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, believing that emotional resilience is an essential tool for the writing journey.
My work explores, wonders about, and supports my own journey and the journeys of my readers.
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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Regular Blogger, The GROG blog 2019
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
