SESSION ONE
This session will feature panelists who are published authors as well as current editors in Christian publishing. These author-editors will share their expertise and experiences “on both sides” of the author/editor process.
Ashleigh Slater is the author of the books Team Us and Braving Sorrow Together and cohost of the Team Us Podcast. She’s also a developmental editor who loves to work alongside and encourage fellow authors. Ashleigh and her husband, Ted, said, “I do, of course!” in 2002 and they have four daughters. They currently live in the Arizona desert.
Amanda Cleary Eastep is the senior developmental editor of nonfiction and children’s fiction at Moody Publishers and the author of the Tree Street Kids middle grade series. She serves on the board of the Academy of Christian Editors (ACE), and she is a member of the Kidlit Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
Carol Traver is the Director of Content Development for Tyndale House Publishers and has been helping authors shape their stories for more than two decades. Specializing in inspirational memoir, Carol’s collaborative efforts include: Part of My World by Disney Legend Jodi Benson, With My Eyes Wide Open by Korn lead guitarist, Brian “Head” Welch, and I’m No Angel by former Victoria’s Secret Runway Model Kylie Bisutti. Carol has also served as a creative consultant and developmental editor on a wide variety of projects, including: All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore, Food Saved Me by Danielle Walker, The New Fight for Life by Benjamin Watson, Believe It by Nick Foles, and Soul of a Team by Tony Dungy, and as a ghost writer for dozens of others.
SESSION TWO
Children’s fiction author and developmental editor Amanda Cleary Eastep will discuss ten of the most common errors she sees when editing fiction books–including her own!
Amanda Cleary Eastep is the senior developmental editor of nonfiction and children’s fiction at Moody Publishers and the author of the Tree Street Kids middle grade series. She serves on the board of the Academy of Christian Editors (ACE), and she is a member of the Kidlit Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
SESSION THREE
In this session, editor Connor Sterchi will survey the different layers of editorial (developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, proofreading), exploring both the artistic/subjective and scientific/objective aspects of editing. With a specific focus on copyediting and developmental editing, this session will delve into different mindsets editors should have while editing, various tools that editors should have in their arsenal, how to balance proactive editing (take initiative to improve!) and wise restraint (don’t fix what ain’t broken!), the importance of fact checking and quotation accuracy, and the art of substantive editing.
Connor Sterchi is the Editorial and Content Manager at Moody Publishers in Chicago, Illinois. He studied writing and journalism at Calvin College and received an MA in Biblical Studies from Moody Theological Seminary. He has edited dozens of books, including Winter Fire, The Visual Word, Just Show Up, The Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks, Loneliness, How to Grow, Go Outside, Never Shaken, A Non-Anxious Presence (winner in the Ministry Resources category of ECPA’s 2023 Christian Book Awards), and 14 Fresh Ways to Enjoy the Bible (winner in the Bible & Devotional category of Christianity Today’s 2024 Book Awards). In his free time, he enjoys music, songwriting, reading, nature, biking, basketball, and spending time with family and friends. He resides in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
SESSION FOUR
The new edition of the widely followed and acclaimed Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) recently released in September 2024, bringing with it new changes, updates, guidelines for editors and publishers, and a vibrant yellow cover. In this session with Chicago Manual of Style editor Carol Fisher Saller we will explore what’s new with CMOS18 and get an inside look at how the editors at CMOS create a new edition of this influential style guide.
Carol Fisher Saller is a contributing editor to The Chicago Manual of Style and was chief copyeditor for the 16th edition. For many years, she was editor of the CMOS Online Q&A and wrote Editor’s Corner for the CMOS Shop Talk blog. Saller has also blogged about language and writing for Lingua Franca at the Chronicle of Higher Education and is the author of The Subversive Copy Editor as well as several award-winning books for children, including The Bridge Dancers, Eddie’s War, and most recently, the middle-grade mystery Maddie’s Ghost. She lives in Chicago.
