For an additional fee of $45.00 (over and above Conference Registration Fees) you may opt to purchase critiques of your manuscript and/or synopsis and a fifteen-thirty minute critique session with the reviewer of your choice.
All submissions should follow standard manuscript formatting unless otherwise noted (Courier or Times New Roman font, 12 point font size, double spaced with 1-inch margins). You will be contacted and provided with instruction regarding your reviewer’s preferred method of delivery. Submission must be received by the reviewer’s deadline.
The Conference Appointment Coordinator, Casey Miller, will schedule your critique appointment. All times are CDT for the virtual conference.You will receive the date/time/location of your appointment prior to the virtual conference.
Adding a Paid Critique to your choice of additional options will be part of the Conference Registration process. Payment will be submitted along with Conference Registration Fees.
PLEASE NOTE: The Paid Critique service includes only ONE critique of the work submitted. Critiques of revised pages ARE NOT included and SHOULD NOT be requested from your reviewer.
Reviewers Available
Please read each reviewer’s guidelines as they vary per submission length and entry deadline. On the Conference Registration Form, you will be asked to indicate a first and second choice, in the event your first choice is unavailable. Critiquers only have a limited number of slots available. Selection is done on a first come basis, so be sure to register early.
2021 Paid Critiques
Joni M. Fisher
Deadline: 07/01/2025
Genre(s): Contemporary Fiction|Mystery/Suspense/Thriller|Romantic Suspense|Women's Fiction
Submit Via: Email
Status: open
Web Site: http://www.JoniMFisher.com
Bio: Joni M. Fisher writes suspenseful crime stories about heroines who don't wait to be rescued. Her Compass Crimes series has been recognized in the N.I.E.A., Clue Book Awards, Christian Indie Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Kindle Book Awards, Royal Palm Literary Awards, and others. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and a lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She’s also an instrument-rated private pilot who reports for General Aviation News.
She taught at a local police academy. As an instrument-rated private pilot, she believes flying is the most fun possible with clothes on. On a dare from her brothers, she tested and qualified for Mensa International. She reports for General Aviation News. Her fingerprints are on file with the FBI. For all the dirt, see www.JoniMFisher.com.
What to Send: The first 20-35 pages plus the synopsis.
Jennifer Jahn
Deadline: 07/01/2026
Genre(s): Young Adult
Submit Via: Email
Status: open
Bio: Jennifer Brianne Jahn is the first college graduate of her Mexican-American family, graduating from Vanguard University of Southern California at 29 with a degree in English. Jennifer was taught to read at the age of four and began writing short stories filled with very interesting misspellings at the age of six. After completing her Bachelor’s degree, Jennifer married a pastor and they now have four children. Her days are filled with Charlotte Mason homeschool (read: a whole lot of new books every year!), children’s ministry, a weekly small group, and participates in Woods+Books, a homeschool co-op. Jennifer has a passion for writing children’s literature that reflect God’s truth, goodness, and beauty. Jennifer has participated in Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 Picture Book Challenge, is a current member of Write2Ignite and American Christian Fiction Writers, and was a scholarship recipient and graduate of Mira Reisberg’s Children’s Book Academy. She is published in the Daughters of Delight devotional, the Synecdoche Literary Journal, and is a contributing writer for the NKyTribune. Her debut board book is scheduled for publication in the spring of 2026 and a picture book to follow in spring of 2027 with B&H Kids (Lifeway
What to Send: Picture book....entire manuscript or 500-600 words
Tara Johnson
Deadline: 08/15/2026
Genre(s): Historical Romance
Submit Via: Email
Status: open
Bio: Tara Johnson is an author and speaker, and loves to write stories that help people break free from the lies they believe about themselves.
Tara’s debut novel Engraved on the Heart (Tyndale) earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and was a finalist in the Carol and Christy awards. She is multi-published in both fiction and nonfiction, and has several of her books translated into Polish and Dutch. Tara is a certified body language expert is president of Story Spark Author Development Agency. She, her husband, and children live in Arkansas.
What to Send: First 20 pages
DiAnn Mills
Deadline: 08/01/2026
Genre(s): Contemporary Fiction|Contemporary Romance|Mystery/Suspense/Thriller|Romantic Suspense
Submit Via: Email
Status: open
Web Site: http://www.diannmills.com
Bio: DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who invites readers to expect an adventure through heart-pounding suspense, romance, and faith-filled stories. Her novels have landed on CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists and won numerous awards, including the Christy and Carol. A founding board member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Conference Advisor for Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers, DiAnn mentors writers nationwide. She lives in Houston, Texas, where she roasts her own coffee and spoils her grandchildren.
What to Send: First 15 pages
Carrie Stuart Parks
Deadline: 08/17/2026
Genre(s): Contemporary Fiction|Mystery/Suspense/Thriller|Romantic Suspense|Women's Fiction
Submit Via: Email
Status: open
Web Site: http://www.carriestuartparks.com
Bio: Carrie Stuart Parks is a multi-Christy, Carol, Golden Scroll, Kudos, and Inspy award-winning author in addition to numerous other awards. An internationally known forensic artist, she teaches courses in forensic art to law enforcement professionals across the US and Canada and is the largest instructor of forensic art in the world. Carrie is a popular speaker and presenter and has been the Special Guest at the Writer’s Police Academy, Early Bird Special Presenter along with Frank Peretti at the American Christian Fiction Writers, Keynote at the Oregon Christian Writer’s Conference, as well as presented at ThrillerFest, Daphne Du Maurier’s Kiss of Death, BlueRidge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference, and numerous other conferences. As a professional fine artist, she is a signature member of the Idaho Watercolor Society. Her paintings hanging in a number of corporate and private collections. She has written and illustrated non-fiction best-selling art books for North Light Publishers.
