A WHALIN of a tale . . .

If you know Christian publishing, you've heard the name Terry Whalin--he's been a writer, editor, agent, publisher. You name it, he's done it in Christian publishing. So the question is . . . how did KCWC snag him as keynote speaker this year?

It all started back in March of last year, when the KCWC committee brainstormed for a speaker. Time was of the essence, as someone needed to be identified in time to be announced at the 2008 conference.

The requirements for a speaker were quite specific and quite unusual. If they had run a classified ad for a keynote, it would have sounded something like this:

KEYNOTE SPEAKER NEEDED FOR CHRISTIAN WRITING CONFERENCE. Must be male (we're not chauvinist pigs--'08 speaker was a woman, and we like to alternate); looking for a "big name" to draw people in; must have strong roots in Christian publishing; Kentucky connection a major plus.

Usually a person with such characteristics doesn't magically appear at your door, but we at KCWC are praying people. In late March, KCWC committee member Emily Akin posted an announcement promoting KCWC and the conference website on Christian Writers Fellowship International's Yahoo group. The next morning she opened her email and found a message from one Terry Whalin.

Once she picked her jaw up from the floor, she opened the message, in which Whalin expressed interest in being on faculty for 2009 conference. He mentioned his "deep family roots" in Kentucky, included several topics on which he could speak, and added that he would have a new book out in time for KCWC '09.

Akin passed the information on to '09 conference chair Judy Sliger, who pitched Whalin to the overall committee. By the first week of June '08, days before the conference, he was onboard as the '09 keynote.

Akin says that the whole process was a "God thing," as she had no intention of getting a keynote speaker through her posting to the Yahoo group. She never thought Whalin would be interested in KCWC, because he is in so much demand in larger venues. Akin also wasn't aware of Whalin's Kentucky connections and figured the fact that he now lives in Arizona would be a stumbling block.

God knows our needs, and He cares about every detail, from the largest to the smallest. Sit back and see how He meets YOUR needs and moves in YOUR details at KCWC '09.

Visit our website for conference details and registration information, http://www.kychristianwriters.com.

Ashland Daily Independent Interviews Whalin

We've been excited about having Terry Whalin as our 2009 featured speaker, and we've provided links to his sites and blogs so you could get to know more about him.

But, there's more. His hometown newspaper has published an interview that goes in depth on Terry's connection to Kentucky. Read the entire article online here.

We are so fortunate to have Whalin as our featured speaker this year. If there's anything you need to know about the publishing industry, Terry can give you first-hand information. And he goes the extra mile for beginning writers.

If you're still undecided about whether you're attending this year, let me tell you something. This is one that you don't want to miss.

Registration information here.

Book Proposal Advice from KCWC Faculty

Less than a month to KCWC 2009 kickoff! If you haven't registered yet, Monday, May 18th is the deadline for early registration discount. Register today.

Time to get those writing samples and book proposals ready for conference. We often get questions on where to find information about writing book proposals. One of our faculty, Jim Watkins, was kind enough to provide a link to book proposal instructions on his website:

http://jameswatkins.com/proposals.htm

Your book proposal not only gives information about your book, but it also shows that you have done your homework. It proves to the editors that can give the publishers what they need, when they need it, and in the required format.

Our featured speaker, Terry Whalin, has published a book entitled Book Proposals That Sell. It's available in print or as an e-book. Find out more on Terry's site.

Terry also provides a wealth of other writing-related information on his site, www.right-writing.com.

If you have questions about registration, e-mail the registrar at kcwcregistrar(a)gmail.com.

Faculty Book Reviews on Blog

I meant to post this message sometime in May, but I made a mistake today that makes it necessary for me to go ahead and post it now.

You may have just received a blog post containing a book review that seemed to have nothing to to with KCWC. Well, you're right. It didn't! Somehow, I managed to select the wrong blog from my Blogger dashboard when I posted that one. I did delete the post from the KCWC blog, but I couldn't stop it from sending the feed to subscribers.

Now, let me tell you about my book review blog. Earlier this year, I decided I wanted to post reviews of books by our 2009 KCWC faculty so that potential conferees could become familiar with some of these writers' work. I may add some more during May, so you might want to bookmark the blog or subscribe. For now, here are the direct links to faculty reviews:

Terry Whalin: Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams

Virginia Smith: Just as I Am

Lettie Kirkpatrick Burress: Glimpses of Grace: Stories of Hope

James Watkins: Squeezing the Good Out of Bad

Michael Brewer: Lessons from the Carpenter

If new reviews are posted, I will try to remember to announce it on the KCWC blog.

And again, my apologies for the "blog post from outer space."

PS---May 10th is the deadline for early registration and senior discounts. Visit the website now: http://www.kychristianwriters.com.

Worth The Cost

If you are anything like me (and I suspect you are), you are counting the cost when you consider coming to a writers' conference. There is no doubt that you will be investing in your own writing career and future when you take the time, energy and money to attend the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference.

In the next few minutes, I want to give you four reasons to attend. From my perspective, there are many more than four reasons and I've been attending writers' conferences on a regular basis since the early 80s (over 20 years).

