Cynsations will be on hiatus from hereafter until sometime after Jan. 23 while I attend the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults winter 2009 residency.

I look forward to teaching with fellow faculty members Marion Dane Bauer, Margaret Bechard, Alan Cumyn, Sharon Darrow, Sarah Ellis, Ellen Howard, Uma Krishnaswami, Jane Kurtz, Julie Larios, Martine Leavitt, Leda Schubert, Shelley Tanaka, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Tim Wynne-Jones.

Uma is leading the picture book program; Carolyn Coman will be our writer-in-residence, and Jean Gralley is our guest author/illustrator.

Our graduate assistants will be Sarah Aronson, Marianna Baer, Carrie Jones, Erin Moulton, and Zu Vincent.

Elizabeth Bluemle‘s The Flying Pig Bookstore, Bear Pond Books, and Rivendell Books will be hosting the book sale.

Cynsational Notes

Fifth Annual Novel Writing Retreat at Vermont College of Fine Arts will be March 27 to March 29. Featuring: author Kathi Appelt; author Elise Broach; and editor Cheryl Klein of Scholastic. Includes: lectures; organized workshops; writing exercises; one-on-one critiques with one of the guest authors; one-on-one critique with guest editor (extra fee); open mike; discussions; room and board. Cost: $450. Registration begins Dec. 1. For more information, contact Sarah Aronson.