I've just returned from the spring joint boards meeting for American Christian Fiction Writers. Our spring meeting is always held in the hotel where we'll meet for our writers' conference in mid September. Have to say--the hotel is wonderful!
The conference is set for September 17-20, held at the Hyatt Regency, downtown Indianapolis. This Hyatt is the biggest hotel in which our conference has ever been held. We will have the second and third floor meeting rooms off the large central atrium area--all very easily accessed and connected by an escalator. The hotel is connected by walkway to the downtown mall and the Indianapolis convention center. Many restaurants are in the area. (Yes, there is a Starbucks in the hotel lobby.) Conference attendees won't need a car to go out to dinner or go shopping. Also, the hotel is convenient to the airport--about 15 minutes away.Our keynote speaker this year is Christy Award-winning Tim Downs, author of Plague Maker and the Bug Man novels. Tim's crime/drama "Bug Man" series, featuring forensic entomologist Dr. Nick Polchak, includes the books Shoofly Pie (2003), Chop Shop (2004), First the Dead (2007), Less Than Dead (2008), and Ends of the Earth (2009). Tim is also the founder of the Communication Center, a communication training and consulting ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ and has authored numerous books on Christian relationships and communication both on his own and in conjunction with his wife, Joy.
Once again the conference will have five levels of teaching--from beginning "A" level to
professional "E" level. Continuing morning tracks will cover all levels, as will the many workshops in the afternoon. On Sunday the Book of the Year and Genesis Awards banquet will be held.Last year we had 550 attendees at the conference. We've grown every year, and it was amazing to see how many more came last year even with the down-turned economy. The ACFW conference is the conference to attend for fiction. You won't see the line-up of fiction editors and agents at any other conference that you'll see at ACFW.
Registration begins in early May. Continuing tracks, workshops, and teachers will soon be announced on the ACFW web site. I will once again serve as emcee. Hope to see you all at the conference.
12 comments:
I am personally so thrilled! I spent some time taking pictures inside the hotel and a few fun shots to help our authors enjoy their experience. I even found the massage therapy stations in the Indianapolis airport for our information saturated authors to relax after being keyed up at conference :-) More to come on the ACFW blog this summer and a massive, biggest ever American Christian Fiction Writers Conference Blog Tour! If you've never been, you HAVE to go! You and your writing will never be the same!
Angie Breidenbach
Joyfully serving as PR Officer, ACFW
Gee, BC, your agent needs to get you better gigs. Seriously, though, I'm ready. I've only made it to one but it was a great inspiration. You emceed that one, too (really...can't you get a guest host spot on Hannity?). Indy's a 4 hour drive for us Michiganders. It's about time! Seeya there!
Wow!I can't wait to attend again this year. Every ACFW conference has been a wonderful experience!
I can't wait. The conference is such a highlight for me every year.
Thanks for sharing, Brandilyn!
I'm counting the days.
That's an impressive hotel exterior!
There are elevators, too, I hope. My mobility device isn't good on escalators.
I put a countdown widget to the conference on my blog soon after the end of the last one. I can hardly wait.
Will we get lost in the hotel?
Lena, no getting lost in the hotel. Everything's really easy to find. The central atrium area makes it very easy to get to meeting rooms via the long escalator in the middle.
And Heidi, for those who can't use the escalator, the elevators are also right there for easy movement between the second and third meeting room floors.
All around it's a very convenient and roomy hotel.
It was a pleasure to be part of the joint board meeting this year.
I am so excited about the classes and everything that will be offered at the conference this year. It seems that each one gets better!
Sounds like another GREAT year!!
*sigh* probably won't go this year... *sniffle* But I have a good reason... --->points to 5 month pregnant belly!
Not sure I'm up to taking a 6-week-old on a trip! (but I'm still trying to talk hubby into driving up w/ me and baby so he can watch little one while I conference... lol... not holding my breath though!)
Thanks for the info, Brandilyn! I missed last year, so I'm especially excited about attending this year. It sounds fantastic so far.
Can't wait to touch base with everyone and see what the Lord wants to teach us this year. As others have done, I encourage anyone interested in writing fiction to GET THERE if you can!
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