Conference Staff | Maranatha Christian Writers' Conference

Conference Staff

Kim De Blecourt – Author and Speaker

Posted by Timothy Burns on Aug 20, 2012 in Conference Staff, Faculty | 0 comments

Kim De Blecourt is a member and event planner with Word Weavers West Michigan. This fall, here first book Until We All Come Home releases nationally from Faithwords. Kim is a former corporate trainer, and mother of two young children. From her publishing journey, and together with Kathy Bruins, Kim will co-host the Book Proposal Workshop. You can read more about Kim here: http://nourishedhearts.com/ In her own words, Kim is: - daughter of God - wife of Jahn and mother to Jacey and Jake - speaker, blogger and adoption/orphan rights advocate I have become… - a survivor of trial - a warrior of truth - incredibly humbled by grace and an avid reader, the...

Mary Hassinger–Zonderkidz

Posted by Timothy Burns on May 24, 2012 in Conference Staff, Faculty | Comments Off

Mary Hassinger has been with Zondervan since 2008. She is the Acquisitions Editor for general picture books, children’s level readers, and is the editor for several large brands of product that include the Berenstain Bears and VeggieTales. Her duties on staff include the acquiring and developmental editing of children’s book manuscripts, helping to drive the direction of cover and interior designs, and ensuring overall editorial quality of all general picture book product. Prior to Zondervan, Mary worked as an acquiring editor for McGraw-Hill Children’s Publishing and School Specialty and was a junior high teacher for thirteen years. Mary will be...

Noreen Ophoff – Musician

Posted by vkokmeyer on May 3, 2012 in Conference Staff, Faculty | Comments Off

Noreen Ophoff plays acoustic guitar and sings folk songs. Performance venues include sing-a-longs at nursing homes, writers’ groups and conferences, and a photography exhibition. As an active member of Jerry Jenkins’ Michigan writers’ group, Word Weavers, Noreen writes about growing up on a Michigan dairy farm, and her mother’s impoverished life in Nebraska and Michigan in the early 1900′s. Widowed in 2011, Noreen also writes of her grief experiences. Noreen has published a Christmas anthology, an online publication, and was part of a sesquicentennial historical book. Noreen lives near Grant, Michigan. She enjoys being with daughters Erin...

Verna Kokmeyer – Conference Co-Director

Posted by Timothy Burns on Jan 30, 2012 in Conference Staff | 2 comments

Verna Kokmeyer is a graduate of Calvin College with a degree in secondary education. Her teaching experience is in the areas of speech, drama, and English. She currently combines teaching and writing with her involvement in business administration. She is a speaker and author of devotionals, dramatic sketches, and Christian learning materials for children. Standard Publishing has published second editions of her object lessons entitled Object Talks for Any Day and Object Talks for Special Occasions. Verna has enjoyed writing three other object talk books using sports, animals, and toys to illustrate spiritual truths. These are also published by Standard. As conference...

Judy Farnsworth – Hospitality

Posted by Timothy Burns on Jan 30, 2012 in Conference Staff | 0 comments

Judith Farnsworth received her Bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate from Eastern Michigan University and a Masters Degree in Elementary Administration from Central Michigan University. She is listed in the Marquis Whos Who in American Education 1994-95. Judy has been published in the Lansing State Journal opinion page. Her desire is to write childrens books, devotional materials, and educational articles. Judy lives in Grand Ledge, MI. She has 2 children and 3 grandchildren.

Marge Faber – Bookstore and Photographer

Posted by Timothy Burns on Jan 30, 2012 in Conference Staff | 0 comments

Marge Faber is a retired technical writer and educator. She enjoys time with family, photography and travel. Her writing experience includes twenty years of technical writing as well as creating training materials in various media. She has also taught students in English and in French at the college level.