Vanessa Miller - Retreat Host
Vanessa Miller is a best-selling author, playwright, and motivational speaker. She started writing as a child, spending countless hours either reading or writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels. Vanessa’s creative endeavors took on new meaning in1994 when she became a Christian. Since then, her writing has been centered on themes of redemption, often focusing on characters facing multi-dimensional struggles. Vanessa’s novels have received rave reviews, with several appearing on Essence Magazine’s Bestseller’s List. Miller’s work has receiving numerous awards, including “Best Christian Fiction Mahogany Award” and the “Red Rose Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction.” She is an ordained minister in her church, explaining, “God has called me to minister to readers and to help them rediscover their place with the Lord.” Vanessa has over twenty-five titles in print and is currently working on the Family Business series. Readings may learn more and connect with her on social media at www.VanessaMiller.com |
Kimberla Lawson Roby
Keynote Speaker New York Times Bestselling Author and Public Speaker, Kimberla Lawson Roby, has published 25 novels, and her debut title, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, was originally self-published through her own company, Lenox Press. She has sold more than 2.8 Million copies of her books, and they have frequented numerous bestseller lists, including The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, Essence, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com to name a few. Kimberla is also the 2013 NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction, a five-time recipient of the Female Author of the Year award from the African-American Literary Award Show, and the recipient of the 2014 AAMBC Award for Female Author of the Year. Kimberla’s novels center on very real issues, including corruption within the church, addiction, infidelity, domestic violence, sexual abuse, mental illness, racial and gender discrimination and others. Kimberla resides in Illinois with her husband, Will. www.KimRoby.com |
BLESSEDselling Author E. N. Joy is the author behind the “New Day Divas” series, coined “Soap Opera in Print.” She is an Essence Magazine Bestselling Author who wrote secular books under the names Joylynn M. Jossel and JOY.
In 2000, she formed her own publishing company where she published her books until landing a book deal with St. Martin's Press. Her children’s book titled The Secret Olivia Told Me, written under the name N. Joy, received a Coretta Scott King Honor from the American Library Association. The book was also acquired by Scholastic Books and has sold almost 100,000 copies. After being the first content development editor for Triple Crown Publications and ten years as the acquisitions editor for Carl Weber's Urban Christian imprint, E. N. Joy now does freelance editing, ghostwriting, write-behinds and literary consulting. www.EnjoyWrites.com |
Kim Cash Tate is the author of several books and a former practicing attorney. She has a deep love for the word of God, and loves to ignite a passion in others to not only know the Lord, but to walk intimately with Him. Kim lives in St. Louis with her husband of twenty-three years and their two children.
More coming about Kim. www.KimCashTate.com |
Rhonda is an award winning, bestselling women's fiction and romance author. She writes edgy stories that touch the heart of women. The themes of faith, forgiveness and hope mark her writing ministry. She is the founder of the Write It Right Online Workshop and the founder of A Faith Worth Living.
www.RhondaMcKnight.net |
Jacquelin Thomas is an award winning, bestselling author with more than 70 titles in print and twenty years’ experience as a published author. Jacquelin is a frequent speaker at churches, literary and youth events. She is a youth leader at The Shift Church in Raleigh, NC and serves as a mentor to several writing groups locally.
www.Jacquelin-Thomas.com |
Pat Simmons Pat is the multi-published author of more than a dozen Christian titles and is a three-time recipient of the Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country. www.PatSimmons.net Stacy Hawkins Adams is an author, journalist and writing mentor whose fiction and nonfiction help readers find confidence in their own stories. She has penned nine faith-based novels and one devotional. She also serves as a parenting columnist for a Virginia-based newspaper and blogs for the Huffington Post.
www.StacyHawkinsAdams.com |
Michelle Stimpson Has penned more than thirty Christian fiction books including traditional bestseller Divas of Damascus Road, the highly acclaimed Falling Into Grace. She is a part-time language arts consultant and serves in women’s ministry. She and her husband have two young adult children and one crazy dog. www.MichelleStimpson.com Born in Akron, Ohio to Nigerian parents, Unoma Nwankwor is a multi-published author and 2015 winner of the Nigerian Writers’ Award for Best Faith Based Fiction. Her readers are in love with her unique story telling that fuses faith, romance and African spice, capturing the essence of her present home base; Atlanta and her Nigerian culture. She is also the COO of KevStel Group LLC.
