Michelle Buckman, literary novelist, newspaper columnist and freelance writer with 20 years in the field, has been published in numerous magazines including Writer’s Digest: Writing for Kids Special Edition, South Carolina Magazine, and NC Boating Lifestyle Magazine. She is the author of four novels: A Piece of the Sky, Pretty Maids All in a Row, 2008 Christy Award Young Adult Fiction Finalist Maggie Come Lately, and My Beautiful Disaster. Her fifth and sixth novels will be out spring 2010.

She has been a featured author at the South Carolina Book Festival, a workshop instructor at numerous conferences and has mentored many writers on their path to publication. She speaks at schools, churches and book clubs where she is renowned for her dynamic discussions on writing and faith.

She was born in New York, raised in Canada, but has lived in the south for over 30 years. She currently resides in South Carolina with her husband and five children. Walking on the Carolina beaches is both her inspiration and her favorite pastime.

www.MichelleBuckman.com

Audrey Dorsch is a self-employed editor in Toronto. Some of the more than 200 books she has edited have won awards, including the 2001 Christy Award. Audrey is the former managing editor of Faith Today magazine. She started her career in newspaper journalism, then edited the Canadian constituency magazine for Wycliffe Bible Translators. She has directed and taught at dozens of writers’ seminars and coordinated a communications program at Tyndale College.

In 1999 Faith Today honoured Audrey with the Leslie K. Tarr award in recognition of “outstanding contribution to Christian writing and publishing in Canada.” Audrey is a professional member of The Word Guild.  

www.dorschedit.ca

Born and bred in New York City,  Melissa Endlich has worked in the publishing industry for more than 15 years, over 10 of them working at Harlequin/Silhouette. She is currently the Senior Editor for Love Inspired, acquiring inspirational contemporary romances.

After so many years in the publishing world, Melissa still considers herself very blessed that she is paid to read books that she would gladly read for free, and considers it a mission to help spread love and faith through inspirational romance fiction.

Love Inspired

Dr. Joel A. Freeman was born in Maine but raised in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada. He brings a rich reservoir of personal experience blended with contagious enthusiasm, clarity and down to earth humor to empower people from diverse walks of life with improved communication skills and maximized productivity.

Listed in Marquis Who's Who in the World, Dr. Freeman holds a master of science degree in the field of counseling from Loyola College (Baltimore) and a Ph.D. in the same discipline.

For 19 wonderful seasons Dr. Freeman served as veteran mentor/chaplain for NBA’s Washington Bullets / Wizards ('79-'98). He has served as mentor to Sports World ('98-'04), an organization with 13-15 ex-pro athletes who speak to close to a million young people every year.

With well over a half a million copies in print, his books and DVDs have received rave reviews worldwide and been published in 28 translations.

See Joel's complete bio and listen to a clip on YouTube.

Sheila Wray Gregoire, a national speaker, is author of four books, including To Love, Honor and Vacuum: When You Feel More Like a Maid than a Wife and a Mother. She writes a syndicated parenting column sharing real life struggles and God's solutions. Keith, her husband, and Sheila speak at Canadian marriage conferences. She home schools her children in their Belleville, Ont. home.

She is initiating a speaking mentoring program to encourage women to perfect their sharing of God's message. Sheila is a professional member of The Word Guild.

http://tolovehonorandvacuum.blogspot.com.

Ginger Kolbaba is editor and manager of discipleship resources, including the newly launched women’s online resource, Kyria.com, and Marriage Partnership.com, an award-winning publication and Web site of Christianity Today International, both with more than 1 million unique visitors annually. She is also former editor of the award-winning publication Today’s Christian Woman, was a columnist for Let’s Worship, and has published more than 250 articles.
 
Also an accomplished book author, Ginger has written or contributed to more than 16 books, including the best-seller Refined by Fire, which received a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly. Her most recent novel series, Secrets from Lulu’s Café, includes Desperate Pastors’ Wives, A Matter of Wife and Death, and Katt’s in the Cradle.
 
Ginger also teaches and speaks across the country. She’s been quoted in Newsweek and the Chicago Sun-Times and has appeared on national venues such as CNN’s Nancy Grace and Court TV’s Catherine Crier Live, as well as Chicago ’s top rated talk radio station WLS, Family Life Radio, and Moody Radio’s Midday Connection.

