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News & Events

May 2024

Teaching: Picture Book Revision, GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

April 2024

Teaching: Picture Book Revision, GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

March 2024

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 3 Picture Books, GrubStreet (Zoom)

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

February 2024

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 3 Picture Books, GrubStreet (Zoom)

 

January 2024

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Intro to Picture Book Seminar, GrubStreet (in Boston); 6 Weeks, 3 Picture Books, GrubStreet (Zoom)

 

December 2023

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

November 2023

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

October 2023

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

September 2023

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

June 2023

Teaching: Essay Writing for College Applications, Yokohama International School

Presentation: Celebration of Hans Sautter's Japan at the Foreign Correspondents Club Japan

 

May 2023

Teaching: Picture Book Revision, GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Author Program: Carleton College Kyoto Program in Kamakura

School Visit: Asociación Escuelas Lincoln, Argentina

 

April 2023

Teaching: Picture Book Revision, GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

March 2023

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 3 Picture Books, GrubStreet (Zoom)

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

School Visit: Tokyo International School 

 

February 2023

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 3 Picture Books, GrubStreet (Zoom)

 

January 2023

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

 

December 2022

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

School Visit: Western Academy Beijing

 

November 2022 

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

School Visits: Tokyo International School 

 

October 2022

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

School Visits: Tokyo International School, K International School 

 

September 2022

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

School Visit: St. Mary's International School 

 

June 2022

Publication: The Wakame Gatherers paperback edition!

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books, GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: Essay Writing for College Applications, Yokohama International School

 

May 2022

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Teaching: Picture Book Revision, GrubStreet (online)

Conference: AFCC.org, Moderator, Translators Talk: Humor in Children's Books

 

April 2022

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Teaching: Picture Book Revision, GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books, GrubStreet (online)

Present: Five College Center for East Asian Studies, The Wakame Gatherers

 

March 2022

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Teaching: Picture Book Revision, GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books, GrubStreet (online; Zoom)

School Visit: Yew Chung International School of Chongqing, China

 

February 2022

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books, GrubStreet (online)

School Visits: Tokyo Jogakkan, Tokyo; Discovery College, Hong Kong

 

January 2022

 

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: 6 Weeks 6 Picture Books (Zoom)

 

December 2021

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

November 2021

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

October 2021

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

September 2021

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

July 2021

Teaching: Picture Book Intensive. Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance (remote)

 

June 2021

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

May 2021

Present: Haiku and You, Holly Thompson and Miho Kinnas, via the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and Harvard Art Museums, inspired by the exhibition Painting Edo: Japanese Art from the Feinberg Collection

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

April 2021

Published: Paper: "Creative Portfolios: Adapting AWP Goals for Teaching EFL Creative Writing in Japan" in The Place and the Writer: International Intersections of Teacher Lore and Creative Writing Pedagogy (Research in Creative Writing)

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books. GrubStreet (online)

Present: One Wave at a Time, SCBWI Japan Showcase

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

March 2021

Announced: picture book biography LISTENING TO TREES: GEORGE NAKASHIMA'S WOODWORKING WAYS, acquired by Holiday House/Neal Porter for publication in 2023.  

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books. GrubStreet (online)

Essay: Kumihimo Braiding Now and Tomorrow in Ikebana International

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

February 2021

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books. GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

School Visits: Discovery College, Hong Kong; Tokyo Jogakkan, Tokyo.

 

January 2021

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

 

December 2020 

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Publication: Essay "Nature" published in photography book Japan by Hans Sautter

 

November 2020 

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

Present: One Wave at A Time at The Garden: A Center for Grieving Children and Teens

 

October 2020 

Publication: "Wake the World" poem in Hop To It! Poems to Get you Moving! edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

 

September 2020 

Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Japanese Literature in English; American

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Literature in English; American Culture. Yokohama City University

School Visit: St. Mary's International School, Tokyo

 

July 2020

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books. GrubStreet, Boston

Teaching: Zine Lab! Hamilton-Wenham Library, Hamilton, MA

 

June 2020

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books. GrubStreet, Boston

 

May 2020

Teaching: Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

April 2020

Teaching: Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Teaching: YA/MG Novel Builder. GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: Picture Book Intensive. GrubStreet, Boston

Teaching: Picture Book Revision Intensive. GrubStreet, Boston

 

March 2020

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books. GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: YA/MG Novel Builder. GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: Picture Book Intensive. Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, Portland, ME

Teaching: Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

February 2020

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books, GrubStreet (online)

School Visit: Tokyo Jogakkan, Tokyo.

