Editor Appointments
The opportunity to have personal appointments with Editors and Agents , is a valuable highlight of the conference. These provide a great way to learn first-hand about the writing industry, to pitch your manuscript or work-in-progress, and to brainstorm ideas, get encouragement, and benefit from industry professionals.
All appointments are available on a first pay, first slotted basis. Appointments will be scheduled by the Conference Appointment Coordinator, Casey Miller. Appointments will be scheduled the week prior to conference, so if you want an appointment, please register by August 27, 2021! All times are CDT for the virtual conference. You will select multiple choices for your appointment needs when you register for the conference. You will be sent your appointment information a week prior to the virtual conference so that, if requested by the person you have an appointment with, you may submit documents to Casey, who will ensure the information is passed along to the correct person.
One of the most valuable connecting points at the ACFW conference is the opportunity for editor appointments. So many authors, so little time. In these appointments, an editor will quickly assess "Is this a storyline that interests me? Does this author demonstrate knowledge of the craft and of the Christian fiction industry? Is this worth exploring further?"
Title: Editor
Web Site: http://www.harlequin.com
Shana Asaro is the Editor for Harlequin’s Love Inspired series romance line. Having been with the company for over ten years, she enjoys working with authors on a variety of Christian romance. She’s always seeking fresh, exciting new voices in both contemporary inspirational romance and inspirational romantic suspense. Shana studied journalism in college and worked at a literary agency before coming to Harlequin. She lives in New York with her husband, daughter and dog.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
While having a complete manuscript ready is beneficial, it is not a requirement to pitch to me. Multiple editors from Love Inspired are attending the conference, so please choose only ONE of us to pitch to.
Guidelines: https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit/29570/love-inspired-55-000-words
Title: Acquisitions Editor
Web Site: https://www.tnzfiction.com/
Kimberly Carlton is an Acquisitions Editor with HCCP, where she’s been since 2016. She loves working collaboratively with the stellar team at HCCP and helping stories become the best that they can be. She has a lifelong love of reading, grammar, and languages of all kinds. Despite being bitten by a cheetah at age eleven, she retained her love of animals and now shares her home with her five-year-old German Shepherd puppy, Percy.
Not interested in seeing: Biblical fiction; Amish fiction; Middle Grade/Children’s
Appointment information:
Complete manuscripts preferred, but not required.
Guidelines:
Title: Associate Editor
Web Site: http://www.harlequin.com
Dina Davis is the Associate Editor for Harlequin’s Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense series romance lines, as well as the new Love Inspired Trade imprint. She’s interested in acquiring inspirational romance novels that pull the reader into the story with relatable characters, exciting and suspenseful plots, and emotional confessions of love. If your book includes strong female characters, multifaceted villains, and deep romantic conflicts, send it her way! Before starting at Harlequin six years ago, Dina worked at Guideposts Books and served internships at Good Housekeeping Research Institute, amNewYork, and Guideposts Magazine. In her free time, Dina loves traveling all over the world with her husband, visiting family in Pittsburgh, cheering on the Steelers, consuming stories in any format, and going to brunch with her friends. You can find Dina on Twitter @DinaJDavis.
Currently Seeking: Love Inspired consists of two inspirational romance lines and one inspirational trade fiction imprint: Love Inspired (contemporary romance 55,000 words), Love Inspired Suspense (contemporary romantic suspense 55,000 words) and Love Inspired Trade (inspirational fiction 90,000 words—must be agented). I’m especially interested in high-danger romantic suspense stories that have the hero and heroine fighting for their lives from beginning to end, emotional small-town contemporary romances that tug at the heartstrings, Amish romances, Westerns, stories with working dogs, and manuscripts that have unique twist on a common trope. I’m also looking for agented high concept inspirational fiction for the Love Inspired Trade imprint, including Amish fiction, Historical fiction, Historical Romance, Romantic Suspense, Domestic Thrillers, and Women’s Fiction.APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
While having a complete manuscript ready is beneficial, it is not a requirement to pitch to me. Multiple editors from Love Inspired are attending the conference, so please choose only ONE of us to pitch to.
Guidelines: https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit/29570/love-inspired-55-000-words and https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit/29572/love-inspired-suspense-55-000-words
Title: Fiction Editor
Web Site:
Info Coming Soon
Currently Seeking: What Chrism is looking for:* historical fiction and historical romance (any time period)
* contemporary romance
* women's fiction
* YA
We're not looking for:
* speculative or sci-fi
* children's books
A note for authors: Chrism is a Catholic and Orthodox press. You do not need to be Catholic or Orthodox to submit to us, but your story will need to reflect the respective worldview and appeal to Catholic and Orthodox readers.