Ginger is looking for strong, concise, biblically-based articles on the following topics: spiritual formation (such as spiritual disciplines, theology, prayer), missional life (such as outreach, service, social action), women’s ministry (leading, mentoring, practical tools), and marriage.
  
Visit her at www.GingerKolbaba.com

Les Lindquist is a partner with his wife N. J. in the publishing company That's Life! Communications. A change consultant with 35 years' experience at IBM, Les has played an instrumental role in The Word Guild since its inception, including serving as its treasurer.

He is currently the chair of the board of Christian Info Canada, the ministry that includes The Word Guild. He is also advancing his own career as a consultant, writer, and speaker.

That's Life! Communications

More from Les

Called a "master of plotting" by Library Journal, N. J. Lindquist is an award-winning Canadian author and columnist, as well as a popular motivational speaker whose vision is to see people become everything God created them to be. N. J. is the author of two adult mystery novels, five coming-of-age novels, three discipleship manuals for teens, and one play. She is also the editor and publisher of the bestselling anthology, Hot Apple Cider.

Lindquist co-founded The Word Guild in 2002, and has directed Write! Canada since taking it over from the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada in the fall of 2001. She judged the fiction manuscripts for the Best New Canadian Author Awards in both 2008 and 2009.

Originally from Western Canada, N. J., her husband Les, and their four sons have lived in Markham, Ont. since 1986. N. J. and Les are partners in That's Life! Communications publishing company.

http://www.njlindquist.com

http://www.writewithexcellence.com

Don Loney is Executive Editor, Professional & Trade Division, John Wiley & Sons Canada Ltd. He has been privileged to have worked with the following authors: James Cantelon, author of When God Stood Up and Theology for Non-Theologians; Danny Brooks, author of Miracles for Breakfast; and Dora Dueck and Byron Rempel-Burkholder, editors of Northern Lights: An Anthology of Contemporary Christian Writing in Canada.

He currently publishes in the areas of business, real estate, current events and true crime.

ca.Wiley.com

John Longhurst has spent his career in media relations and communications. He is a Faith Page columnist with the Winnipeg Free Press, a regular contributor to other publications, and author of the book Making the News: An Essential Guide to Effective Media Relations. He also leads workshops on media relations for non-profit groups through Winnipeg 's Volunteer Centre, and teaches media relations for the University of Winnipeg Department of Continuing Education.

In real life he is Director of Marketing for Mennonite Publishing Network, and its book imprint, Herald Press—which means he has to try to practice what he preaches on a daily basis.

In his previous roles, he worked as associate editor of the Mennonite Brethren Herald; director of communications for the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Canada; and director of communications and marketing for Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Winnipeg.

You can learn more about him at www.makingthenews.ca.

Jenna Magnus is the Production Technology Coordinator at John Wiley & Sons Canada Ltd. She has been responsible for expanding the Digital Publishing program at Wiley Canada over the past two years and is proud to say that the majority of their titles are now available in multiple eBook formats for consumers to purchase online.

Jenna graduated from the Humber College Creative Book Publishing Program in 2007 and is now very excited to have found her calling in the Digital Publishing world. She hopes to do her part to grow the reach of eBooks by helping to inform and inspire as much as she can.

ca.Wiley.com

D. S. Martin is a Canadian whose poetry has appeared in Canada, the U.S., Australia and Britain, in such journals as Canadian Literature, The Christian Century, Christianity & Literature, Dalhousie Review and Queen's Quarterly.

His poetry chapbook, So The Moon Would Not Be Swallowed (Rubicon Press), about his grandparents who were missionaries to China from 1923 to 1951, received an Award of Merit from The Word Guild in 2008. His new full-length poetry book, Poiema, is published by Wipf & Stock. It tied for first place, with perfect scores from the judge, in the Book – Special category in The Word Guild's 2009 Canadian Christian Writing Awards. He is now at work on a new manuscript inspired by the life and writings of C. S. Lewis.

He is the Music Critic for ChristianWeek, and has written about poetry for several publications including Books & Culture and Image.

www.dsmartin.ca

Andy Meisenheimer is a freelance editor and editor on staff at The Editorial Department, the oldest full service editorial firm in the United States (founded in 1980 by Renni Browne, coauthor of Self-Editing for Fiction Writers). He also edits for publishers including Waterbrook/Multnomah, David C. Cook, and Guideposts Books. Prior to freelancing, he served as an acquisitions editor at Zondervan where he was known for championing new voices and unconventional ideas. He lives with his wife and son near Grand Rapids, Michigan.

http://andymeisenheimer.com/

M. D. (Dorene) Meyer is the award-winning author of Jasmine, The Little Ones, Deep Waters, Pilot Error, Get Lost!, Colin's Choice and Meet Manitoba Children’s Authors. She is also the editor of  nine anthologies Prairie Writers volume 1, 2, 3, Northern Writers volume 1, 2, The Voice Behind the Mask, Isle of Mirage, Remember Me and Squirrel Tales and Rabbit Trails.

