FACULTY BIOS
Pioneers with Pens Mentoring Team
Kathryn Ross has a background in playwriting, drama ministry, children’s and youth ministry. She has training in Principle Approach Education through the Foundation for American Christian Education where developing a biblical worldview in all subject matter is key. Her love of art, history, and exploration of language arts found her teaching in the classroom and through performance storytelling in her local community for over 30 years. She currently mentors Christian women as writers, speakers, and creatives to help them tell God’s Story through their story. She owns Pageant Wagon Publishing offering book shepherd, editing, and publishing services from idea to finished product. Miss Kathy is the author of The Gatekeeper’s Key, and the Gold Nugget Chronicles Chapter Books based on the biblical performance storytelling of her late husband, Ed Ross. She founded the Good News Christian Writers Critique Group in 2013 with her late editor and writing mentor Janice Hall Heck. Today, the group has blossomed into the Pioneers with Pens Mentoring Team in partnership with event facility Restoration Family Farm and marketing partners at Reading Glass Books. She leads her team in hosting an annual retreat and spring tea for Christian women writers and creatives and also hosts Mastermind Fellowships for small groups on specific topics of the writing/publishing life.
Stacy Lee Flury is a Certified Biblical Counselor who has published an award-winning book endorsed by Jim Daly of Focus on the Family, Turning the Tide of Emotional Turbulence: Devotions for Parents of Teens in Crisis. Stacy recounts how faith in God gave her victory over the swirl of negative emotions that raged in her heart parenting a troubled teen. For her work, she won the 2021 Enduring Lights Silver Medal for Exemplary Christian-Themed Books since the year 2000 and the 2025 International Impact Book Award. Currently, Stacy has rekindled her artistic background in illustration and prophetic art, which is featured in her second book with author Kathryn Ross, Art Adventures with Mimzy-Nana and the companion Mimzy-Nana’s Art & Activity Journal. She is an associate at the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts and her original pastel renderings of wildlife have shown in South Jersey galleries. Her celebration of God’s creation in wildlife portraits can be found and purchased in a variety of formats at kainosartcreations.com.
Linda Slomin is an ordained minister and Licensed Professional Counselor who retired from Cumberland County College (now Rowan College of South Jersey) after 34 years. In 2025, she began working at Chestnut Assembly of God as a Christian Counselor and is currently training others to become Christian Lay Counselors. In 2020, Linda self-published her first book, The Very Sensitive Princess. The idea for the book came after doing a puppet show on the mission field while ministering to children in India and Zambia. She is currently at work on a book exposing the false gospel of self-righteousness and aims to set people free of religious and legalistic bondages. She is married to Donald and has a stepdaughter, Katie, and a grandson, Kai.
Trish Weldon is a Bible study teacher who has written and taught a study guide for the Christian classic, Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard, as well as an in-depth study on The Women of the Bible. Her first book, Meet Me in Your Quiet Place: Hearing God's Gentle Whisper in a Busy Bee World, launched in the summer of 2023 through Pageant Wagon Publishing. She writes about real life situations to inspire and encourage her readers in their relationship with the Lord at her devotional blog Rooted in Purpose--“My heart’s desire is to encourage writers to pursue what the Lord has called them to write and not give up.” She is married to her wonderful husband Bill with a beautiful, blended family of six children and 11 grandchildren.
Pam Halter was a home-school mom for nine years, has been a children’s book author since 1995, a freelance children’s book editor since 2006, and was the children’s book editor for Fruitbearer Publishing until it’s closing in 2023. She taught 4th-6th grade Sunday school for over 21 years and was a Pioneer Clubs leader at her church for 4 years. She was also the music director for a local summer theater where she worked with children ages 8-18 for ten years. Pam hosts Storytime once a month at a local public library. So—it is no wonder that Pam specializes in writing for children and young adults! She is the author of a number of picture book series, including Willoughby the Dragon, and the YA realm fantasy novel, Fairyeater—which is currently a bestseller at The Reading Glass Books! Visit Pam (and sign up for her newsletter) at www.pamhalter.com
Lillian Baker is a wife, mother, and proud grandmother of six. She has led book studies and vision board workshops in her church, workplace, and writers community, including her Built to Write Vision Board Workshop breakout session at the annual Pioneers with Pens Retreat. Lillian holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science from Wilmington University, a Life Coach Certificate from CaPP (Coaching and Positive Psychology Institute), and a Christian Life Coach Certificate from Light University of the American Association of Christian Counselors. She has also published devotionals in The Secret Place devotional booklets. Her latest book, Built to Last: A Spiritual Training Guide for Strength, Purpose, and Impact, launched in Fall 2025. Through her Built to Last message, she encourages women to build their lives on truth, purpose, and practice, grounded in God’s Word and built on a firm foundation (Matthew 7:24-25). Visit Lillian at www.lillianbaker.com and Lillian Baker/Built to Last Facebook page.
