Agents, Editors, & Others
We work with an incredible team of talented agents and editors.
Every year at our conference, we bring in a great team of agents and editors to meet with our writers. You, and your project, might be exactly what they are looking for. (Click here to see adjunct faculty.)
Dave Fessenden
Agent, WordWise Media; Editor, CLC Publications
Dave has degrees in journalism and theology, and over 30 years of experience in writing and editing. He has served in editorial management positions for Christian book publishers and was regional editor for the largest Protestant weekly newspaper in the country.
Dave has published seven books, written hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles, and edited numerous books. He is a frequent speaker at writers’ conferences. Two of his books, Writing the Christian Nonfiction Book: Concept to Contract and A Christian Writer’s Guide to the Book Proposal, are based on his experience in Christian publishing. The Case of the Exploding Speakeasy, Dave’s first novel, reflects his love for history and for the Sherlock Holmes stories of Arthur Conan-Doyle. Dave is currently working on his second novel, Figman O’Firth, about a storyteller in the Middle Ages.
Dave and his wife, Jacque, live in south-central Pennsylvania and have two adult sons.
CLC Publications, editorial coordinator: I am part of the acquisitions team. We are seeking nonfiction books that draw people into a deeper walk with God and a more intimate experience of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). We are accepting Christian living and devotional works. We do not consider fiction or poetry.
WordWise Media Services, literary agent: I am interested in:
Nonfiction: Bible Studies, Christian Living/Ministry/Evangelism, Church Growth/Life/Renewal, Culture/Contemporary Issues, How-To/Teaching, Devotionals, Discipleship/Personal Growth, Men’s Books, Prayer
Fiction: Action/Adventure, Fantasy/Speculative/Sci-Fi, Historical, Suspense/Crime/Mystery
Rhonda Robinson
Associate Editor, Now What? and Bible Advocate
Rhonda Robinson, Content Producer (acquiring editor) Focus on the Family Parenting and Youth
For over twenty years, Rhonda Robinson has provided insightful commentary and analysis on the social, political, and parenting issues impacting the family. Beginning in the late 1990s, Rhonda’s work was featured in newspapers as a controversial columnist. Her voice later transitioned to articles and blogs for high-traffic conservative websites, where she established a significant online presence.
In 2015, Rhonda concentrated her expertise into training and guiding writers in the art of creating viral content that met the felt needs of niche audiences. As a managing editor of content marketing company, Rhonda taught writers how to leverage search engine and social media listening strategies to create content that resonates and reaches its intended audience.
Although most of her career has been spent online with over 1,000 articles, Rhonda has also penned two award-winning books. Nonetheless, Rhonda’s true claim to fame comes from being the mother to nine children and grandmother to 35. Currently, she resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with her high school sweetheart, as they settle into an empty nest.
Lin Johnson
The Christian Writers' Market Guide
Lin Johnson has been involved in Christian publishing for decades, serving in various roles. She has been the editor of several award-winning publications and books, has written 70 books and curriculum, and is currently editor of The Christian Writers Market Guide. This annual volume keeps Christian writers up to date on what publishers are looking for and how to submit their materials.
Submitting and selling our work over the years has changed. Lin will help us be updated on all the latest trends, as well as helping writers in other ways, personally and professionally.
Sherri Langton
Associate Editor, Now What? and Bible Advocate
Sherri Langton, associate editor of the Bible Advocate magazine (baonline.org) and of Now What? e-zine (nowwhat.cog7.org), has worked over 30 years in Christian publishing. She is an award-winning freelance writer whose work has appeared in Focus on the Family, In Touch, Upper Room, Today’s Christian Woman, Marriage Partnership, Discipleship Journal, Decision, LIVE, and other publications. She writes on assignment for AG News and Standard. Sherri also has contributed to two Chicken Soup for the Soul volumes, My Turn to Care, Teatime Stories for Women, Becoming a Godly Man, Faces of Faith, Hurray God!, and Understanding Depression and Suicide: Hope in the Darkness. In addition, she teaches workshops at several Christian writers conferences. Sherri lives in Denver, Colorado, and plays drums at her church.
