The Christy Award Art of Writing Seminar

November 6, 2026 | 12:00–5:00 PM

Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel
Nashville, Tennessee

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ADD-ON | BEYOND THE BOOK: GET TO KNOW THE AUTHORS RECEPTION | 10 am
Network with the authors at this morning event! Sign up on the registration form.

Grow your craft. Deepen your insight. Connect with the heartbeat of Christian storytelling at The Christy Award Art of Writing Seminar—a focused, high-impact afternoon designed for writers, storytellers, and publishing professionals.

A Conference with Purpose: Curated by Laura Wheeler, Senior Acquisitions Editor at Thomas Nelson Fiction / HarperCollins Christian Publishing, this year’s conference brings together industry expertise and practical guidance in one information-packed experience. Through four thoughtfully designed sessions, attendees will explore key “pulse points” shaping today’s Christian fiction landscape—equipping you with the tools, perspective, and inspiration needed to move your writing and publishing journey forward.

Who Should Attend? Aspiring and established authors - Storytellers seeking to refine their craft - Publishing professionals and industry insiders - Anyone passionate about the future of Christian fiction

Join Us: Whether you’re developing your first manuscript or navigating the evolving publishing world, this conference offers meaningful insights and valuable connections.

Session One:

State of the Industry: What's Changing, What's Selling, and What You Can Do About It

Panel moderated by Laura Wheeler

The Christian fiction marketplace is shifting—and the authors who thrive will be the ones who understand why. This panel of publishing professionals opens with a data-driven look at the current state of Christian publishing, drawing on the latest market research to map what's actually moving books today. From there, the conversation gets practical: how platform sales really work, what authors can do to actively support their books, and why audio is the format no one can afford to ignore. Whether you're traditionally published or exploring indie paths, you'll leave with a clearer picture of the industry landscape and concrete next steps for your own author education.

Author

Laura Wheeler

Laura Wheeler is the senior acquisitions editor of Thomas Nelson Fiction, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. With over fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, she specializes in editing fiction across a wide range of genres—including romance, Southern fiction, women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction—helping authors bring compelling stories to readers. Laura lives in Louisville with her husband, two children, and one very good canine boy. Outside of work, she is happiest baking French pastries, playing nerdy board games, sharing laughs over a meal with friends, and (of course) getting lost in an excellent novel.

Author

Kelsey Bowen

Kelsey Bowen is a Senior Acquisitions Editor at Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, where she acquires both fiction and nonfiction. She has a degree in creative writing and, when she’s not editing, she can be found dancing as a member of C. Glass Dance Company, or curled up somewhere reading fiction with a strong cup of coffee close by. She is the Worship Director for her church, and sells her cakes and cupcakes to friends and family in the West Michigan area (find her on Instagram @kelseybooksandbakes). She currently lives with her husband Kyle, their daughters Peyton and Lauren, and their dog Izzo, in Allendale, MI. Working in acquisitions at Revell is her dream come true!

Author

Stephanie Broene

Stephanie is the Publisher of Fiction at Tyndale House Publishers. For the past twenty 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 has been an avid fan of fiction of all genres for as long as she can remember. 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 has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with concentrations in writing and psychology from Calvin University; she is a two-time recipient of ACFW’s Editor of the Year Award. Outside of work, she loves to be active and enjoy life with her husband and their three young kids.

Author

Nick Gilbert

Nick Gilbert's publishing career had an unlikely start. He studied accounting at Belmont University and began as an auditor checking other people's numbers, then decided he'd rather make his own instead. Twenty years into publishing now, the last six at HarperCollins Christian, he leads the digital sales team across platforms like Audible, Spotify, OverDrive, Hoopla, and many more. Under his leadership, the digital channel has posted three straight record years.

Author

Becky Monds

Becky Monds is the Associate Publisher for Thomas Nelson Fiction. She has been lucky enough to have worked in the publishing industry for over 20 years now. When she isn’t reading, she enjoys crafting, watching British TV, and spending time with her husband and three children.

Author

Kerri Potts

Kerri Potts is the Marketing Director at HarperCollins Christian Publishing. She is a strong marketing professional skilled in Advertising, Sales, Content Management Systems (CMS), Management, and Marketing.

Session Two:

AI and the Christian Author: Ethics, Opportunity, and a Rapidly Changing Landscape

Panel moderated by Jeff Crosby, ECPA President

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the publishing landscape faster than anyone predicted—and for many authors, it's raising as many questions as it eyebrows. This panel brings together diverse industry voices to cut through the noise with clarity and hard-won wisdom. What can AI legitimately help you do? Where are the ethical lines—and why do they keep moving? What do you need to know to protect yourself legally and act with integrity as a creative? This session is about being informed, staying anchored in your values, and navigating a fast-changing landscape with wisdom.

Author

Jeff Crosby

Jeff Crosby is the president of ECPA and an organizational leader and writer who has spent more than four decades working in the world of words and ideas through roles in bookselling and book publishing. He is the author of "The Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of Our Hearts" (Broadleaf, 2023), "World of Wonders: A Spirituality of Reading" (Paraclete Press, 2025), and the editor and compiler of "Days of Grace Through the Year" (IVP, 2007), a collection of meditations drawn from the work of bestselling author Lewis B. Smedes. He is currently at work on "The Spirit in the Sky: The Power of Music in Our Search for Graceland" (Bloomsbury, 2026). His previous written work has appeared in numerous publications including CRUX, Conversations Journal, Living Lutheran Magazine, Urban Faith, Books & Culture, Christian Retailing, Publishers Weekly, Together (UK) and ExploreFaith.org.

