Artist’s Date: Hollins

I had the opportunity this summer to audit a class through the Hollins Children’s Literature program. I’m a two-time alumna from this program earning my M.A. and my M.F.A. I’m lucky enough to get to return each summer for the free public event featuring authors, illustrators, scholars, editors and agents of children’s books because Hollins is only a 15 minute drive from my house. But this is the first time that I’ve audited a class. I took a regional writing class with author, Candice Ransom. I took a picture book writing class with Candice when I was working on my M.F.A. In fact, she and I go way back to when I was president of our local reading council, and I asked her to come speak at one of our events. I’ve also attended two of her retreats in Luray, Virginia. My brother would call me a professional nerd, I mean, student. He’d argue that I have two masters degrees, why do I need yet another class? Well, because I do.

Candice was kind enough to let me sit in and absorb her class. And absorb, I did.

There’s nothing like basking in regional literature creative writing class taught by someone who writes children’s books with a strong sense of place. Check out Candice’s regional novels including: FINDING DAY’S BOTTOM, REBEL MCKENZIE, IVA HONEYSUCKLE DISCOVERS THE WORLD, and IVA HONEYSUCKLE MEETS HER MATCH. She’s written over 100 books, though. So be sure to check her out.

If you peruse Candice’s blog, you’ll also see that she is master of photography that takes you to abandoned places that beg for their stories to be told.

One special treat during the class was having David Almond (author of SKELLIG and other amazing books for children) visit. He spoke about place in his books.

David Almond encouraged us to embrace our own regionalism when writing. Sometimes there is danger in regionalism where the story becomes only about the place, so the story still needs to be universal. Both Candice and David spoke about filling their writing space with physical objects for their books. Creating a space for their novel in their work area helps ground them to the tangible places.

Every novel that I’ve written (and I’m currently working on number 3) the place has been vitally important to the story. So taking this class enriched my understanding of place and how to embrace the traditions, the food, the weather, the landscape, and use it to its fullest potential, while still telling a good story.

This summer, everything fell into place for me to attend this class, with the exception of the three classes I missed because my husband was in the hospital. But my mom was able to do childcare, and Candice was generous enough to let me attend. I delved into my new novel, dipping my toes into scenes while still finishing revisions on my other middle grade novel.

This artist date was a lengthy one, and one that required work on my part. But it also helped fill my writerly cup.