ATLANTIC CITY, NJ, July 19—Realm Makers will begin its tenth annual conference for Christian and faith-based fantastical fiction creators, starting this Thursday, July 21.

Over 350 creators will join this three-day event in person, July 21–23, hosted at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City. Authors will network with industry professionals as well as learn creative excellence in classes taught by award-winning fiction authors.

The conference will also livestream classes as a hybrid event for over 60 virtual attendees. Realm Makers first planned to host its first Atlantic City conference in 2020. But thanks to summer lockdowns, organizers had to adapt quickly to livestreaming. This year, despite the easing of restrictions, more “Realmies” are favoring the virtual options, said conference director Rebecca Minor.

“We’re excited to have the ability to meet our author and publisher attendees where they’re comfortable, whether that’s at the conference or online,” Minor said. “Offering the online portion in real-time, where those attendees have the most opportunity for interaction, is central to how we do things.”

Realm Makers is the premier writers’ community for Christian authors of fantasy and science fiction. Members mingle and sharpen their creative skills year-round in the RealmSphere, a dedicated social network. Each summer, hundreds of members gather in person for writers’ conferences, or watch livestreams of classes and other addresses. This year’s keynote speakers are bestselling novelists Tosca Lee, James L. Rubart, and C. J. Redwine. (Previous keynote speakers have included fiction chart-toppers Frank E. Peretti, Brent Weeks, N. D. Wilson, Mary Weber, and Ted Dekker.)

Between hallway conversations, pitch planning, and sharing of costume details, attendees will choose from many classes taught by professionals, including agents and independent publishers who will explore the business and creative sides of storytelling. Teen writers can also sign up for their own course taught by Wayne Thomas Batson (The Door Within series and The Myridian Constellation series).

“I love the Realm Makers Conference because it’s a rare opportunity to rub elbows with Christian creators from all over the world, to inspire and be inspired, to have friendly iron-sharpening-iron in a rich and welcoming setting,” Batson said.

At 6:30 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, July 22, attendees will gather for the annual Realm Awards banquet. Hundreds of storytellers will don fantastical costumes and celebrate award-winners in many categories, including the top Book of the Year.

Lorehaven.com will post a complete list of winners that same Friday evening.

The Realm Awards honor nominees for 2022’s best fantastical fiction in seven categories. Each title will compete for a Realm Award in its category. Meanwhile, the top five scores from all categories will be judged for the final Book of the Year award. Other categories include readers’ choice, cover design, and audiobooks.

For a complete list of award categories and finalists, visit the Realm Makers website.

About Realm Makers: Realm Makers began in 2013, and from small origins has grown to serve thousands of Christian fiction authors online and at annual conferences. Faculty members have included bestselling novelists such as Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, Tosca Lee, Brent Weeks, and N. D. Wilson. Realm Makers exists to help creative Christians in their journeys, providing education in craft, connections with industry professionals, and strategies for finding readers who love these kinds of stories. Meanwhile, the Realm Makers Bookstore offers a curated collection of speculative fiction from Christian authors, traveling to events such as homeschool conventions and renaissance fairs.