Having established her own publishing company, Goldrock Press, Meyer also has helped Aboriginal authors Brenda Fontaine (Babs Adventures series) and Flora Rideout (Tansi) to become published.

Other writing credits include: editorial, reviews, news, feature articles, profiles, script-writing and poetry. Meyer was a mentor in the 2008 Sheldon Oberman Emerging Writers Mentor Program, winner of The Word Guild Canadian Writing Awards 2007 Best Children’s Book, Award of Merit winner in 2006, and contributor to the Hot Apple Cider anthology.

A resident of Norway House, Manitoba, Meyer is a part-time instructor at University College of the North.

www.dorenemeyer.com

www.goldrockpress.com

Kelly Mortimer is the Extreme Agent: Diabolically Diligent. Maniacally Moral. Defiantly Different…. I only represent writers not yet published (but they will be), or not published in 3 years. (Why? ’Cause that’s what God told me to do.)

I seek writers in secular and inspirational markets, for fiction and nonfiction works. I made the Top 5, Publisher’s Marketplace Top 100 Dealmakers – Romance Category; won the American Christian Fiction Writers “Agent of the Year” award; and received my RWA chapter’s “Volunteer of the Year” award.

As a writer, I love to recap humorous stories taken from my everyday life (my truth is stranger than fiction), which I post on my blog: www.welcometomyworlds.com.

I answer “Ask an Agent” questions (Romance Writers United newsletter). I also am co-authoring a book with my TOPGUN fighter-pilot client; adapting a client’s memoir into an action-packed screenplay; and writing a client’s biography, Paula Jones: Making History. I work from my 20-acre ranch just north of San Diego, CA.

For information on what I’m looking for, please go to my Web site and view my submission guidelines. www.mortimerliterary.com

Wendy Elaine Nelles is an award-winning journalist, writer, editor and speaker with wide-ranging experience in the corporate, not-for-profit and publishing sectors. She holds an M.A. in Communications with high honour from Wheaton College, Illinois.

She has served on the leadership team of the God Uses Ink/Write! Canada conference for 22 consecutive years.

Nelles co-founded The Word Guild in 2002, invested eight years in getting it established, and continues to be active in her role as founder and consultant. In 2006, she was recognized nationally with the Leading Women Award for Excellence in Communications and Media.

She co-edited the groundbreaking anthology Hot Apple Cider in 2008. This is the ninth conference that Nelles has directed since The Word Guild assumed responsibility for the conference (then known as God Uses Ink) from Faith Today/The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada in 2001.

www.wendynelles.com

Aimee Reid is a writer, editor, educator, speaker and trainer who loves the creative potential of words. She has edited material for all ages and published curriculum, poetry, and devotionals.

Aimee enjoys creating workshops that inspire as well as instruct. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario and is a member of  the Editors' Association of Canada and The Word Guild.

www.aimeereid.com

Denise Rumble is the Managing Director of The Word Guild. She is a freelance writer whose column, "Just Thinking," has appeared in five publications. She also has written articles, book reviews, sports write-ups, as well as an education column when she was a Board of Education trustee. Now that her children are grown, Denise is able to devote more time to her writing and speaking. Before taking this job with The Word Guild, Denise operated her own bookkeeping business for 11 years.

Midlife Odyssey

TWG Managing Director's blog

Adele Simmons has been a professional member of The Word Guild since its inception in January 2002. She is an award-winning writer and editor, a seasoned keynote speaker, teacher, manager, and musician.

With decades of public presentation, Adele has encountered almost every speaking scenario you can think of… from national television interviews and performance to radio shows, from churches to hay wagons, from conferences and camps to train-the-trainer workshops.

She is currently writing a memoir and two how-to books.

She is often booked for motivational speaking or her workshops in Creative Ministries and Public Speaking. Her recent workshop series ME, SPEAK? has been sold out.

