Gather, a Kidlit Podcast

Each year, Boyds Mills proudly celebrates the inspiring journeys of our scholarship recipients and opens the door to a new season of scholarship opportunities. Join us for this special session to hear directly from past awardees, learn about our one-of-a-kind programs (offered both at our retreat center and online), and discover how you can apply for or support our 2026 scholarships.

Have you ever wondered what a morning at Whole Novel feels like at the retreat center. Or wished you could bring that feeling home with you? Join Alison and Sarah for a cozy taste of a Whole Novel morning. We'll begin with a short, nourishing talk from Sarah on how to place yourself inside your story, followed by shared writing time in community.

Our stories help kids see themselves in the world—and if we're lucky, spark a lifelong love of reading. For many stories, the love of reading ignites another skill— writing! In many classrooms, books serve to nurture readers and young writers. Join us for our next free HFGather exploring what it means to write with kids, and why discovering how to write with kids is an important skill for those wh...

We bring much of ourselves to our work—for the better, many would agree—especially when writing for kids and teens. But, how do we do this work without harm to ourselves? How do we nurture our wounds, while providing honesty and hope to our readers? For this special #HFGather, join Heather Demetrios to work through writing strategies and talk about the importance of these heartfelt stories for kid...

Charles Waters and Irene Latham lead our first-ever National Poetry Month Celebration showcasing their NEW poetry collection for children, IF I COULD CHOOSE A BEST DAY. Special guests join for a reading and discussion.

Our first HFGather of the year focused on celebrating our scholarship program and answering questions. With panelists Alison Green Myers, Nancy So Miller, Trisha Elam Walker, Hoda Elmasry and Darla Himeles.

Patti Gauch, a legendary faculty at the Highlights Foundation, has been inspiring authors for over 40 years. Her insightful lectures and mentorship have shaped countless careers. Recently, she revisited some of her favorite Highlights Foundation lectures, and they're being released now for the first time. This is session 4. 

Patti Gauch, a legendary faculty at the Highlights Foundation, has been inspiring authors for over 40 years. Her insightful lectures and mentorship have shaped countless careers. Recently, she revisited some of her favorite Highlights Foundation lectures, and they're being released now for the first time. This is session 3. 

Patti Gauch, a legendary faculty at the Highlights Foundation, has been inspiring authors for over 40 years. Her insightful lectures and mentorship have shaped countless careers. Recently, she revisited some of her favorite Highlights Foundation lectures, and they're being released now for the first time. Here is session 2. 

Patti Gauch, a legendary faculty at the Highlights Foundation, has been inspiring authors for over 40 years. Her insightful lectures and mentorship have shaped countless careers. Recently, she revisited some of her favorite Highlights Foundation lectures, and they're being released now for the first time. This is session 1. 

Join authors Pam Courtney, Andrea Loney, and Crystal Allen as they discuss one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change. This impassioned #HFGather will explore the power of storytelling to inspire meaningful change for our future. Through this conversation, we hope to connect ways that children's books can offer a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between social justic...

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 aut...

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.