 

January 2020

Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. Yokohama City University

 

December 2019

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. Yokohama City University

 

November 2019

 

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. Yokohama City University

 

October 2019

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. Yokohama City University

Conference: Japan Writers Conference, Tokyo

 

September 2019

Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. Yokohama City University

School Visit: K International School, Tokyo

 

August 2019

Conference: Asian American Literature Festival, Washington, DC

 

July 2019

Teaching: Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

June 2019

Teaching: Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

May 2019

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Book Revisions (GrubStreet)

Teaching: Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

 

April 2019

School Visits: Western Academy Beijing (video)

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Revisions, Picture Books. GrubStreet, Boston

Teaching: YA/MG Novel Builder, GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension (online)

Conference: Muse and the Marketplace, Boston

Conference: New England SCBWI, Springfield, MA

 

March 2019 

Essay: "Hanseikai: Reflecting on Shared Reflections" ANA Wingspan 

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Revisions, Picture Books. GrubStreet, Boston

Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books, GrubStreet (online)

Teaching: YA/MG Novel Builder, GrubStreet (online)

Panel presentation: Drawing Inspiration from Poetry, SCBWI Japan 

 

February 2019

School Visits: Discovery College, Sha Tin College, International Christian School, Hong Kong

6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books, GrubStreet (online)

 

December 2018

Essay: "Coping with Cold: Surviving Interior Deep-freezes" in ANA Wingspan

Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension

Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. At Yokohama City University

 

November 2018

Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension

Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. At Yokohama City University

Conference: JALT2018, Shizuoka.

 

 

October 2018

Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension

Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. At Yokohama City University

School Visit: Makuhari International School, Tokyo

Conference: Japan Writers Conference, Otaru, Hokkaido

 

September 2018

Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension

Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. At Yokohama City University

School Visit: K International School, Tokyo

 

August 2018

"Essay: Making Peace with Insects" ANA Wingspan. 

Conference: SCBWI Los Angeles

Teaching: Picture Book Intensive. Grub Street 

 

July 2018

Reading: Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, July 16, 6:30 pm. 

Teaching:  6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books (online). GrubStreet

 

June 2018
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension.
Teaching: YA/MG Novel Builder (online). Grub Street.
Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books (online). Grub Street.
Teaching: Yokohama International School Summer School: Essay Writing for College Applications. Yokohama.

May 2018
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension.
Teaching: YA/MG Novel Builder (online). Grub Street.

April 2018
Twilight Chant event at Odyssey Books, S. Hadley, MA, April 21.
One Wave at a Time launch! Porter Square Books, Cambridge, April 17.
Texas Library Association Conference and Poetry Friday Rodeo, Dallas, TX.
Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books. Grub Street, Boston.
Teaching: YA/MG Novel Builder (online). Grub Street.
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. UC Berkeley Extension.
Teaching: Crafting Novels in Poetry: Writing Verse Novels. Grub Street, Boston. One-day class April 27.

Essay: "Municipal Loudspeakers: Both Friend and Foe" in ANA Wingspan


March 2018
Hong Kong International Young Readers Festival--Featured Author. Various venues, schools in Hong Kong.
Twilight Chant launch! March 23, Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA.
Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books. At Grub Street, Boston.
Teaching: Narrative Poetry. At Grub Street, Boston. One-day class Mar. 30.
Skype Visit: Western Academy Beijing.

February 2018
School Visit: Komazawa Park International School, Tokyo.

January 2018
Essay: "The Furisode Kimono: Renting to Come of Age" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan.
Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. At Yokohama City University.

December 2017
Five College Center for East Asian Studies : Webinar (12/05/2017) on Falling Into the Dragon's Mouth, an NCTAsia Freeman Book Award title.
Presentation: Crossing Borders with Verse Novels, Holly Thompson and Leza Lowitz. Society of Writers, Editors, Translators, Tokyo.
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension.
Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. At Yokohama City University.

