reNEW

Rachel Britton is a British-born author, blogger, and speaker. Rachel holds a Masters in Religion, cum laude, from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She has been Director of reNEW ~ spiritual retreat for writers and speakers since 2018 which she operates
through her non-profit organization, Rachel Britton Ministries. Rachel is represented by Books & Such Literary Agency. She is the creator and writer of an Amazon Alexa skill app: “Alexa, say a prayer,” which receives approximately 1,000 requests per day. A member of Redbud Writers Guild, Rachel writes regularly for BibleStudyTools.com and she is a contributing author to So God Made a Dog: 90 Devotions for Dog People, Whispers of Grace, and editor of The Courage to Write. Rachel has lived in the United States for 25 years. Her career began in newspaper and magazine publishing in London. She worked for BBC Worldwide before moving to the USA. Rachel is married with three young adult children and lives in New York City and Colorado where she enjoys escaping to the
mountains to write, hike and ski. She blogs on prayer regularly at her online home, rachelbritton.com

Eva Marie Everson is a multiple-award winning author and speaker who hails from the picturesque Southern town of Sylvania, Georgia. She is CEO of Word Weavers International and the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference. She is the recipient of the Yvonne Lehman Legacy Award, the AWSA Lifetime Achievement Award, and this year her work, The Third Path, won the Golden Scroll Book of the Year. A familiar face at writers conferences across the US, Eva Marie enjoys coaching new authors through her company, Pen in Hand. She and her husband make their home in Central Florida. They are the parents of three fabulous children who have blessed them with the world’s greatest grandchildren (no arguments please).

Cynthia Fantasia served for 24 years as Pastor of Women and Service at Grace Chapel, Lexington, MA and has just completed an 8 year term on the Grace Chapel Board of Elders (two years as chair). She speaks nationally and internationally, and was one of 15 pastors in North America selected to join a Templeton cohort, investigating the relationship between science and faith. Cynthia was the co-founder of GCScience – which now has an international internet following of over half million.
A contributing author in Mothers Have Angel Wings by Carol Kent, and 30 Ways to Embrace Life by Lucinda McDowell, she has also written several Bible studies that have been used in many churches. Cynthia is the author of “In The Lingering Light: Courage and Hope for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver” published by NavPress, chronicling her and her husband’s journey through Alzheimer’s Disease.
Ordained in 2007, Cynthia earned a D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
She and her late husband, Bob, have three adult children and five grandchildren. Long walks, great books, and seeing the world through the eyes of her grandchildren, fill Cynthia’s days with wonder and joy.

Kia Stephens is the founder of Entrusted Women, which she created to equip Christian women communicators of color. A contributing writer for iBelieve.com, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and Crosswalk, she is a recurring speaker at She Speaks, the Beloved Women’s Conference, and the Entrusted Women’s Conference.

Kia has also been a featured guest on several podcasts including the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, Java With Juli with Dr. Juli Slattery, The Alli Worthington Show, Better Together With Barb Roose, the Sister Circle With Chrystal Hurst, and the Captivating Podcast with Stasi Eldredge.

Kia is also the host of the Hope for Women With Father Wounds Podcast and she recently released her first book Overcoming Father Wounds. As a writer, speaker, and business owner Kia is passionate about encouraging the hearts of women one word at a time. She offers practical advice for writers, speakers, and ministry leaders at varying stages of their journey. When she is not writing or speaking, which she often calls her side-gig, she is working her full-time job as a wife of nearly 20 years and a mama to two teens.

Lauren Yarger is a producer and playwright. A member of the Dramatists Guild, she has written several dinner theaters and revues as well as the book for an award-winning musical version of A Christmas Carol. She produced a one-woman musical about Mary Magdalene which toured nationally for three years before closing in New York. At Gracewell Productions, she produces inspiring works in the arts. She is Co-Founder of the Connecticut Chapter of the League of Professional Theatre Women. As a critic covering Broadway, New York and Connecticut theater, she is a member of the Outer Critics Circle (producer of the annual awards) and former vice president of the Drama Desk. As a member of the National Book Critics Circle, Yarger was a book reviewer for Publishers Weekly and other publications for years. She also has worked with authors on book launches and events through her company, The WritePros. GracewellProductions.com

Tessa Afshar’s historical fiction has been translated into 11 languages, and been on Publishers Weekly, CBA, and ECPA bestseller lists. Her novel, Pearl in the Sand is the recipient of ECPA’s Bronze Milestone Sales Award. Tessa’s novels have won a number of awards including the Christy and INSPY, and been finalists for the Carol and the ECPA Christian Book Awards. Land of Silence was chosen as one of top five Christian fiction titles of the year by Library Journal. The Way Home, God’s Invitation to New Beginnings, is the winner of the Christian Book Award in the Bible Study category. Tessa was born in the Middle East and lived there the first fourteen years of her life before attending boarding school for girls in England. She fell in love with Jesus after moving to the United States. Tessa and her husband live in New England where they tend their mediocre garden.

