The Prestigious International Hope Book Awards (PIHBA) is proud to introduce an extraordinary lineup of speakers who will take the stage during our 2026 Author of the Year Gala Conference & Awards Celebration on October 17, 2026, at the Wyndham Bloomington Mall of America Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota.
This year's speakers represent the very heart of what PIHBA stands for: hope, resilience, healing, purpose, courage, transformation, and the power of our stories to impact another person's life.
Our distinguished speaker lineup includes Gary McDougall, presenting “Anatomy of a Speaker Reel”; Dr. Jerry L. Woodbridge, presenting “At the Intersection of Hard Topics and Hope: Children’s Fiction That Matters”; Analee Vizcarra Vinyard, presenting “Yes, It’s True! Your Story Can Be Someone’s Hope”; William A. Stephens, presenting “Purpose and Direction”; Chantelle Rogers, presenting “Free Yourself From F#CKERY. Heal What’s Holding You Back”; and Dr. Alexandra Elinsky, PhD, presenting “Radical Healing: Your Wounds Are Not Someone Else’s Sentence.”
Each speaker brings a unique voice, life experience, and area of expertise to the PIHBA stage. From storytelling and children's literature to mental health, faith, healing, personal transformation, overcoming adversity, and discovering purpose, these conversations have been intentionally selected to do more than inspire, they are designed to challenge, encourage, educate, and create meaningful change.
The morning conference begins at 9:00 AM on October 17, leading into an unforgettable day celebrating authors and voices of hope from around the world, culminating in our prestigious Author of the Year 2026 Gala Awards Celebration.
At PIHBA, we believe books are more than words on pages and speakers are more than voices behind microphones. Stories can become bridges. Experiences can become lessons. Pain can become purpose. And one person's courage to speak can become another person's reason to keep going.
We are honored to welcome these remarkable speakers to the PIHBA stage as we continue our mission of Honoring Stories of Hope Worldwide.
October 17, 2026 | Bloomington, Minnesota
Prestigious International Hope Book Awards
Author of the Year 2026 Gala Conference & Awards Celebration
Where stories are honored, voices are heard, and hope is given a platform.
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