www.unwankwor.com |
Tyora Moody is the author Soul-Searching Suspense books which include the Reed Family Novellas, Eugeena Patterson Mysteries, Serena Manchester Series, and the Victory Gospel Series. She is also the author of the nonfiction book, The Literary Entrepreneur’s Toolkit. www.TyoraMoody.com
Nigeria Lockley is the author of three novels. Born at Dawn, Nigeria’s debut novel, received the 2015 Phillis Wheatley Award for First Fiction. Nigeria and her family reside in Harlem. http://nigerialockley.com/ NiaShanta Ross is a fresh new voice in Christian Fiction. Her debut fiction work, Worth the Wait, was released in 2016 through Michelle Stimpson’s Read For Joy imprint. http://www.niashantaross.com/ Renee Spivey owns Literary Signature Services, a company that focuses on graphic and web design. Her client list includes New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Jackson. Renee has a short story in the anthology, When Women Become Business Owners. www.wearewomenofworth.org
Shelia E. Bell (formerly Lipsey) is an award-winning, national bestselling author with over a dozen books published in christian fiction, women’s fiction, and young adult genres. Her books have garnered many awards. She is best known for her bestselling "My Son's Wife" series. www.SheliaEBell.net
LaCricia A’ngelle is an Inspirational Fiction author, publisher, and avid reader. She has penned five novels to date, and has several others in the works. She sees her writing as an extension of her ministry as an Evangelist. www.lacriciaangelle.com Indiana Tuggle, former Social Worker and Career Counselor, is the author of “Stop Asking Me Why Am I Single”, “Saved, Single & Frustrated” and “Awaken the Dream”. She loves the Lord and desires to see women live out their dreams, grow spiritually, and increase in their faith. Learn more about her and her books at www.indianatuggle.com
NICOLE SMITH is a Minister and the author of three 28-Day Devotionals for Singles. “Opened Palms,” Waiting on God, “Dear Abba, Father,” Prayer, and “Passion Fruit,” Our Passions and Desires. |
Valerie J. Lewis Coleman helps women who struggle to experience a fulfilling relationship by revealing The Forbidden Secrets of the Goody Box to attract and keep lasting love. TheGoodyBoxBook.com CaSandra McLaughlin is a Christian Fiction Author, gospel radio announcer & co author of the best selling "Blended Blessings" series. CaSandra lives in Texas with her husband, Richard, & they have two children. www.casandramclaughlin.com Peyton Woodson Cooper writes Christian fiction, inspirational non-fiction and children’s books. She offers simple stores, told well. We live in a Twitter and Facebook world. Attention spans are short. That’s why her novellas offer quick reads for the busy reader. Let her books inspire you. www.PWCWrites.com
Vanessa Riley worked as an engineer before allowing her passion for historical romance to shine. A Regency era (early 1800s) and Jane Austen enthusiast, she brings the flavor of diverse peoples to her stories of faith and triumph.
http://www.christianregency.com Alabama native Vanessa Davis Griggs is a speaker and author of 18 novels including The Blessed Trinity Series and contributor of 10 devotions in the Sisters In Faith Holy Bible published by Thomas Nelson. Web site: www.VanessaDavisGriggs.com
Twenty-six year old Milwaukee native, Olivia Shaw, is an Amazon best-seller for Kindred Soul Publications, and has more than ten novels under her belt. www.facebook.com/authoroliviashaw/ Meredith E. Greenwood is the author of Faith, Grace, and Hope, This Christmas, and National Bestselling author/contributor of The Ex Chronicles. Meredith is a speaker and playwright. Meredith uses her creativity to entertain and inspire. Visit her: www.MEgreenwood.com
Melanie D. Phillips is a courageous author that exploded onto the scene in 2017. After a nudging in her spirit she created the "Mouth of Babes" series that speaks for the lives and experiences of today's youth. www.melaniedphillips.com |
Teresa B. Howell, an Educator originally from Boston, Mass made her literary appearance in 2015. Teresa B. Howell has proven herself to be a unique writer of fiction Christian suspense. www.TeresaBHowell.com
|
Maurice Gray is an author (To Whom Much Is Given, All Things Work Together and Like A Brother) and editor.
He lives in New Castle, DE. www.writethevision.biz |
Erica Cureton was born in Charleston, SC. She graduated from SCSU and received her master’s from GCU. Erica has been an educator for 12 years. Once she began to grow spiritually she began to write Christian fiction stories. Erica is currently writing her next novel, Loving God’s Son. www.rebuildingmytemple.com |
Jackalin S. Jenkins Affectionately known as Jackie, she is an ordained disciple of Jesus Christ. Jackie is a first time author of the book titled “The Lords’ Prayer A Disciples’ Plea”. Glory to God. www.kingdomofgodim.org |
Andre Ray is a Christian Fiction Author who resides in North Carolina and author of Amazon Bestselling series, Undercover Deacon & Undercover Deacon 2 along with six other inspiring books. www.amazon.com/author/andreray