Heidi Chiavaroli (pronounced shev-uh-roli...sort of like Chevrolet and ravioli mushed together!) wrote her first story in third grade, titled I'd Cross the Desert for Milk. It wasn't until years later that she revisited writing, using her two small boys’ nap times to pursue what she thought at the time was a foolish dream. Despite a long road to publication, she hasn’t stopped writing since!

Heidi writes women's fiction, combining her love of history and literature to write both split time stories and contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, Freedom's Ring, was a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist, a Romantic Times Top Pick and a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Her second Carol Award-winning novel, The Orchard House, is inspired by the lesser-known events in Louisa May Alcott's life and led her to write The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast series, a contemporary twist on Little Women. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband, two sons, and Wyatt, her standard poodle.

Lori Stanley Roeleveld is a traditionally published author, professional writer’s coach, freelancer, editor, speaker, and disturber of hobbits, who enjoys making comfortable Christians late for dinner.

She’s authored five award-winning books and contributed to ten+ more. Her sixth book, Graceful Influence, releases March 2024 from Our Daily Bread Publishing. Through Take Heart! Coaching and Freelance, Lori has coached over 100 Christian writers toward their dreams.

Lori writes online content for popular sites including Crosswalk, Christianity.com, and Bible Study Tools. Her work has appeared in numerous Guideposts publications and greeting cards. She’s an experienced ghostwriter, collaborator, and speechwriter. One of Lori’s blog posts was viewed over 2 million times in a single week, and several others were viral on Facebook.

Lori writes and teaches on perseverance, our lasting impact on others, and all manner of hard conversations but she’s known for her humor, storytelling, and engaging delivery of biblical truth. Though she has degrees in Psychology and Biblical Studies, Lori learned the most from studying her Bible in life’s trenches.

Life-long Rhode Islander. Wife. Mother of adults. Omi. Part-time giant-slayer. Not available for children’s parties. She speaks her mind at www.loriroeleveld.com and manages her coaching/freelance business at www.takeheartcoachingandfreelance.com

Cathy Chung is a speaker, writer and lay pastor. She loves sharing biblical messages and has a heart for pastoral care. God showed Cathy grace even when she rejected Him and struggled with addiction. He reclaimed her life through the truth of scripture and fills her with joy and purpose. She particularly enjoys discovering fresh biblical truths by stepping into 1st century culture.

Cathy lives in paradise on a lake near Boston. She loves to garden and has three grown children, a son-in-law, and a grand-dog. She recently completed a Masters in Theological Studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Cathy posts weekly scriptural insights at SeedsofScripture.com. She preaches as often as possible, speaks at women’s events, ministers at a nursing home and leads a Grief Share group.

Marla is a wife, mom of five, portrait/family photographer & school nurse. Over the years, she has been a speaker/encourager to moms, Community Bible Study Children’s Director, Nurse/Client Advocate at a local pregnancy resource center and facilitated Bible studies, parenting and marriage ministries. In her free time she enjoys – being outside with her camera, creating DIY wood/home projects, zooming in her red Beetle, or working on her first book which comes out this summer!

Jennifer Drummond, a trained Spiritual Director, contemplates the seasons through photography and poetry, knowing that God speaks to us everywhere and all the time. The assistant leader of a Spiritual Direction Training Course called Holy Conversations, she offers online retreats as well as one on one spiritual direction. She is a contributing writer for The Courage to Write, as well as for a forthcoming devotional from Revell Publishing, She is also working on her own book of poems and prayers for the seasons. A voracious reader, you can find her in the summer by the pool and in winter by the fireplace; throughout the year she blogs at “That Got Me Thinking.” Jennifer lives with her husband, two teenagers, and one golden pup in Hamilton MA. Her unicorn name is “Rising Royal Glitter, Avenger of Leftover Snacks”.

