Annual Conference

2026—Awe and Wonder with Sean Hancock

We will once again come together as a community to support and encourage each other, go deeper into this calling, and further equip ourselves with the latest information and tools to step forward with our stories humbly but confidently.

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” ~ William Butler Yeats

Join us as Sean Hancock, keynote speaker, inspires us to live in Awe & Wonder. This year we have three separate breakouts. Each breakout session will have three choices, and we are thrilled to offer topics for fiction, nonfiction, YA publishing, and writing for media. Learn from such celebrated creators as Robin Lee Hatcher, Paul Regnier, Janet McHenry, Lisa Phillips, Rachelle Nelson, R. J. Patterson, Jill Williamson and Shelly Paino.

Scroll down for tickets.

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Saturday, April 11, 2026
Location — Main Street Church, 2675 W Main St, Boise, ID 83702
Time Details — 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
$65 ICW members | $95 non-members
Includes lunch by MateoMi Catering
(We apologize, but special dietary requests are not available)

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Keynote: Sean Hancock

Performer | Speaker | Entertainer
Sean Hancock

Worship by: Lisa Phillips

Lisa Phillips

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FIRST BREAKOUT OPTIONS

Robin Lee Hatcher
Where Love Meets Grace: Writing a Christian Romance

Robin’s Session Details:
This workshop explores how to craft Christian romance stories that are both emotionally satisfying and spiritually resonant. Participants will learn how to weave faith naturally into romantic arcs, create compelling characters with authentic spiritual journeys, and write love stories that reflect God’s grace without sacrificing tension or craft. Designed to encourage and equip writers at any stage.
About Robin:
Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over 95 novels and novellas with more than five million copies in print. She’s known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Her numerous awards include the RITA®, the Carol, the Christy, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice. Robin is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®. When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog named Boo.

Paul Regnier
Limitless Imagination: Writing Middle Grade Fiction

Paul’s Session Details:
Jump into the exciting and imaginative world of middle-grade fiction.
-Develop stories from big ideas and clever hooks.
-Time-travel to the kid in you to write for the kid today.
-Make side characters quirky, fun, and fully developed.
-Learn the dividing lines between children’s books, middle grade, and young adult.
About Paul:
Paul Regnier is a speculative fiction author. He believes one of the closest things to magic on this earth is imagination. His favorite type of story is filled with adventure, humor, and heartfelt moments between characters. He likes to dream up worlds of fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, and the supernatural. Sometimes they end up in a book.
Paul is the writer of The Agency of Magic and Mythical Creatures, Monster Therapist, Bard Tidings, the Luke and Bandit cozy mystery series, the Paranormia series, and the Space Drifters series. Paul lives in Treasure Valley, Idaho, with his wife and two children.

Janet McHenry
How to Create Inspirational Devotions and Organize a Devotional Book

Janet’s Session Details:
Learn how to write devotions that truly minister to readers. In this practical workshop Janet shares her proven process for developing themes; crafting devotional structure; weaving story, scriptural teaching, and application; and organizing a full-length devotional book. Whether you’re writing for publication or personal ministry, you’ll gain tools to inspire and encourage readers and point them to God’s truth.
About Janet:
Janet McHenry is the author of 27 traditionally published books and thousands of articles, devotions, and blogs for publications such as Guideposts, Our Daily Bread, and NIV Women’s Study Bibles. A former educator, Janet has a journalism degree from UC Berkeley, speaks widely at writers’ conferences around the country, hosts the Sierra Valley Writers Retreat, and formerly worked as a newspaper journalist. When asked if she is a literary agent, she says, “No, but I’m a great matchmaker!”

SECOND BREAKOUT OPTIONS

Lisa Phillips
Strong Character – Strong Story

Lisa’s Session Details:
Crafting a strong, complex character will give your story a foundation that will elevate even the most impressive plot. Learn about the layers of character agency, core character traits, anchoring in scenes, and learn some tips for deepening your POV to really immerse the reader in your character’s life.
About Lisa:
Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 80 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

Rachelle Nelson
Young Adult Fiction—Crafting Young Adult Character Arcs – Why Coming of Age Stories Matter

Rachelle’s Session Details:
The Young Adult genre exploded in the early 2000s, creating multi-million dollar franchises and turning authors into household names. But coming of age stories have been around for a lot longer than that, and they aren’t going anywhere. There’s more to these beloved books than prophesied ‘chosen ones’ and teens who take down tyrannical governments. In this breakout session, we will discuss speaking to the hearts of youth and crafting stories that meet them where they are. If you’re writing for young adults (or you think you might like to), come learn about:

– Powerful models for teen character arcs.
– Story elements that keep teens turning the page.
– Writing to market.
– Relatable stories across generations.
About Rachelle:
Rachelle Nelson grew up reading fantasy novels and getting her clothes muddy in the pine forests of Idaho. These days, she still loves hiking through forests and libraries, though she’s a bit less fond of mud. Her debut novel, Sky of Seven Colors, released in 2023 through Enclave Publishing, and was a recent Carol Award winner and Christy Award winner. Embergold, her newest standalone, releases in March 2025. Rachelle doesn’t write true stories, but she does write about truth. When she’s not doing that, she sings in a band with her husband who makes her happier than should be legal. If you like good food and honest conversations, you’re her favorite kind of person.

