What's old is new again!

Sharing the New Somethings I've so far planned for this new year 

has me smiling.

Here's why.

I collected so many 5 x 7 Little Ling Calendars since 1996, they 

became re-usable!

My calendar match for 2026?

1998...

...truly a Banner Year for me professionally.

Fingers crossed the New Somethings that follow be the first three 

of many that auger a similar year.

They certainly prove the adage "Everything old is new again."

New Something #1

I've returned to beginning each day writing my stories.

That practice led to 1998's publication of my first children's book, 

There Goes Lowell's Party!, as well as the sale of two picture 

books - Chicken Soup by Heart and Fancy That.

For three weeks now, I've spent my mornings with a Story Star 

who claimed my heart and refused to let go. 

As luck would have it, her story is set in Philadelphia in the

late 1830's, the very time and setting of Fancy That.

First thing each morning, a fresh cup of coffee beside me, I'm

back in my limner Pippin Biddle's world, re-reading research

notes, paging through familiar reference books, immersing

myself in my character's story to learn who and what claim

her heart.

Fancy that!

New Something #2

I will not only teach one of the Chicago Newberry Library's

many singular workshops - "Oh, the Possibilities: Writing

for Children" on February 28.

For the first time ever, I will be a Newberry Library student!

This week I registered for "Exploring Chicago's North

Side," an eight-week seminar that explores seven of

Chicago's neighborhoods on the near North side through

readings and Walking Tours.

I found my way to the Newberry Library soon after I began

teaching Writing for Children classes at Ragdale in 1998.

This year marks my 25th year of teaching (both in person

and virtually) "a bounty of new berries, each ripe with

story."

How nice to be a "new berry," too.

New Something #3

John F. Kennedy said, "Change is the law of life."

The Manuscript Workshop I've taught for the last ten

summers at the Landgrove Inn in Landgrove, Vermont 

now has:

    new dates - May 31 through June 5;

    new owners - Emily and Bruce Haupt;

    a new name - The Landgrove;

    a new chef - John Gould;

    at long last, new Internet service!

The stars were aligned at SCBWI's 1998 Summer

Conference because not only was I named SCBWI's

Member of the Year, I met Barbara Seuling!

It was Barbara who mentored me to become a Writing

Coach, and as if that wasn't life-changing enough, 

Barbara gifted me with the opportunity to continue

her long-time Manuscript Workshop.

The Workshop evolved, so that now I both teach and

coach writers to help them tell their stories, in a much

smaller group limited to six.

Barbara's demand for Excellence and love of writing

for children remain ever present.

Here's to your New Somethings for a Banner Year!

Oh, and thanks to Tabitha at The Opposite of 

Indifference for hosting today's Poetry Friday.

Esther Hershenhorn

P.S.

Check out this virtual Newberry Library class:

"Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Little House Books:

'But It Was A Different Time Then."