November 2017
Keynote: From Story Seeds to Poetry Circles: Cultivating EFL Poets and Writers. International EFL Conference for Creative Writing Instruction. University of Macau.
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension.
Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. At Yokohama City University.

October 2017

Essay: "Eating in Public: Getting Your Just Desserts" in ANA Wingspan

Presentation: Writing Picture Books--Nonfiction Possibilities. Japan Writers Conference, Tokyo.
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension.
Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. At Yokohama City University.

September 2017
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension.
Teaching: Elements of Fiction, Literature in English, American Culture. At Yokohama City University.

August 2017

Essay: "Downsizing to Drive: On Perfecting the Utility Pole Slalom" in ANA Wingspan. 

Teaching: Week of Creative Writing for Teens: Poetry and Story Intensive. At GrubStreet.
Teaching: Picture Book Intensive. At Grub Street, Boston.

July 2017
Teaching: Narrative Poetry. At Grub Street, Boston.
Keynote: Doors to the World Summer Institute East Asia 2017, Five College Partnership Programs. Amherst, MA.

June 2017

Essay "Kairan in the Mailbox: Circulating Neighborhood News" in ANA Wingspan 

Teaching: Yokohama International School Summer School: Essay Writing for College Applications. Yokohama.
Teaching: Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension.

May 2017
Multiple Presentations: Asian Festival of Children's Content, Singapore.
Retreat Director: Asian Festival of Children's Content Writers and Illustrators Retreat, Bintan, Indonesia.
Presentation: "Half the Story: Writing for the Picture Book Market." Grub Street's Muse and the Marketplace Conference, Boston
Teaching: Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension
Teaching: YA/MG Novel Builder; 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books. At GrubStreet.

April 2017
School Visit: Nashoba High School, MA
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension.
Teaching: YA/MG Novel Builder; 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books. At Grub Street, Boston.

March 2017
Feature article: "Kanae Haneishi: The Soccer Connection" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan
Traidhos Artist Residency, Thailand
School Visits:
Prem Tinsulanonda International School
Yokota West, Tokyo
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension.

February 2017
Essay: "The Neighborhood Park: The Place to Grow Up in Japan" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan
Feature article: "Jutaro Mikan: Sweet Mandarins" (text and photos) in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan
Traidhos Artist Residency, Thailand
School Visits:
Prem Tinsulanonda International School
Yokota Middle School, Tokyo
Sacred Heart International School, Tokyo
Soong Ching Ling School, Shanghai (Skype)
Yokohama International School
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension

January 2017
Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Literature in English; American Culture. At Yokohama City University
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension

December 2016
Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Literature in English; American Culture. At Yokohama City University

November 2016
Essay: "There's Always A Way--Like It Or Not" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan
School Visits: St. Mary's International School, Tokyo
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension
Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Literature in English; American Culture. At Yokohama City University

October 2016
Presenting: Poetry with Plot: A Narrative Poetry Workhop; Verse Novels Crossing Borders panel with Mariko Nagai at Japan Writers Conference, Tokushima University October 29-30
Presenting: Verse Novels, Verse Narratives panel with Jeannine Atkins, Nikki Grimes and Stephanie Hemphill at Western Washington University Poetry Camp, Oct. 1
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension
Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Literature in English; American Culture. At Yokohama City University

September 2016
Essay: "Rain Shutter Clatter: Music To These Ears" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan
School Visit: Lucille Umbarger Elementary School, Burlington, WA
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills. At UC Berkeley Extension
Teaching: Elements of Fiction; Literature in English; American Culture. At Yokohama City University

August 2016
Teaching: Picture Book Intensive, Aug. 15-19, at GrubStreet Boston
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential, UC Berkeley Extension

July 2016
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential, UC Berkeley Extension
Teaching: Essay Writing for College Applications at Yokohama International School, Summer Program, Yokohama

June 2016
Teaching: Essay Writing for College Applications at Yokohama International School, Summer Program, Yokohama
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential, UC Berkeley Extension
Essay: "Rajio Taiso: When Arm Circles Matter" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

May 2016
Book Launch: Falling into the Dragon's Mouth on May 26, 12:45 pm, at the Singapore Library, B1
Presenting: Verse Novels Crossing Borders, Writing for Preteens, Novel Revision at the Asian Festival of Children's Content, Singapore May 25-27
Presenting: Verse Novels Crossing Borders at New England SCBWI Spring Conference, May 1
Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books, Pt. 2 at GrubStreet Boston
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential, UC Berkeley Extension

