Gather, a Kidlit Podcast

Valerie Bolling, Jack Wong, Lucy Ruth Cummins and Emily Joof kicked off summer by sharing four picture books about swimming; revealing the story behind their stories, and have a conversation about representing diversity in picture books.

Special guest alums Jasminne Poulino and Elizabeth Lilly joined some members of the Highlights Foundation team for a question-and-answer session about coming to an in-person program at the Highlights Foundation. If you missed it, you can see the video and read the transcript below.

Author/agent Sera Rivers and agent Linda Camacho joined us for an #HFGather conversation facilitated by author Heather Demetrios about their personal experiences crafting and sharing books with readers–Sera sharing as an author shaping her past into a novel and Linda as a friend of the Rebecca Dykes Writers’ mission and as a literary agent with her experiences selling books and supporting the authors and illustrators who create them. Heather will facilitate the conversation, and talk about her experience with the Rebecca Dykes Writers and her experiences teaching at the Highlights Foundation’s Writing Through Trauma to Empower Readers.

Highlights Foundation Program Director Alison Green Myers celebrated our 2024 scholarship program with some special guests: scholarship recipients Camellia Koo, Karol Ruth Silverstein, Elyse Arring and Shuba Mohan. Special thanks to our ASL Interpreter, Cynthia Norman. 

Erin Entrada Kelly and Laurel Snyder joined George Brown to discuss their writing process, how to write for the middle grade audience, their current works in progress, and their recent middle grade retreat experience.

Intisar Khanani joined George Brown to discuss writing the Mighy Girls series, being a mentor and mentee at the Highlights Foundation, and her writing process as an intuitive writer.

Nikki Grimes joined George Brown to discuss the Nikki Grimes Cottage on campus, her most recent book birthday, her works in progress, and her push to get people thinking about banned books.

Traci Sorell, Andrea Page, and Monique Gray Smith joined George Brown to discuss the in-community retreat for Native writers and illustrators, the new Native Creatives cabin, scholarshop opportunity for Native writers, and their writing process. 

Authors & Highlights Foundation team members Delia Ruiz and Alex Villasante joined George Brown to discuss the work they do for the organization, how they find community here, their works in progress, and the upcoming Latinx Kidlit Book Festival.

Illustrators Sara Gómez Woolley, Joe Cepeda, and Aram Kim joined George Brown on our podcast to talk more about their work style, upcoming projects, and insight into their visit on campus.

Courtney Pippin-Mathur joined George Brown on our podcast to talk more about her art method, and her upcoming projects as an author-illustrator, and the Highlights Foundation course she teaches: From Idea & Sketch to Dummy & Submission: An Author/Illustrator Online Course.

Author Rajani LaRocca and illustrator Abhi Alwar joined George Brown on our podcast to talk more about the creative, personal, and emotional process behind their new picture book SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS and Abhi's experience as an illustrator attending the Crafting Novels in Verse workshop. 

Authors Rajani LaRocca and Chris Baron joined George Brown on our podcast to talk more about their novel in verse collaboration, how they balance their writing with full-time professions, and hosting the Crafting Novels in Verse workshop.

Cordelia Jensen joined George Brown on our podcast to talk more about the classes she teaches at the Highlights Foundation, her work in progress, and everything related to novels in verse.  

Authors NoNieqa Ramos, Vicki Johnson, and Alexandra Villasante will gather together to talk about illuminating and joyous books that we’ve loved, and projects that have brought pride and joy to our lives, even in unexpected places. At the end of the session, Em Dickson will join us in conversation from the perspective of reader, writer, librarian, and founder of Pronouns May Vary.

Zaynah Qutubuddin, program manager for the Muslim Storytellers Fellowship program, joined George Brown on our podcast to talk more about her writing experience with the Whole Novel online course, the work of the Muslim Storytellers Fellowship program, and her takeaways from her experience as a program manager with other Muslim fellows.

Author M.O. Yuksel and Illustrator Hatem Aly were on campus for the Muslim Storytellers Fellowship Symposium. George Brown hosted them on our podcast to talk more about their projects, their takeaways from the Muslim Storytellers Symposium, and the art wall at the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center.

Author Debbi Michiko Florence and Author/Illustrator Grace Lin were on campus for the Asian and Asian American Voices In-Community Retreat.  George Brown hosted them on our podcast to talk more about their projects, the retreat they are hosting to celebrate this diverse and talented community, and their creative practices and works in progress.

Poets Charles Waters and Irene Latham were on campus for their workshop Poetry for Kids: A World of Publishing Possibilities.  George Brown hosted them on our podcast to talk more about how their partnership came about, the market and craft of writing poetry for kids, and their writing practices.

A Jolt of Inspiration, Indeed! Program Director Alison Green Myers opened this #HFGather with an inspiring mini-keynote celebrating this creative life, with echoes back to the Highlights Foundation’s first summer writers’ workshop at the Chautauqua Institution and reflections on moving the summer camp experience to the Barn at Boyds Mills. First, the History: “Rich and Righteous Lectures” Alison said that creative magic (in the form of rich and righteous lectures, generous mentorship, and community) continues in our Summer Camps today. A Celebration of How We Do This Together with 3 Camp Alums After this powerful beginning, Highlights Foundation Marketing Director Christina Ousouljoglou took over.  She explained how while inspiration can remind of us why we do this hard job of creating for kids, being together is practically how we get through the ups and downs of this industry (and this life). She then introduced three panelists: Daria Peoples, Harlan DeChamps and Judie Offerdahl. All three are alums of Summer Camp, and shared their experiences of togetherness with the group: mentorship, community, and support–all gleaned from Summer Camp and beyond.