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Karen Ball – Author and Agent w/ Steve Laube Agency

Posted by Dee C on Apr 27, 2013 in Faculty, front page | Comments Off

Karen Ball has always loved the power of story. It’s a gift that she’s been able to use that love during 30+ years in publishing to lead several publishers (Tyndale, Multnomah, Zondervan, and now B&H Publishing Group) in building strong and powerful fiction lines. Currently the owner/operator of Karen Ball Publishing Services, LLC, and a literary agent with the Steve Laube Agency, Karen partners with authors to help them refine their craft, thus delivering their stories as powerfully as possible. She’s had the honor of acquiring and working with some of the best novelists in the market, including Francine Rivers, Karen Kingsbury, Ginny Yttrup, Robin Lee...

Jeanette Taylor – Product Development & Marketing Strategist

Posted by Dee C on Apr 26, 2013 in Faculty, front page | Comments Off

Jeannette Taylor is the research & development architect, responsible for product development and marketing strategies, and supervision of all research functions for Somersault Group. With 30 years of strategic marketing and research experience (she started when she was 10), she’s conducted research studies on everything from egg kits to Philip Yancey. She owns the research firm JET Marketing and is an adjunct professor at Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, MI. Jeannette is the former General Manager of Bibles and Vice President of Marketing at Zondervan. She loves beaching, biking, boating, and chocolate. Email: jtaylor@somersaultgroup.com LinkedIn:...

David Lambert–Author, Editor, Lambert Editorial Services

Posted by Dee C on Apr 26, 2013 in Faculty, front page | Comments Off

David Lambert is the author of ten published books, including the gold medallion award-winning Jumper Fables, coauthored with Ken Davis, and the recent novel The Missionary. Five of the ten have been novels. His short fiction has been published in periodicals as diverse as TQ, The Chariton Review, Sand, Virtue, Moody, Guideposts for Kids, and Story. David has an M.F.A. in fiction writing from the University of Montana. He has held a variety of positions in publishing, including managing editor of a youth magazine and founding editor of two others. He spent eighteen years as an acquiring editor at Zondervan, most of that time as Executive Editor for fiction, and most...

Keynote Speaker Carol Kent – Author and Speaker

Posted by Dee C on Apr 26, 2013 in Faculty, front page | Comments Off

Carol Kent is a bestselling author and an international speaker. With vulnerable openness, irrepressible hope, restored joy, and a sense of humor, Carol helps people to find God’s “grace places” in the middle of life’s challenges. Carol is the president of Speak Up Speaker Services, a Christian speakers’ bureau, and director of the Speak Up Conference, equipping men & women to develop their speaking, writing, and leadership skills. She also founded the nonprofit organization, Speak Up for Hope, which benefits families of incarcerated individuals. She holds a master’s degree in communication arts and a bachelor’s degree in speech education. Some of her...

Keynote Speaker Ruth Graham – Author & Speaker

Posted by Dee C on Apr 26, 2013 in Faculty, front page | Comments Off

Ruth Graham is founder of Ruth Graham Ministries. She is an award winning author and sought after conference speaker. She has a heart for those who face life’s difficult challenges and seeks to minister God’s grace and restoration – as well as equip those who want to reach out to the wounded among us. She has appeared on a variety of radio and television shows including,100 Huntley Street, Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, Life Today, The Hour of Power, Focus on the Family and Moody Broadcasting. She is the author of nine books, including best selling In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart; and award-winning Step into the Bible. Ruth, an ordained...

Bryan Davis – Fantasy Fiction

Posted by Dee C on Apr 26, 2013 in Faculty, front page | Comments Off

Bryan Davis is the author of the best-selling Dragons in Our Midst, Oracles of Fire, and Children of the Bard series, contemporary/fantasy blends for young people. His book, Eye of the Oracle, hit number one on the January 2007, Young Adult CBA best-seller list. His series from Zondervan Publishers, Dragons of Starlight, released in April of 2010 with Starlighter, a unique twist on the dragons/fantasy genre that includes four books for young adults. These books have placed on a number of best-seller lists. Related to Dragons of Starlight is Tales of Starlight, a companion series for adults. The first book, Masters & Slayers, released in September of 2010, and the...