Author Speaking Opportunities
Invite an Author to Speak at your Conference, Church, School, Book Club, or other gathering! Paraclete Authors are available for virtual or in-person events! Consider inviting an author to visit and speak — it's a wonderful opportunity to hear from an expert with a heart for spreading the Good News on many inspiring subjects, for ALL ages.
Dandi Daley Mackall
Dandi Daley Mackall is the award-winning author of over 500 books for children and adults. She visits countless schools, conducts writing assemblies and workshops across the United States, and presents keynote addresses at conferences and young author events. She is also a frequent guest on radio talk shows and has made dozens of appearances on TV. She has won several awards for her writing, including the Helen Keating Ott Award for Contributions to Children’s Literature, the Edgar Award, and a two-time Mom’s Choice Award winner. Dandi writes from rural Ohio, surrounded by her writer-husband, Joe, their three children and their families, plus horses, dogs, cats, a turtle, a tortoise, and more.
Karen Kiefer
Karen Kiefer is the Director of the Church in the 21st Century Center at Boston College and managing editor of C21 Resources magazine. A catechist for over two decades, Kiefer also served as an adjunct faculty member in the Communication department at Boston College. Kiefer cofounded the grassroots, award winning, bread-giving organization Spread the Bread, winner of the “National Make a Difference Day Award.” A decade later, she published the children’s Christmas storybook The Misfit Sock and launched a companion educational initiative—Misfit University—and the national anti-bullying movement, The Million Misfit Sock March. Kiefer’s programs have been adopted by the Girl Scouts nationally and she has been featured in the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, USA Today and People magazine. She has sold 10,000 copies of The Misfit Sock through grassroots marketing and promotion. Kiefer lives in Wayland, Massachusetts with her husband, Sam, and four daughters.
Glenys Nellist
Glenys Nellist was born and raised in a little village in northern England. The author of multiple children's books, including the bestselling 'Twas the Evening of Christmas, The Wonder That Is You, and four popular series: Love Letters from God, Snuggle Time, Good News and Little Mole, her writing reflects a deep passion for helping children discover joy and hope in the world. Glenys lives in Michigan with her husband, David.
Courtney Siebring
Courtney Siebring is a creative artist currently living in Colorado Springs, CO, with her husband and daughter. Her devotion to Christ, background in theatre making, current work as a voiceover artist, and long time practice of writing poetry informs the way she sees and interacts with the world. Her children's book, Little Spark of Life, is fueled by her passion for the unborn and their mamas as well as her experience as a foster and adoptive parent.
Laura Sassi
Laura Sassi has a passion for telling stories in prose and rhyme. Her books with Paraclete Press include Happy Birthday, Christmas Child, My Tender Heart Bible, MyTender Heart Prayer Book and My Tender Heart Devotions, coming in 2024. In addition, she is the author of multiple books for young children including the best-selling Goodnight, Ark, Love Is Kind, Diva Delores and the Opera House Mouse, Little Ewe, and Bunny Finds Easter. She also writes stories and poems for various children’s publications.
Gayle Boss
Gayle Boss writes from West Michigan, where she was born and raised. Her lifelong love of animals and her immersion in spiritual texts and practices have melded in poems and essays that explore how relationships with animals specifically, and an attentive presence in the natural world generally, restore us to our deepest selves. Also the author of Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing, Gayle lives with her husband and Welsh corgi rescue.
Valerie Ellis
Valerie Ellis is a children’s book author, speaker, and founder of the multi-author online resource Our Everyday Parables, which offers book reviews and parenting ideas for families pursuing faith and compassion. A certified teacher, Valerie is passionate about helping kids and parents connect with God and each other in the everyday moments. Her upcoming books are designed to serve families at the intersection of faith and fun. Valerie is also a nonprofit consultant, trainer, and grant proposal writer in the Houston area, where she lives with her husband, Josh, and their two boys. For more information, visit ValerieEllis.com and connect with Valerie at @iamvalerieellis.
Meredith Barnes
Meredith Barnes has a colorful professional history including in advertising for the Anaheim Angels, a costume designer, an orthopedic Physician Assistant, a cycle instructor, a seamstress and a writer. After receiving a Bachelor's of Art degree in Theology from Loyola Marymount University she went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Medical Science from Midwestern University.
Meredith can be found on Instagram (@MeredithBarnesWriter) or on her website, www.MeredithBarnesWriter.com where she is committed to finding faith and beauty in her every day.
Ann Ingalls
Ann Ingalls passes the day exaggerating (writing fiction) or telling the truth (writing nonfiction). She has written over sixty books for young readers. PENCIL: A STORY WITH A POINT! made the Banks Street Best Books list of 2020. J IS FOR JAZZ won the 2015 Annual American Graphic Design Award and the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation’s “A Book Just for Me!” LITTLE PIANO GIRL also won the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation’s “A Book Just for Me!” She has received a handful of awards from the Highlights Foundation for poetry and short stories.