News & Events
December 2024
Presentation: Japan Society Boston: Listening to Trees with Author Holly Thompson and MFA Boston Curator Asako Katsura (Zoom)
November 2024
College Visit: Pitzer College: Grief and One Wave at a Time
Book Event: Listening to Trees at An Unlikely Story, Plainville, MA
Book Event: Listening to Trees at the Michener Museum, PA
School Visit: Chaparral Elementary School, Claremont, CA
Book Signings: NCSS Conference, Boston; Children's Book World LA; Kinokuniya, NYC; Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA; Politics and Prose, DC
October 2024
Listening to Trees: George Nakashima, Woodworker by Holly Thompson, illustrated by Toshiki Nakamura (Neal Porter/Holiday House) book publication!
Presentation: Listening to Trees: George Nakashima, Woodworker with Holly Thompson and Toshiki Nakamura for SCBWI Japan, Tokyo
Book signing: Odyssey Books; Brookline Booksmith, MA; Farley's Bookshop, PA
School Visit: K International School, Tokyo
September 2024
Teaching: Japanese Literature in English (intensive); American Literature in English (intensive). Yokohama City University
School Visit: Nishimachi International School; Yokohama International School (Japan)
August 2024
Teaching: 6 Weeks, 3 Picture Books, GrubStreet (Zoom)
Teaching: Elements of Fiction (intensive). Yokohama City University
July 2024
Teaching: 6 Weeks, 3 Picture Books, GrubStreet (Zoom)
June 2024
Teaching: 6 Weeks, 3 Picture Books, GrubStreet (Zoom)
School Visit: Yarmouth, ME
May 2024
Teaching: Picture Book Revision, GrubStreet (online)
Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)
School Visit: Yarmouth, ME
April 2024
Teaching: Picture Book Revision, GrubStreet (online)
Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)
Seaweed Saturday, Portland, ME with The Wakame Gatherers
March 2024
Teaching: 6 Weeks, 3 Picture Books, GrubStreet (Zoom)
Teaching: Exploring Creative Writing. UC Berkeley Extension (online)
School Visits: Yarmouth, Maine; Cumberland, ME
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 (which includes Holly's "Nature in Japan" essay) 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, Japan
School Visit: Asociación Escuelas Lincoln, Argentina (Zoom)
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, China
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, Japan
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, Japan
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, Japan
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, Japan
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 (Zoom)
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 (Zoom)
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.