Founders Workshop

Writing from the Heart

“Writing does take a lot of discipline if it’s to go anywhere, but none of it is arduous. It is all personally enriching and deeply satisfying. I find writing hard work but at the same time consider myself blessed in that my work is also my greatest pleasure.”
—Joy Cowley, Writing from the Heart: How to Write for Children

Join Joy and her exceptional colleagues—children’s book writers, illustrators, editors, and agents—on a writer’s journey through the heart. With thoughtful guidance and powerful dialogues, you will learn what it truly means to write from your heart with humor, compassion, and childlike wonder.

Writing from the Heart is a week-long study of children’s books for early readers. You will learn about the needs of the children’s book and magazine markets as well as the wants of young readers and their developmental milestones. Your craft will benefit from sessions on mining your memories, the picture-book process, developing plot, and revision techniques for limited word count. Your one-on-one mentor will help shape your early-reader manuscript into a shimmering and saleable story.

Note: Lodging will be in a comfortably furnished cabin with an in-suite bath, shared by two people. Based on your input, we’ll do our best to pair you with a compatible roommate.

Workshop Leaders

Joy Cowley

Joy’s love for children’s literature is “a commitment that borders on obsession.” Her novels and picture books regularly receive top honors. Countless children know her classic Mrs. Wishy-Washy.

Jillian Sullivan

Jillian Sullivan is an award-winning author for children, young adults, and adults. Her work in fiction deals with difficult issues facing her audience. Jillian’s books for early readers include Two Homes for David and Sophie’s Mum and the Dinosaur, both dealing with struggles between child and parent.

Christine French Cully

Christine French Cully is the editor in chief of all Highlights for Children, Inc. publications, including Highlights magazine, Highlights High Five, books, and digital print. Chris’s experiences in the children’s magazine business are deep and varied.

Lori Ries

Lori Ries is an award-winning author for young children. Good Dog, Aggie was just announced as the Maryland Blue Crab for Young Readers Award winner and Aggie the Brave received an Oregon Spirit Honor award. Her first book, Super Sam! was conceived and written at the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua.

Kathleen Hayes

Kathleen Hayes, currently editor of Highlights High Five™, has taught graduate courses in early childhood education at Bank Street College, has worked as a staff developer with New Jersey and Albuquerque public school teachers, and was the primary consultant and project manager of Bank Street’s collaboration with Macmillan/McGraw-Hill’s 2008 science program (PreK–Grade 2 materials) and

Alyssa Capucilli

Alyssa Satin Capucilli is the award-winning author of nearly 100 books for children. Her popular Biscuit book series, with more than fifty books, includes picture books, board books, e-books, and Apps.

Patricia Lee Gauch

Former vice president and editor at large of Philomel Books, Patti is now a fulltime writer and lecturer. She has authored more than 40 picture books and novels for young readers, including the highly acclaimed Thunder at Gettysburg; This Time, Tempe Wick?; and Christina Katerina and the Box.

Suzanne Bloom

Suzanne is the author and illustrator of several books for children, including A Splendid Friend, Indeed–chosen as the 2007 PA One Book; Treasure; No Place for a Pig; and We Keep a Pig in the Parlor.

Tim Gillner

As an art director for Boyds Mills Press, Tim works on designing children’s books, ancillary products, and promotional materials. Tim taught courses in book illustration at Marywood University for twelve years. He is currently a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators as well as the Society of Illustrators in New York City.

Bernette Ford

Bernette founded Color-Bridge Books, LLC, an independent packaging and consulting company, in January 2003, to package a wide range of children’s books, including board books and novelty books, picture books, easy readers, and first chapter books, for publishers to the trade and supplementary school markets.

Andy Gutelle

Andrew is a writer, editor, and editorial consultant who has participated in the development of many publishing projects for children. He has written non-fiction books for many publishers, including Random House, Putnam, Workman, and Time-Life Books for Children. Andy received five Emmy nominations for his work on the television show Reading Rainbow.

Workshop Information

June

with dinner 6 PM

through

June

after lunch

$1,785

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Founders Workshop

Writing from the Heart

Workshop Leaders

Special Guests

Workshop Information