1. Come to grow and learn. You may think you are coming to the conference to meet a particular editor and show them some of your writing. There is nothing wrong with that reason but I recommend you come to the conference with an open attitude to learn and grow as a writer. I always learn something at each conference. After all of the books and magazine articles, I continually learn new skills and insights into the Christian and general marketplace. I do not have it all figured out. I'm coming to the KCWC to learn and grow. Join me.

2. Come to be inspired and renewed. Writing is a solitary profession. Each of us sit at our keyboard or with our pens and paper to write words which we hope others will want to read. I attend conferences to gain that shot of encouragement and renewal. You will find it at KCWC. Join me.

3. Come to make some new relationships. Often within the publishing community, it is who you know as much as what you know. And you never know who will suddenly change positions and become a key player in the community. I encourage you to attend the conference to meet as many people at the conference that you can meet--whether a fellow conference attendee or on the faculty. Everyone has a story and you can make lifelong friends at KCWC. Join me.

4. Come for the unpredictable God moments. The surprising and unexpected also happens at every conference. As Christians, we understand that God orders our steps and plans out surprise encounters. It will happen at KCWC. Some people call these "pack your bag moments" or even if it is in the first few minutes of the conference you can pack your bags and go home and you will have received what you needed at that event. Those moments will be happening at KCWC. Join me.

I've got some other reasons and tips to prepare for a writer's conference at this link.

Many years ago, I was one of the few journalists who have interviewed bestselling author Chuck Swindoll. Dr. Swindoll is a gracious individual in person and his personality comes through his books or on the radio or in the pulpit. Chuck told me, "Terry, there are no heroes in the body of Christ. We are all like a bunch of guys in the back of a pick-up truck trying to get our stuff together." Each of us have our place and I believe you can gain insight and perspective while at KCWC. Join me.

I look forward to meeting you in June. I'm anticipating each of these four reasons and much more during our time together at the conference.

-- Terry Whalin

Introducing Terry Whalin, 2009 Featured Speaker and Guest Blogger

In the next few days, the KCWC blog posts will increase in frequency as we gear up for Conference 2009. Featured speaker Terry Whalin will be a regular guest blogger beginning later this week. Although we are introducing him today, he will provide more details about himself and give you ideas on what to expect as you prepare for conference in June.

At Conference 2008, Emcee Carlton Hughes announced our 2009 featured speaker as follows:

"Mark your calendars for June 19-20, 2009. Our featured speaker next year understands both sides of the editorial desk–as an editor and a writer. He worked as an editor for Decision and In Other Words magazines. His articles have appeared in more than 50 publications including Writer’s Digest, The Writer and Christianity Today. He is the creator and Webmaster for Right-Writing.com.

Do you know who it is yet? He is a native of Kentucky. In fact, one of the counties was named after his five-great grandfather--and his mother lives in Frankfort. A building on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University is named for one of his relatives.

Still don’t know? He’s a journalism graduate of Indiana University, and he has written more than 60 nonfiction books. His latest is Book Proposals That Sell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. For more than 12 years he was an Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Gold Medallion judge in the fiction category. He has written extensively about Christian fiction and reviewed numerous fiction books in publications such as Faithful Reader.com and BookPage. He was an acquisitions editor in the book divisions of Cook Communications and Howard Books. And, now he is a literary agent living in Scottsdale, AZ.

If you haven’t guessed by now, I’ll tell you that next year’s featured speaker is Terry Whalin. You will not want to miss KCWC 2009."

Like the publishing industry itself, Terry's life has changed since June, 2008. Terry is no longer a literary agent. He is now a publisher with Intermedia Publishing Group, and his newest book is Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams.

The KCWC committee has been excited about having Terry as our featured speaker for some time now. We pray that each person who needs to benefit from Terry's extensive experience in Christian publishing will have the opportunity of attending KCWC 2009.

Planning to attend? Don't wait:

• Go to our website and check out the details.
• Register early for the best chance of getting the faculty appointment you want.
• Subscribe to this blog to receive updates on conference details and blog posts from Terry and other faculty.
• E-mail akinemily(a)gmail.com if you need help with the subscription process.

2009 Registration Now Open - Don't Wait!

Just a quick post to let you know that we are now ready to take registrations for KCWC 2009. If you've been following this blog, you know we have a great conference planned with Terry Whalin as our featured speaker.

On our website, there is a quick-reference list on the home page, so take a minute to visit the site and take the tour.

Responding to evaluations from past conferences, we're doing some things differently this year. Most notable is the new procedure for faculty appointment sign-up. It's described in detail on the registration page on the website. Primarily, you will want to know that you will request your appointment at registration and not on the first day of conference. More about this on subsequent posts, but, for now, please take the full tour of the website.

If you have questions, e-mail me. Subscribe to this blog if you haven't already.

Website Is Up!

I've been excited about conference 2009 since conference 2008 ended, but my excitement level is building daily! Just a quick note to tell you that conference details are up on the KCWC website. Registration is not open yet, but here is a quick guide to basic information.

