She meets her favorite author — thanks for a Council 2 scholarship
Dear Chris, Yvette and members of the Scholarship Committee:
I have returned from a most wonderful and inspiring week at Chautauqua, New York, in part thanks to your support.
At Chautauqua I attended the Highlights Foundation (as in the magazine for kids) Conference for writers of children’s literature. One hundred conferees and approximately 30 staff and presenters converged to share about writing, publication, books, and the challenges of integrating writing time into full lives.
Conferees came from various parts of the globe, including Raditka from India, Sheryl from Australia, Judy from Mexico City and Katharine from Kenya.
There were also the best authors (including three Newbery award winners), publishers, editors and professors all completely committed to supporting us and encouraging us.
Sharon Creech is one of my very favorite authors (Walk Two Moons; Chasing Red Bird) and she herself was a Chautauqua student for two summers! Now she is a Newbery Award winner and was a surprise guest presenter. I was thrilled to be selected to go up on he stage with her to read lines. You can see my happy face as she signs my book in the photo!
I came back deeply inspired and redirected in the writing of my book currently titled Silver Girl. I also have an editor from a New York publishing house whom I engaged to provide editing comments on my manuscript in 18 months. So I now have a new goal and will get feedback from one of the best editors in the business!
I was feeling very financially concerned when I signed up for this conference, but at the soul level felt it was the right step.
Your $500 award was such a fantastic affirmation of this leap of faith and I am most deeply grateful.
Chautauqua and the Highlights Conference were life changing.
Thank you again so much for selecting me for the award.
Most sincerely,
Marcia Rutan
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