Craig VonBuseck
Author and Speaker
From webcasts to television and radio, and from conferences and churches to boardrooms, Dr. Craig von Buseck has been in the public eye for more than 35 years. As a sought-after keynote speaker, he has spoken across America and overseas. Craig is an award-winning, multi-published author. He is also a contributing writer for FocusontheFamily.com, The Write Conversation Blog, MTL Magazine, and Charisma Magazine. He holds a Doctor of Ministry and an MA in Journalism from Regent University.
Craig’s biography, Victor! The Final Battle of Ulysses S. Grant, won the Christian Market Book Award as the Nonfiction Book of the Year. Craig’s recent book, I Am Cyrus: Harry S. Truman and the Rebirth of Israel, won the prestigious Selah award for nonfiction, was a finalist for The Truman Award from the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, and was a finalist for the Serious Writer Book of the Decade Award.
Craig’s other books include Telling the Truth: How to Write Narrative Nonfiction and Memoir, Forward! The Leadership Principles of Ulysses S. Grant, Walking in Faith: The Peter, Paul, and Mary Principle, Nobody Knows: The Harry T. Burleigh Story, Praying the News, co-written by 700 Club co-host Wendy Griffith, and Seven Keys to Hearing God’s Voice.
Craig has extensive speaking experience and travels often to conferences, professional events, churches, and writer training meetings. Learn more at vonbuseck.com.
Rebecca Ford
Author Liaison, Acquisitions Editor EABooks Publishing
Everyone has a story to tell. Stories inspire, entertain, and challenge us. Rebecca is acquisitions editor and author liaison for EABooks Publishing, a hybrid publisher that specializes in helping authors get their materials in print. As acquisitions editor, Rebecca helps authors explore what their message is and if it’s ready for print. As an author liaison, Rebecca helps authors through the process of getting their story into the hands of their readers. She takes authors through the steps of publication as they work with a team of book specialists.
Janet Stapleton
Rights & Licensing Manager at The Foundry Publishing
Through years of changes in the publishing industry, Janet Stapleton has kept a handle on rights and licensing—not only in the U.S., but throughout the world. She has a heart for helping writers understand the main things they need to know when they sign those contracts or when they want to get their message out there! Janet has worked for TheFoundryPublishing for 20 years and has the answers to the questions you have!
Visit TheFoundryPublishing.com
Josh Mann
Editor, The Lion
Josh Mann is managing editor for the Hertzog Foundation, working specifically with The Lion newspaper.
The Lion is an initiative of the Herzog Foundation, and it carries articles covering a wide range of issues facing American families and culture, especially related to the education of children. In covering these topics, articles will also touch on aspects of parenting, family life, faith, government, and other relevant cultural topics. The newspaper produces timely, critical, must-read news articles and resources for families, educators, and leaders. And they welcome new writers!
Learn more about The Lion at https://readlion.com/authors/josh-mann/
Deb DeArmond
Acquisitions Editor, Elk Lake Publishing
Deb DeArmond is acquisitions editor for Elk Lake Publishing–a publisher that’s really on the move.
Owner Deb Haggerty writes about Elk Lake Publishing: “A few days ago, Elk Lake Publishing was called a ‘small, indie publisher.’ I corrected the speaker to say we are a traditional publisher that works with authors in a nontraditional way. Small? Perhaps–we publish about a hundred books a year more or less, which is not terribly small. Indie? In that we are not an imprint of another publishing company, yes. In that we are some kind of a self-publishing company, no.
“We are an unabashedly Christian publishing company striving to publish the authors God brings to us in the most professional manner possible, so His words will reach the people intended to read them. Our overarching goal is to point people to Jesus Christ. So we publish positive books for people of all ages. We exist to captivate our readers and carry them to places of escape, encouragement, education, and entertainment. We are a family–part of that larger family of God–carrying out the mission we were given.”
Check out their information (including instructions for potential authors) at: https://elklakepublishinginc.com/
Jeanette Levellie
Guideposts & Chicken Soup, Humor Writer
A spunky pastor’s wife and ordained minister, Jeanette Levellie has published five books, stories in Guideposts, Chicken Soup for The Soul, and Focus on the Family magazines, greeting card verses, and calendar poems. Find her devotional/humor blog, Hope Splashes, at www.jeanettelevellie.com. Jeanette also enjoys speaking to groups of all flavors, offering hope and humor in every message. A resident of Paris, IL., she is the wife of one, mother of two, grandmother of three, and servant to four (cats). Jeanette’s hobbies include reading, watching old black and white movies, and finding ways to avoid housework.