Education
- M.F.A., Northwest Institute of Literary Arts
- M.A., Journalism, Wheaton College Graduate School (1990)
- B.A., Grand Rapids Baptist College
Research Interests
- 1840s Northern Ireland
- 1840-50s West Michigan
Cynthia Beach, M.F.A.
- Professor of English and Creative Writing
- The School of Ministry, Media & the Arts
Education
- M.F.A., Northwest Institute of Literary Arts
- M.A., Journalism, Wheaton College Graduate School (1990)
- B.A., Grand Rapids Baptist College
Research Interests
- 1840s Northern Ireland
- 1840-50s West Michigan
Professor and author Cynthia Beach has a great passion for writing and for supporting her fellow writers in their craft. She is not only active on campus helping young writers hone their skills, but she regularly speaks about writing around the area. You will find her on-campus teaching courses in creative writing, fiction writing and advanced workshops.
Professor Beach received her Bachelor of Arts from Cornerstone University. She earned her Master of Arts in journalism from Wheaton College and completed her Master of Fine Arts at the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts. Professor Beach is skilled in writing both fiction and nonfiction.
Professor Beach is an avid writer and co-founded Breathe Christian Writers Conference and founded Breathe Deeper Writers Retreat (now called The Write Season). Her work has appeared in textbooks, newspapers and literary journals. Her book on writing, “Creative Juices” (2019), and her first novel, “The Surface of Water” (2020), are now available. She is currently working on an historical fiction series.
Contact Info
- Phone:616.254.1650
Hobbies
- Walking
- Scrapbooking
- Traveling
Books
- "The Surface of Water" (2020)
- "Creative Juices: A Splash of Story Craft, Process and Creative Soul Care" (Soul Seasons Publishing, 2019)
Selected Publications
- What You Have Heard Is True book review. The CRC Banner. Summer, 2020.
- GUTS book review. The CRC Banner. Summer, 2020.
- Book of Longing book review. The CRC Banner. Summer, 2020.
- Voyage of Mercy book review. The CRC Banner. Summer, 2020.
- Broken Glass book review. The Englewood Review of Books. 20 July 2020.
- The Way Home film review. The CRC Banner. 14 July 2020.
- Contributor. “Redeeming Trust.” The Horse of My Dreams. Edited by Callie Smith Grant. Grand Rapids: Revell. 2019.
- Ad Astra review. The CRC Banner. Editor’s Choice Review. September 27, 2019.
- “Seeking the Distant Stars” Featured Review. The Englewood Review of Books. August 29, 2019.
- Light from Distant Stars review. The CRC Banner. August 16, 2019.
- “We Hope for Better Things.” Featured Review. The Englewood Review of Books. July 17, 2019.
- 3-Minute Prayers for Boys review. The CRC Banner. July, 2019.
- “We Hope for Something More.” Featured Review. The Englewood Review of Books.
- “Lessons about Death and Dying from an Irish Wake.” Featured Review. The Englewood Review of Books. May 3, 2018.
- “Wangerin’s New Poetry, the Topography of Cancer.” Featured Review. The Englewood Review of Books. October 20, 2017.
- “Exposing the Hidden: An interview with Ken Wytsma.” The Englewood Review of Books.
- “The Puzzle Box Top: Seeing the Big Picture of Racism & American Evangelicalism.” Featured Review. The Englewood Review of Books. June 29, 2017.
- “Michael Chabon’s Moonglow” Featured Review. The Englewood Review of Books. February 10, 2017.
- Contributor. The Horse of My Heart. Ed. Callie Smith Grant. Grand Rapids: Revell. 2015.
- Contributor. Hope in the Morning: A Grief Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 2013.
- “A Gold Leaf of Faith: A Review of Heron River.” The Englewood Review of Books. (5) March 21, 2012.
- “Attending to the First Line.” Novel Matters Blog. Guest blogger. 11 November 2011.
- “Dad’s Sailing Adventures,” Soundings, a literary journal of the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts. Fall 2011.
- “True giving requires self-giving.” The Herald, Cornerstone University. 2009.
- "God authors rich romances.” The Herald, Cornerstone University. March 2009.
- “Dessert Medicine review.” The Grand Rapids Press. Nov. 2008.
- “We need gender redemption.” The Herald, Cornerstone University. October, 2007.
