Anyone who has followed my career or read the Acknowledgments in my books knows of my deep appreciation for the Highlights Foundation workshops and their faculty members.

In cleaning out some old papers in my office recently, I came across a copy of a letter of introduction Joy Cowley wrote to an editor on my behalf. I met Joy at Chautauqua in 1999, my first experience with the Highlights Foundation. Two years later I signed up for my first “Founders Workshop” (which is what they were called back then because they are held at the former home of the founders of Highlights magazine).

I decided on this particular workshop because the one and only faculty person was Joy Cowley, someone whom I admired and was inspired by. The workshop was called Writing from the Heart. I learned so much from Joy about digging deep within myself to get to the heart of my writing. And as if all that I learned was not enough, Joy wrote this wonderful letter of introduction to an editor friend of hers.

That letter did not lead to publication, but the confidence Joy placed in my work to have written it helped me to get through the rejection that followed. And the lessons I learned in her workshop remain with me and help infuse my writing every day.

Other faculty members at Highlights workshops have had a huge impact on my books. Rich Wallace always seemed to find what wasn’t working in my attempts and helped steer me in a different direction. I have learned from Patty Gauch, Jane Yolen, and Carolyn Yoder. My work is better—and published—because of these people.

In May, 2017, I will be on the faculty of a Highlights Foundation workshop. I was honored to be asked. I have the opportunity to try to light the way for another group of writers, the way Joy Cowley and Rich Wallace did for me. It is a lot to live up to, and I do not take the responsibility lightly.

In my February blog post I thanked several people whose gestures had an impact on my writing career. One of those I thanked was my dear friend, Bunnie Dickhaus. Ten days after that post went up, Bunnie was tragically killed in a car accident. I wish I had made sure she saw that thank you.

Bunnie and I had been friends for over 40 years. We had been in card club together, taken trips together, bowled together, spent several anniversaries and holidays together. Our husbands were good friends and our kids grew up together. Losing her is difficult for us.

Bunnie’s daughter asked if I would write something to be read at her mother’s funeral, and I was honored to be entrusted to pay this final tribute to my friend. I wrote it as a prayer, and I share it with you now.

We thank you, Lord, for giving us
The gift of our dear Bunnie,
Her sharing heart, infectious laugh,
Her stories sad and funny.
This faithful and devoted wife,
This loving, caring mother,
Our loyal, cheering, helpful friend
Encouraged like no other.
She shared so much with everyone
From food she liked to cook
To joyful songs, or silly jokes,
Or an intriguing book.
A casual phrase could cue a song.
I hope she will inspire
You to find a special place for her
Among your angels’ choir.
She dealt with pain and overcame.
Her faith in You was strong.
Lord, welcome her into Your home.
She surely does belong.
Please give us strength to carry on.
We’ll try to do our best
We’ll treasure all our memories.
We have been truly blessed.
It’s hard to say this last farewell.
We know we’ll meet again.
Take care of her for all of us
And grant her peace. Amen.

In the back of my novels, I acknowledge those who helped me research and/or write that book. But my writing life has been impacted by numerous people, other than those listed in Acknowledgements.

Early in my writing life, I took classes from author Stephanie Tolan. Stephanie told me I had promise and convinced me to keep at it. She gave me confidence. I would never have known about Stephanie’s classes except for my friend, Bunnie Dickhaus, who suggested I give them a try. Thanks, Bunnie and Stephanie.

I have mentioned the Highlights Foundation Workshops in my Acknowledgments, but I might never have heard about this wonderful organization if not for three friends. Nancy Hanner, Julie Nicholas, and Mary Maass told me I needed to go to the Highlights Foundation Workshop at Chautauqua, the precursor to the workshops they now offer. Nancy told me it would change my life. It did. My introduction to the Highlights Foundation was at Chautauqua in 1999. I was hooked, and their workshops taught me more about writing and publishing than any other conferences or classes I have attended. Thanks, Nancy, Julie, and Mary.

In 2012, another friend, Connie Wooldridge, asked me to go with her to a writing retreat being offered by Editor Carolyn Yoder. I turned her down, in part because I didn’t feel I met the qualifications for attendees. Connie didn’t take No for an answer. She called them to check how I might qualify, and they agreed to take me. I was working on a novel called Like a River, which Carolyn Yoder went on to edit and publish. Thanks, Connie.

These people were life changers for me. Bunnie, Stephanie, Nancy, Julie, Mary, and Connie had no idea how their actions would impact my career. Neither did I, but I consider it a lesson. We never know what a word of encouragement, a friendly suggestion, or an invitation might mean to someone.

Chances are you have changed someone’s life, even if you don’t realize it. Always try to be a change for the better.

Before I sat down to write this post, I read over my post from last year (REMEMBERING 2015). The similarity between the two years is uncanny. Both were a mixture of good and bad, but isn’t that what Life usually is?

