Workshop Leaders
Don Catlett: truly enjoys sharing the tools and skills he’s developed as a designer & marketing advisor over the past 20 years. As a freelance Wordpress & social media consultant who’s fascinated by content marketing, design, & technology, he transforms creative ideas into effective strategies. He helps his clients bring the right content to the right media, so it's ready at the right time. Looking for someone to help you tell your story on the web? Come along as Don guides you through the journey.
Michele Chynoweth: the bestselling & award-winning author of
The Faithful One, The Peace Maker, The Runaway Prophet and
The Jealous Son, contemporary suspense novels that re-imagine Bible stories. Michele is also a speaker, college writing instructor, book coach, graduate of the University of Notre Dame, & lives in North East, MD.
Sue Fairchild: has self-published four of her own books as well as helped numerous authors to publish theirs. After starting as a freelance editor, she now works for Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., Redemption Press, & Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She’s also an editor for The Christian Pen, Vice President of the St. Davids Christian Writers’ Association, & coordinator of her local critique group.
Marsha Hubler: Marsha is the best-selling author of 21 books and has had experience publishing with royalty companies like Zondervan and Elk Lake Publishing and has also gone the self-publishing route for several of her books. Writing and editing other authors’ work for over 30 years, she has vast knowledge of all aspects of the business. She’s been the MCWC director since 2015.
Matthew K. Holliday: has been with PAMagazine since 1992. Although his title is “Editor,” his job includes all aspects of the publication process: working with contributors through coordinating production & marketing the magazine to potential subscribers. He enjoys working with regular & new contributors to obtain engaging material. He lives with his wife, teen son, & two golden retrievers in Mechanicsburg.
Jeanette Levellie: As a former history teacher and newspaper columnist, Jeanette is the author or co-author of 6 devotional/humor books & has contributed to ten anthologies, including two Chicken Soup for the Soul volumes. Her articles and stories have appeared in Focus on the Family, War Cry, and Country magazines. She recently began writing for Guideposts due to a class she attended here at Montrose! This is her fourth time to teach at Montrose, which she considers a slice of heaven on earth. Jen is the mother of two, grandma of three, and servant of three (cats). Find her splashes of hope and humor at www.jeanettelevellie.com
Joyce Magnin: the author of more than 12 books, including the acclaimed Bright’s Pond series, the Harriet Beamer novels, Maybelle in Stitches (Quilts of Love Series) and 4 middle grade novels,
Boxing Emily,
Jelly Bean Summer,
Carrying Mason,
Cake-Love, &
Chickens and Taste of Peculiar, which was awarded a Kirkus starred review. Her debut novel,
The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow was named one of the top 5 titles of 2009 by
Library Journal & was a Carol Award finalist.
Zoe M. McCarthy: the author of 6 contemp. Christian romances containing humor & tenderness. Her nonfiction book,
Tailor Your Fiction Manuscript in 30 Days, is designed to shape a not-yet-submitted, a rejected, or a self-published manuscript with low ratings into a book that shines. The book can also be a guiding resource for writers starting a manuscript. Zoe is a member of Word Weavers & Amer. Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband in the Blue Ridge Mountains of VA.
Cindy K. Sproles: is the manag. editor for Straight Street Books & Son Rise Devotionals (imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas), & the exec. editor of
ChristianDevotions.us &
InspireaFire.com. She travels nationwide teaching at writers’ conferences & women's conferences. She’s a bestselling author & serves as a writing mentor. The author of 9 non-fiction & two fiction books, her devotions are published over the eastern seaboard.
Diane Stark: Diane is all about the short stuff. She loves to write articles and personal experience pieces for Guideposts, Angels on Earth, and Mysterious Ways. She is a contributing editor at All Creatures Magazine and has been published in 50 Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She loves to teach others how to write the short stuff too.
Tiffany Stockton: is an award-winning & best-selling author of 23 novels with 400,000 copies in print. She has a B.S. in education & is a graduate of CLASS (Christian Leaders & Speakers Services). With 17 years in the writing industry, she has spoken at the Colorado & Philly Christian Writers Conferences, at ACFW, & has been an annual instructor on ACFW’s online conference.
