At age 12, Susan Pope Sloan, who is now in the 71-75 group, recognized she had a talent for writing. But that understanding wasn’t confirmed until she was 17 and part of a creative writing class.

One year later, at age 18, she submitted her first articles to Pathway Press, which is the publishing arm of the Church of God, Cleveland, TN, for their literature for young adults.  

After attending the North Georgia Christian Writers Conference, Susan joined Word Weavers at the young age of 68. For several years, she served as a president for Word Weavers Columbus (Georgia) and now serves as a mentor over several traditional groups.

So what did Susan’s journey to publication look like? “I published article in Christian periodicals and local newspapers sporadically for years. My first novel was rejected several times in 1990’s. But after winning the Florida Christian Writers Conference contest, I submitted a proposal to Wild Heart Books.”

And what happened after that? “I landed a three-book contract in 2022 and later a contract for two more books.”

Her latest book, Seeking Simon, was released this month! You can find out more about it by clicking on the link.

What’s something fun we may or may not know about Susan? “I’ve participated in a Victorian caroling group each Christmas since 1999.”

The Dickens you say!

At the age of twelve, Nancy Beverly (Word Weavers Orlando) was asked to write several articles for her school newspaper. But it wasn’t until she was thirty years old that she began to regularly write stories about God at work. 

“Still, I was sixty-six before I began to organize some of my stories into my first book,” she says. 

Sixty-six—the same age as when Nancy joined Word Weavers International's wonderful group of writers. 

“Preparing a book to publish has been harder than I expected, but I whacked my way through the publishing jungle. Word Weavers was a tremendous help, and a friend came alongside me to edit it. Now that it’s printed, it’s been thrilling to see the worldwide opportunities that have opened for my book to proclaim Christ in places I will never go.” 

And the name of that book?

Tire Tracks, (www.amazon.com/Tire-Tracks-When-Unmistakably-Shows/dp/B0B4HDLGPV/) which is a 2023 Ames Gold Medalist. Now, at the age of 70 years young, she's completing her second book. "Word Weavers has been invaluable in the preparation of this book too." 

What’s a little something you may find surprising to know about Nancy?  “One of my favorite things to do is boogie boarding in big ocean waves, although I don’t take the risk any more since now my bones are thin.”

Ah, with age comes thin bones . . . and wisdom!     
To know more about Nancy, visit her at NancyBeverlyAuthor.com.

In the 11th grade of high school, multi-published, multiple award-winning author Dan Walsh (Word Weavers Volusia County) realized he had a talent for writing. “I started to do something about it then,” he says, “but two years later, I shifted my career goals toward becoming a pastor.”

By 2011, when his friend Mark Hancock decided to launch a Word Weavers chapter in Volusia County, Florida, Dan, who falls within the 65-70 age group, had already gotten back into writing. “It was 2007, I was 50 years old, and I started working on a Christmas novel called The Unfinished Gift. After doing everything I could to get it ready, I began to submit it to a number of A List Christian fiction literary agents.”

To his great surprise, 2 of the first 3 liked what they saw and asked to read the entire book.

“I signed with Karen Solem, who landed a contract with Baker/Revell six weeks later. The book released as a hardback in 2009.”

If that’s not impressive enough, in 2010, The Unfinished Gift won two Carol Awards (ACFW). By then, Dan had signed a contract with Revell for the sequel. “Things kind of took off after that. Revell wanted me to write full-time and made that financially possible in 2010. I wound up writing 12 novels for them and one for Guideposts.”

In 2015, Dan made the leap to the Indie world, and has since written 15 more novels on his own. Was there a reason for the switch?

“There was. Revell was working to brand me as the Nicholas Sparks of Christian Fiction. That sounded good until I realized they weren't open to me writing anything outside of that narrow lane. I loved writing these kinds of books but also wanted to write books outside that genre. As an indie, I've begun to write suspense novels.

Dan has also written two successful 4-book series. His last work, which was his 28th novel, came out last October. “What's Best For Them was my best book launch yet.”

Absolutely it was. What’s Best for Them went to #1 on Amazon in 3 categories and stayed there for 10 weeks.

Something fun and interesting about Dan? “I have a great-great uncle on my mother's side who was a famous Civil War photographer. I'm also a pretty decent crooner.”

Next time you see Dan, be sure to ask him to sing for his supper.