Have you ever wished you could sit down with an expert—a mentor—for a half hour? Someone who has taken the time to look over your work carefully and who is willing to go over things like your hopes … your next career moves … what works and what doesn't within your work?

Now you can! FCWC offers you a list of mentors to choose from—one (or more) perfect for you and your genre(s). 

Look over the list below. Once you choose your ideal mentor(s), email Jean Wilund at [email protected]. Jean will connect you with your mentor(s).  DO NOT REACH OUT TO THE MENTORS YOURSELF.

*Mentoring sessions cost an additional $45, payable directly to the expert/mentor.
*Before the conference begins, we will set aside a half-hour for you with your mentor(s).
*Thursday afternoon (during the sign-up session, 4:00 – 5:00) go directly to the sheets of your mentor(s) to find out when your appointment is so that you do not double-book your time with them and with your free 15-minute appointments. 

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Adams, Christy Bass
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Devotions

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Devotional book ideas/concepts
• Individual devotions

Send all information no later than September 20, 2026 

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Adams, Michelle Medlock
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Children’s Literature

I’m happy to mentor in the following areas: 

• Advise on board books and picture books (Send the entire manuscript.)
• Brainstorm about the best way to market your upcoming book or existing titles (Send the entire board book or the entire picture book).
• If you want help with marketing your existing book or upcoming book, please send a summary of what you’ve done thus far to promote your book (sort of like the marketing section of your book proposal).

Please send all information no later than October 1, 2026 

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Arnold, Shellie
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Fiction and Nonfiction (except children’s or historical)

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Advise on manuscripts (send up to 10 pages and an outline)
• Brainstorm on options for publishing your manuscript (traditional,  hybrid, or self-publishing)
• Book Proposal advice (Please send applicable information)
• Brainstorming about personal branding and how a book or books might fit into your long-term goals
• Advising how to use your 15 minutes when meeting with a publisher.

Send all information no later than October 15, 2026

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Barnes, Jennifer Mills

Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Children

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Creation of an individualized plan to promote your children's book during an author's school visit. Share your entire children's book with me and I'll generate some curricular possibilities for you to consider. When we meet, we'll brainstorm further to compose 3-5 educational lesson plans you can use immediately.
• Draft an educational book review for your website, GoodReads, and/or Amazon. 

Please send your entire book or PDF by October 1, 2026

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Clymer, Tamara

Number of appointments available: 3 pre-conference, 3 during conference
Genre: Christian nonfiction 

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Book structure, writing analysis, clarity of message, and chapter flow (Send book synopsis and introduction/opening chapter—up to 25 pages, double-spaced.)
• Marketing strategies including author platform building, identifying and reaching your target audience, and reader engagement strategies. (Send brief book synopsis and overview of current marketing efforts, author website/social media links, and target audience profile.) If you want help with marketing your book, please send a summary of what you’ve done so far.

 In addition to in-person advice and discussion, I will provide comments and suggestions directly on your submitted materials and send it to you after the appointment.

Please send information no later than October 1, 2026

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Cowell, Cheri
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Non-Fiction

I’m happy to help with the following:

• One of my joys is helping authors see the trees through the forest. So if you have a lot of ideas, a full ministry idea with multiple parts, or you don't know what your project might be, but you know God has called you to write, I'm your person. 
• Also, I work with those who write devotions but don't know how to pull them together for a book.

Send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Giles, Marissa
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Crime, suspense, or legal fiction

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Advise on courtroom scenes generally (Send the entire chapter or scene.)
• Answer specific questions about police investigations, pre-trial issues (motions, suppression, bond, discovery, Brady violations, etc), and objections.
• Brainstorm and advise about the most realistic way your story would move through the justice system (Send a book overview or full summary).