Dave Weiss: Dave’s life was transformed by 2 events, someone introducing him to Jesus and someone showing how his art could be used to glorify God. Today Dave is a pastor/speaker and the author/illustrator of 18 books, ranging from children’s books to non-?ction books on creative ministry.
Annette Whipple: is the author of 5 nonfiction children’s books. This year
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide & Whooo Knew? The Truth about Owls will be published. Annette has experience writing magazine articles & Sunday school materials. She learned to love science & history as an environmental educator & classroom teacher. Annette lives in Oxford, PA, with her husband & 3 children.
Karen Whiting: is an international speaker, former TV host, & award-winning author of 18 books. She’s written more than 600 articles for more than 60 publications. Karen writes for Leading Hearts Magazine & Molly Green Magazine. She also writes for women, families, children, & the military. Her bestsellers include
God’s Girls & My Princess Devotions.
WORSHIP LEADER
Kathy Brittain: Kathy is pleased to be back at the Montrose Bible Conference where, as a young musician, she refined her musical skills, working with many Godly, talented artists. As an accomplished pianist, blending both old and new, her music has been a blessing to many.
Having recently joined the ABWE missionary team, she and her husband Bill will be serving Liberians (West Africa) by helping the indigenous church through compassion and Gospel ministries.
Professional Critiques
This is a great opportunity to have your work evaluated by a published professional. You will receive a written evaluation of your manuscript plus a 30-minute private appointment to discuss ways to improve and/or market your piece.
Register for MCWC by June 10th and request guidelines for emailing your manuscript. $40.00 per critique.
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MICHELE CHYNOWETH – FICTION (5)
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SUE FAIRCHILD – PERS. EXPERIENCE & OTHER NONFICTION (4)
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JOYCE MAGNIN – JUVENILE FICTION – NO LIMIT
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ZOE MCCARTHY – ADULT FICTION (1)
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CINDY SPROLES – DEVOTIONS (NO LIMIT)
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TIFFANY STOCKTON – HISTORICAL ROMANCE, CONTEMPORARY FICTION (3)
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ANNETTE WHIPPLE – CHILDREN’S NONFICTION (2)
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KAREN WHITING – KIDS’ DEVOS, BK. PROPOSALS, MARKETING, ARTICLES (NO LIMIT)
Other Opportunities
EDITORIAL APPOINTMENTS
Private 15-minute appointments with editors and agents to show them your work, which may be suitable for their publications and/or to discuss ideas for stories. Sign-up sheets available at the conference. Bring professionally prepared manuscripts. Be sure to bring copies! No charge.
WORK-IN-PROGRESS
FOUR-SESSION WORK-IN-PROGRESS: Adult fiction ($40) Limit: 8 conferees
ONE-SESSION WORK-IN-PROGRESS: Songwriting ($20) Limit: 8 conferees on Wednesday afternoon.
CRITIQUE GROUPS and GENRES of INTEREST GROUPS
Opportunity for feedback from other writers. No charge. Held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 4:30pm.
BOOK TABLE
Features books by faculty and conferees. When registering, please indicate books you’ve written which you would like to sell. Please tag all books with prices rounded to a dollar.
PRIVATE BLOGGING LESSONS
Work one-on-one with social media guru, Don Catlett, to start a blog or upgrade the one you have. Each 45-minute session is $20.
RECORDINGS
Listen to the sessions you missed or those you want to hear again.
EVENING EVENTS
MONDAY: "Exercise Your Editing Expertise" with Elk Lake Editor, Sue Fairchild.
OR “Masterpiece Paint Class” – Artist Dave Weiss will take you step-by-step from a blank canvas to a finished work of art. He promises that “anyone can do it” with his help. Cost $20.
TUESDAY: FREE TIME or REHEARSAL FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING
WEDNESDAY: SINGSPIRATION - If you love to sing, this is your night! Join our MCWC choir (practice Tuesday evening with our worship leader, Kathy Brittain or just come to enjoy singing some of our favorite contemporary pieces as well as hymns that have stood the test of time. Learn the history of some of our most favorite hymns as we worship our wonderful God in song.
THURSDAY: WRITERS’ THEATER- another opportunity for you to shine! Bring your own work, an excerpt from a short story, memoir, novel, or a poem trimmed to three minutes and read it to the conferees at the Writers’ Theater, a delightful program that celebrates your creativity.