Hightlights Foundation Workshop: Writing Off the Page

March 26 -29, 2017

(L to R): Kekla Magoon, Laurie Calkhoven, Nicole Valentine

Instructors: Kekla Magoon, Laurie Calkhoven, Nicole Valentine 

Driving to the Highlights Foundation barn felt like driving home. It is now a familiar place. One where I know the magic and love of books resides. It’s a safe place where strangers transform into friends, where everyone receives encouragement and knowledge. 

Writing Off the Page was my third workshop at the barn. Though each experience is different, all have been beneficial to my writing journey. And oh, the food. It’s both nutritious and delicious, much like the knowledge gained.

The description of the workshop is what caught my attention. I wanted to learn creative techniques to carve out my characters, to breathe more life into them, to make them real. I wanted to learn how to pump more heart into my stories. To push my creativity to new limits. I was not disappointed. 

And to make this memory even more heart-warming, several writers in the group made major breakthroughs during our stay. If you’ve never been to a Highlights Foundation workshop, check out their offerings. They’re an investment in your children’s book writing and/or illustrating career.

 Previous Highlights Foundation workshops I've attended are: Picture Books & All that Jazz and Perfecting the Picture Book Text. 

From the Highlights Foundation web site:  

Writing Off the Page

In this workshop, you will develop new creative strategies to help bring your stories to life:

*Think about your writing from different angles, drawing inspiration from other disciplines (theater, graphic design, visual art) to deepen your characters and create more vibrant landscapes in which to immerse them.

*Practice new ways to get into your characters’ heads. Through meditation, journaling, arts and crafts, and creative projects, you will be pulled out from behind the keyboard to immerse yourself more fully in the worlds of your stories.

*Consider story structure and explore visual and tactile tools for outlining, organizing, and reorganizing your story.

Giving Thanks That All Are Welcome

Strictly No Elephants
Author: Lisa Mantchev & Illustrator: Taeeun Yoo

**As seen on EasternPennPoints Blog (Eastern PA Chapter of SCBWI)**

Strictly NoElephants, written by Lisa Mantchev and illustrated by Taeeun Yoo, is a poignant story about friendship and fitting in. A boy and his pet elephant are off to the Pet Club. But when they arrive, they find a “Strictly No Elephants” sign hanging on the door. They are not welcome.

Turns out, they aren’t the only ones. They find a girl and her pet skunk who aren’t welcome at the Pet Club either. Together they create a club where their sign reads “All are welcome.”

This story touched my heart, and I could easily think of a million ways others could relate. Everyone wants to feel included. Everyone needs friends to lift each other over cracks, coax each other along, brave the scary things together, to never leave one another behind.

As Thanksgiving approaches, this story made me think about my ever growing children’s book writing world where the sign always reads “All are welcome.” I’m so thankful for that.

I’m grateful for the shared knowledge, opportunities, and camaraderie from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), The Highlights Foundation workshops, Writers Digest online workshops, KidLit Facebook groups, and my two amazing critique groups. And the never ending support of friends and loved ones. Especially my fiancé and first editor, Allen.

I’ll be keeping Strictly No Elephants and its ever important messages of friendship and inclusivity close to my heart as I munch on my turkey dinner, mingle with friends and family, write my stories, and walk amongst the wonderful variety of people in this world. Will you join me?

Highlights Foundation Workshop: Perfecting the Picture Book Text

L to R: Anne Marie Pace, Kristy Dempsey,
and Kathy Erskine

Workshop Leaders and Authors:
Kristy Dempsey and Kathy Erskine
with Special Guest and Author: Anne Marie Pace

I worried that this, my second Highlights Foundation workshop, would not live up to my first experience (Picture Books & All That Jazz) BUT . . .

There is a special magic in the air at the Highlights Foundation Barn, in the beautiful surroundings, and in the food. The type of magic that encourages leaps in learning, sparks new ideas, sets pens and keyboards in action. The kind of magic that creates a sense of camaraderie, compassion, friendship.




The Barn: a beacon in the fog.

Our workshop leaders, Kristy, Kathy, and Anne Marie, shared their expertise on picture book concepts. Such as: generating new ideas, first lines, story structure, language, character, and voice. They talked about illustrations (including whether to art note or not to art note), revision, and publishing. We received one-on-one and group critiques, in which we received lots of priceless feedback!

AND . . .

 

·         We toured Highlights Magazine, and met with Boyds Mills Press assistant editor Cherie Matthews.