Please send all information no later than October 11, 2026

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Goldfarb, Linda
Number of appointments available: 3
Genres: All

I’m happy to help with the following:

• How to choose conference classes best for you
• All questions concerning speaking
• How to turn your passion into a podcast
• How to craft Interview questions when you are the guest
• All questions about audiobooks 

Please send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Fulkerson, Linda
Number of appointments available: 3 pre-conference; 3 during conference
Genre: Fiction - Adult, YA & Middle Grade/General Publishing Advice/Self-editing

I’d be glad to help with the following:

• Brainstorm/Discuss characters and/or plot 
• Discuss the publishing process when working with a small press
• Evaluating your story's opening
• Self-editing

Send information by October 1, 2026

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Hale, Lexa
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Children’s Literature and/or Adult Non-Fiction Marketing

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Advise on children’s literature marketing and publisher submissions
• Advise on adult non-fiction launch and marketing

Please send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Hamilton, Carol
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Professional Speaking

I’m happy to help with the following:

• I’ll study what you write, non-fiction or fiction, and help you find an engaging presentation topic. We can begin to build your speech.
• Privately share your 5-7-minute presentation for encouragement and pointers. Find out in a safe environment what works and what doesn’t.

Please send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Hatcher, Lori
Number of appointments available: 3 pre-conference Zoom appts.
Genre: Devotions & Adult Non-Fiction

I’m happy to help with the following:

• I can evaluate where you are in your writing journey and help you choose which classes to take and with whom to meet at the conference.
• I can listen to your goals/hopes/dreams for FCWC and help you make the most of your 15-minute appointments.
• If you’d like to break into publishing by writing devotions, I can share the “secret sauce” of devotion writing that will help editors say yes.
• If you’re already a devotion writer, I can evaluate your devotions to determine if they’re ready for publication. If not, I’ll help you polish them.
• If you’re ready to publish your devotions or nonfiction articles, I can give you tips to help you find publishing homes for your work.
• As a former magazine editor, I can help polish your nonfiction article to get it ready for publication.

Please send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Haynie, Jennifer
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Suspense

I'm happy to help with the following:

Advice on indie publishing and/or work-life balance
Critique of first chapter of book

Please send any all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Hutchinson-Hayes, Katherine
Number of appointments available: 3
Genres: Any genre

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Coaching on building a strong and sustainable author platform
• Guidance on turning books into speaking engagements and presentations
• Tips and strategies for being an effective guest on podcasts, interviews, and television appearances

Please send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Hostetler, Bob
Number of appointments available: 3 during conference
Genre: Nonfiction or Fiction (not fantasy, sci fi, or YA)

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Brainstorm hooks, book proposals, and/or publishing strategies

Please send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Hutson, Steven
Number of appointments available: 3 pre-conference on Zoom, 3 during conference
Genre: Anything except poetry, short stories, and picture books

I’m happy to help with the following:

• General career advice
• Project evaluation
• Ask me anything
• If you want help with marketing your existing book or upcoming book, please send a summary of what you’ve done thus far to promote your book (sort of like the marketing section of your book proposal).

Send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Janzen, Teresa 
Number of Appointments available: 10 Pre-conference Zoom appointments
Genre: Any

I'm happy to help with the following:

• How to position your book in the market
• Metadata options to get your book discovered
• Writing critique—show don't tell analysis, story arc, etc.
• How to work with editors and illustrators
• Book proposal development

Deadline for requesting an appointment: October 1, 2026.

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Jett, Bethany
Number of appointments: 10-15 pre-conference on Zoom, 3 during the conference
Genres:

• Picture Books - Christian market and general market 
• Fiction: psych/domestic thriller, rom-com, upmarket, cozy mystery
• Nonfiction: devotionals, Bible studies, cookbook, gift, Christian Living. No memoir.

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Review/critique proposals or one-sheets
• Review/critique picture book (up to 800 words)
• Brainstorm marketing strategies
• Review and advise on first pages of novel or nonfiction (first 5 pages, double-spaced)
• Or simply “Pick my brain” aka I can offer advice and answer your questions

Once we are connected via email and you let me know how I can best help, I’ll let you know what to send me. I’m happy to do critiques prior to the conference via Zoom so you can make any changes or adjustments prior to the conference. 

Please send everything no later than September 15, 2026.

