2008 Cedar Falls Christian Writers' Workshop - JUNE 11–14, 2008
Wednesday 8:00 AM to Saturday Noon
Riverview Conference Center
Registration Information
Click here to access the registration form. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, we will have a cap on enrollment of 35 workshop participants this year.
Event/Speaker Information
The Cedar Falls Christian Writers’ Workshop is held each year in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Our 2008 conference will be held from June 11-14. Featured presenters will be Timothy J. Beals, President and Chief Solutions Officer of Credo Communications and Lynn Austin.
The purpose of this workshop is to provide an intimate environment for writers to hone their craft and learn from experienced professionals.
Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write for many years but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.
Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.
Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published twelve novels. Three of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, and Fire by Night have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, and 2004 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.
Timothy J. Beals owns Credo Communications, LLC, a company that works with Christian ministry leaders and publishers, and authors to develop life-changing books, Bible-related products, and other Christian resources. In his role as agent, Tim represents some of the leading writers and thinkers in the realm of Christian publication today.
Tim Beals was graduated summa cum laude from Cornerstone University (B.A.) with a major in English and with distinction from Western Michigan University (M.A.) with an emphasis in professional writing. Prior to starting Credo Communications, Tim served as founder and publisher of World Vision Press, associate publisher of Bibles at Zondervan, and as managing editor of Discovery House Publishers. Tim also serves as Adjunct Professor of Writing at Cornerstone University and as Instructor of Publishing at University of the Nations ( Kona, HI, and Herefordshire, UK).
Tim is editor and compiler of The Essential Ted W. Engstrom: Leader to Leaders (Authentic, 2007), coauthor of On the Side of Angels: A Human Rights Manifesto from a Christian Perspective (with Joseph D’Souza and Ben Rogers; Authentic, 2007), and editor of several forthcoming Bible editions in the English Standard Version—including When You Pray (Crossway, 2008), Oswald Chambers Devotional Bible (Crossway, 2008), and The Stewardship Resource Bible (Crossway, 2008)—and one Bible edition in the New International Version and Today’s New International Version—365: A One-Year Bible (Zondervan, 2009).
Tim is the editor of scores of books and Bibles produced by the ECPA’s leading publishers, helping some of them winning ECPA Gold Medallion Awards, such as the 2007 Christian Book Award for his work on The NIV Archeological Study Bible, and author of hundreds of local newspaper articles, national magazine features, and devotional pieces.
In addition, Tim is a Bible judge for the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s annual Christian Book Awards (formerly Gold Medallion Awards). And Tim’s biography appears in several editions of Who’s Who.
Tim is a director on several non-profit boards, including Vision Appalachia (a ministry of World Vision), Sow Hope (sowhope.org), The Potter’s House School (an urban Christian school), and the Northview Education Foundation (his alma mater).
Shelly Beach is the co-founder of the Riverview Christian Writers’ Workshop in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and is a graduate of Oakland University (BA) and Grand Rapids Theological Seminary (MRE). Her 30-year career in the field of communication includes experience as a college writing instructor, political writer, editor, and writing consultant, as well as conference speaker throughout the Midwest. She currently works as a communications consultant and writer for a fund development company. Her writing has been published in both the secular and religious markets in a wide variety of genres including poetry, short stories, feature articles, and interviews. Shelly’s contemporary novel, Hallie’s Heart, was released by Kregel in 2007, and the sequel, Gifts from Morningsong, is scheduled for release in 2008. Her devotional for caregivers, Precious Lord, Take My Hand , (Discovery House Publishers, 2007), went to a second printing in three months, and a second caregiving release, Ambushed by Grace, is scheduled for a spring 2008 release. Shelly is currently under contract with Moody Publishers for a women’s book, and she is do-authoring a series of books with Mayo Clinic plastic surgeon, Dr. Stephen Beals, as well. Shelly is a member of the Christian Author’s Network.
She and her husband, Dan, reside in Rockford, Michigan, and care for Shelly’s parents in their home. They have two grown children.
Contact Information
For registration and housing questions, contact Sue Schuerman by email: pbragg@cfu.net, or phone: 319-277-0295. For any other questions, contact Jean Vaux at (319) 277-7444 or vauxcom@cfu.net or Cedar Falls Christian Writers Workshop c/o Jean Vaux, 1703 Sunnyside Drive, Cedar Falls, IA 50613.
Photos From Previous Event
 
 
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