April 2016
School Visit: Andover West Middle School
Teaching: Narrative Poetry April 23 at GrubStreet Boston
Teaching: 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books, Pt. 2 at GrubStreet Boston
Teaching: Writing Skills, UC Berkeley Extension
Teaching: Improving Your YA/MG Novel, Arlington Community Education, Arlington, MA

March 2016
Presenting: Crossing Borders with Verse Novels at AWP 2016 in Los Angeles on March 30, 4:30-5:45 Room 510, L.A. Convention Center, Meeting Room Level
Essay: "Teishoku Longing: Homesick for the Daily Set" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan
Teaching: Writing Skills, UC Berkeley Extension

February 2016
Teaching:Writing Skills, UC Berkeley Extension

January 2016
Teaching: Writing Skills, UC Berkeley Extension

December 2015
Essay: Preserved Satoyama: Agricultural Land for All and for Personal Treasure in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan
Teaching: Six Weeks; Six Picture Books, GrubStreet Boston
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills UC Berkeley Extension Certificate Program in Writing
Teaching: Writing Your Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel, Arlington Community Education, Arlington, MA

November 2015
Feature Article:
"Tsumami Craft: From Edo into the Future" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan
Teaching: Six Weeks; Six Picture Books, GrubStreet Boston
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills UC Berkeley Extension Certificate Program in Writing
Teaching: Writing Your Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel, Arlington Community Education, Arlington, MA

October 2015
Presenting: "Verse For Better: Using Multicultural Verse Novels with Social Justice Themes to Stimulate All Learners," New England Association of Teachers of English (NEATE) Conference, MA
Presenting: "Verse Novels Crossing Borders," International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY/USBBY) Regional Conference, NYC
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills UC Berkeley Extension Certificate Program in Writing
Teaching: Writing Your Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel, Arlington Community Education, Arlington, MA

September 2015
Presenting: Telling Stories Across Borders: Caution, Landmines!; Moderated Diversity Panel at Your Story, Your World: A Celebration of Diversity, SCBWI Carolinas, Charlotte, NC
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills UC Berkeley Extension Certificate Program in Writing
Teaching: Writing Your Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel, Arlington Community Education, Arlington, MA

August 2015
Teaching: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential; Writing Skills, UC Berkeley Extension Certificate Program in Writing
Teaching: YA/MG Novel Intensive, GrubStreet Boston
Teaching: Picture Book Intensive, GrubStreet Boston
Teaching: Telling Your Stories in Verse, GrubStreet Boston

July 2015
Finalist:
Short story collection Somewhere South of Tokyo a finalist in the 2015 Leapfrog Fiction Contest

Essay:
"Yukata Contest: Coming Full Circle during Obon" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

Teaching:
Essay Writing for College Applications, Yokohama International School, Summer Program, Yokohama, Japan
Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential, UC Berkeley Extension Certificate Program in Writing

June 2015
Interview:
"From Kimono to Parasol: The Craft of Kenji Watanabe" in Ikebana International

Teaching:
Essay Writing for College Applications, Yokohama International School, Summer Program, Yokohama, Japan
Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential, UC Berkeley Extension Certificate Program in Writing

May 2015

Lecture: "Truth or Fiction, Which Comes First" Roundtable at St. Botolph's Club, Boston, May 6 (postponed)

Teaching:
Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential, UC Berkeley Extension Certificate Program in Writing

April 2015
Essay:
"Shades of New Green: Discovering Diversity in the Hills" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

Conference:
New England SCBWI 2015 Spring Conference, Springfield, Massachusetts

March 2015
Lecture:
Compression: The Art of Wringing Out Our Writing, SCBWI Japan, Tokyo

School Visit:
Tokyo International School, Tokyo

Collaboration:
"Arches" poetry installation/performance, MassArt, Boston

February 2015
Conference: SCBWI Winter Conference, New York

Teaching:
Narrative Poetry, GrubStreet Boston
YA Novel Workout, GrubStreet Boston

January 2015

Teaching:
Young Adult Writing: Finding and Developing Your Ideas, GrubStreet Boston

Essay: "We Japanese: The Dilemma when We are not ware ware" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

School Visit:
Indian Trace Elementary School, Florida

December 2014

Poems:
"Charm," "Getaway," "Lotus Wanting," "Trans-Siberian," and "Mid-Afternoon Tea" in Poetry Kanto magazine, 2014

November 2014

Announced!
Picture book, nonfiction poetry Twilight Chant sold to Anne Hoppe at Clarion.