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Kraft, Tamara
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Fiction and Non-Fiction (No memoirs)

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Critique/Brainstorming Fiction
• Critique/Brainstorming Non-fiction (no memoirs please)
• AI Marketing Plan

Please send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Melson, Edie
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Social Media, Blogging, Nonfiction, Book Proposals, Writing Career Direction & options

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Send me your social media info and I'll evaluate where you are, what you're doing right and how you can improve
• Send me your social media info and I'll evaluate where you are, what you're doing right and how you can improve
• Send me your blog info and I'll look at your posts and help improve SEO and community engagement
• Send me your nonfiction book outline, first 15 pages, and we'll go from there.
• I'll help you organize and improve your book proposal
• Confused about where to go with your writing career? we can brainstorm all the options out there and I can help you plot your path

Send information by October 1, 2026 

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Mills, DiAnn
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Adult and YA fiction

I’m pleased to help with the following:

• Brainstorm about characters and/or plot for a fiction story
• Discuss the value of research in a fiction story
• Plan an antagonistic setting for a fiction story
• Critique first sentence

Send information by October 1, 2026 

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Murray, Alice H.
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Nonfiction

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Questions/advice concerning writing articles, devotions, and blogs
• Pointers for pitching articles 

Send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Neumair, Karen
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre: Children’s Literature (Note: Board Books and Picture Books only, no middle grade) 

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Advice on unpublished manuscripts with current industry trends
• Anticipate potential obstacles and how to overcome them
• Comparable titles research

Please send the full manuscript (and book proposal, if available) no later than October 15, 2026

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Pennington, Ava
Number of appointments available: 3 pre-conference on Zoom, 3 during conference
Genre: Adult nonfiction: Christian Living, devotions, Bible studies, articles

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Evaluation/critique project ideas
• Evaluation/critique proposals
• Suggestions to polish your work
• Coaching for next steps

Send your project one-sheet or first 10 pages of your manuscript.  
Send all information no later than September 30, 2026

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Perkins, Edwina
Number of appointments available: 2 Pre-Conference Appointments via Zoom, and 3 appointments during FCWC.
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Contemporary Fiction, Thrillers 

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Look at your first pages, brainstorm ways to improve your manuscript.
• Help fine-tune the first pages
• Developmental edit—consider the big picture of your book 
• Sensitivity and authenticity in your manuscript
• First time conferee assistance in navigating a conference 

Please send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Sproles, Cindy
Number of appointments available: 3
Genres: Novels and Devotionals

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Glaring issues that need to be repaired such as POV slips, show-don't-tell, and information overload 
• Character development, clarity in your work, great hooks, and cliff hangers
• With years of experience in writing and guiding other writers to write devotions, I can help you craft sharp and concise devotions.

Please send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Stephens, Dawn
Number of appointments available: 3 during conference and additional appointments pre-conference on Zoom.
Genre: personally - I write and illustrate Children’s picture books. I have experience working in traditional publishing and self-publishing. Therefore, I can discuss and brainstorm all other genres too.

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Writing and illustrating children’s picture books 
• Advise on publishing options, self-publishing versus traditional methods. What is the best choice for you.
• Discuss different marketing and advertising for your book, and how to get more sales
• Send one-sheets, a portion of an adult manuscript, outline, or the entire children’s book manuscript.

Send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Tetzlaff, Carol
Number of appointments available: 3
Genre:  Nonfiction: Bible study, devotional, Christian living,  Children’s Books

I’d love to help you with:

• Brainstorming your book idea—whether you’re just starting, feeling stuck, or working from a partial manuscript
• Thoughtful feedback on your current writing to strengthen clarity, flow, and reader engagement
• Structuring your book so it has a clear message, strong organization, and keeps your reader turning the pages
• Reviewing nonfiction projects including Bible studies, devotionals, and Christian living books (partial or full manuscripts welcome
• Providing guidance on children’s books, including storytelling, pacing, and age-appropriate engagement
• Exploring practical and effective ways to market and promote your book so it reaches the right audience

Please send all information no later than October 1, 2026

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Yeager, Tina
Number of appointments available: 3
Genres: Devotions, Nonfiction, Speculative Fiction, Articles, Novels, Novellas

I’m happy to help with the following:

• Devotion
• Psychological Review of Novels
• Nonfiction Books/Proposals
• Media Presence (preparing to share your message on video or audio platforms)
• Publicity
• Platform & Basic Branding (initial steps of creative journey mapping) 

Send all information no later than October 1, 2026