Are you making time for your story?
Join us for a personal retreat at Boyds Mills. Comfortable lodging, dedicated workspaces, and three farm fresh meals a day (plus snacks) mean you can fully focus on your creative work!
We take care of all the details.
It was so great to have Patti Gauch, longtime friend and faculty member, on campus this past week! Patti has been a part of the Boyds Mills community since our Chautauqua days.
Always so great to see Patti and to listen in on some of her inspiring sessions!
We’re excited to celebrate the 75 winners of our 2026 scholarships!
This talented group of aspiring, emerging writers and illustrators is dedicated to creating works that inspire, educate, and inform children. We’re honored to support their journey in shaping the future of storytelling!
Before we fully step into spring, one last glimpse of campus as a winter wonderland ❄️
Ernesto Cisneros (faculty & friend) was featured in Publishers Weekly! He answers four questions about his new middle-grade novel: QUESO, JUST IN TIME.
Ernesto will be a special guest at our Community Retreat with Meg Medina this May!
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Spent last weekend in the cozy inspirational #JaneYolenCabin @boydsmills.bsky.social ❤️ Meet up with my #SwiminaPondintheRain zoom group of writers was effervescent ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With warmer weather on campus, we’re daydreaming about our favorite spots to sit and be creative.
Do you have a favorite spot on campus?
Join Harold and special guests for a Crash Course in Children’s Publishing starting June 3rd!
𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗗𝗔𝗬!
Our 2026 Scholarship Application window closes tonight (2/9) at 11:59 PM ET!!
Boyds Mills offers scholarships each year thanks to the generous support of our community.
Don’t miss your chance!
APPLY NOW!
Click the link in our bio for all the details.
Must read! Our own Alison Green Myers and Alexandra Villasante sat down with Mitu Malhotra of Cynsations (and also one of our Retreat Assistants!) to talk about our new name, scholarships, and some great upcoming workshops!
cynthialeitichsmith.com/2026/02/a-sa...
OUR 2026 SCHOLARSHIP WINDOW IS NOW OPEN!
Boyds Mills offers scholarships each year thanks to the generous support of our community!
Apply now!
𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄
January 22 – February 9
Click the link in our bio for all the details!
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing!
Banner for "Successful Strategies for Submitting Your Manuscript to Agents and Editors" on January 27 and 29, online, via boydsmills.org, with photo of Harold Underdown
In 1 week, I go live online via @boydsmills.bsky.social with all you need to know to get out on submission with a #kidlit or #yalit ms.: preparation, strategies, resources, case studies, query letter basics, myth-busting, handouts. Questions, a recording. $59
boydsmills.org/workshop/suc...
Our 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 Programming Schedule!
▪️𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹
▪️𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀
▪️𝗞𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝟬𝟭 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶
▪️𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶
www.highlightsfoundation.org/upcoming-wor...
Banner for online workshop on "Successful Strategies for Submitting Your Manuscript to Agents and Editors" presented by Harold Underdown via the Highlights Foundation on January 27 and 29.
Coming up Jan. 27/29, online via @highlightsfound.bsky.social, what works, what doesn't, query letter basics, case studies, handouts, and more! It will be recorded. $59.
Please repost and otherwise spread the word.
Registration is open: www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/suc...
Novels in Verse: A Generative Retreat In Person | October 26-29 $1299 Faculty: Verse Novelists Rajani LaRocca, Chris Baron, and Meg Eden Kuyatt Join celebrated authors Rajani LaRocca, Chris Baron and their special guest, Meg Eden Kuyatt, for a retreat designed to infuse your verse novel with emotion and support your creative journey.
Last year this was such a wonderful retreat. And I’m so grateful for the Kay Yoder Scholarship for History that allowed me to go to the @highlightsfound.bsky.social Novel-in-Verse retreat. Highly recommend! #KidLit
One more day to get $100 off on the Spotlight on the Middle of Your Novel retreat w/ me & @exrpan.bsky.social at @highlightsfound.bsky.social June 11–14, 2026! This generative writing retreat is for published & pre-published novelists of all genres...
www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/spo...
We can't wait to see you next summer!
Join Jennifer and Lisa to learn practical techniques for discovering your story’s theme and turning it into a clear, impactful pitch to guide your drafting or revision!
Sign up now!
www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/pit...
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙨…
Mark your calendars! Our 2026 In-Person Schedule goes live on 𝗡𝗼𝘃 𝟱 𝗮𝘁 𝟭:𝟯𝟬 𝗣.𝗠. 𝗘𝗧. Don’t miss your chance to find your magic in 2026! ✨
#findyourmagic
@saraharonson.bsky.social
Check out faculty member Sarah Aronson’s Monday Motivation newsletter! She’s on campus for the Whole Novel Retreat, and in her newsletter, she shares about the first night of the retreat and the magic of being on campus! 💙💚
#findyourmagic
saraharonson.substack.com/p/putting-yo...
Now Open: Winter 2026 Personal Retreat Dates!
Come stay on campus this winter! Enjoy uninterrupted time to focus, reflect, and create. Take a break from everyday stresses and reconnect with your creativity this winter!
www.highlightsfoundation.org/personal-ret...
Inspiration is in the air here…along with the smell of perfectly toasted (or burnt) marshmallows!
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗶𝗻 #kidlit 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴!
Join Editor Harold Underdown for a two-night online workshop, where he’ll guide you through the different kinds of changes in the publishing world and show you how to position yourself to respond effectively.
www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/pub...
We can't wait!!
Join Cynthia, Jasmine, and Anne! Learn how to create your own graphic novel!
Sign up: www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/fro...
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Picture Book Authors and Illustrators: Working Retreat!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Middle Grade Writers: A Generative Retreat!