ACFW Conference Draws 328 Christian Fiction Writers

The 25th annual American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference drew 328 people to Memphis from August 27 to 29. Attendees participated in skill-building workshops, networked with publishing professionals, and celebrated the presentation of the organization's annual awards.

"ACFW plays a big part in training up professional, talented writers," said Kathleen Y'Barbo Turner, the group's president and CEO. She told Publishers Weekly that the conference provides direction and encouragement, noting that connections are its core strength.

Networking with Publishers and Agents

A major conference draw was the chance to meet industry professionals. Fourteen editors attended, representing large houses like Tyndale, Bethany House, and HarperCollins Christian, as well as smaller presses such as Scrivenings Press and Whitefire Publishing. Six literary agents were also available for meetings. Appointment coordinator Casey Miller estimated close to 500 appointments took place.

Rochelle Gloege, a senior acquisition editor for Bethany House, reported that most pitches she heard were for suspense, romantic suspense, and thrillers. Her colleague Jessica Sharpe fielded pitches for contemporary romantic comedies. Gloege stated that while historical romance remains a staple, the house wants to publish more contemporary romance of all kinds. She added they are seeking romantasy and are considering a return to publishing fantasy.

Workshops and Skill Building

The conference schedule featured multiple workshops focused on craft and career development. Session titles included 'Enduring on the Writer’s Journey,' 'The Austen Method: Writing Romance According to Jane Austen,' 'Your First Five Pages,' 'Research Like a Pro,' and 'Get a Great Start as an Indie.'

Awards and Recognitions

The event hosted the Carol Awards for published novels across 11 categories, along with multiple awards for unpublished manuscripts. Author Karen Kingsbury received a Lifetime Achievement Award but could not deliver her keynote address due to illness. Author Angela Hunt substituted, receiving a standing ovation for her talk on story structure.

First-time attendee Alisa Hall from Chattanooga, Tennessee, won the ACFW First Impressions award in the contemporary category, judged on the first five pages of a manuscript. That same manuscript was a semi-finalist for the Genesis Award, which evaluates the first 15 pages. "Writing is such a solitary thing," Hall told Publishers Weekly. "I really enjoy meeting other people who think like me and see the world like I do."

Jen Brown, who writes as Elise Browning, won the Genesis Award in the contemporary category for her manuscript Chasing Light. The Hastings, Michigan, resident said the award "feels like a validation that I should keep going with my writing." She added, "God gave me a story that I feel like needs to be told."

While many attendees were newcomers, established authors also found value. Dana Mentink, a member for 20 years with nearly 60 published books including Murders in the Marquee, appreciated the community. She told Publishers Weekly, "There is nothing like spending time with a group of writers where we’re all kind of the same in our quirky ways." The ACFW conference is scheduled to return to the Peabody Hotel in Memphis from August 26 to 29, 2027.