Teaching: Narrative Poetry at GrubStreet, Boston

October 2014

Teaching:
Multimedia Poetry course at GrubStreet, Boston

Essay:
"Mismatched Pottery: The Perfect Match for Dinner" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

August 2014

Essay: "Tending the Local Park: When Grass Cutting is Not About Grass Cutting" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

May 2014

Announced!
Verse novel Dragon's Mouth sold to Laura Godwin at Henry Holt.

Essay "Camping Against the Tide" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

Essay "Novels Set in Asia: Writing for the World" in One Big Story

April 2014

Poems:
"Contract," "Migraine" and "The Clearing" published on Young Adult Review Network (YARN) as part of YARN's Poetry Month Celebration

March 2014

Reading:
Holly Thompson YA Author reads from The Language Inside at Mount Holyoke College (Cassani Room, 102 Shattuck Hall), March 26, 4:00 pm.

Essay "Verse Novels as Intercultural Journeys" p. 34-36, in the USBBY spring 2014 issue of Bridges

Reading:
NYU Creative Writing Program Alumni Reading: March 7, 5:00 pm

Poetry:
Poem "Comet Hunter" published in Poetry Friday Anthology for Science (Pomelo Books)

February 2014
Essay "Reorienting to Count on Luck" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

January 2014

Library Talk--The Language Inside
Mother-Daughter Book Club, Newton Free Library, January 28, 2014, Boston

Panel Presentation:
The Future of Books, New England Book Festival, January 18, 2014, Boston

Interview and Photographs:
"Weaving Dreams in Cambodia--Kikuo Morimoto" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

November 2013

Panel Presentation:
Writing Poetry for Children and Teens, SCBWI Japan, November 30, 2013, Tokyo

Essay "Exploring Antiques Markets--Finding Unexpected Gives to Give...or Not" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

School Visits
Yokohama International School, Yokohama, Japan

September 2013

Essay "Susuki Grass--The Cursed and Beloved Invader" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

Presentation: SCBWI Japan Showcase 2013, September 27, Tokyo

School Visits
Tokyo International School, Tokyo, Japan

August 2013

Jumpstart Festival, New Delhi, India: Writers' Master Class and panelist, The Great Language Debate

SCBWI India Workahop, New Delhi, India: Writing Across Boundaries of Languages, Cultures and Class

Classes at Grub Street, Boston, Massachusetts
Tackling Novel Revision: Techniques and Tips Friday, August 9, 2013, 10:00am-5:00pm
Telling Stories in Verse: An Intro to Narrative Poetry and Verse Novels Friday, August 16, 2013, 10:00am-5:00pm

July 2013

Classes at Grub Street, Boston, Massachusetts
Young Adult Novel Workout Monday-Thursday, July 8-11, 2013m 2:30-5:30pm
Story Seeds for Young Adult Writing: Preserving, Sowing and Growing YA Story Ideas Friday, July 12, 2013, 10:30am-1:30pm

June 2013

Essay "The Commuter Bicycle—Still so Uncommonly Common" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

School Visits
Doshisha International Junior/Senior High School, Kyoto, Japan

May 2013

The Language Inside publication day May 14!

Story "South of Tokyo" in Notre Dame Review

School Visits:
Branksome Hall Asia, Jeju, Korea
North London Collegiate School, Jeju, Korea

Yokohama City University Extension Class--Author Holly Thompson on the Verse Novel Orchards

AFCC 2013 in Singapore: keynote speech--Novels Set in Asia: Selling them Overseas; Translation Seminar--Editing Stories in Translation

The Language Inside AFCC Book Launch May 28, Bookaburra booth, National Library Board, Singapore

April 2013

Prologue and first chapter of Holly's novel Ash published in Chinese in 作家Writer Magazine

Yokohama City University Extension Class--Author Holly Thompson on the Verse Novel Orchards