What to Send: First 10 pages plus synopsis. Participants will have a written critique of their work sent.
Allie Pleiter
Deadline: 08/03/2026
Genre(s): Contemporary Fiction|Contemporary Romance|Historical Fiction|Historical Romance|Women's Fiction
Submit Via: Email
Status: open
Web Site: http://www.alliepleiter.com
Bio: The bestselling author of over seventy titles, Allie Pleiter's twenty-five-year career has sold 1.9 million books. Her titles include contemporary and historical romances as well as cozy mysteries. Allie also coaches on writing productivity and speaks nationally on time management for creatives.
What to Send: First two chapters plus synopsis
Carol Post
Deadline: 08/01/2026
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance|Romantic Suspense
Submit Via: Email
Status: open
Bio: Carol J. Post is a New York Times bestselling author of fun and fast-paced Christian romance and Christian romantic suspense stories. Her books have won several awards and been nominated for two RITA® awards and an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award. She is also a popular speaker, presenting workshops on a variety of craft topics.
Carol especially enjoys research trips, which usually involve camping, with some hiking, kayaking and bonfires thrown in when possible. She also loves playing the piano and writing songs with her musical husband. Her two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of two sassy cats—Ziggy and Ziva—who also love camping and are known to occasionally take over her blog with their “It’s Zaturday!” posts.
What to Send: First 20 pages and synopsis
Carrie Turansky
Deadline: 08/15/2026
Genre(s): Contemporary Fiction|Contemporary Romance|Historical Fiction|Historical Romance|Women's Fiction
Submit Via: Email
Status: open
Web Site: http://www.carrieturansky.com
Bio: Carrie Turansky is the bestselling author of eighteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. She writes both historical and contemporary fiction and is the winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the Crystal Globe Award. Carrie has been a member of ACFW since 2000 and looks forward attending the conference each year. She loves to encourage aspiring authors and pass along encouragement and ideas to help them polish their writing and move toward publication. Visit her website for writers’ tips and information about her books: http://carrieturansky.com/
What to Send: I’d like to see the first 20 pages and a one page synopsis with the genre listed.
Bethany Turner
Deadline: 08/01/2026
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Submit Via: Email
Status: open
Bio: Bethany Turner has been writing since the second grade, when she won her first writing award for explaining why, if she could have lunch with any person throughout history, she would choose John Stamos. She stands by this decision. Bethany now writes pop culture–infused romantic comedies for a generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight. Bethany’s rom-coms have won the Colorado Book Award, multiple Colorado Authors League Awards, multiple Selah Awards, and been finalists for the Romance Writers of America’s Vivian Award and the Christy Award. Her work has also been rejected by agents and editors some ninety-three times (and counting) and received some of the most glorious one-star reviews ever written. She’s very proud of her novels and even prouder of her two adult sons, but she considers her greatest achievement having met George Clooney’s dad when she was an adolescent, George Clooney’s mom on her (Bethany’s) fortieth birthday (when Mrs. Clooney sang to her and told her stories from George’s childhood), and once spotting George himself through a window, on the other side of a crowd of people. She lives in Southwest Colorado with her husband, whom she met in the nineties in a chat room called Disco Inferno. As sketchy as it sounds, it worked out pretty well in this case. (After nearly twenty-five years of marriage, Bethany can confidently declare he’s almost certainly not a serial killer as her parents once feared.) Text Bethany anytime at (970) 387-7811 or connect with her across social media @seebethanywrite, where she clings to the eternal dream that John Stamos will someday send her a friend request.
What to Send: First 15 pages plus synopsis
Sara Turnquist
Deadline: 08/01/2026
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance|Historical Romance|Women's Fiction
Submit Via: Email
Status: open
Bio: Sara is a coffee lovin’, word slinging, Christian Historical Romance author whose superpower is converting caffeine into novels. She is the author of over 25 titles, first with a smaller traditional publisher and now fully indie. Her books range in setting from the Czech lands to the American Wild West; and from ancient Egypt to the early 1900s. Sara is a sought-after speaker and has taught at many Christian writers’ conferences, including ACFW Virginia, Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, Lancaster Christian Writers Conference, Capital Christian Writers Fellowship Summit, LiteraryScape Summit, and Faith, Hope, Love Christian Writers Conference as well as appearing on multiple writing podcasts and before many writing groups. Her teaching is heralded as not only informative, but also practical. She is the cohost of the podcast Soul & Story and speaks into the lives of writers struggling with anxiety and depression on her YouTube Channel.
What to Send: First 20 pages and synopsis
Jaime Jo Wright
Deadline: 07/15/2026
Genre(s): Historical Fiction|Historical Romance|Mystery/Suspense/Thriller|Romantic Suspense|Young Adult
Submit Via: Email
Status: open
Web Site: http://www.jaimejowright.com
Bio: Jaime Jo Wright is winner of the Christy,Carol, Daphne du Maurier, and INSPYAwards. She’s also the Publishers Weeklyand ECPA bestselling author of threenovellas. Jaime writes from her house inthe Wisconsin woodlands, where she liveswith her husband, two children, fourfelines, gecko, and various aquatic andamphibious tag-a-longs.
What to Send: First chapter and 1 page synopsis