 

·         We learned tips from illustrator Lori Richmond and Bloomsbury Publishing editor Brett Wright, and chatted with them over breakfast and lunch.

 

·         We Skyped with authors, glimpsed their lives and methods, and received their books!

o   HeidiStemple: You Nest Here with Me

o   TamekaBrown: My Cold Plum Pie Bluesy Mood

o   KellyStarling Lyons: Hope’s Gift

o   LindaUrban: Little Red Henry

 

o   KatyDuffield: Loud Lula (Though a Skype visit was scheduled, Hurricane Matthew blew those plans away.)

 

·         We Skyped with an agent, discovered what agents do, what they look for!

o   EmilyMitchell: Agent with Wernick and Pratt

 

·         It’s always heartwarming to connect with fellow workshop attendees. Like Mark Malcolm. His sense of humor. His voice and intonation. His love of words and people (minus bullies). His impromptu kazooing. His ability to create entertaining poetry in minutes. He, alone, made the trip worthwhile.

 

·         AND the food! Amanda and Alison delivered again. Always a variety of delicious, nutritious cuisine. One morning Kent Brown, Jr., Highlights Foundation executive director, held open the egg and the bacon container lids for me. During our stroll towards the gluten free bread, he told me that my picture was in the kitchen and did I want to see? Turns out that all of the attendees’ pictures and names, and food allergies hung in the kitchen for the staff to reference. They take food issues seriously and work hard at creating meals to meet needs and satisfy all.

So was this workshop worth its cost and my time? Did it meet my expectations? Yes, yes, yes, and so much more. In addition to all the wonderful experiences listed above, there’s also an energy one gets by being around others sharing the same passions. Since I’ve been home I’ve revised stories, and poured out new ideas. And did I mention we get to send manuscripts to the agent and editors we met during our workshop? Yes, worth so much more.

Our Workshop Treasures

 

 

There’s a Giraffe in My Soup REVIEW

Author: Ross Burach

A little restaurant patron has a BIG problem. He’s got a giraffe in his soup. And then an alligator, and an elephant, and a . . .

The hilarity continues as the waiter tries again and again to serve up soup to his hungry customer. And then sends him running out the door from a free dessert.  

There's a Giraffe in My Soup serves up illustrations just the way I like them: colorful, fun, and a bit outrageous. This savory book leaves you feeling full of giggles, gasps, and wonder. And wanting more.

 

More is coming from Ross Burach in February 2017:  

I am Not a Chair!

and

Pine and Boof – Book 1

Both being published by Harper Collins.

 

 

 

#RossBurach #PictureBook #HarperCollins #KidLit #Review

The Cow Who Climbed a Tree AND Other Ways to Kick Doubt Out

**As seen on EasternPennPoints Blog (Eastern PA Chapter of SCBWI)**

I’ll be in the middle of writing and I’ll get this unwelcome visitor called Doubt. *sigh* And this visitor asks all kinds of annoying questions. Can you write? I mean really write? Will you ever be published? What are you doing? Are you wasting your time? Should you keep plugging away?

And so if you’ve ever experienced a Doubt visit, you’ve got to read The Cow Who Climbed a Tree by Gemma Merino. To discover Impossible! Ridiculous! Nonsense! is absolutely possible. Even when there’s a ton of naysaying from your herd or in your own head.

Matt de la Peña is proof. He received the 2016 Newbery Award for Last Stop on Market Street. His acceptance speech mentions Doubt. Here's an excerpt:

This job can be a lonely, lonely ride. And there are moments when it’s nearly impossible to maintain a belief in yourself. Ninety-nine percent of the time the words don’t seem quite good enough. Or the characters don’t seem quite real enough. Or, worst of all, you don’t feel quite talented enough.

 
So how can we kick Doubt out? These are the branches I climb:

·         I’m open to learning. I read, read, read. I attend workshops. I'm a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writersand Illustrators (SCBWI). And I'll be chairing/co-chairing a new SCBWI picture book critique group in Mechanicsburg, PA (interested? contact me at: jeannecurtin@yahoo.com).

·         I surround myself with positive people. I can’t imagine life without my loved ones and friends cheering me along the way.

·         I have reminders in my environment. Like these words on my wall:

    Make your Magic = write.

    Be Grateful = I take a moment of each day to acknowledge people/things in my world for which I’m genuinely thankful.

    Believe = that my goals of publication will happen.
 