Hailey Gerhard is a quiet soul with a loud calling for acts of service. She has helped build a successful mentorship program for a New England based anti-trafficking non-profit. She advocates publicly for prevention awareness on the impact of Human Trafficking within the state of CT. Hailey has influenced the domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) training for social workers within the state of CT. She is a successful grant writer for her family’s small business and continues as HR Administrator. Hailey is also a freelance front end website designer since graduating from a full stack developer program in 2023. She is expanding her business to fellow speakers and writers as they build their personal brand portfolios. Hailey is passionate about mental health education, cross cultural communication, and encouraging others in their gifts and callings. Often reserved in demeanor, she is always listening closely. She goofily quotes movie references silently to herself out of habit. Raised in CT, she is devoted to the town and home she shares with her family and many pets.

Tammy Gerhard is a woman who loves Jesus and encourages people to see life through His eyes. She delights in helping women discover their gifts, inspiring each to put them to use for Kingdom purposes. She is a natural connector – a speaker, mentor, counselor and coach, a sometimes-blogger and budding author, currently working to complete her first book. Tammy is also the owner of a coffee shop in the center of her town where she regularly invites in emerging communicators after hours to develop their craft. She currently resides in Connecticut with her husband of 30 years and three adult children.

Myra Ingargiola is an author, speaker and teacher of God’s Word. She serves as Interim Women’s Ministry Leader at her home church as well as sings on the worship team. She enjoys discipling women of all ages by being transparent about her own life experiences, and proclaiming God’s Truth of forgiveness, healing and redemption. Myra’s deepest passion is to show others how to weave a tapestry of their life threads into a display of Christ Jesus’ amazing love, redeeming grace and unrelenting mercy. Myra looks forward to one day presenting her tapestry to the Holy One as a love offering when she is called to His eternal home!

Being a survivor of domestic violence and having held the child of her heart only to experience the heartache of “empty arms” Psalm 116 her life scripture speaks of how God rescues His people when they cry out to Him in their anguish.

Myra works as a Guidance Secretary at her local high school. She finds there is a sweetness when we are given unassuming opportunities to speak into the lives of students and shine His Light into their lives. Myra is a wife, mom, grand and great-grandmother.

Julie Kieras is an English teacher, homeschool mom, and writer. She loves to encourage moms and homeschoolers in their God-given mission to love their children well and point them to Christ. She shares encouragement, resources, and tips on her biog, Happy Strong Home, and on her Instagram. In her spare time, she writes poetry, devotionals, and the occasional short story! Her most recent publication is Toddler Story Treasury, a collection of 30 retold classic tales for the littlest story lovers.

Medical director by day, author by night. Sharing Christ, Inspiration, and Truth with You. Founder and writer at City Time blog and store with quirky reminders of God’s love and the scriptures. Loves all things Ancient Rome, philosophy, and Christ. Currently working on edits of debut biblical historical fiction with the working title “Searching for Freedom.”

Cindy is an intentional “CEO a Connector, Encourager to Others” who loves to cultivate relationships to inspire, empower, and equip others especially when they are traveling through unexpected life storms and next step seasons of life. She is an Award-Winning Bible study author of BEYOND: Finding Strength and Hope through Unexpected Storms, a passionate communicator, a strong Biblical speaker, teacher and author. Cindy is a team member for several Christian Writing/Speaking Conferences and a ministry coordinator for a non-profit nation-wide Christian Outreach Ministry for 27 years. Cindy challenges her audience to connect with God and one another taking that next step forward in obedience to your calling by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. She equips them to navigate their losses, identify roadblocks and empowers them to move to a place filled with joy and peace beyond their storm and area of stuckness. She encourages leadership to establish a strong engagement with their peers with an emphasis on C.C.C. - Connection, Collaboration, and Catapult. A member of AWSA – Advanced Writers Speakers Association, CAN – Christian Author Network, By Design Ministries and Women Speakers.com. Cindy is a mother of two adult children and resides in NH. Cindy is often seen at the local coffee shop sipping iced coffee or at the beach where she often finds her inspiration!

Konnie Viner is an award-winning author who writes to encourage women with the assurance of God's faithfulness. She is the author of two novels: Blueberry Bungalow, a Selah Mystery & Suspense award-winner; and Amaryllis Journey, a Golden Scroll fiction book of the year award-winner. Her first book, Rested Soul Resilient Heart, Finding Hope in the Storms of Abuse and Betrayal is an eight-week guide to healing from the fallout of toxic relationships.
Konnie has a Bachelor’s degree in Language Arts Education from the University of Kansas and a Master’s in Business Management from the University of Redlands, CA. She is a Certified Domestic Violence Advocate in MA & NH, former secondary education teacher, tutor, Bible study teacher, and retreat speaker. Konnie is an amateur photographer residing in NH who is frequently found at her favorite spots capturing sunrises and sunsets.