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WelcomeThe 2025 All-Iowa Writers’ Conference will be held on Saturday, September 20 at the Community Hope Church in Montezuma, Iowa. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. The conference runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-registration cost is $40 and includes lunch. You must pre-register for the discounted prices. Admission the day of the event is $50. A link for a pre-registration form is below.
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2025 All-Iowa Writers’ Conference Schedule
8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. = Registration/Meet & Greet/Welcome
9 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. = S.C. Sherman
9:50 a.m. – 10 a.m. = Break
10 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. = Bethany Kriegel
10:50 a.m. – 11 a.m. = Break
11 a.m. – Noon = Panel featuring Judge Joel Barrows & Sheriff Matt Maschmann
Noon - 1 p.m. = Lunch & Networking
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. = The Iowa Gallivant
2 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. = Break
2:10 p.m. – 3 p.m. = Lisa Lucero
3 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. = Break
3:10 p.m. – 4 p.m. = Winter Austin
4 p.m. = Fiction Writing Contest Awards/Door Prizes/Closing
8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. = Registration/Meet & Greet/Welcome
9 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. = S.C. Sherman
9:50 a.m. – 10 a.m. = Break
10 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. = Bethany Kriegel
10:50 a.m. – 11 a.m. = Break
11 a.m. – Noon = Panel featuring Judge Joel Barrows & Sheriff Matt Maschmann
Noon - 1 p.m. = Lunch & Networking
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. = The Iowa Gallivant
2 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. = Break
2:10 p.m. – 3 p.m. = Lisa Lucero
3 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. = Break
3:10 p.m. – 4 p.m. = Winter Austin
4 p.m. = Fiction Writing Contest Awards/Door Prizes/Closing
2025 All-Iowa Writers' Conference Presenters
S.C. Sherman grew up on a farm in rural Iowa. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Communications Studies. He still lives in Hawkeye country and enjoys family life with his wife Amy, and their four children, Mollie, Cole, Brock and Sariah. S.C. Sherman has written across several genres, including spiritual thrillers, a historical fiction trilogy based on a true story, a young adult fantasy, and more recently a political thriller followed by a modern day western! Sherman won the “Write Now” Flash Writing Contest – University of Iowa Alumni Adult Category in 2024. His first novel Leaving Southfields, won Best Christian Historical of 2007. Sherman won the Mentorship Award from Mortimer Literary for his work with the young adult fantasy, Moxie. His novels are a fantasy thriller Hell and Back, a political thriller Mercy Shot, and Lone Wolf Canyon a modern-day western display Sherman’s storytelling across varied genres. He even took a foray into the thriller/horror world with the terrifying Seven Days and Six Nights! His latest releases Beer Money a historical of the founding of the American West published by Post Hill Press, and A Bass Reeves Adventure: Give Me the Warrant, another larger than life, based on true events, western historical keep readers coming back for more. Beer Money is in process of being made into a full-length motion picture to release in 2026! Stay tuned for more information on the movie Death of a Brewer.
Bethany Kriegel is a Christian author, wife, and mother of four, living out her faith and creativity on Sunset Hills Bison Ranch. Her stories are inspired by real-life adventures—like rescuing an abandoned baby bison—and reflect her deep love for God, family, and the wild beauty of the prairie. Bethany’s writing blends heartfelt messages with the rugged rhythms of ranch life, often featuring the majestic bison as a symbol of strength, resilience, and God’s grace. Through her books, she hopes to inspire courage, wonder, and a sense of purpose in young readers and their families. When she’s not writing, Bethany is busy supporting her children at sporting events, caring for animals, welcoming guests to the ranch, or watching storms roll across the Iowa horizon—all while holding tight to faith, family, and wide-open dreams.
