2015 Highlights Foundation Picture Book Boot Camp
Highlights from Highlights
Picture book boot camp faculty Denise Fleming, Pat Cummings, Peter Brown and Greg Pizzoli
DAY 1
Arrival and Tour
 |
| The Barn |
 |
| Touring the Highlights Magazine Offices
|
 |
| Dino! |
 |
| Carolyn Flores loves her dinos! |
After an evening of touring, everyone had an opportunity to share their projects with all the attendees. There was so much talent to be seen!
This is the story that I presented about a koi fish. Junichi’s story is based off of a Chinese folktale about how a koi fish endures swimming upstream to the top of a waterfall and becomes a dragon. This story represents why the koi kites became one of the symbols of Japan’s children’s day.
 |
| Tale of the Dragon Fish |
 |
| Junichi was always last and wished he could swim
as fast as his brothers and sisters. |
 |
| “Wouldn’t it be nice to fly,” thought Junichi. |
DAY 2
The faculty presented their work and we got busy on our manuscripts.
 |
| Greg Pizzoli |
 |
| Peter Brown |
 |
| Pat Cummings |
 |
| Denise Fleming |
 |
| Little Cabins in the woods |
 |
| Pat Cummings and Martha Rago |
 |
| Sheli Petersen and Carolyn Flores are ready for the photo! |
Denise thought we all needed a new pair of teeth
for our group photo.
 |
| Denise looks just lovely with her new set of teeth! |
 |
Time to get to work!
We separated into 4 different groups, each one lead by a faculty member. My group was lead by Greg and we were called the “Baby Pigeons”. We worked all morning with our groups then in the afternoon presented our manuscripts to the other 3 faculty. We had only 15 minutes to share with each one and boy did those 15 minutes go by fast! It was a really intense day. I think I became more confused as the day went on and later found that I had to do a lot of purging of my work to make it a more finished peice.
That evening the Guest Faculty arrived. Nancy Paulson of Nancy Paulson Books, Rubin Pfeffer of Rubin Pfeffor Content agency, and Martha Rago the art director of Random House/Golden Books for Young Readers Group. We presented our work to them the next day.
 |
| The Lodge |
The lodge is where I spent most of my Friday evening into the wee early morning of Saturday finalizing my manuscript and book dummies. Thanks to Carolyn for kept me company and let me use her drafting tools. I still think I was the last man standing that night.
DAY 3
Presenting
 |
| My little cabin
|
 |
| Patricia Keeler and Robin Rosenthal |
It was fun to hear what everyone thought of my story.
I feel inspired to return home and work
on it until it is ready for submission.
 |
| Sketching by Lori Ann Levy-Holm |
DAY 4
Final Workshop Day
I thought it would be fun to share a few little adornments for the cupcakes at our last meal together. So, I took out my trusty cake decorating tools and got to work. I did have to improvise on a few things.
 |
| Rolling out the modeling chocolate. |
 |
| Using the top of a salt shaker to shape the flowers. |
 |
| Just a few little flowers |
 |
| with pearl candy centers. |
 |
| Yum! Yum! Yum! |
So they weren’t as elaborate as I usually make things, but I think they were appreciated. The chef at Highlights kept telling me how slow I was…This is why I would probably fail at being on a cake show!
 |
| Greg and me! |
 |
| Martha, Peter and I. |
 |
| Me and Denise with our pearl whites, not the dingy ones. |
 |
| Me and Pat |
 |
| Robin, Shelli, Carolyn, Leni and Renee |
 |
| Sheli, Tom, Renee, Peach!, Carolyn and Leni |
 |
| Me, Allison, and Carolyn |
I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend the Highlights Foundation‘s Picture Book Boot Camp. It was an incredible opportunity and I learned so much more about the industry. Thanks to the wonderful faculty; Denise Fleming, Pat Cummings, Peter Brown and Greg Pizzoli for an unforgettable weekend! Thank you to Highlights for the wonderful facilities and to all the attendees who made my weekend so special!
 |
| Sheli at her little cabin in the woods |
 |
| Nice little swing on the property. |
 |
| Boyd’s Mill Press |
 |
| Down by the Creek |
 |
| Nice trail we took alongside the creek. |
 |
| Love all the vegitation. |
 |
| Stone steps to the creek. |
 |
| Good Night! |