- “‘Madman’ brings life to story behind Gospel.” The Grand Rapids Press, Section J/8. 4 November 2006.
- “Crazy Horse and TNT.” Media Ethics. Ed. Clifford Christians, et al. White Plains: Longman, 1997.
- “Our Daily Bread.” Popular Religious Magazines of the United States. Ed. P. Mark Fackler and Charles Lippy. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1995.
Presentations
- “How to Write a Query Letter.” Breathe Christian Writers Conference. October, 2018.
- “Writing Creative Nonfiction.” CALL classes. Calvin College. June, 2018.
- “Fully Realizing Fiction Setting.” Breathe Christian Writers Conference. October, 2017.
- “Panoramic to Close-ups: Using the Camera’s Eye in Your Fiction & Nonfiction.” Breathe Christian Writers Conference. October, 2016.
- “Nature Writing.” CALL classes. Calvin College. June, 2016.
- “Capturing the Intensity: Dramatic Moments in Fiction and Nonfiction.” Breathe Christian Writers Conference. October, 2015.
- “Writing Creative Nonfiction.” CALL classes. Calvin College. June, 2015.
- “Creating Believable Emotion in Fiction and Nonfiction.” Breathe Christian Writers Conference. October 10, 2014.
- “Writing about Faith.” Northwest Institute of Literary Arts. Whidbey Island, WA. August, 2014.
- “Short Forms: Crafting the Gems.” CALL classes. Calvin College. June, 2014.
- “Short Forms: Playing with Nonfiction.” Breathe Christian Writers Conference. Dutton, MI. 19 October 2013.
- “Fiction and Nonfiction: The Use of Short Forms to Build a Writing Portfolio.” Faculty Lunch Scholarship Series. February 7, 2013.
- “Creating the Best First Line.” Breathe Christian Writers Conference. Grand Haven, MI. 14 October 2011.
- “The Staircase Method: Efficient Ways to Grade Writing.” With Tammy Looman. Faculty Work Day. 1 September 2011.
- “Writing Fiction.” The Guild panel discussion and reading. The UP Book Tour 2011. Hiawatha Camp, Mich. 23 July 2011.
- “Christian Writing and Publishing.” The Guild panel discussion and reading. The UP Book Tour 2011. Lighthouse Christian Books, Marquette, Mich. 22 July 2011.
- Radio guest. The Catholic Voice of Northern Michigan. WIDG AM 940. July 2011.
- “Writing and Publishing.” The Guild panel discussion. Baker Book House. 26 April 2011.
- “Writing and Publishing.” The Guild panel discussion. Schuler Books. 3 February 2011.
- “Conquering Your Writing Fears.” Lunch forum. Breathe: A Christian Writers Conference. October 2010.
- “Overcoming Your Writing Demons.” Workshop. Breathe: A Christian Writer Conference. 17 October 2010.
- “Show, Don’t Tell.” Western Michigan Christian Writers. 18 May 2010.
- “Conquering Your Writing Demons.” CELT in-service, Cornerstone University. 5 April 2010.
- “Sex and Chocolate.” Cook Dorm, Cornerstone University. 24 February 2010.
- “Strengthening Your Business Writing.” National Association for Career Women, Lansing. November 2009.
- “Overcoming Your Writing Demons.” Workshop. Breathe: A Christian Writer Workshop. 17 October 2009.
- “Christian Publishing.” Celebration of the Book, Grand Rapids Public Library. October 2008.
- “Creating Your Writing Space.” Breathe: A Christian Writer’s Workshop. October 2008.
- “Creative Play.” Women’s Church Group, Lansing. September 2008.
- “Blasting Your Writing Blocks.” Covenant Life Writing Group, Grand Haven. July 2008.
- “Leisure Wellness: Learning to Play.” Gilda’s Club, Grand Rapids. July 2008.
- “Tending Your Creativity.” Faculty Colloquium, Cornerstone University. March 2008.
- “Blasting Writing Blocks.” Breathe: A Christian Writers Conference. October 2007.
- “Self-Care: Tending Your Creativity.” Women’s Leadership Conference, Cornerstone University. February 2007.
- “Of Triumphs and Tragedies: Ethics and an Evangelical Campus Newspaper.” Just Teaching Writing at a Christian College. Panel discussion. Conference on College Composition and Communication. Arizona, Spring, 1997.