Sean Hancock
Make Me Care

Sean’s Session Details:
Hooks. Real Dialogue. Creative Discovery. Readers decide in seconds whether they care. So how do you earn their attention — and keep it?
In this fast-paced, practical breakout, Sean Hancock will show you how to:
• Open with hooks that immediately pull readers in
• Write dialogue that sounds human, not scripted
• Move from forced creativity to genuine discovery
Drawing from years of preaching, live storytelling, and improv comedy, Sean will help you rediscover the kind of curiosity and surprise that makes writing feel alive — and makes audiences lean forward. Less theory. More clarity. Real tools you can use immediately. If you want readers to feel something, this session is for you….
About Sean:
Sean Hancock is a rare breed of performer and speaker—a true “edutainer” who transforms education into an unforgettable experience. With a signature blend of humor and heart, Sean brings over 20 years of expertise as an award-winning actor, comedian, and founder of Recycled Minds Comedy. His dynamic personality and engaging presence capture every stage, whether he’s emceeing for tens of thousands at the Idaho Potato Drop, hosting Boise’s Funniest Person, or leading transformative corporate sessions. Read more…

THIRD BREAKOUT OPTIONS

R. J. Patterson
The Art of Action

R. J.’s Session Details:
Intriguing mysteries or unrequited romance might hook readers into your story, but if you want them flipping pages faster than James Patterson releases books, learn the art of action. Get practical tips and guidelines from veteran bestselling and award-winning thriller author Jason Chatraw. With over 100 novels under his belt in a genre where action nearly drips off every page, you’ll learn how to inject hair-raising scenes into your novel that will thrill readers and level up your novel-writing prowess to include a very special set of skills.
About Jason Chatraw writing as R. J. Patterson:
Jason Chatraw is a full-time writer with over 100 fiction novels to his credit along with 18 non-fiction books. Writing under several different pen names, Jason has won numerous writing awards (including BestThrillers.com’s 2024 Book of the Year, “5 Minutes to Die”) and has sold more than 1.5 million copies of his books. Before writing books full-time, Jason also served as a sportswriter and sports editor in the deep south covering marquee events such as the Super Bowl, World Series, 1996 Olympics, and Final Four, before later becoming an assistant editor for Charles Stanley’s In Touch ministry magazine in Atlanta. He and his wife Janel have four children and reside in Meridian, Idaho.

Jill Williamson
Building Your World

Jill’s Session Details:
Whether you’re writing a story that takes place on planet earth or creating a world of your own, your setting should feel like a real place. In this class, we’ll discuss techniques for using your setting in a way that will immerse readers into your world.
About Jill:
Jill Williamson is a storyteller working across novels and film. She is an award-winning author of over three dozen books for readers of all ages, best known for her medieval fantasy Blood of Kings stories. A self-described “storyworld-first” novelist, Jill begins each project by building the world before shaping characters and plot. In recent years, she has expanded into filmmaking, producing films alongside her writer-director husband and other creatives in the Pacific Northwest. Whether on the page or on the screen, Jill is passionate about stories that shine light, explore truth, and endure. She loves encouraging other creatives to respect their dreams and tell meaningful stories. Visit her online at JillWilliamson.com, Instagram and Substack.

Shelly Paino
Screenwriting Basics

Shelly’s Session Details:
Interested in writing for the screen? You do not need to know Sly or Spielberg to write for film (though it would obviously help)! From the big screen to the small screen, to the really, really small screens, decide where your story fits best. Then learn the basics of plot structure that filmmakers will look for in a script. Leave with the know-how to start plotting and writing and a realistic plan for marketing it to Hollywood… or making it yourself.
About Shelly:
Shelly Paino is a produced and award-winning screenwriter who has completed more than 60 projects including 29 feature scripts, many produced or in various stages of development. She regularly writes on assignment for producers and directors, starring talent such as Eric Roberts, Cameron Arnett and Todd Terry. Also find her at IMDB, Streamfind and Instagram.

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Lunch
Your ticket includes lunch by MateoMi Catering so attendees can stay on campus and fellowship.
(We apologize, but special dietary requests are not available.)

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