Ten writers for children. All with something to say.

11/22/14

Coming Home


This past week at the Spalding University MFA residency in Louisville, KY, I was privileged to meet up with fellow spud, Stephanie Stuve Bodeen.  At some point during our time there, we both mentioned how it felt like "coming home"-- very much like the feeling we had when all ten of our spuds got together at the Anderson Center last April.

The Spalding University MFA program truly is a home to all the faculty, students, and returning alums, who share the literary heart.  In fact, at the start of every residency, program director Sena Jeter Naslund's first words are "Welcome home!"

I was there as part of the Writing for Children and YA faculty to give my lecture on the non-linear narrative form and to lead the creative thesis discussion for one of my graduating students.  Stephanie came to discuss her novel The Raft, which was the book-in-common for all W4CYA students, and to give a second presentation entitled, "After the MFA: A Cautionary Tale."  We also had the pleasure of meeting and visiting with Pam Muñoz Ryan, author of Esperanza Rising and other award-winning books for children and young adults, as well as talented author/faculty members, Lesléa Newman and David-Matthew Barnes.

What a wonderful week of teaching, learning, encouraging, inspiring, and celebrating!

7 comments:

David LaRochelle said...

How very nice to see the two of you in a picture together! I'm hoping all the Spuds are finding many things for which to be thankful this week. I certainly am.

john said...

Edie, thanks for the post and the picture. I'm glad you had such a good homecoming after your big year. Let's continue to work out ways to bring spuds together all over the country. Happy thanksgiving.

Edie Hemingway said...

Yes, John, I am always open for a spud reunion!

Happy Thanksgiving to all...

Lauren said...

So wonderful to see you two together-- and what a great place Spalding seems to be. I wish I had heard your lecture and Stephanie's too!

Edie Hemingway said...

Thanks, Lauren!

betsy woods said...

What a lovely post, made me happy and a little bit homesick!!!

Edie Hemingway said...

I was wishing you were there, too, Betsy!