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Helping Writers Get Published Since 2002
Helping Writers Get Published Since 2002
Our conference was co-founded and run as the Cedar Falls Christian Writers Workshop by author Shelly Beach in 2002. Jean Vaux and Sue Schuerman headed the conference until 2023 when Nick and Mary Portzen took over.as co-coordinators. Our conference attendees have been featured in magazines, newspapers, and anthologies and many have gotten agent and book deals. Each year we choose workshop topics that teach writers the skills they need to get published, including how to write dialogue, book proposals, query letters, building a book from the ground up, getting shorter pieces published, self-publishing options, marketing, and much more. Our intimate setting allows for fellowship, inspiration, and encouragement with multi-published authors and speakers, an opportunity for a private paid critique and a free 15-minute consultation. Our keynote speakers are professionals in the industry and have included authors such as Cecil Murphey, Twila Belk, Cynthia Ruchti, and James Watkins. Our co-coordinator, Mary, was keynote speaker in 2022.
Nick and Mary Portzen
Nick and Mary Portzen
Mary Portzen graduated from UNI and is a certified grief counselor and prolific author of over 700 published essays and articles and seven books under the name Mary Potter Kenyon, including the award-winning Called to Be Creative: A Guide to Reigniting Your Creativity. She is a member of AWSA (Advanced Writer and Speaker Association). Nick Portzen was an owner/operator of a business in Wisconsin for 35 years. With years of experience in cooking and catering, Nick provides the meals during our event. Nick and Mary speak together on the power of prayer in marriage and released their co-written book on the same topic, Soul Mates: Path to a Praying Partnership in January 2025.
Sheri Shonk
Sheri Shonk
Sheri is our Hospitality Coordinator, welcoming every attendee and working behind the scenes in decorating, cleaning and organizing. She lives in Independence, Iowa and is a storyteller who loves surprises and great endings. Raised in Northern California, she now resides in Iowa with her husband and youngest three children. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a concentration in Creative Fiction Writing, from Southern New Hampshire University. Sheri has five self-published books, with the next book in the Houses of Hope Series, A Promise to Keep, released December 20, 2024. She's at work on the next book.
Darci Werner
Darci Werner
Darci is our designated prayer warrior. She's an author and artist, sharing life’s stories of faith, family, and farming and helping people build a closer faith relationship through writing, prayer, and creativity. She shares the duties of their small family construction business in rural Iowa, and writes devotionals, memoirs, and custom specialty pieces. Her work has appeared in multiple anthologies including Guideposts, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Law Enforcement, and online publications. In addition, she has had numerous poetry published in Lyrical Iowa.
Shelly Beach
in memory of Mark Hoffert (with wife Susan)
2023 speaker Twila Belk
long-time attendee Jerry Thordsen with former coordinator Jean Vaux
Nick Portzen with assistant Joe Flesher, grandson who has worked with us since 2023
Dave LaBelle, presenter and photographer for our conference 2023
Cheerleader of others, author Joy Neal Kidney
Jean and Sue, Shelly Beach and Wanda Sanchez with Mary Portzen, Cherie Dargan and VickiJolene Reece
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