Sometime in September 2017, I received news that I received a scholarship which allowed me the opportunity to attend a Highlights Foundation writing retreat. This was a true blessing for me. I had some financial setbacks this year so this opportunity was one I couldn't turndown.
I selected the Fundamentals of Writing Biography which I had been eyeing and reading about for several weeks. I was so blessed to then find out that my application had been accepted. I anticipated that my time at the Highlights farm in the Poconos Mountains would be a fruitful one. When I attended the Revision Retreat in 2015, I had such a fruitful experience. During that first workshop, I revised a chapter of my middle grade manuscript, worked on two picture book manuscripts, and met my picture book critique group. Plus, I began to develop a rapport with my workshop leaders, Harold Underdown and Eileen Robinson, as well. So, I anticipated that my time at Highlights a second time would restful, productive, and so what I need right now.
I selected the Fundamentals of Writing Biography which I had been eyeing and reading about for several weeks. I was so blessed to then find out that my application had been accepted. I anticipated that my time at the Highlights farm in the Poconos Mountains would be a fruitful one. When I attended the Revision Retreat in 2015, I had such a fruitful experience. During that first workshop, I revised a chapter of my middle grade manuscript, worked on two picture book manuscripts, and met my picture book critique group. Plus, I began to develop a rapport with my workshop leaders, Harold Underdown and Eileen Robinson, as well. So, I anticipated that my time at Highlights a second time would restful, productive, and so what I need right now.
I have never before been to Philadelphia and I have wanted to visit since last year. It's on my 2017 vision board as a place I wanted to go to. It's also home to my third favourite genre of music-- neo-soul (after reggae and soca, of course). So given that Highlights Foundation is located in Pennsylvania, I knew it wouldn't be too difficult to get to. (Well, too difficult, meaning I took a direct MegaBus there. To get to Highlights from Philadelphia, I took an early morning Amtrak train and then a Greyhound bus. To get back to Toronto, I flew. Had to splurge somewhere.)
So after a harrowing and invasive border-crossing, I was able to make passage to Philadelphia where I led a fun Storytime with 1 to 3 year olds at Momo's Tree House. I read from Malaika's Costume and my new sequel Malaika's Winter Carnival. We danced to soca music and played a circle game and a finger rhyme.
So after a harrowing and invasive border-crossing, I was able to make passage to Philadelphia where I led a fun Storytime with 1 to 3 year olds at Momo's Tree House. I read from Malaika's Costume and my new sequel Malaika's Winter Carnival. We danced to soca music and played a circle game and a finger rhyme.
I then spent the rest of the day visiting sites in and around Philadelphia. A short trip but hopefully not the last. I saw all a lot in about 4 hours, after I did storytime at Momo's Tree House and checked in to my lodging. Covered City Hall and public art like this giant afropick, the Liberty Bell, Blackbird Pizzeria (a vegan pizzeria I discovered by accident), the African-American Museum of Philadelphia (AAMP), Jamaican history, and other interesting points of interest. Just a few weeks after submitting my early reader manuscript for a Harriet Tubman biography (Harper Collins, 2019), I got to visit her spiritual home after she escaped slavery and settled in Philadelphia. Mother Bethel church is the first A.M.E. African Methodist Episcopalian Church and the oldest plot of land consistently owned by African-Americans. I loved my Air B n B too. Definitely noted more places for my next visit.
A one night stay at a gorgeous Air B n B in West Philadelphia (born and raised in the playground where I spent most of my days...) and an uber ride (yay, gig economy!) to Penn station later and I was off to the Highlights Farm.
In my Fundamentals of Biography Writing workshop, I was led by two authors, Bethany Hegedus and Cynthia Levinson, through the world of heroes and lives and lifestories. There were writing exercises, lectures, notes, free books, and so much more. There were two special guests. On the second day, we had a visit from Susan Campbell-Bartoletti, middle grade and young adult non-fiction author of such books as Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America. On the second night, we had a visit from Kandace Coston, associate editor at Lee and Low Books. From these professionals, I learned more about ways to develop a writing and research process and from the latter, more about America's largest publisher of exclusively diverse books. I was able to learn about their publishing imprints on the "tour". I was also able to make more contacts and meet more writing peers. I have often re-considered the fact that I do not have an MFA in Creative Writing, wondered if I missed out on a lot of craft-development and connections. And even thought I still may do my MFA, in the meantime, I love frequenting a workshop like Highlights. I get so much out of the time away from everything, the structured schedule, and the one-on-one critique sessions.
I learned so much from this Highlights writing workshop. I learned to trust my voice. I gave more "shape and colour" to a picture book manuscript that I had been working on for seven years. I made some major and key changes to this picture book manuscript and I feel more confident about sending out to agents and publishers... and have already begun to do so. I wish to thank Bethany Hegedus and Cynthia Levinson for sharing their stories and wisdom. I am picture below with Cynthia. (The first photo is of Cynthia and found at a website. The second and fourth are thanks to Cindy Argentine.) Plus, I met a caring and supportive group of women from all over the United States who will be my colleagues forever.
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