March 2013

Poem "Cod" in Poetry Friday Anthology for Middle School

Poem "What They Call Me" in Cricket Magazine

Essay "Baths Before Blossoms: Devious Ways to Soak the Guests" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

Panel presentation at AWP 2013 in Boston on March 9: Poetry Serving Story Serving Teens: Verse Novels for Young Adults

School Visits:
various throughout Massachusetts

February 2013

Short story "Mentos" in Shenandoah

January 2013

School Visits:
United World College of Southeast Asia, Singapore
Tokyo International School, Tokyo

December 2012

Article "Nengajo New Year’s Greetings: Sending Tidings of Stress and Joy" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

November 2012

Poem "Hills North of Ulaanbaatar" published in Chinese in 香港作家Hong Kong Writers

Presentation on Verse Novels for Young Adults, Japan Writers Conference, Kyoto

Visiting Writer for the International Writers Workshop, Hong Kong

School Visits:
Osaka International School, Osaka
Yokohama International School, Yokohama
Renaissance College, Hong Kong

October 2012

Visiting Writer for the International Writers Workshop, Hong Kong

Article: "A New Approach to Old Houses" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

August 2012

Conference: SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles

School Visit:
Yokohama International School, Yokohama

July 2012

Presentation: "Meet the Author--Holly Thompson" at the Hamilton-Wenham Library, Hamilton, MA, July 12

Workshops: "Telling Your Stories in Verse" for the Summer Programs for Teens at the Hamilton-Wenham Library, Hamilton, MA, July 10, 19

Essay "Tenno Festivals: Insiders and Outsiders in Circles of Community" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

June 2012

Speech at the 2012 ALA Annual Conference, Anaheim, APALA Awards Banquet, June 24

Presentation: "Thoughts for Translators after Editing Tomo" SCBWI Tokyo Translation Day 2012: Bringing Japanese Teen Literature to the World

May 2012

Guest Blogger for PaperTigers.org Global Voices series Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Skype presentation: "A Community Discussion on Teen Bullying and Suicide with Author Holly Thompson," Palm Beach County Library, Florida, May 22

April 2012

Essay "Crayfish Catching...and Releasing: Cross-cultural Crustacean Encounters" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

School Visits:
various schools in Massachusetts
Yokohama International School, Yokohama

March 2012

Tomo: Friendship Through Fiction--An Anthology of Japan Teen Stories publication date: March 10! Launch events in Tokyo, Boston and New York City!

School Visits:
various schools in Maine and Massachusetts
International School Bangkok, Thailand

February 2012

Orchards paperback edition due out February 12!

Conference: Asia-Pacific Poetry Festival, reading at the Temple of Literature, Hanoi, Vietnam

School Visits:
Seisen International School, Tokyo

January 2012

Orchards listed as a YALSA 2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults title

Award! Orchards wins APALA Asian/Pacific American Award in Literature in the Young Adult Literature category

Essay "The Seven Herbs...of Spring?" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

December 2011

School Visits:
Nishimachi International School, Tokyo

Poem "Golden Week in Ibarazu" published in Sunrise from Blue Thunder, a Pirene's Fountain Anthology

November 2011

Presentations at the Manila International Literary Festival, Philippines, November 16, 17, 18

September 2011

Essay "Autumn's Song" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

Orchards nominated for YALSA 2012 Best Fiction for Young Adults

August 2011

Essay "Tending to the Ancestors" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

July 2011

Story "Playing Cicada" in Literary Mama

June 2011

Book: Tomo, a YA anthology of Japan-related fiction, announced!

Presentations:
"Writing YA Verse Novels" at the SCBWI Tokyo Writers' Night, June 11.

"Researching a Bicultural YA Novel in Verse" for the Society of Writers, Editors and Translators (SWET), June 10.

May 2011

Conference Presentations:
"Author/Illustrator School Visits: Creating your Best Programs" and "Of Power and Emotions: Writing Fiction for Young Adults" at the Asian Festival of Children's Content, Singapore, May 26-29.

