just returned from Swaziland several weeks before this year's GPCWC. Please be in prayer for her ministry there! Becky is an author, speaker, singer, and songwriter.

Workshops - Dealing with Distractions (5A)
Writing Christian Lyrics (1G)
 

Susan is the award-winning author of numerous novels. A three-time Christy award finalist, she’s also a three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and two-time winner of the ACFW Book of the Year. She currently has eighteen books on the market. Susan holds a B.A. in Mass Communications from the University of Minnesota and is a multi-published author of novellas and novels with Barbour, Steeple Hill, and Tyndale, writing both suspense/romance and chick-lit. A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s taught at the national ACFW conference for the past four years, as well as at regional seminars on topics ranging from a beginning writer’s track, to incorporating spiritual threads, plotting, and characterization.  After serving for eight years with her husband and four children as missionaries in Khabarovsk, Far East Russia, she now writes full-time while her husband runs a hotel on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota.

Earlybird Workshop - Become Your Own Book Therapist (Wednesday, 3:00 - 4:30)
Workshop - Love Me Tender: Writing a Great Romance Novel (3C)
Continuing Session -  How to Get Your Groove: An Introductory Course on Writing a Novel
Paid Critiques - Chick-lit; contemporary, romance, romantic suspense, women's fiction, action/adventure

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