My "Mary Oliver" Summer Days...

        

          "If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,

           don't hesitate. Give in to it."

So wrote Mary Oliver in her now-so-relevant poem "Don't Hesitate."

I'm happy to report: I've spent many a day this summer giving in to

Joy, thanks to the writers who helped me make my life more "wild

and precious."

In June, self-proclaimed Joy Seeker and debut author Jamie 

Freedlund launched her original picture book Finding Joy, 

illustrated by her daughter Reese and Natalie Seaton.

As the book's back flap shares, Jamie's the founder of Mattea's Joy,

a non-profit organization that helps families with hospitalized kids

find joy in their journey.  Created to honor the memory of her 

daughter Mattea, Mattea's Joy provides care, connection and

community for anyone navigating the challenge of having a

hospitalized child.

Jamie donates a book to a Children's Hospital with each book

purchased.

Writing this children's book was Jamie's childhood dream come 

true.

Helping Jamie learn the picture book format, grow her story, revise her story, then guiding her as she took on the responsibility of independently publishing and marketing the book still has me dancing The Happy Dance.

The book's back cover declares, "Finding Joy is easy...if you know where to look!"

How true because...

...here I am in July, seated with my returning Manuscript

Workshop writers at the Landgrove Inn in Landgrove, Vermont,

enjoying yet another 5-star meal in a Joy-filled week.

I've facilitated this Workshop since 2016, honored to continue

its founder Barbara Seuling's unswerving commitment to

helping children's book creators tell their stories.

As always, by week's end my waistline expands (exponentially)

but more importantly, as always, so does my heart.

It gladdens me so, to see the writers I've loved seeding and 

feeding continue to grow and thus blossom - digging deeper,

revising and fine-tuning, so their singular stories connect

with their intended Young Readers.

In Finding Joy, Jamie Freedlund's Mattea learns: you find Joy 

when you give Joy.

Prior to the Workshop, I gifted each writer with a copy of

Tiffany Yates Martin's Intuitive Editing (FoxPrint Ink, 2020) - 

and - her slam-dunk brilliant Self-editing Checklist.

(Note: I declared Tiffany Yates Martin our "Visiting Author."

Her second book, The Intuitive Author (FoxPrint Ink, 2024),

served up numerous Food for Thought conversations.)

Channeling Mary Oliver, I also gifted each writer with the  

opportunity to express her writerly intentions...    

...and the reminder to keep an open heart.

Channeling my Positivity, I made sure each writer left

appropriately inked...

...with a flying wish and a prayer.

As luck would have it, though Summer's end approaches, 

I'm still giving in to Joy.

Overcoming awful, awful Despites, my writer Gail Aherne 

publishes her picture book Mouse and Bee, illustrated by

Lisa Blakeborough, this Fall, thanks to her successful

Kickstarter campaign that raised $12, 800 this past May.

The book began as a collaboration between Gail and her

dear friend Laura J. Foltz, but then the unimaginable

happened: Laura died unexpectedly.

Check out the Story Behind the Story on the Kickstarter

page to learn how Gail found the courage to seek a new

illustrator who could give Mouse and Bee a new life,

one that honored Laura's Spirit.

With each page Gail forwards as a preview, I add a step

or three to my Happy Dance.

The truth is, every teacher-student pairing is ripe for

rejoicing, no matter the season. 

Should you seek Joy on this Summer's day, click HERE

to listen to Mary Oliver read aloud her poem 

"The Summer Day" and HERE to listen to Kyndall

read aloud "Don't Hesitate."

Happy Giving In wherever you find Joy!

Esther Hershenhorn

p.s.

Thanks to Margaret at Reflections on the Teche for 

hosting today's Poetry Friday.