Guidelines:
Title: Fiction Acquisitions Editor
Web Site:
Elizabeth Jackson is an acquisitions editor at Tyndale House Publishers, where she is involved in many steps of the book development process and manages Crazy4Fiction social media platforms that provide bookish content to fiction fans. An avid reader who loves a good story, Elizabeth enjoys meeting fiction writers, talking with authors about their manuscripts, and partnering in bringing great stories into the world as published novels. When she’s not in the office, you might find her reading a novel from her expansive book collection (preferably in her favorite park on a sunny day!), exploring the great outdoors, or maybe even watching a British television show.
Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Southern Fiction
Historical Fiction and Historical Romance not set in World War II
Women's Fiction
She is not interested in seeing YA, sci-fi or fantasy novels.
Please come prepared to discuss the hook of your story and what makes it uniquely marketable. One sheets may be submitted digitally the week of your appointment.
Guidelines:
Title: Executive Editor, Fiction
Web Site: http://www.bethanyhouse.com/
Dave Long serves as Executive Editor, Fiction, with Bethany House Publishers where he’s been working with talented best-selling and award-winning novelists across many genres since 2004. Prior to migrating to the editorial side of the company, he spent six years in the marketing department. He and his family live in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Not seeking: YA fiction in any genre. End times fiction. Sci-fi.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
Happy to meet with currently unpublished authors, but you’ll need to have completed at least a first draft of the novel you’d like to discuss.
Guidelines:
Title: Senior Acquisitions Editor
Web Site: http://www.bethanyhouse.com
Raela Schoenherr is a senior fiction acquisitions editor at Bethany House Publishers, where she’s been a member of the acquisitions team since 2008. She’s had the pleasure of working with award-winning and acclaimed authors and enjoys supporting writers as they craft new books for the readers of today. A graduate of Bethel University with a degree in business, she lives in Minneapolis, MN and loves to connect with writers on Twitter at @raelaschoenherr.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
I am willing to meet with authors in all stages of the writing process but Bethany House will only consider complete manuscripts for publication from debut authors. Attendees may send along a one sheet, synopsis, or proposal (or any combination of) prior to an appointment if they wish, but it’s not required.
Guidelines:
Title: Senior Editor
Web Site:
Jessica Sharpe (formerly Barnes) is a senior fiction editor at Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. She has been editing fiction for fifteen years and has worked with several best-selling and award-winning authors. Life has taken her from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains to Asia to New York City, but she’s currently based in the Twin Cities.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
Bethany House will only consider completed manuscripts from unpublished authors. If you are scheduled for an appointment with Jessica, feel free to send a one sheet, synopsis, or proposal ahead of time. Be sure to include at least a few pages of a writing sample.
Guidelines:
Title: Editor
Web Site: http://www.kregel.com
Janyre Tromp has worked in the CBA industry for more than twenty years, spending time in both marketing and editorial. Currently, she is a developmental and acquisitions editor for Kregel Publications by day and a writer at night. For the record, you pronounce her name Jan-air . . . like the stove, but not like the book. She loves talking about books and interacts regularly with authors on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/JanyreTromp) including biweekly writing and editing tips.
Currently Seeking: Kregel is a family-owned publisher who loves working with a variety of talented authors who regularly earn awards and achieve a best-selling status. Right now we’re looking for romance and its various subgenres, and historical and its various subgenres, approximately 70,000 to 90,000 words. We are not looking for speculative, fantasy, sci-fi, horror, or allegory. Ultimately, Kregel is interested in fiction that is entertaining and from a distinctly biblical worldview, with exceptional storytelling and a spiritual arc; with relatable characters, believable action, and natural dialogue. Kregel does not want blatantly preachy or agenda-driven stories.APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
I will talk with prospective authors at any stage of the writing process. For serious consideration, an author not previously published in the genre being pitched must have a completed manuscript. Requests a one sheet and/or proposal submitted prior to meeting.
Guidelines: http://www.kregel.com
Title: Acquisitions Editor
Web Site: http://www.thomasnelson.com
Laura Wheeler has over ten years of editorial experience in the CBA industry. She worked on titles for Hachette Book Group and Abingdon Press before becoming an acquisitions editor for HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan). Originally from Louisville, Laura currently lives in Nashville with her husband, Micah, and their very good canine boy, (Mr.) Knightley. She is most content when her days include baking French pastries, playing nerdy board games, laughing over a meal with good friends, and (of course) getting lost in an excellent novel.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
For unpublished authors, only request a meeting if you have a completed manuscript. Please submit a one-page pitch that highlights your hook and includes a brief synopsis.
Guidelines: http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/dept.asp?dept_id=1117900&category=Contact-Us#Submissions
Participation of an individual presenter, agent, editor, or publisher in the ACFW conference does not constitute endorsement by ACFW. Conference attendees are advised to use due diligence and take personal responsibility when choosing industry professionals with whom to schedule appointments or enter into agreement.