Mount Hermon’s New Director
Have you heard? The Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference has a new director. And it’s me!
I have loved this conference since I first attended in 1998, when Steve Laube encouraged me by telling me my writing was good. After attending four more years, and continuing to improve my craft (and in the meantime starting my freelance editing business), Gayle Roper invited me to serve on the manuscript critique team. The following year, Rachel Williams asked me to lead a fiction mentoring clinic as well, which I did for four years. In 2013, Rachel and Gayle honored me with the position of Critique Team Coordinator, which I’ve been enjoying tremendously ever since. Last year, I also taught a preconference Next Level Mentoring Clinic for beginning nonfiction writers.
When Mona Hodgson, who took over temporarily for Rachel a couple of years ago, told me she was ready to hand off the director job to someone else, I didn’t seriously consider it. After all, I have a lot of other things going on with my editing, my writing, the Christian Editor Network, and the new SoCal Christian Writers’ Conference! But when I read the job description on the Mount Hermon website, the qualifications seemed to fit me to a T. So I applied, figuring I should at least put my name in the hat on the off chance that this was what God wanted for me.
When I received a request for a phone interview, I wasn’t surprised. When they called a week later and offered me the position, I was! But knowing that every decision made by the Mount Hermon staff is bathed in prayer, I felt confident that if they chose me, it was ultimately God who chose me. And if He wanted me to do this job, I could be certain that He would provide whatever I needed to do it well.
The Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference has a long history of being an amazing place where aspiring, beginning, intermediate, and advanced writers can go to learn the craft, hone their skills, meet other authors, pitch projects to agents and publishers (and get personal feedback), explore publishing options, discover industry trends, work on their manuscripts, experience divine appointments, and be refreshed and inspired in the beautiful redwoods retreat setting. I love this year’s theme of “Writing as Worship,” because it espouses the very core of the Mount Hermon Writers Conference experience. I am deeply honored to have been chosen to direct this wonderful conference.
If you’ve never attended Mount Hermon, I hope you will prayerfully consider registering for 2017. You’ll find details on the impressive faculty and program that Mona Hodgson has already put together at http://writers.mounthermon.org/. (Thank you, Mona!) This conference is certain to be an incredible experience you won’t want to miss—wherever you are in your writing journey.
If you’ve attended Mount Hermon’s conference before, you know how awesome it is. I hope you will prayerfully consider coming back next year. Who knows what God may have in store for you there!
As you check out the details on the website, if you feel the Holy Spirit nudging you to consider the possibility of attending Mount Hermon 2017, take a step of faith and register. If you need help with the finances, you can apply for a scholarship during the registration process. But if this is what the Lord wants you to do, you can be assured that He will take care of all the details.
And you might be surprised at where God takes you next!
September 7, 2016 @ 6:30 pm
Kathy, congratulations to you! With your heart for Mt. Hermon and for writers, I know this will be such a beautiful match. Celebrating with you!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:17 pm
Thanks so much, Amanda. Would love to see you at Mount Hermon soon!
September 7, 2016 @ 7:29 pm
Yippie! Wow, what exciting news!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:17 pm
Thanks, Jennifer! Will you be returning to Mount Hermon next year? Would love to see you again.
September 7, 2016 @ 8:41 pm
A huge congrats!!! I cannot express how much Mount Hermon and the amazing staff has meant over the years..
September 9, 2016 @ 5:18 pm
Thanks, Marci!
September 8, 2016 @ 10:41 am
Kathy!!! Congratulations. May God guide you every step of the way. Mount Hermon is an awesome conference, and your leadership will contribute to its continued awesomeness. Will be praying for you!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:18 pm
Thank you so much, Colleen! Especially for your prayers that God will guide me every step of the way. That’s the ONLY way I would want to do this! Mount Hermon is indeed an awesome conference.
September 8, 2016 @ 11:25 am
Congratulations Kathy!! I am thrilled for you–and for all of us who attend!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:19 pm
Thanks so much, Sheila!
September 8, 2016 @ 2:45 pm
Congrats, Kathy! You’ll make a great director at this top-notch forum!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:19 pm
Thanks, Marilyn! Would love to see you at Mount Hermon sometime! I miss working with you. Hope you’re doing well.
September 8, 2016 @ 3:13 pm
Congrats, Kathy! How exciting! May God grant you His wisdom and discernment as you extend the excellence for which Mt. Hermon is known. This year’s theme, faculty, and schedule tantalize me anew. Thanks, Mona, for setting up a great conference and passing the baton so graciously. Nice hand-off!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:20 pm
Thanks, Patti. I too am extremely grateful for Mona’s gracious “hand-off.” Would love to see you at Mount Hermon! Think there’s a chance?
September 8, 2016 @ 3:21 pm
You are perfect for this Kathy! I am so excited to be serving with you!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:21 pm
Thanks, my friend. I’m excited to be serving with you too!
September 9, 2016 @ 2:09 am
Congratulations, Kathy! Great news! I hope to be there in 2017!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:21 pm
Thanks, Barbara. Would love to see you there in April!
