Seekerville Welcomes Margaret Daley!

Here’s the Scoop about the ACFW Conference from the ACFW President
By Margaret Daley

Debby here! What an honor to have award winning author Margaret Daley (far right in the photo) with us today! Known for her big heart and willingness to serve, Margaret is always quick to help those in need. Got a question? Ask Margaret. Have a task that has to be done? Find Margaret. Need advice? Well, you get the idea. Plus, Margaret is a fantastic writer whose 75 books have touched hearts around the world.

During her career as a special education teacher, Margaret penned a myriad of stories and was active in a number of professional writing organizations, including American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. After retirement, Margaret became even more involved. Last year, she held the office of volunteer coordinator for ACFW, and she is currently serving as our ACFW president.

Today, Margaret is giving us a sneak peek into this year’s ACFW Conference. Grab a cup of coffee, and be sure to leave a comment and your email address to be included in a drawing for Margaret’s upcoming release, FROM THIS DAY FORWARD. Now help me welcome Margaret Daley to Seekerville!

What is going to happen at the ACFW conference? Fantastic things from the Gala Event for the Awards Ceremony on Saturday to our Early Bird speaker, Dr. Stanley Williams who wrote The Moral Premise (Harnessing Virtue and Vice for Box Office Success). Who doesn’t want to write a box office success? And when we write we pit virtue against vice. That is what can drive your plot. Even if you can’t go to the conference or the Early Bird session, pick up Dr. Williams book to glean what he knows about a great topic for a writer.

What is different this year? One thing that comes to mind is there will not be a booksigning this year. At least a planned one. That doesn’t mean you can’t buy books and get your favorite authors to sign the books. I hope you do. Get your books early then stalk the authors, but don’t tell them I said so. Remember half of the proceeds goes to the ACFW Foundation to offer full scholarships next year to the conference. So not only are you getting a great read but helping someone too.

Also another different thing this year is there will be no tickets for the meals except the Gala Awards Dinner on Saturday night. Your name tag will be your entry into the sessions and meals so remember to wear it.

A couple of things from our Conference Director Robin Miller. This hotel has a quiet policy from 9 pm-9 am. The Hyatt in St. Louis is a great hotel right on the Mississippi River near the Arch--a nice location with views from your room that are breathtaking. I found the staff to be nice and helpful. Also Robin hopes if you are at the hotel on Wednesday that you register from 4:30-8:00 pm, so if you have an appointment problem there is a better chance you can get it corrected easily.

This year we will be giving a Lifetime Achievement Award again (and every year because there are so many great people in the industry). When you hear who it is, you will agree that this recipient deserved the recognition. But then the same will go for the Editor of the Year, the Agent of the Year, the Mentor of the Year and the Member’s Service Award. We have some wonderful, deserving people who are receiving these awards. Not to mention the authors who are receiving the Carol and Genesis Awards. What a Gala Event Saturday night will be with extra special touches the conference director has promised me to make the evening elegant.

There are some great opportunities for published authors with Thomas Umstattd’s appointments concerning social media and the writer as well as different media people being at the conference from Christian Retailing to Publisher Weekly to Romantic Times. There are some bookstores represented along with CBA and ECPA.

Then for all authors there are many editors and agents attending. They are offering appointments, but they are also available throughout the conference to answer questions. One of the things I love about this conference is the accessibility of the editors and agents for the attendees.

Then last but not least, we have Tracie Peterson coming to the conference as the keynote speaker. What a pleasure and inspiration to hear from Tracie who has been in the industry for years as an editor and author with 85 books. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to hear her.
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Margaret Daley is an award winning author of 75 books with two out in September, From This Day Forward, Summerside Press, and Hidden in the Everglades, Love Inspired Suspense. Visit her at http://www.margaretdaley.com.