BookClubs Take Orlando... by Faith?

THE 2009 FAITH and FICTION RETREAT FEATURES 4 BESTSELLING CHRISTIAN FICTION AUTHOR in ORLANDO, FLORIDA

ATLANTA, GA, June 23 / --Amidst dwindling book sells in the publishing industry, Christian books, specifically Christian novels continue to outsell literary competition, according to Publisher's Weekly. Therefore it was no surprise that during the summer's heavy reading season Christian Book Clubs rallied to bring the much anticipated third annual Faith and Fiction Retreat to sunny Orlando, Florida.

The Faith and Fiction Retreat is an annual luxury event where book clubs relax, relate and read with bestselling authors. The retreat will be held at the The Villas of Grand Cypress in Orlando, FL. Bestselling featured authors this year are: Reshonda Tate Billingsley(The Devil is a Lie, Simon & Schuster,) Tiffany L. Warren(The Bishop's Daughter, Grand Central Publishing,) TiaMcCollors(The Truth about Love, Moody,) and Angela Benson(Up Pops the Devil, Harper Collins.)

The 2009 retreat will bring brand new panels for book clubs, publishing 101 for authors and late night book discussions for TEENS. The retreat will take place in family vacation spot Orlando, FL at The Villas of Grand Cypress (www.grandcypress.com). Features of The Villas of Grand Cypress include exceptional grounds, free transportation to Disney and Universal Studios, and horseback riding. Other authors presenting panels are: Pat G’Orge Walker, Sherri L. Lewis, Dwan Abrams, Bonnie Hopkins, Shana Burton, Ashea Goldson, Daphine Glenn Robinson, Donna Deloney, Linda Leigh Hargrove, Sherryle Jackson, and Poet Stella Alexander.

The retreat will open its doors to Orlando and surrounding residents for it's first Saturday Summer Session & Author Book Fair. Barnes and Noble Orlando store will host the book fair and author signing. Visit Florida Faith Fiction Fair for more information.

ABOUT THE FAITH AND FICTION RETREAT -

The Faith and Fiction Fellowship started in 2005 when Christian Fiction author, Tiffany L Warren, invited several of her sister-authors on a tour to share the ministry behind their writing. In August 2007, the Faith and Fiction Retreat debuted in St. Simon's Island, GA. . In 2008 The Faith and Fiction Retreat visited Destin, FL! Featured authors were Victoria Christopher Murray, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Kendra Norman Bellamy, and Michele Andrea Bowen. Delegates from the following book clubs attended : Prominent Women of Color (Jacksonville, FL), Circle of Friends II (Atlanta, GA), Sip N Read Cafe (Atlanta, GA), Glory Girls (Rochester, NY), Sisters With a Purpose (Baytown,TX) Spirit of Sisterhood (Atlanta, GA), Phenomenal Women Book Club (New Orleans, LA), Q.U.E.E.N.S of Mississippi (Jackson, MS), The REGAL Sisterhood (Dallas, TX.) Learn more about the retreat at http://faithandfictionretreat.com/

SOURCE

Dee Stewart
DeeGospel PR
PO Box 392833
Snelville, GA 30039
770.298.7539
deegospelpr@gmail.com
Twitter: @deegospel

Tia McCollors

In 2006, Tia was voted as the Breakout Author of the Year by the Open Book Awards of the African American Literary Awards Show and was honored to be featured in the 2006 edition of Who’s Who In Black Atlanta. She is also one of the founding authors of the Anointed Authors on Tour.

Tia has published three novels: A Heart of Devotion, Zora's Cry, The Truth About Love. Her fourth novel The Last Woman Standing releases August, 2009.

Learn more about Tia at http://www.tiawrites.com.

Tiffany L. Warren

Tiffany L Warren is the bestselling author of "What a Sista Should Do", "Farther than I Meant to Go, Longer than I Meant to Stay", and "The Bishop's Daughter". Tiffany also writes young adult fiction under the pen name Nikki Carter. Her first young adult novel "Step to This" will be released in March, 2009. When she's not writing she's reading, cooking, or spending time with her husband and five children. She lives in the Dallas, TX area and is a Disaster Recovery Analyst by day. Visit her at www.tiffanylwarren.com

Angela Benson

Angela has published ten novels, one novella, and a nonfiction writing book. Her books have appeared on national, regional and local bestseller lists, and she has won several writing awards, including Best Multicultural Romance from Romantic Times magazine, and Best Contemporary Ethnic Romance from Affaire de Coeur magazine. She was a finalist for the 2000 Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award in Multicultural Romance.

Angela made a faith move to Christian fiction in 2000 with the publication of Awakening Mercy, the first book in her Genesis House series from Tyndale House Publishers. Awakening Mercy was a finalist for both the RITA Award given by Romance Writers of America (RWA) and the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction. The second book in the Genesis House series, Abiding Hope, was published in September 2001. Abiding Hope was awarded the Emma Award for Best Inspirational Romance presented by the Romance Slam Jam. The third book and final book of the series, Enduring Love, is not yet scheduled.

BET Books, now Harlequin's Kimani Press purchased the mass market rights to Awakening Mercy and Abiding Hope in 2000 and released mass market editions of the titles in June 2002 and June 2003, respectively. Angela's first hardcover title, The Amen Sisters, was released in September 2005 by Walk Worthy Press. The Essence bestselling title won the Emma Award for Best Inspirational Romance. The trade paperback edition was released in November 2007. Up Pops the Devil, published by HarperCollins (Avon A) in August 2008, is Angela's eleventh novel.

