Irene Brand's goal of being a writer was conceived at an early age in her rural home in West Virginia. In the early 70's she started publishing in historical, religious, and general magazines. During that time she also edited and compiled two church histories.

Test of Love was released in Poland in 2003.

She has written Sunday School curriculum, edited a two-year series of mission curriculum, and her works have appeared in five program-material anthologies. Her publishers include Zondervan, Standard Publishing, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Fleming-Revell, Barbour Publishing, Kregel Publications, and Steeple Hill (inspirational imprint of Silhouette). She has had 3 non-fiction books published, and 17 fiction works.

Her first inspirational romance was published in 1984.

In 1990 Mrs. Brand retired after 23 years of teaching in public schools to devote full time to freelance writing. She is married to Rod Brand.

Education:
AB Degree in Secondary Education in the fields of Social Studies and French; Master's Degree in History, plus 15 hours beyond the MA - all received at Marshall University, Huntington, WV.

Awards:

  • General Federation of Women's Clubs West Virgina presented the 2001 Celebrate Women Award to Irene B. Brand for Outstanding Accomplishments in the category of ARTS.
  • West Virginia Women's Commission proclaimed Irene B. Brand 1st Runner Up in the category of ARTS in their 2001 Celebrate Women Awards."
  • Mason County Teacher of the Year 1973-74
  • West Virginia DAR History Teacher of the Year, 1984
  • Inspirational Romance Loving Cup Award of Excellence, Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference, 1986 for historical novel, WHERE MORNING DAWNS
    Annual Koala Award for a historical novel, Christian Writers Fellowship, 1991, THE HILLS ARE CALLING
    Annual JUG (Just Uncommonly Good Writing) Award, annual conference, West Virginia Writers, Inc., June, 1997.
Irene is a member of the Christian Writers Fellowship International

Irene's Links :

http://www.christianscoop.com/interviews/author/b/brand.htm

http://www.christianauthorsnetwork.com

CAN Blog


Irene's Organizations:

Harmony Baptist Church
Romance Writers of America
FHL Chapter of RWA
West Virginia Writers, Inc.
Christian Writers Fellowship, International
American Christian Fiction Writers
National Education Association (NEA)


 

At a booksigning, St. Clairsville, Ohio, 10/27/2007
Pamela and Robert (husband and wife)
buying an autographed book.

 

ACFW conference, 9/2007
Nadine Smith (left) is a faithful reader, and I'm on the right.
     
 

Participants in a Late Night Chat at ACFW, 9/2007, speaking on the subject, "Why We Write for Steeple Hill"
Standing (l-r) Lenora Worth; Irene Brand
Seated (l-r) Margaret Daley, Debbie Clopton

Irene Brand, Lenora Worth on their way to the Awards Assembly, ACFW, 9/2007
     
 
Irene ( second from left) particiapted in a panel discussion at a meeting of Romance Authors at the Boyd County Public Library, Ashland, Kentucky, February 13, 2006.
Authors Ginny Smith, Allie Pleiter,
and Irene Brand (right) at the
Kentucky Book Fair, November 11, 2006
     


Irene Brand signing books at Bossard Library,
Gallipolis, Ohio 12/10


Irene and Connie Roberts, a new reader,
Bossard Library, 12/10


Irene Brand and Joan Golan, Executive Editor of Steeple Hill, at ACRW conference, September, 2004


Mae Nunn, Margaret Daley, Irene Brand At book signing, 9/18/2004, ACRW conference, Denver



Irene Brand autographing her September,2001 book, Summer's Promise, Willa's Bible Book Shop, Point Pleasent, WV, 8/31/2001.


Irene signing copies of Song of Her Heart, (February, LI book) at the 2003 CBA Expo, Indianapolis, Indiana, January 29.


During their Celtic Discovery Tour of Ireland, September 6 - 20, Irene and her husband, Rod, visited many Celtic antiquities and historic sites, including the Gallarus Oratory, Dingle Penninsula, Dingle, Co. Kerry.


April 12, Wal-Mart sponsored a nationwide Literacy Day. Authors were invited to appear in local stores to promote the awareness of the need for literacy work in the USA. The photo shows Irene Brand talking with a Wal-Mart customer at the store in Ripley, West Virginia.


Booksigning at Southern Christian Writers Conference. June 20, 2003 Tuscaloosa, Alabama.


Readers for Life Literacy Autographing,
RWA Conference, NYC July 16,2003


Irene Brand and her husband, Rod, on Wakiki Beach, Honolulu, August, 2003.


Irene Brand, enjoying a hearty breakfast at Orchid Court, beach hotel, Waikoloa, Hawaii.


Florida Christian Writers Conference
March, 2004 Seated Left to Right:
Merrillee Whren, (Love Inspired Author), Diane Dietz, (Steeple Hill, assistant editor) and Irene Brand (Love Inspired Author) Irene taught a workshop "Writing Inspirational Romance."


Carol Purcell (L) Sara Prater (R)
Fans of author, Irene Brand, who's signing books.
Pioneer Presabyterian Church, Belpre, Ohio
5/20/2004


Irene Brand, speaking at the Pioneer Presbyterian Church, Belpre, Ohio, 5/20/2004


Irene Brand and her husband, Rod, at a book signing, Pioneer Presbyterian Church, Belpre, Ohio, 6/20/2004.

  books booklist newsletter about Irene

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