Retreating at the Highlights Foundation
Newsletter #73
My 2nd Year at the Asian American Voices Retreat
Apparently, our retreat hosts Grace Lin and Debbie Michiko Florence call us the ‘Class of 2025.’ Last year in 2024 I was lucky enough to get off the wait list and be invited to join this retreat at the magical Highlights Foundation. I absolutely loved my time there!
This year, I wanted to go again. I think of this retreat as a gift to myself. What’s not to want? A serene setting, private cabin in the woods, farm-to-table healthy and delicious meals, a word garden of rocks to inspire, the time and space to create, and the most impactful part, fellow retreat attendees with similar aspirations.
Now getting from California to Highlights, which is nestled in the foothills of the Poconos in Pennsylvania, is no easy feat. There’s a whole lot of preparation to attend this retreat. Here’s a list:
register when it’s first announced (otherwise you get on the waiting list because it’s THAT popular)
book flights across the country
coordinate with others to rent a car
request a substitute teacher for 3 school days
check if your brother’s household can watch the dog
arrange rides to and from the airport
decide what to work on
pack for all kinds of weather that includes wind, rain, and sunshine from 37 to 77 degrees
make sub plans and prep all materials for 3 days of teaching
drop off the dog and get to the airport
take a red-eye flight that arrives 3am our time, then drive 2+ hours to the retreat center
deal with jet lag for at least the first day
Sure seems like a lot of work. So why do it? Because it’s worth it. So worth it.
Once we arrive, we’re greeted with a plate of food prepared especially for us. Familiar faces of friends from the year before immediately make you feel at home with their smiles and warm hugs. We get to meet new friends, and fast, because there’s no pretense, only authenticity in our conversations. This year’s cohort felt characterized by conversations. The kind I didn’t want to end, because the more we talked, the deeper they went.
I loved how people were at all different stages of their writing and illustrating journeys, plus had other meaningful and impactful careers. I felt touched learning about people’s lives, upbringings, struggles, and triumphs, whether through their unique wishes written on origami hearts or their powerful stories during open mic night. I’m thankful that I opted to stay an extra day, which made the time feel more productive and relaxing.
When I introduced myself to the group, I referenced a plaque on my cabin wall that said: Cherish yesterday. Dream Tomorrow. Live today. I felt it was a message from the beyond from a friend who had passed the week before. Thank you for the reminder, not only for me to remember at Highlights, but also each day.
Book Report: ANZU THE GREAT KAIJU
Written and illlustrated by Benson Shum
It is so easy to read this book and instantly fall in love with the endearing main character Anzu, who believes in his upbringing of making his family proud but isn’t quite sure how to do that. He faces expectations that kaiju ought to strike fear in the heart of their city, but Anzu struggles to find the right way to do this while being true to himself. As hard as he tries, his efforts don’t quite have the results his parents were looking for. Until he finds the perfect solution by relying on his ancestors’ spirit. The author-illustrator Benson writes a heartfelt story of identity and belonging that is brought to life with his bold and vibrant comic art style that brings both energy and thoughtfulness to the story arc. I love all the emotions from every character, large and small. The details in the setting invite readers to read the pictures again and again.
Themes: love and acceptance, perseverance
Discussion Ideas:
Why was it so important to Anzu to follow his parents’ wishes? What decisions did Anzu make to make himself and his family happy?
How did Anzu’s ideas and feelings change from beginning to end?
Mentor Text For:
fiction story plot elements
writing craft: use of ellipses
multiple meanings of words and phrases
punctuation in dialogue
Link to Teacher Resources: Teacher's Guide
Buy the book!
Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Weekly Progress Report
This is a section for “stuff I did” that relates to my writing career. I believe in celebrating all wins, big and small alike.
revised a manuscript, got feedback on it from critique groups, revised it some more, and sent it to my agent
rewrote a story (again, for maybe the 13th time!)
met with Cathy from Access Books Bay Area to brainstorm future collaborations
prepared SCBWI SF/South’s July newsletter
watched a webinar called “Facts Meet Feeling: Writing Compelling Nonfiction”
attended a Bay Area Kidlit dinner
celebrated the book launch of WHAT IF WE… by Vivienne Chang and Eugenia Yoh at Mrs. Dalloway’s (and bonus book signing by Jerrold Connors of JIM! SIX TRUE STORIES ABOUT THE GREAT ARTIST: JAMES MARSHALL)
Sending you courage and grace in all you choose to do,
Susan
It was so great to meet you; I loved the retreat too!
Looks like an amazing event! Glad you were able to get off the waitlist and jump through all the hoops to make it happen. And congrats on the wins—every rewrite is great, even though many more tend to follow...