SESSION FIVE
This session will explore difficult/tricky editorial situations and how to navigate them. How should editors handle political/theological disagreements with an author? How do you deal with an author who is very reluctant to make any changes/edits? What should an editor do if plagiarism is discovered in a manuscript? How does an editor put aside personal preferences, opinions, and views in matters of disagreement (within the realm of Christian orthodoxy)? How should an editor navigate personal differences/disagreements with an author’s political or theological views? How does an editor avoid inserting/promoting their own views in these cases? Additionally, how should editors differentiate between tertiary theological disagreements with authors (e.g., views on infant baptism) versus more foundational matters (e.g., an author advocating the prosperity gospel)?
Pam Pugh has twenty years of editing experience, having worked with Moody Publishers in various roles and now as a freelancer with Moody, The Urban Alternative, and the occasional other client. A native Chicagoan, she currently lives in rural Indiana with her husband, Scott, and is the proud mother of four grown children and has three grandchildren. Active in her church and taking violin lessons as a hobby, she regards daily life and enjoyment of work as gifts from God and takes great pleasure in the skillful arrangement of words.
Phil Newman is a seasoned book editor whose work has spanned multiple publishers, including Moody, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Forefront, IVP, Baker, and more. His specialties include developmental editing, copyediting, proofing, and crafting marketing copy. The numerous authors whose titles Phil has worked on include Franklin Graham, Sarah Jakes Roberts, Henri Nouwen, Bob Goff, Max Lucado, Lisa Whittle, Savannah Guthrie, Brant Hansen, Nancy French, Cristina Baker, and more. Also a magazine writer and book contributor, Phil coauthored Jeremy Camp’s I Still Believe, which was later developed into a major motion picture. Phil is based in Franklin, Tennessee.
Kevin P. Emmert works at Crossway, where he acquires and edits academic books as well as develops content for Bible projects. He has written two books and numerous academic and popular articles. He lives in Wheaton, Illinois, with his wife and four children.
SESSION SIX
Let’s be honest, finding and retaining diverse talent, authors, editors, and staff in the Evangelical Christian publishing space has not been without challenges. Let’s discuss those challenges and things others have done to overcome them as well as suggestions to further overcome current challenges. What does it mean to have a diverse pool of content creators and content managers (editors)? What are the benefits? What do we miss when we do not intentionally recruit, train, mentor, and utilize the richness of diversity in God’s kingdom?
Adrienne Ingrum is Vice President and Senior Agent at Serendipity Literary, the highly esteemed Black-owned literary agency. She has held VP editorial positions at Putnam, Crown/Random House, and the book chain Waldenbooks. As a consultant, she led the start-up team for Black Issues Book Review magazine and served as lead consultant in the development of Black Expressions Book Club. She acquired books on progressive spirituality as senior editor at FaithWords/Hachette, Callisto Media and Broadleaf Books/1517Media. Adrienne is a trustee of the New York Society Library, literacy volunteer with My Own Books Fund, and active member at First Corinthian Baptist Church of New York City (FCBCNYC). A bookworm-tomboy since her girlhood in St. Louis, Missouri, she enjoys a reading compelling narratives (biography, memoir, history) and biking the great outdoors in every season. She thrives as an auntie, godmother and mentor. A graduate of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, she calls Harlem home.
Alexandra Horn is marketing manager for IVP Academic. She holds an MSW from the Jane Addams College of Social work at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a BA in Sociology, with a minor in Biblical Studies, from Biola University. She has formerly worked at Moody Publishers and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She is a singer, an avid arts & crafter, and a Costco member since birth. Born and raised in San Diego, she now calls Oak Park, IL, home.
RELATED MASTER CLASSES (ONLINE)
Kristen McLean, Executive Director and Primary Industry Analyst for Books & Entertainment at Circana, presented a Trends in Christian Publishing Report on May 1st to Leadership Summit attendees. This presentation will be made available to PubU attendees.
Editorial and Content Manager, Moody Publishing
Executive Editor, VOICES Collection by Our Daily Bread Publishing
We thank the following companies for their support of the industry and this event:
PREMIUM
GENERAL
For more information on sponsoring this event, contact [email protected]