The Gift of Highlights

by Danna Zeiger

Last year, PJ Library gave me the greatest gift I could never give myself: the gift of treating myself seriously and calling myself a writer.

I’ve been many things: a student, a mom, a molecular biologist, a professor, and lately, a homeschooling mama. Though I’ve written my entire life (I was an editor on my school’s newspaper, I’ve written poetry in several languages, and I keep an exploding tin stash of creative writing efforts from when I was younger), I can’t say I have ever been brave enough to call myself a writer.

When the pandemic hit and I resigned from my professorship to homeschool my kids, I also started reading dozens of books a day, coming up with fun STEAM lessons for my kids and sharing them online, and, of course, dedicating more time to my most-loved creative outlet: writing. I went all in, joined writing groups and organizations, got myself an agent, and gave it my full force! Still… somehow, I think I felt that unless (until?) I was published, I couldn’t call myself a writer.

Enter PJ Library and the Highlights Foundation.

I was so grateful and fortunate to be selected for the 2022 PJ Library’s Emerging Picture Book Writer’s Camp at Highlights Foundation. Of course, I’d heard of the mythical Highlights Foundation Retreat Center (https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/retreat/) but I would never have been able to afford a trip there without PJ Library. Thanks to a fully subsidized retreat, this mama of three kiddos, including a toddler, ventured out to do the first multi-day adult-minded thing in years.

Since that first visit, I gifted myself with a return to Highlights myself for my own personal retreat (shorter and more affordable!) with friends I’d made during that PJ Library experience. I’ve also been so grateful to accept a Highlights scholarship and take online courses.

Here is my virtual tour of Highlights… and the highlights of Highlights!

Writer’s Camp through PJ Library:

Camp experiences at Highlights tend to be jam-packed, with a mini-MFA’s worth of courses and workshops.

At this particular camp, we had some Jewish writing-specific workshops, as well as general PB-writing classes—like Lorianne Tu walking us through the illustrator’s process!

Equally important, in my opinion, is the informal time in-between: the mingling and networking, or a morning stroll.

If you’re lucky, you might even snag impromptu critiques by greats like the golden Heidi Stemple, or whichever impressive faculty is present!

There isn’t as much writing or reflection time (although there certainly can be if you make time for it) but the experience filled me for many months forward. Best of all, I have made several fabulous critique groups and partners, friends, and a daily active WhatsApp group of writing buddies. In particular, the PJ library writing camp I attended provided a unique opportunity to meet other Jewish writers.

I also met the authors and illustrators my kids and I revere and have re-read over and over!

I didn’t grab a picture of Chris Barash, but I have every single one of her books and my kids love reading them before each Jewish holiday!

Heidi Stemple, of course, is kidlit royalty. Her books and her mom’s books are very well-loved classics. I was grateful to have her books People Shapes, Adrift, and Whose Nest is Best signed and my kids constantly ask to re-read them.

Alison Green-Myers, whose book featured here (A Bird Will Soar) captivated me and my tween—if you need lessons in truly showing and not telling and what voice means, just read this book. It. Is. Gorgeous.

Lorianne Tu, whose then stunning and touching pre-published book I got to see, and whose work I greatly admire!

I met the famous Leslea Newman virtually (thanks, Covid) but enjoyed her online office hours and the opportunity to chat one-on-one—as well as so many others!

Personal Retreat:

Full disclosure: I only got 20 hours into my personal retreat because I broke my ankle while hiking (wah! But this is not the norm!). However, I still had oodles of writing time in those 20 hours and outlined several different books. I was able to get a delicious taste of the personal retreat, and am already counting down the minutes until I can do another! It was lovely to go with friends and meet for meals or walks, and as one quickly finds out, kidlit and writing people are the friendliest and loveliest folk. It’s no problem to find new friends and in fact, one never knows what amazing people one might meet at Highlights’s Barn at Boyds Mills. I embarrassed myself by fan-girling over a prolific author (Vicky Fang!) who was on campus and whose work I greatly admire. I also slightly choked on my food when I learned that my down-to-earth, kind tablemate was none other than Highlights CEO, Kent Johnson.

I even enjoyed a tour of secret favorite spots with illustrator-in-residence Sara Woolley, whom I had met at the camp the previous summer, and my friend Melissa Lasher, fellow PJ Library campmate.

Accommodations:

There are several different places to stay, although I haven’t toured them all. From what I have heard from friends, there’s no bad place to stay at Highlights! I’ve stayed in the cabins, and here is what it looked like:

Lovely, comfortable bed with your own bathroom and writing desk. Plenty of space, a desk, and even a mini-fridge!

Although there are countless benches throughout the entire campus, I enjoyed my own oasis for creativity.

They think of everything and offer every kind of tick remedy (which you may need!) and umbrellas.

There are even bookshelves of picture books for inspiration.

I felt completely taken care of, in every way I could possibly need.

Food:

When was the last time I had hors d’oeuvres? When I was at Highlights, of course. Each evening begins with the magical half hour of schmoozing over fancy adult treats. Then, the gong chimes, and Chef announces the mouth-watering meal we are about enjoy.

Amazing, gourmet adult meals—allergies or restrictions accommodated!—made for me? OMG. If not the best part, definitely one of the best parts. What pampering! What a gift! My eyes watered the first time I saw this gastronomic, sumptuous feast… as a mom, constantly caring for needy littles, I felt that there was nothing nicer anyone could ever do for me. The food is delicious and filling. If I had to name this in one word, it would be: nurturing.

Special Highlights Touches:

There is so much that is special to Highlights, but I’ll attempt to cover at least the tip of the iceberg!

When you first arrive, you come straight to your room or cabin and are greeted with your nametag, declaring your space and announcing that you do, indeed, belong. My family dropped me off and this simple moment impressed them all: I was clearly meant to be here, and it was the real deal!

As a heavily STEM-writer, I was touched and inspired to be in the STEM cabin.

At Highlights, you feel the art of book-making oozing from the pores of each wooden beam. Working at my desk with Uncle Jack (a major senior science editor at Highlights) encouraging me kept my writing juices flowing.

There is so much to explore on the grounds. I can’t possibly cover it all, and there is magic to discovering it for yourself! But, there are just book-making treats tucked into every corner. There’s an art coop, for example, and although I write the text for picture books, the art aspect is mysterious and not one I usually can see.

There are open mic nights with magical twinkling lights as the sun sets, and a tangible hug of support from your fellow writers and friends as you vulnerably bare some part of your soul, aka, your work.

Moreover, each room at Highlights has a log that you can write in before you leave.

Flipping through previous pages, you can read words and trace illustrations drawn by kidlit greats. Publishing success radiates around you at Highlights.

One of the last events on the schedule is to gather in the word garden: a space devoted to the sacrosanct meaning of each word. A place where you can hold, examine, and feel the literal weight of each word in the form of a rock. Select the words that call to you. And of course, a group picture with each member holding those words that called to them.

The breathtaking views, the nature, and the tranquility at Highlights are like none other.

Thank you again to PJ Library and to Highlights for the experience of a lifetime!

To say that I felt transformed is simply an understatement.

Most of all, thank you for the permission to call myself a writer—a gift I will carry forward with me through life, and which my kids have already adopted, too.

Note: Neither HIghlights, the Highlights Foundation, nor PJ Library have sponsored this post.