    ·         I keep healthy. I walk. Run stairs. Take time to enjoy life. Adventure. And eat right as much as possible.

   ·         I practice, practice, practice.

Have you used these Doubt busters? Do you use other ways to kick Doubt out? Please share in the comments below!

#SCBWI #NewberyAward #MattdelaPena #GemmaMerino #amwriting #kidlit #doubt  #picturebooks #GetBrave #LiveLife

Max the Brave Review

by Ed Vere

The cover of Max the Brave worked like a magnet, pulling me in. And then I opened the book and learned that sweet-looking Max doesn't like bows, and I was totally hooked.

This fearless kitten chases mice, but since he's never seen the rodent, Max is on a quest to find one. He asks every critter he encounters --from a fly to an elephant-- if they are a mouse. Each time Max is told no, but that a mouse just passed by. So Max continues on his quest, always seemingly one step behind his prey.

There are some twists and turns in this cute and fearlessly brave story where sometimes mice are monsters.







#MaxTheBrave #EdVere #BookReviews #KidLit #PictureBooks

Little BIG

by Jonathan Bentley

 

So glad I ignored my first assumptions about this book. The title Little BIG made me think that the pages inside would be filled with dull comparisons of littles versus BIGS. BUT . . .

Little BIG is really a heart-warming story about a younger sibling who longs to be big like his older brother. And yet he realizes the privileges of littlehood. It's that lifelong pull of wanting to grow up, and yet longing to be forever young.

Love the way the story weaves back and forth between little and big, and ties itself up with the perfectly little ending.

And have I mentioned yet that the illustrations are wonderfully adorable? They're part of the magic that brings me back to turn the pages again and again.

The only thing I'd change about the book is its title. How does If I was BIG Like a Monster sound?





#JonathanBentley #KidLit #PictureBooks #Books #LitteBIG #BookReview #Review

The Last Chocolate Chip Cookie

by Jamie Rix
Illustrated by Clare Elsom

Every time there's the last one of anything, I experience this twinge of guilt as though I should offer this last whatever to everyone and anyone before I devour it. And now I may understand why. . .

Just as Jack is about to grab the last chocolate chip cookie, his mom snags him. She makes him offer the cookie to everyone else first because it's the polite thing to do.

So off he goes with the cookie in his pocket and a little resentment in his gut. But he does what he is told and makes his rounds from his brother to the Mexican baker with a mustache on his face to Splagly the alien in outer space.

Well, Splagly looks at Jack and decides he looks like a tasty morsel. But before the alien could woof down poor Jack, Splagly's mom snags her son . . .

In the end, there's a tasteless twist.

The Last Chocolate Chip Cookie is a cute story with colorful, inviting, and fun illustrations.




#KidLit #JamieRix #ClareElsom #PictureBooks #ChocolateChipCookies

The Turnip

Written and Illustrated by Jan Brett

Turnip fan or not, The Turnip is an entertaining story about being in the right place at the right time. 
 

The story begins when Badger Girl discovers an enormous turnip in the garden. However, she nor Badger Boy, nor their parents, or any of the passers-by can pluck that turnip from the ground. That is, until Rooster struts along after narrowly escaping the cooking pot. He gives the over-sized turnip a good heave-ho at the same moment the bears living beneath the vegetable give it a good push to remove it from their bed. Rooster gets the credit as the turnip is finally set free. 

All are happy as Mother Badger declares there will be turnip pancakes browned in butter for all. And as everyone is enjoying the feast, Father Badger declares Rooster, who proved himself useful, has a new home.

 As always, Jan Brett's detailed and darling illustrations add to the magic of her books.

#JanBrett #KidLit #PictureBooks #Turnip #TheTurnip #books #review #bookreview 

Nerdy Birdy Review

Written by AaronReynolds

Illustrated by Matt Davies

Ever felt different? Ever want to belong? Then you’ll enjoy Nerdy Birdy.

Nerdy Birdy has big glasses, extra small wings, a birdseed allergy, and enjoys reading and video games. He feels different and alone, cast aside by the cool birds, until his peeps – a whole flock of nerdy birds just like himself – invite him to be friends. But when he wants to include another loner to the group, the nerdy birds refuse because the new guy is different. Nerdy Birdy is confused, and chooses to leave his flock to keep the new guy company.

This book teaches kids to be inclusive. And that seeing differences is okay, but seeing similarities? Even better. 

#KidLit #PictureBooks #MattDavies #AaronReynolds #Books #Reviews