Presentation:
"Crafting Stories Across Cultures" for Japan Red Cross Language Service Volunteers

Essay "Car Shopping" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

Essay "What the Daibutsu Knows" in Write for Tohoku

School Visits:
Canadian International School Singapore
Australian International School Singapore

April 2011
Presentation:
"Writing YA Verse Novels" at SCBWI Tokyo Writers' Night--Focus on Writing for Young Adults, April 16

School Visit:
Yokohama International School, Yokohama, Japan

March 2011
Orchards Readings:
Congregation B'nai Israel, Northampton, MA Sunday, March 13, 1:30 pm
Concord Bookshop, Concord, MA Friday, March 11, 4 pm

February 2011

Orchards publication day February 22!!

Essay "Pegging Seaweed" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

School Visits:
International School of Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Butterfly School, Popeae, Cambodia

Panel reading with five other poets at the AWP Conference, February 5, Washington, D.C.: Innovations, Migrations, and Translations: Contemporary Poetry in Tokyo [Holly's appearance canceled due to family emergency]

January 2011
Conference:
SCBWI International Winter Conference in New York, January 28-30

November 2010
School Visit: Nishimachi International School, Tokyo, Japan

Essay "Culture Day Biculturally Speaking" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

Article "The Nail That Sticks Out Gains...Admission" in Bilingual Japan

October 2010
Presentation at the Japan Writers Conference in Tokyo: Of Power and Emotions: Writing Fiction for Teens, October 11

September 2010
Essay "Harvest Days--Mikan, Mosquitoes and Hot Baths" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

May 2010
Conference:
Asian Festival of Children's Content, Singapore, May 6-9. Panel presentations: "How to Create the Best Multicultural Books for Readers," "Insider's Guide to Getting Published," and "What is Young Adult Fiction? Where it Came From and Where it is Heading"

March 2010
Essay "O-Bento Life" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

Presentation:
Writers’Day with Holly Thompson, March 6, SCBWI Hong Kong
Session 1 Novel Revision: Techniques and Tips
Session 2 Plotting Across Cultures: A Workshop on Writing Intercultural Fiction

School visits:
Japanese International School, Hong Kong
Yokohama International School, Yokohama, Japan

Conference:
Writing Across Cultures Symposium, Asia-Pacific Writing Partnership, Hong Kong, March 9-10

December 2009
Essay "Pounding in the New Year" in ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan

School visit: Nishimachi International School, Tokyo

November 2009
Sold! Holly Thompson's verse novel Orchards sold by agent Jamie Weiss Chilton of Andrea Brown Literary Agency to editor Francoise Bui of Delacorte in a 2-book deal.

Presentation, November 22 at JALT 2009
Story Circles, Story Starts: L2 Fiction Writing

October 2009
Featured, October 17, in the Japan Times article Artist of the Cross-Cultural Landscape by Kris Kosaka

Presentations on October 17 and 18 at the Japan Writers Conference in Kyoto
Writing for Children: The Picture Book
Tackling Novel Revision: Techniques and Tips

Conference: Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program Retreat

August 2009
Conference: SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles, August 7-10

May 2009
Reading and Panel, May 16: Writing Multicultural Families: A Reading and Panel Discussion of Call Me Okaasan: Adventures in Multicultural Mothering with Suzanne Kamata, editor, and contributors Holly Thompson, Leza Lowitz and Angela Turzynski-Azimi at the Foreign Correspondents Club Japan, Tokyo, presented by the Society of Editors, Writers and Translators.

Essay: "Two Versions of Immersion" published in the anthology Call Me Okaasan: Adventures in Multicultural Mothering edited by Suzanne Kamata (Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing)

April 2009
Reading, April 25: Fourth Ward School Reading, Virginia City, Nevada--Jane Yolen, Yuyi Morales, musician Susan Botich with Holly Thompson, Jude Mandell, Abe Berstein, and Andie Mock

School Visit:
Yokota West Elementary School, Tokyo

Conference: Nevada SCBWI Spring Conference

March 2009
School Visits:
Yokohama International School, Yokohama
American School in Japan, Tokyo
St. Maur International School, Yokohama

February 2009
School Visits:
Canadian Academy, Kobe
Marist Brothers International School, Kobe
Nishimachi International School, Tokyo

January 2009
Award: The Wakame Gatherers is named a "Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2009" by the National Council for the Social Studies in cooperation with the Children's Book Council

Mentor Program: Accepted into the Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program for work on a verse novel