Chestnut Lane Creative

Eric Spath is an entrepreneur at heart, who has 18 years experience in the Christian market, working for both ministries and for-profit companies. His key areas of focus have been in marketing and event development through partnerships with the Christian media, churches and retailers in Canada.Throughout the past 10 years he has developed a variety of innovative programs that have resourced Christians and churches with products, services and events.

Spath, in his current role as Manager of Speaker & Events for World Vision Canada, has had the opportunity to work on events such as Live 8 and Canada for Asia, while developing a variety of Christian market events with authors and speakers, including Girls Night Out, Aspiring Women, and Bananas.

Jeannie Lockerbie Stephenson was born in Hamilton. After nurses’ training, she graduated from Cedarville University and studied communications at Wheaton College. She served as a missionary in Bangladesh. During an extended illness, God led her to open the Literature Division, now the largest producer of Christian material in Bengali. Jeannie wrote 28 books translated into Bengali.

Besides numerous articles, she has written nine books in English. She has conducted writing conferences in India, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Togo, South Africa, Thailand, the United States, and Canada. 

For seven years she was Director of Publications for her mission. This included producing The Message magazine with a circulation of 100,000. She also edited and produced 25 books telling what God is doing worldwide today. 

Jeannie lives in London, Ont. and is a member of The Word Guild. She continues to teach and speak overseas. She also edits material for her own and other mission agencies.

www.abwe.org/books-and-more

John Wallace (Wally) Stephenson is a graduate of London Bible Institute (now Tyndale University College), Wilfrid Laurier University, and Heritage Theological Seminary. He pastored in Ontario for 29 years. 

In 1991 he went as a missionary church planter to Cape Town, South Africa. While home in 1993, Wally's wife, Louise, and daughter, Ruth, were killed in a car accident on Highway 401. Wally returned to South Africa and wrote Through Tears to Triumph, now in its fourth printing in English. It is also published in India and is available in French and Vietnamese. The book has helped countless people work through grief themselves and also those who help others cope with adversity.

In addition, he has  written four brochures on the subject and presents "Helping Hurting People" seminars. He and his wife Jeannie reside in London, Ont. The book and brochures are available through www.rbpcanada.com.

Mags Storey, author, reporter, journalist and charity writer, has lived in five countries. At age 12, she had her first piece published in a Middle Eastern newspaper. In her early twenties, she wandered into the God Uses Ink/Write! Canada conference with three chapters of a novel scribbled in a notebook. Eight years later, Kregel published it, making her dream of writing addictively messy romance a reality.

Her first novel, If Only You Knew, is a young adult romance about getting your heart broken, surviving creepy stalkers and finding your place in the world.

Storey, currently Ontario Correspondent for ChristianWeek, has become adept at writing news while balancing two enthusiastic children on her lap.

www.magsstorey.com

Jim Taylor first developed Eight-Step Editing as a workshop for the Editors’ Association of Canada in 1985. He has led Eight-Step workshops in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Halifax, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, and Victoria, for over 3,000 writers and editors.

 A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Jim Taylor has over 40 years experience in writing and editing. He has produced programs in both private and public radio; he was for 13 years managing editor of The United Church Observer; he has also been editor of two other national magazines and seven newsletters.

In 1981, he co-founded Canada’s largest independent religious publishing house, Wood Lake Books Inc.

He is himself the author of 17 books, and has had “somewhere over 500” magazine articles published. Although officially retired, this B.C. resident still writes two newspaper columns a week (available on the Internet) and continues to teach writing and editing workshops in western Canada. 

His contributions to religious communication in Canada were recognized by United College in Montreal (McGill University) with an honorary Doctorate of Divinity. He has also been honored by the Editors’ Association of Canada and the Canadian Church Press with life memberships, and by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada with its Leslie K. Tarr Award.

Jim Taylor's Weblog

Ann Voskamp’s quiet musings on her blog drew the attention of not only thousands of daily readers on six continents, but unexpectedly led to an editor of a large CBA publishing house contacting her to explore publishing opportunities, multiple agents offering representation, and eventually a signed book contract with Zondervan.

She believes that blogging is an unrivaled medium to answer God’s call to write, humbly laying the words up on the altar for Him to take and use as He pleases, all for His glory.

Every day she encourages readers at her award-winning, nationally recognized site, www.aholyexperience.com and in regular columns for DaySpring (a division of Hallmark), The High Calling of Our Daily Work and The Christian Beacon.

This resident of rural Ontario is a professional member of The Word Guild and her book with Zondervan releases early 2011.