In 2015, I launched a novel (Like a River) and was offered a contract on another (Empty Places). In April, 2016, Empty Places launched and I was offered a contract on Not On Fifth Street (Due out this fall).

I did many more school visits in 2016 than I did in 2015, and I truly enjoy meeting the readers of my work and answering their questions. I received emails from several of my readers, and those are a joy to read. A reader doesn’t have to take time to acknowledge a book, and it is gratifying when they enjoy one enough to let the author know.

I participated in my first book festival in 2015, and I took part in two of them in 2016. I spoke at a Children’s Literature Conference in each year as well.

Just before the end of 2016, I was asked to be a TA at a Highlights Foundation Workshop in 2017. I have attended many of their wonderful workshops over the past 17 years, and I am eager to share what I have learned with another group of writers. The workshop will be the Whole Novel Workshop—Historical Fiction.

I finished 2016 (and began 2017) finalizing the text of Not On Fifth Street. I also began researching and creating characters for new works. The year ahead looks to be an exciting one for my writing life.

In my private life, last year I mentioned the 2015 deaths of a cousin and a writer friend. Unfortunately, that aspect of my life is also similar. In 2016, I lost a sister-in-law, a dear cousin, and a friend who co-owned my favorite book store and who believed I would be published long before it happened. They will be missed long after the rest of 2016 is forgotten.
As we all embark on a new year, I wish a happy 2017 to everyone, and I hope the good parts of your life far outweigh the bad.

For me, life has been full of tradition, especially in the month of December.

As a child, I helped decorate the family Christmas tree, carefully placing age-appropriate ornaments on the branches. A few of those unbreakable, plastic ornaments from my early childhood still decorate my tree today. Tradition.

I have been told I go overboard with decorating my tree (over 700 ornaments, each with some sentimental meaning). Last year, I broke down and bought a second tree to handle the overflow. A new tradition.

As a rite of passage, when I reached the age of twelve, I was allowed to stay up and go to Midnight Mass with my father and older brothers. Mom would take my younger siblings on Christmas morning. When I had my own family, I continued the tradition of Mass on Christmas Eve, but not quite so late.

We switched to an afternoon children’s Mass beginning the year our older son played the Angel Gabriel in the Christmas pageant. Afterward, we went to a favorite fast food restaurant for dinner. It was affordable and the kids loved it. After my dad passed away, we took my mother with us. She enjoyed the Christmas pageant with us long after our children had roles in it, and we filled that restaurant with laughter afterward. Traditions can be worth hanging on to.

When I was a teen, I let my younger sister help me bake Christmas cookies. I confess the job I always stuck her with was washing the bowl, beaters, and pans afterward. (Sorry, Reene.) When I had daughters of my own, they helped me bake, and I washed the dishes myself. Now, one of my daughters hosts baking day(s) every year, and we all get together to make tasty treats. A tradition’s evolution.

In one of my writers’ critique groups, we have a tradition of writing a holiday or winter story or poem for our December meeting. I have belonged to this group for more than 25 years, and I have collected a number of poems and more than a dozen stories. You can read one of the stories, ONE YEAR AFTER, for free. Now that I am busy writing novels, this tradition can be difficult to make time for, but I always try to come up with something. And the group doesn’t critique in December. They realize that some work is hurried, and they are an audience appreciative of effort. This tradition has helped my writing to grow and improve.

Another December tradition is sending Christmas greetings, and I take this opportunity to wish everyone reading this a happy holiday, no matter which holiday you celebrate. I hope you will find traditions to remember, or perhaps begin a new one.

Wishing you a wonderful 2017!

In my previous blogpost, I answered the question about where I find my ideas. Basically, I don’t find ideas as much as they find me. They are everywhere.

Having finished another revision on my newest novel, NOT ON FIFTH STREET (due out next year), I am ready and eager to dive in to a new book. In fact I have written beginning chapters of THREE different books already.

One of them is a revision of an old story I wrote many years ago. Another is a prequel to an old story. And the third is brand new. I have rough story lines mapped out for each of them, and now I have to decide which to focus on.

Some writers might envy the choice of three different ideas, but it is not that enviable a situation. Since all the ideas are for historical fiction, I need to do a lot of research for the one I take on, and that involves a lot of time and commitment. I want to devote myself entirely to whichever project I decide to handle next. I need to be sure it is the right one.

As I wrote those early chapters of each, I waited and hoped for one of them to grab me by the heart and make the decision for me. It didn’t happen.

Last week, I received a letter from a fifteen-year-old fan of one of my books. That fan is one of a number who has asked for a sequel to that book. I tell them all, it’s up for you to decide where the story goes and no sequel is planned. I read the letter to my daughter, who echoed the wish for a sequel. I explained to her why I didn’t feel a sequel is possible, but she suggested a way I might be able to do it. And I thought about it.

I spent several hours trying to sleep, as a storyline developed in my head. And while I wish I could report today that the sequel will be my next project, that is not the case. Now I have FOUR projects tugging at me. And I am trying harder than ever to find the right direction.