September 9, 2016 @ 2:39 am
Kathy: Congratulations on your continuing successes! You help so many with your talent, and inspire us all!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:21 pm
Thanks so much, Normalu!
September 9, 2016 @ 8:10 am
Congratulations, Kathy! This is so exciting and I’m certain you’ll do a great job. 🙂
September 9, 2016 @ 5:22 pm
Thanks so much, Dona!
September 9, 2016 @ 9:43 am
Congratulations, Kathy! Rachel went out of her way to help me when I came for the first time in 2011. I was sick and pregnant, and she ran me to the pharmacy twice! She will be missed. The Mount Hermon Writing Conference is amazing, and will thrive under your directorship!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:24 pm
Thanks, Kristy. Rachel Williams is one of the most amazing women I have ever known. I am honored and humbled to be walking in her footsteps.
September 9, 2016 @ 11:15 am
Congratulations, Kathy. very excited for you. <
September 9, 2016 @ 5:24 pm
Thanks so much!
September 9, 2016 @ 11:18 am
Congratulations Kathy! Proud of you, my friend! Looks like I’ll be updating that conference list I was working on:)
September 9, 2016 @ 5:25 pm
Thanks so much, my friend! Would LOVE to see you at Mount Hermon sometime. Think that might happen?
September 9, 2016 @ 11:20 am
Congratulations, Kathy. You will be an excellent director.
September 9, 2016 @ 5:25 pm
Thanks so much, Patrick!
September 9, 2016 @ 11:51 am
Wow! Congrats! What an honor!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:26 pm
Thanks so much, Cecelia! It is indeed a tremendous honor.
September 9, 2016 @ 12:16 pm
Congratulations! You’re going to be a great director.
September 9, 2016 @ 5:26 pm
Thanks, Carol. I appreciate your faith in me.
September 9, 2016 @ 2:27 pm
Congratulations, Kathy! I know you’ll do a stellar job.
September 9, 2016 @ 5:27 pm
Thanks, Ane! I appreciate your faith in me.
September 9, 2016 @ 3:18 pm
Wonderful, Kathy! Congrats!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:27 pm
Thanks, Erin!
September 9, 2016 @ 4:15 pm
Kathy, that’s wonderful. Soo excited for you! And you are right; God is the one in charge. So glad you are following His lead. Congratulations!
September 9, 2016 @ 5:27 pm
Thanks, Marti! (SO glad God is in charge!)
September 10, 2016 @ 10:15 am
YAY . . .Hooo-RAY! Oh, my GOODNESS, Kathy! What a perfect choice to follow in the huge footsteps of Dave and Rachel and Mona! I am SO EXCITED for YOU . . . and SO EXCITED for MT. HERMON! May God bless you richly as you expand your ministry by leading this MOST AWESOME WRITERS CONFERENCE! Love always . . . from Christine Tangvald
September 12, 2016 @ 11:29 am
You’ve always been one of my biggest cheerleaders, Christine! Thanks so much for your continued support and encouragement. They mean a great deal to me.
September 12, 2016 @ 10:52 am
I know you will be a blessing to the conferees and faculty. I’m excited to have to onboard and look forward to working with you to make the conference better every year.
September 12, 2016 @ 11:30 am
Thanks so much, John. I look forward to working with you even more than we have before.
September 12, 2016 @ 5:50 pm
Congratulations Kathy! I look forward to hearing about a great conference!!!!
September 12, 2016 @ 5:55 pm
Thanks, Gay!
September 13, 2016 @ 5:39 am
Wow, congratulations, Kathy! I know you will bring blessings to thousands of future Christian writers.
September 23, 2016 @ 9:17 am
Thanks, Rose!
September 22, 2016 @ 7:43 pm
Congratulations! You will do a superb job. You’ve always been such an help and encouragement to me at Mt. Hermon. I’m so happy for you and all whose lives you will touch! I wish I wasn’t so far away in Florida to attend as easily as I could when I lived in Santa Cruz!
September 23, 2016 @ 9:18 am
Thanks, Laura. I greatly appreciate your encouragement. Mount Hermon has always been very special for me, and for a lot of other people. Hope you can still get to the conference even now that you’re all the way across the country!
September 27, 2016 @ 11:55 am
Wow! This is amazing, but then again you are one amazing lady who listens to God’s direction. What a great example you have been in my life. Congrats and I’m looking forward to attending.
September 27, 2016 @ 1:14 pm
Thanks so much, my friend! I’m looking forward to seeing you at Mount Hermon!
September 27, 2016 @ 5:05 pm
Congratulations, Kathy! This is such good news for you, as well as Christi and Jenne. I’m so happy for all of you. One day, I’ll make that conference.
September 27, 2016 @ 5:25 pm
Thanks so much, Nan! I look forward to seeing you at Mount Hermon someday.
September 28, 2016 @ 4:05 pm
What a wonderful opportunity, Kathy!
March 9, 2017 @ 8:37 pm
Congratulations, Kathy! The Mount Hermon Writers Conference is such a wonderful ministry. Thank you for shepherding it.