Honored Author Program

The Honored Authors (HA's) are a select group of novelists whose books have appeared on both secular and Christian bestseller lists, and whose stories have received such prestigious awards as The Christy Award, The Gold Medallion Book Award, Silver Angel Award for Excellence in Media, Inspirational Readers Choice Award, Holt Medallion, and National Readers Choice Award. The HA's are an integral part of the Gideon Media Arts and Film Festival, with many events designed specifically for them. These events include:

 

  • Pitching to Producers - Tuesday, June 2, 2009 - This is an opportunity for authors (and/or agents and editors) to summarize their award-winning novels to production companies seeking great stories for television and film.
    • Prior to this session, authors will be coached on how to pitch during a hands-on session.
    • Honored Authors will have the opportunity to contribute their personal bio and book information for the Producers Notebook, which the producers will be asked to peruse before this session.
    • Honored Authors will be sent biographies of the participating producers via email before the conference begins.

 

  • Dinner with Producers - Authors (and/or agents and editors) will have the opportunity to continue networking one-on-one with producers at a private dinner immediately following the pitching session.

 

  • Pitching Session Follow-up - Additional time will be scheduled during the conference for producers and authors to meet privately.

 

  • In the Spotlight! - Honored Authors Book Signing in the newly built Johnson Spring Convention Center. This event is sponsored by our Graphic Novels and Arts faculty to be held Wednesday morning, June 3, 9:45-12:00. Have these top Christian authors sign copies of your favorite books. The Graphic Gala will inclue an art show, short films, publisher/editor tables, vendors and more! Open to the public.

 

  • Classes - During this Sunday through Thursday event, HA's may also attend workshops and continuing classes taught by a wide array of novelists, screenwriters, film makers and producers, including: "Marriage between Film and Fiction" - Rene Gutteridge, "Halogen (Pitch for TV)" - Cecil Stokes (keynote). For full class information, see Workshop Descriptions.

 

  • Film Festival - Also during the conference, HA's will be free to enjoy the film festival where current and recently released films will be shown.

 

  • After Conference Event - An after-conference visit to Blue Ridge Motion Pictures! Immediately following lunch on Thursday, June 4, HA's and producers are invited to come along as we take a tour of the motion picture studio in Asheville where such movies as "Patch Adams" and portions of "Last of the Mohicans" was filmed. 
Round Table

Invitation Only to the Professional Round Table, Tuesday evening, June 2, 7:00- 9:00 PM, hosted by Ray Blackston.

Join some of the nation's top Christian authors, the biggest Christian publishing companies and editors, producers and filmmakers, as we talk about the future of publishing and how the media is playing a huge role in that future.

Award-winning authors in attendance will include Ray Blackston, Mindy Starns Clark, Martha Bolton, Sharon Ewell Foster, Rene Gutteridge, Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson, Steven James, Cindy Kenney, Yvonne Lehman, Gail Gaymer Martin, Torry Martin, Nancy Moser, Donita K. Paul, Doug Peterson, Deborah Raney, Gayle Roper, Ann Tatlock, Elizabeth White and Eric Wilson.

This is INVITATION ONLY and graphic novelists and artists are just a few of the professionals to whom this invitation is extended.

Please contact Ken Raney for more information.

2008 Honored Authors comments about their experience at Gideon:

  

What an INCREDIBLE week it was! Ken and I...absolutely LOVED the conference! You guys did an fabulous job of organizing things and the faculty was amazing! We are still just floating on the inspiration and encouragement of the week, and we're making lists of our friends, church family, and Ken's coworkers who are remotely interested in film and media arts to tell them to come, come, come next year!

 

Deborah Raney

 

The experience [at Gideon] with novelists, producers, and others within the world of film and drama expanded my view of how God has gifted us to use our talents to evangelize. The Great Commission was evident in the different personalities and visions. I've learned to dream more and widen my perspective with a little better understanding of how we can be salt and light (or stage and screen and the written page) to a world that desperately needs hope.

 

DiAnn Mills

 

What a terrific conference. I felt rejuvenated both as an artist and as a Christian.

 

Ray Blackston

 

I highly recommend this conference. I think next year it will double in size. I rode to the airport with two producers/distributors from Australia, and they seemed to love their experience at the conference. Lots of networking went on.

 

Terri Blackstock

  

This was one of the best conferences that I have ever attended, so at this point I am planning on being there again next year. This was the first conference in which I can say that every class session I attended was valuable.

 

Doug Peterson

 

2009 Honored Authors

Ray Blackston

Martha Bolton

Mindy Starns Clark

Sharon Ewell Foster

Rene Gutteridge

Dave & Neta Jackson

Steven James

Cindy Kenney

Yvonne Lehman

Gail Gaymer Martin

Torry Martin

Nancy Moser

Donita K. Paul

Doug Peterson

Deborah Raney

Gayle Roper

Ann Tatlock

Elizabeth White

Eric Wilson

 

If you are interested in being an Honored Author, please send a brief application essay to Yvonne Lehman or Ann Tatlock that includes the title(s) of your best-selling or award-winning book(s), as well as your reasons for desiring to participate in the Honored Author program of the Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival.

Once you are accepted as an Honored Author, you can register by calling LifeWay at 1-800-588-7222. Please note that in addition to registration, lodging and dining fees, all HA's are responsible for their own transportation to the conference, including transportation to and from all airports.

Contact Yvonne Lehman or Ann Tatlock.

Honored Author Co-Director Ann Tatlock, Gideon Director Lori Marett, Honored Author Co-Director Yvonne Lehman, Honored Author DiAnn Mills