Cindy K. Sproles is the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries. She is an author, popular speaker/storyteller, and conference teacher. Cindy is the Executive Editor of ChristianDevotions.us and a freelance editor for IronStream Media. Her devotions are published widely in Christian newspapers across the eastern seaboard. Cindy is the author of three Appalachian historical award-winning, best-selling novels. She is an IndieFab Book of the Year winner and a Golden Scroll Book of the Year winner. She is a certified life coach and mentor and works with WRAMS (Writing Right Author Mentoring Service). Cindy is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Cindy is married and the mom to four adult sons and two grandsons. She is proud of her Appalachian heritage and doesn’t mind when people tease her about her accent. Visit Cindy at CindySproles.com. 

Holding on to the Author’s Voice
As a writer of Appalachian historical fiction, Cindy knows that vernacular is vital to the story and the voice of the author. In this session, we will discuss how and when to take the step to change vernacular, and how it will impact the author’s story—even when it may be grammatically incorrect. As editors, this can be a nails-scraping-on-the-blackboard moment when we must choose what is best for the story over what our analytical editorial minds insist is correct. We will open discussion for thoughts on when vernacular is too much and how to trim it so the author’s voice is maintained and the story soars.