Visit her at http://www.bensonink.com

Itinerary

	Thursday, July 16th, 2009 3:00 - 5:00 PM Registration 5:00 PM Opening Session 6:00 PM VIP Mixer (Author Panelists/Early Registration) 7:30 PM Book Discussion –“The Bishop’s Daughter” Tiffany Warren Friday, July 17th, 2009 9:00 AM Aspiring Author Session - The Plot Thickens (Creating a captivating story) – Linda Leigh Hargrove, Tiffany L. Warren, Sherryle Jackson 10:00 AM Aspiring Author Session – Writing with a day Job – Angela Benson, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Dwan Abrams 11:00 AM Edgy humor in Inspirational Fiction – Sherri Lewis, Pat G’Orge Walker 12:00 PM Lunch 1:00 PM Book Discussion - Tia McCollors 2:00 PM Author Learning Session – Marketing to the Faith Based Market w/ Dee Stewart, Donna Deloney, Daphine Glenn Robinson 3:00 PM Author Learning Session - Writing Kingdom Inspired Literature – Mikaseonja, Tiffany L. Warren, Sherri L. Lewis 4:00 PM Free Time 5:00 PM " " 6:00 PM " " 7:00 PM 8:00 PM Late Night Discussion - Angela Benson “Up Pops The Devil” /Teen Discussion w. ReShonda Tate Billingsley Saturday July 18th, 2009 9:00 AM Author Learning Session - Landing your first book deal - From Agents to Contracts and everything in between – Angela Benson, Tia McCollors Book Club Session – Inspirational Poetry w/Ashea Goldson and Stella Alexander, Book Club Picks – Sherryle Jackson, Shana Burton 10:00 AM Book Club Learning Sessions – Starting and Growing your Book Club) – Dwan Abrams, Dee Stewart, Rhonda McKnight 11:00 AM Aspiring Author Mentor Session - Ask Seasoned Authors ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Angela Benson and Pat G'Orge Walker your industry questions! 12:00 PM LUNCH 1:00 PM Author Book Signings (Sponsored by Barnes & Noble) - Get all of your books signed by the Featured Authors and Author Panelists. "" 2:00 PM Fun Reads for Teens! – Session free for Youth 15 & under "" 3:00 PM 4:00 PM Keynote Address – Power of the Pen 5:00 PM Free Time 6:00 PM "" 7:00 PM "" 8:00 PM Late Night Discussion - ReShonda Tate Billingsley – Can I Get a Witness/Teen Discussion Nikki Carter Sunday, July 19th 10:00 AM Closing Session 12:00 PM Check out of The Villas of Grand Cypress

Reshonda Tate Billingsley

ReShonda is the national bestselling author of 17 books, all published by Simon and Schuster/Pocket Books. Her sophomore novel, Let the Church Say Amen, is being made into a movie of which she is Executive Producer and actress Regina King is the director. Five of her other books, have also been optioned for film by CodeBlack Entertainment.

A much sought after public speaker, ReShonda has won numerous awards for her journalism, fiction and poetry writing skills. She is a five-time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists Spirit in the Words competition. Considered one of the top Inspirational Fiction authors in the country, her books have appeared on the Essence Magazine Bestseller’s list more than 20 times, as well as The Washington Post, Dallas Morning News and Ebony Magazine Bestseller’s lists.

ReShonda’s upcoming books include The Devil is a Lie (coming July 7, 2009), Caught up in the Drama (a teen book coming in 2010), and Holy Rollers (July 2010). Her current books include: Can I Get a Witness, The Pastor’s Wife, Let the Church Say Amen, Everybody Say Amen, I Know I’ve Been Changed and My Brother’s Keeper. Her teen novels include Nothing But Drama, Blessings in Disguise, With Friends Like These, Getting Even, Fairweather Friends, and Friends ‘Til the End. And the anthologies Have a Little Faith and Four Degrees of Heat. She has one non-fiction title, Help! I’ve Turned into my Mother.

Florida Faith Fiction Fair

Registration for Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa residents ONLY (100 miles or less away from Orlando)


$25 - Saturday Sessions

$100 - One-Day Vendor Slot (Only Ten available)

Teens are FREE but must attend with at least one adult purchasing a $25 Saturday session registration.



Saturday Itinerary:



Saturday July 18th, 2009



9:00 AM Author Learning Session - Landing your first book deal - From Agents to

Contracts and everything in between Angela Benson, Tia McCollors

Book Club Session Inspirational Poetry w/Ashea Goldson and Stella

Alexander, Book Club Picks Sherryle Jackson, Shana Burton



10:00 AM Book Club Learning Sessions Starting and Growing your Book Club

Dwan Abrams, Dee Stewart, Rhonda McKnight



11:00 AM Aspiring Author Mentor Session - Ask Seasoned Authors ReShonda Tate

Billingsley, Angela Benson and Pat G'Orge Walker your industry

questions!

12:00 PM LUNCH (on your own)



1:00 PM Author Book Signings (Sponsored by Barnes & Noble) - Get all of your

books signed by the Featured Authors and Author Panelists.



2:00 PM Fun Reads for Teens! – Session free for Youth 15 & under



4:00 PM Keynote Address – Power of the Pen



Purchase your registration via Paypal:

Saturday Sessions Only - $25



One Day Vendor - $100 See www.faithandfictionretreat.com/vendors.html for vendor rules and guidelines.

After registering, please send an email to info@faithandfictionretreat.com with Name, Address, Email Address and number of people attending (including teens).

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