October 2008
Reading, October 24: Fiction Reading of short story "Playing Cicada" at Temple University Japan, Tokyo

Writing Workshop, October 18: Writing Workshop with Authors Holly Thompson and Suzanne Kamata: Character, Setting and Problem at the SCBWI Tokyo Writers' Day 2008

August 2008
Interview: Interview with Holly Thompson by Annie Donwerth Chikamatsu on the blog Here and There Japan

Article: "Noma Concours Awards; Gateway to Success for Asian Picture Book Artists" in the SCBWI Bulletin

July 2008
Teaching East Asia Study Tour Presentation: Kamakura through the Eyes of an Author in Koshigoe, Kamakura, the setting for The Wakame Gatherers; see the Society of Writers, Editors and Translators SWET Weblog for a post about this event

May 2008
School Visit: Saint Mary's International School

Guest Blogger: Society of Writers, Editors and Translators Guest Blogger on SWET Weblog through November 2008

April 2008
Interview: Interview of Holly Thompson by Avery Udagawa, "On Wakame and Bicultural Fiction for Children" in the Society of Writers, Editors and Translators Newsletter, Number 119 and on the SWET website

March 2008
School Visit: Yokohama International School

February 2008
Readings:
Hamilton-Wenham Library, Hamilton, MA Feb. 6
Forbes Library, Northampton, MA Feb. 11

School Visits:
N. Andover, Andover, Northampton, MA

Conferences:
SCBWI New York
Associated Writers Programs New York

January 2008
Interview: Interview with Holly Thompson by Suzanne Kamata in the online children's literature monthly The Edge of the Forest

Presentation: Co-presentation on the creation of The Wakame Gatherers, Shen’s Books, with illustrator Kazumi Wilds at SCBWI Tokyo Author and Illustrator Showcase

December 2007
Presentation: "Picture Books--From Idea to Publication" for SCBWI Taiwan, Taipei

November 2007
Panel Presentation for the Bilingualism Special Interest Group at JALT 2007

October 2007
Publication: Picture book The Wakame Gatherers, Shen’s Books

Presentations: “Poetry Circles” and “Writing for Children and Breaking into the Children’s Book Market” at the First Annual Japan Writers Conference, Tokyo.

September 2007
Moderator: “Writers’ Café: Dianne Highbridge on Writing and Publishing Fiction,” Society of Writers, Editors and Translators, Tokyo.

August 2007
Residency: Tasmanian Writers’ Centre Writing Residency courtesy of the Hobart City Council: a one-month writing residency in the TWC’s Hobart Writer’s Cottage. Workshop presentations in Hobart and Launceston, Tasmania: “Writing Intercultural Fiction.”

July 2007
Article: “Gateway for the Imagination: The Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations,” in Kyoto Journal #67.

Article: “Featured Author: Interview with Matthew Gollub,” in Carp Tales SCBWI Tokyo Newsletter.

June 2007
Presentation: SCBWI Mongolia Workshops: “Writing and Illustrating for Children,” Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. See the June 2007 entry of illustrator John Shelley's blog Shelley Scraps

Featured: “Women Writers in Japan,” by Suzanne Kamata in Being Abroad Magazine

May 2007
Presentation: “On Teaching Writing in Japan,” Seinan Jo Gakuin Junior and Senior High School teacher workshops, Kitakyushu, Japan.

Award: Finalist, 2006 Dana Award in the Portfolio for two short stories and a novel excerpt.

March 2007
Reading: Four Stories in Osaka, Japan.

February 2007
Presentation: “What SCBWI Can Do for Writers and Illustrators in Asia” at the Taiwan International Book Exhibit, Taipei, Taiwan.

Conference: SCBWI New York

January 2007
Presentation: “Creative Writing, Creative Thinking,” Yokohama International School Chowa Presentation, Yokohama, Japan.

August 2006
Award: Honorable Mention for the picture book manuscript The Three Sunlights, Smart Writers W.I.N. (Write It Now) writing contest.

June 2006
Review: Allen Say’s Kamishibai Man in Kyoto Journal #63.

November 2005
Article: “Cultivating Fiction in Rural Japan” in the SCBWI Bulletin.

March 2005
Award: Novel-in-progress awarded Honors, George Bennett Fellowship Writer-in-Residence competition.