Author

Chad Harrington

Chad Harrington is an entrepreneur, publisher, and writer working at the intersection of books, technology, and Christian formation. He is the CEO of PublishRight, an AI-powered editorial software built for book publishers, and the publisher of Oaks Press. His experience across editing, design, production, audio books, and publishing strategy gives him a practical perspective on both the opportunities and the ethical questions AI presents for authors and publishers. Chad studied at Ozark Christian College and Asbury Theological Seminary. His current research at the University of Aberdeen explores the unity of the Johannine writings in the work of Irenaeus. He is the coauthor of The Revolutionary Disciple and the author of Your Spiritual Formation Plan.

Author

Hannah Johnson

Hannah Johnson is the Chief Customer Officer at Veristage, a technology company focused on helping publishing organizations improve their workflows with AI. In her role, Hannah works closely with publishers on how to use and integrate Veristage's AI tools across their work.With two decades of publishing experience, Hannah has broad expertise across various sectors of the global book business. Previously, she was the publisher of Publishing Perspectives, a leading online trade magazine covering the global book publishing industry.Hannah has also worked with the Frankfurt Book Fair, where she managed international partnerships, communication and marketing initiatives, and event strategies in close collaboration with cultural and publishing organizations around the world. When she's not working, Hannah can probably be found in the kitchen baking cookies, out for a run along the Tennessee River, or reading a book.

Author

Joshua Tallent

Joshua Tallent is the Director of Sales and Education at Firebrand Technologies, where his focus is on helping publishers of all sizes learn about, and find solutions to, their workflow and metadata problems. Joshua’s background is deeply rooted in ebook development, metadata, and other publishing technologies, and he is an acclaimed teacher and guide on the role of data and AI in publishing. He serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the BISG Board of Directors and is the host of the BookSmarts Podcast, which features practical discussions and interviews about publishing data and technologies. In his spare time, Joshua enjoys teaching Bible studies, playing complex board games, and fiddling with his home automation system.

Session Three:

Soul of the Writer, Heart of the Story: Writing Fiction That Reaches Every Reader

Panel moderated by Laura Wheeler

The metrics are loud. The algorithms are relentless. And somewhere in the middle of it all, there's a writer trying to create something that actually matters. This session begins with the writer and asks what it takes to stay spiritually and creatively whole in an industry that never stops measuring. From that foundation, the conversation moves into craft: how do you write fiction that carries deep conviction without losing readers who don't share your faith? What's the difference between a story that illuminates and one that lectures? How do you make those choices at the level of character, scene, and structure? This is a session for authors who believe their stories are for something—and want to write them in a way that proves it.

Author

Laura Wheeler

Laura Wheeler is the senior acquisitions editor of Thomas Nelson Fiction, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. With over fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, she specializes in editing fiction across a wide range of genres—including romance, Southern fiction, women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction—helping authors bring compelling stories to readers. Laura lives in Louisville with her husband, two children, and one very good canine boy. Outside of work, she is happiest baking French pastries, playing nerdy board games, sharing laughs over a meal with friends, and (of course) getting lost in an excellent novel.

Author

Johanna Vann

Johanna Vann is the Christy-award-winning author of An American Immigrant. Her debut novel also won Best First Book at the 2024 International Latino Book Awards and was a finalist for the Tennessee State Book Award. When she's not writing inspirational novels, you can find her updating her Substack The Crunchy Convert, baking bread for her family, or chasing her four kids around libraries and playgrounds.

Session Four:

Fix That Manuscript: Inside the Author-Editor Relationship

What actually happens when an editor gets their hands on your manuscript—and how do the best author-editor partnerships improve the work without making it smaller? This Q&A session pulls back the curtain on the editorial process with real manuscript pages, real edits, and a real conversation between an author and editor who have done this work together. You'll learn the difference between different levels of editing and walk away with a clearer understanding of what to expect—and how to get the most—from your editorial relationships.

Author

Laura Wheeler

Laura Wheeler is the senior acquisitions editor of Thomas Nelson Fiction, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. With over fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, she specializes in editing fiction across a wide range of genres—including romance, Southern fiction, women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction—helping authors bring compelling stories to readers. Laura lives in Louisville with her husband, two children, and one very good canine boy. Outside of work, she is happiest baking French pastries, playing nerdy board games, sharing laughs over a meal with friends, and (of course) getting lost in an excellent novel.

Author

Vanessa Miller

Vanessa Miller is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of The Filling Station, The American Queen, The Ladies Hall, and more than 50 other titles that explore deep themes of redemption, resilience, and faith. The recipient of the Oklahoma Book Award, Christy Award, Audie Award and American Fiction Award, she also wears the hats of playwright, motivational speaker, and retreat host—channeling her storytelling gift across multiple creative platforms. She lives with her family in North Carolina and can be found online at vanessamiller.com.

Author

Marybeth Whalen

Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is the author of Every Moment Since and 9 previous novels. Marybeth received a BA in English with a concentration in Writing and Editing from NC State University a long time ago and has been writing ever since. She is the co-founder of The Book Tide, an online community of readers where “a rising tide raises all books.” Marybeth and her husband Curt are the parents of six kids who are now all in various stages of adulting. A native of Charlotte, NC, Marybeth now calls Sunset Beach, NC home.

We thank the following organizations for their promotional support:

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We thank the following companies for their support of the industry and this program:

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