Chronicles
I’ve written “chronicles” and articles that explore our inner lives since I was in high school.
Over the years as a children’s author and clinical social worker, I began to focus on the inner lives of creative writers
and the emotional resilience that is foundational to our journeys.
I would love to hear from you about your own journey and about topics of interest for my ongoing columns and blog posts.

Regular Columns and Blog Posts
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Reporter for Cynsations blog
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Regular Columnist, “The Inside Story” Illinois-SCBWI Prairie Wind
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You Were Always On My Mind
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A Writing Life at the Intersection Between Shy and Introvert,
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Member, The GROG Blog

Selected Articles, Essays, and Guest Posts
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"Late Bloomer?—Replanting My Writing Life", A is for Aging September 23, 2020
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"Heart to Heart...to Heart: Imagine My Surprise!", Cynsations September 23, 2020
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"Keep On Submitting—Except When You Don't!", Sub It Club September 21, 2020
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"A Heart is Born", Nerdy Book Club September 18, 2020
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Interview with Esther Hershenhorn,Teaching Authors, September 11, 2020
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"Finding the 'True' in Fiction: 3 Ways to Use Memory to Deepen Fiction", GROG Blog September 9, 2020
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"Why Did You Write This in Verse?", Poetry for Children (Sylvia Vardell) September 4, 2020
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"The Writer's Mindset: Develop Your Resilience as a Writer by Becoming More Flexible", Children's Book Insider September 2020
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"Beyond Wonderful" - ON THE NIGHT OF THE SHOOTING STAR by Amy Hest, illus. by Jenni Desmond", Nerdy Book Club Blog, January 15, 2020
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Book Review, SCBWI Bulletin, Summer 2018
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“The Delight of Dreams That Don’t Come True”, W.O.W.—Women on Writing, 2016.
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“Saying No”, The Sun, November 2015
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“The Productivity of Letting Go”, Author Magazine, April 2015
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“Side by Side”, The Shine Journal, December 2014
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“The Seven and One-Half Week Moment”, You & Me: America's Medical Magazine, November 2014
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“The Freedom of Letting Go”, Julie Hedlund's 12 x 12, April 2013

Awards & Residencies
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Illinois Arts Council Grant, 2018-19 and 2020-21
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Ragdale Foundation Writer’s Residency, 2016
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Highlights Foundation scholarship for Novel in Verse workshop, 2012
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Highlights Foundation scholarship for Picture Book workshop, 2006
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REENI’S TURN (novel-in-verse), Sydney Taylor Manuscript Competition, Honorable Mention, 2018
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JAKEY’S JAZZY RHYTHM (picture book), Katherine Paterson Award Finalist, 2016
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REENI’S TURN (novel-in-verse), Katherine Paterson Award Finalist, 2014
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“Secondly” (flash fiction), Women on Writing Flash Fiction Award Second Place, 2012
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THE INSIDE OUT, UPSIDE DOWN, JUST-SO HANUKKAH MIRACLE (picture book), The Whole Megillah Award Honorable Mention, 2010.
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EMMA AND TRICKY (picture book), Smart Writers Award Third Place, 2006
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THIS AND THAT (picture book), Kay Snow Award for Children’s Ms., First Place, 2002