Joel Barrows is an Iowa district court judge who regularly oversees both criminal and civil trials. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was a practicing attorney for nearly twenty-three years; the last eighteen of those spent as a state, and then federal, prosecutor. As an attorney, Joel regularly argued before the United States Court of Appeals. His cases have been as diverse as white-collar crime, environmental crime, cyber-crime, child exploitation, narcotics and firearms offenses, immigration crimes, bank robbery, health care fraud, public corruption, civil rights offenses and threats against the President, and have included many high-profile prosecutions. He holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in History, a Law degree from Drake University Law School, and a Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law with distinction from Georgetown University Law Center. He has traveled extensively in Central America. He lives with his family in eastern Iowa along the banks of the Mississippi. With his Deep Cover series, he has become an Amazon Best-Selling Author in Mystery Series and Political Thrillers & Suspense.
Sheriff Matt Maschmann started his career at Poweshiek County in September 2004 as Deputy Sheriff. He was elected sheriff in November 2024 to begin office January 2, 2025.
JayJay Goodvin, better known as The Iowa Gallivant, will be a speaker at this year’s conference. Well known across the state, Goodvin has been featured in The Des Moines Register, has teamed up with Silos & Smokestacks for an Ag Adventure, is a TikTok sensation with over 1 million likes and has been interviewed on numerous local television broadcasts. He is the author of “Rural Iowa Sausage: History & Tradition of Brats on the Back Roads (American Palate)”.
Lisa M. Lucero grew up in McPherson, Kansas. She earned her bachelor's degree in communications degree from Fort Hays State University. She has written for newspapers and covered subjects including government, education, crime, arts and entertainment, and community events. Her experience as a journalist has helped develop her writing skills. Lisa is married to Jeremy Shapiro and has a son. They resides in Newton, Iowa. During her spare time, she loves to travel, read, listen to music, and spend time with her family. Lisa is employed at Grinnell College as an administrative assistant. She recently published her third novel, "The Re-Creation of the Death Firm."
Winter Austin perpetually answers the question: “were you born in the winter?” with a flat “nope,” but believe her, there is a story behind her name. A lifelong Mid-West gal with strong ties to the agriculture world, Winter grew up listening to the captivating stories told by relatives around a table or a campfire. As a published author, she learned her glass half-empty personality makes for a perfect suspense/thriller writer. Taking her ability to verbally spin a vivid and detailed story, Winter translated that into writing deadly romantic suspense, mysteries, and thrillers. When she’s not slaving away at the computer, you can find Winter supporting her daughter in cattle shows, seeing her three sons off into the wide-wide world, loving on her fur babies, prodding her teacher husband, and nagging at her flock of hens to stay in the coop or the dogs will get them. She is the author of multiple novels.
Photos from the 2024 All-Iowa Writers' Conference
Mister Christmas by Debbie Tindle Parker
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Mister Christmas, a stand alone novella by Debbie Tindle Parker, is now available from Our Front Porch Books and Amazon.
Ashley Summerdale works hard to keep things going in the small town of Abbott, Iowa. She runs a successful photography business and also is the mayor, taking over a job that her father held for years. When funds run low and there is talk of the Annual Abbott Christmas Celebration being cancelled, Ashley convinces Williams Construction to sponsor the event, even though it means she'll have to interact on the project with classmate, Clint Williams. Jacob Reynolds is the top Christmas event planner for JNJ Events. Highly sought after by businesses across the country, Jacob is caught off guard when his boss informs him that she's sending him and his right-hand, Ryan, to Abbott to oversee their celebration. Jacob doesn't want to go back. He's been working hard to avoid his hometown and the people in it. He also hasn't seen his mother or sisters since his father's funeral. Ashley and Jacob are both stunned when they realize they are going to have to work together. Complicating matters is the instant attraction between Ryan and Ashley's little sister, Skylar, who owns the town's bakery. The fact that Clint and Jacob are sworn enemies from their school days doesn't help matters either. Just when it looks like the celebration is going to go off without a hitch, and relationships are going to be mended, a pen of reindeer and a lighting fiasco set off a chain of events that threaten to ruin both Christmas and the budding romances. Will a little Christmas magic be able to get things back on track or will this be the end of the Annual Abbott Christmas Celebration? |
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The Hope Series
Signed copies are available from Our Front Porch Books. You can also purchase on Amazon.com.