Schedule: Three keynotes by Terry Whalin, editor panel, writer panel, workshops, private appointments, networking opportunities! Check it out.

Workshop Descriptions and Faculty Bios: God has blessed us with a fantastic faculty for 2009! Beginners, there's a two-part workshop for beginning writers. For the more experienced, there's a wide variety of topics for your information and inspiration.

Fees and Private Appointment Guidelines: Although registration is not yet open, the fee schedule is on the Registration page. Our private appointment process will work differently this year. You will not wait until first day of conference to sign up for private appointments. In fact, if you wait, you may miss the opportunity altogether. You will indicate your preferences when you pre-register and receive your appointment card when you check in at conference. More private appointments will be available because the entire faculty will be taking appointments. Register early (but not yet), as appointment preferences will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis.

Other: Hotel information is not available yet but coming soon. Driving instructions to Northside Baptist Church are on the home page. Direct your questions to Judy Sliger, conference coordinator. Or better yet---ask questions by commenting on this blog. Then everyone will see your question and the answer.

There will be another blog post announcing when registration is open. Subscribe if you haven't already.

Five W’s for KCWC: Why?

Today’s post is the last in the series of Five W’s for KCWC: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. If you have a question that we have not covered in these posts, don’t hesitate to contact us by commenting on this blog or by e-mailing us.

Why does KCWC offer a conference every year? In the beginning, it was Kate Thomas’ dream that there would be a regular Christian writers conference in Central Kentucky. Since 1995, KCWC has been organized and perpetuated by a volunteer committee, some of whom are published writers. Other committee members are aspiring writers whose “day job” is teaching or working in business. The conference, formerly called seminar, is held annually because of the need for continuity. Many attendees have built lasting relationships with writers and editors they have met at KCWC. I know I look forward to renewing friendships with the people I’ve met at conference. The primary reason we have conference every year is outlined in our mission statement.

“The purpose of the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference is to provide an annual event to equip and encourage writers in their quest for publication. The conference will provide a safe environment where writers can discover their gifts and share their work."

Why should I consider attending KCWC this year? Judy Sliger, our 2009 coordinator, provided us with a list of ten reasons Christian writers should attend KCWC. Some of those reasons are humorous, but the last one is serious. If God has called you to write, a writers’ conference is a good place to explore the possibilities and learn from others who have answered the same call.

If you’ve never attended a writers conference before, it’s wise to start with a small conference so that you can get your feet wet without being overwhelmed. If you are a published writer who has never attended KCWC, please consider attending this year. We have a marvelous faculty including featured speaker, Terry Whalin, native Kentuckian and current resident of Arizona. Don’t miss this chance to glean from Terry’s extensive experience in the Christian publishing industry. Take a look at our website’s Conference Details page for faculty bios and workshop descriptions. While you’re there, take a look at the schedule and the registration page where fees and appointment procedures are listed.

Why should you subscribe to this blog? Because you will get real-time conference updates as we prepare for this year’s conference. Also, whether you can come this year or not, you can keep up with what we’re doing and keep us in mind for next year.

Journalism’s Five W’s and KCWC

The KCWC steering committee meets this week. We’re working on faculty and scheduling to complement our featured speaker Terry Whalin’s perspective as writer, editor, and agent. Please pray for the committee throughout the year. We know that your prayer support helps us make the right decisions.

We now have two bloggers, Carlton Hughes (God's Prof), publicity/publications chairperson for 2009, and me, Emily Akin, webmaster and faculty chairperson. We encourage you to comment on the blog, as that helps us move up in the search engine hierarchy, making it easier for people looking for a Christian writers conference in KY to find us. Besides, we just like hearing from you. If you are not familiar with the comment process, please don't hesitate to e-mail me for assistance.

My next few posts will be organized around the Five W’s of journalism: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. I’ll be posting the names of the committee members as soon as that list is complete (Who). Then I’ll progress through the other four w’s. By the time we’re done, you’ll have a more complete picture how KCWC works and why you should attend in 2009.

Blessings,
Emily Akin

Pray for KCWC 2008-2009

A number of people pray for KCWC year-round. Each month, when the steering committee meets, a one-hour prayer session precedes the business meeting. Whether you are a past conferee or a potential future attendee, please include KCWC in your prayers.

Why pray for KCWC 2008? It's over and done. True, the actual conference is over, but the people who attended will be applying what they've learned over the next few months. They'll be acting on the inspiration received, and they'll realize the benefit of regularly meeting with other writers and editors to hone their craft. Pray that God will use each and every person who attended KCWC 2008 to accomplish his purpose.

And, please pray for KCWC 2009, for Coordinator Judy Sliger and bloggers Emily Akin and Carlton Hughes. Pray also for our featured speaker, Terry Whalin. Take a few minutes to read Terry's testimony. We'll bring more details about Terry in future blog posts, so be sure to subscribe or check back periodically.

Then, be sure to put June 19-20, 2009, on your calendar, and include attending KCWC in your plans for next year.