Agents & Editors
The KCWC 2022 conference offers you an opportunity to gather information from a talented group of agents and editors in a panel discussion Thursday evening, June 16, at 7:00 p.m. in which they will answer questions posed by attendees.
Agents
A literary agent represents writers and their written works to publishers and assists in sales, promotion, and deal negotiation.
Editors
An editor works for a media outlet and facilitates the publishing process, sometimes including proofreading, copy-editing, and critiques.
Authors
A Christian author is a person who writes to glorify God. KCWC faculty members are recognized industry professionals.
Michelle Medlock Adams
Founder, Wren & Bear Books with End Game Press and President, Platinum Literary Services
Michelle Medlock Adams is a best-selling author and an award-winning journalist, earning top honors from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Hoosier State Press Association.
Author of over 100 books with more than 4 million books sold, Michelle is also a New York Times Bestselling ghostwriter and has won more than 70 industry awards for her journalistic endeavors, including the prestigious Golden Scroll for Best Children’s Book in 2020, 2019 and 2018 for How Much Does God Love You?, Dinosaur Devotions, and My First Day of School. And, over the past three years, she has added several first place honors from the Christian Market Book Awards, the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, and the Illumination Book Awards.
Misty M. Beller
Managing Editor, Wild Heart Books
Misty M. Beller is a USA Today best-selling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. With over 25 novels published, she writes as both an indie author and for Bethany House Publishers, and is Managing Editor of Wild Heart Books, a traditional publisher specializing in Christian Historical Romance novels.
After thirteen years working in professional project management and marketing, Misty uses her experience in the corporate world to develop best practices in her writing and book marketing efforts. It is her passion to help other authors on this journey.
Gregg Bridgeman
Editor-in-Chief, Olivia Kimbrell Press
Gregg Bridgeman is the Editor-in-Chief at Olivia Kimbrell Press. He is husband to best-selling Christian author Hallee Bridgeman and parent to three. He continues to proudly serve in the US Armed Forces and has done so in either an active or reserve capacity for more than twenty years as an Airborne and Air Assault qualified paratrooper, earning a Bronze Star for his service. Most importantly, he was ordained in October of 2001 after surrendering his life to Christ decades earlier.
Michele Chynoweth
Editor, Elk Lake Publishing and Fruitbearer Publishing
Michele Chynoweth is the best-selling and award-winning author of The Faithful One, The Peace Maker, The Runaway Prophet, and The Jealous Son, contemporary suspense novels that re-imagine Bible stories. Michele is also a sought-after public speaker who has addressed a variety of writers’ conferences and other organizations across the country. She is a professional editor for Elk Lake Publishing and Fruitbearer Publishing, and book coach, college writing instructor, and founder of “Your Book Done Right” Master Class and Elite Coaching. A former news reporter and marketing director, she’s a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and lives with her husband in northeast Maryland.
Deb Haggerty
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Elk Lake Publishing
Deb Haggerty is the Publisher and Editor-in- Chief for Elk Lake Publishing Inc. Elk Lake “publishes the positive” consisting primarily fiction of all genres and age groups from children’s to adult. Nonfiction submissions must have a twist—be out of the ordinary.
Prior to purchasing Elk Lake, Deb founded Positive Connections® , her management consulting practice in 1985, following thirteen years as a manager with Southern Bell/AT&T. In 2000, she founded Positive Hope, a breast cancer ministry, which gives encouragement and education to those with breast cancer, their families, and friends. She speaks on the topic from a faith-based perspective as she describes her journey.
Edwina Perkins
Acquisitions Editor, Harrambee Press & Iron Stream Media
Edwina Perkins is the assistant director of Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. She is also the coordinator for Mentoring Moments and the manager for Sensitivity Between the Lines, both with BRMCWC. She is an acquisitions editor for Iron Stream Media and the imprint Harambee Press. As a longtime member of Word Weavers International, she now serves as a member of the advisory board. Edwina is an award-winning writer, experienced teacher, speaker, freelance editor, and a sensitivity reader. She is also a freelance writer with Guideposts. One of her passions is to address the need for sensitivity and diversity in the publishing industry.
She’s a lover of anything dark chocolate, and chocolate-covered espresso beans are her weakness.
Diane Stark
Guideposts Magazine Editor
In 2018, Diane Stark won the Guideposts Writers Workshop Contest and became a regular contributor to the four magazines published by Guideposts. She has written hundreds of personal experience pieces and ghost-written the experiences of others. Her stories have been published in more than 50 Chicken Soup for the Soul© books. Diane writes about the important things in life: her family and her faith.
Jim Watkins
Aquisitions Editor, EA Books Publishing
Jim is an award-winning author of over 20 books and 2,000 articles, who has spoken across the United States and overseas. He has served as an editor and editorial director at Wesleyan Publishing House, an editor with the American Bible Society, taught writing at Taylor University for 15 years, and has guest-lectured at Liberty, Regent and other universities. He is currently writing and speaking full-time as well as serving as Acquisitions Editor for EA Books. His most important roles, however, are being a child of God, husband, dad and “papaw.”