Last Call | Writing Jewish-themed Children’s Books

Highlights Foundation Workshop Conference Center–The Barn

You owe it to yourself and to your craft. Where else can you find a hands-on writing workshop geared specifically toward Jewish content?

Have a picture book you’d like critiqued? Who best to do that? Editors who publish Jewish content and fellow writers you don’t have to educate. Novels and nonfiction welcomed, too.

Join me, Kar-Ben publisher Joni Sussman, Scholastic executive editor Dianne Hess, Philomel assistant editor Talia Benamy, and guest author Kathy Kacer at the 2016 Highlights Foundation workshop, “Writing Jewish-themed Children’s Books.” The workshop has been running since 2010, giving writers access to editors and agents with an interest in Jewish themes for children’s books ranging from picture books to young adult fiction and nonfiction. The workshop begins on Sunday, May 15 and ends on Wednesday, May 18. We offer an editorial roundtable, one-on-one manuscript critiques, group critiques, hands-on writing exercises, and time to revise.

I hope you can take three days from your busy schedules and join us at The Barn for an inspirational sojourn.

Why you should attend

Here’s what some previous attendees have to say:

“I was so excited to discover the workshop, led by Barbara Krasner. I loved to talk and get to know new people. Everyone was focused on helping each other, it was a generous atmosphere topped off with having prestigious editors of top publishing houses that gave us deeper insight into our work.”—Pia Wolcowitz, New York

“The ‘Writing Jewish-Themed Children’s Books workshop’ I attended at the Highlights Foundation retreat center two years ago was everything I hoped for, and more. I arrived with really only a half-baked idea for a book, with the hope that in the future, I might have a better idea. The writing prompts led me in wondrous directions I hadn’t imagined. The friendships with the other participants continue to this day. And I met an illustrator there whose work so inspired me that I told myself if I ever had a children’s book worthy of doing, I’d hire her. I’m delighted to say that just such a book appeared on my doorstep last year, I’ve been working with this illustrator for over a year now and HaShem willing, that book is now scheduled to be published in February 2017. Never in the my wildest dreams did I envision such a terrific outcome. I was so inspired, that I’ve continued making annual pilgrimages now to the Highlights Foundation as part of my writer’s nourishing self-care project.”—Debra Winegarten, Texas

“Writing Jewish-themed Children’s Books was an intense experience in which I felt nurtured by the Highlights staff and challenged by our instructor Barbara Krasner and the editor with whom I consulted to move up a notch in my writing.  Barbara and the guest writer provided valuable information about publishing and the other writers in the group were very open and helpful.  I still turn to some of them to critique my work.”—Lois Barr, Illinois

“The Highlights Jewish Themed Writing Workshop was by far one of the most amazing experiences I have had as a writer. The presenters were top-notch industry professionals who provided great insight into the Jewish book publishing world, and were wonderfully generous with their time and expertise. Barbara Krasner was the perfect facilitator, giving us just the right amount of guidance and space with our own work, and the facility and food were fantastic! I highly recommend this workshop to anyone interested in writing Jewish-themed children’s books.—Randi Sonenshine, Georgia

To learn more or to register, click here>>>