Keynote Profile: Doc Hensley

Dennis Hensley, Ph.D., breathes life into aspiring writers who have not quite figured out their niche, as well as to experienced writers who find themselves in a slump. He’s brilliant, on fire with purpose and passion for the craft of writing, and his enthusiasm is contagious.

“Doc” Hensley is the author of 52 published books, including How to Write What You Love and Make a Living at It (Random House), The Freelance Writer’s Handbook (Harper-Collins), and Teach Yourself Grammar and Style in 24 Hours (Macmillan). His six novels include The Gift (Harvest House). His book on futurism, Millennium Approaches (Avon), was a best-seller, as was his motivational book, The Power of Positive Productivity (Possibility Press). As an academic scholar, his research has been published in The Pacific Historian, The Ball State University Forum, Echoes, and The Jack London Newsletter.

Hensley is director of the Department of Professional Writing at Taylor University, where he holds the rank of full professor. He holds four degrees in communications, including a Ph.D. in English from Ball State University.

His more than 3,000 published short stories and articles have appeared in Reader's Digest, The Writer, People, The Detroit Free Press, The War Cry, Downbeat, The Pacific Historian, Writer's Digest, The Secret Place, The Upper Room, and Essence, among many others. He is a columnist for Advanced Christian Writer and for MNB: Metro North Business Magazine. Dr. Hensley is a recipient of the "Elizabeth Sherrill Lifetime Achievement Award for Writing and Speaking" and the "Indiana University Award for Teaching Excellence."

During 1970-71 Hensley served as a sergeant in the United States Army and was awarded six medals for service in Vietnam. Currently, he sits on the Board of Directors of the Christian Writers' Guild and the Midwest Writers Workshop. He is an annual judge for all three of the major Christian writing competitions. A popular speaker at writers' conferences worldwide, he will be our keynote speaker at this year’s Kentucky Christian Writers Conference in Elizabethtown.

If you’ve been wondering how to act on God’s call to speak and to write for Him, come to this year’s Kentucky Christian Writers Conference and be inspired by a man who’s been doing these things successfully for decades.

--Reverend Constance Darnell, Advisory Board, Kentucky Christian Writers Conference