Community Retreat with Grace Lin and Debbi Michiko Florence: Celebrating Asian and Asian American Stories (May)

In-person 4-day/3-night retreat

Thoughtfully created by authors Grace Lin and Debbi Michiko Florence, this gathering celebrates the many meaningful contributions Asian and Asian American voices have made to children’s literature. It brings together creatives who are developing stories for children and young adults in a supportive, community-centered setting.

Why join this community retreat?

Now in its fifth year, the retreat was originally imagined as a way to strengthen connection within the children’s book industry and help build lasting community. Grace envisioned the kind of support network and friendship circle she wished she had when she first entered the field, while Debbi saw the retreat as a way to foster connection and growth. Together, they created a space where Asian and Asian American storytellers could feel safe, seen, and supported—both now and in the future.

This is a lightly scheduled program with optional, informal group activities such as fireside chats and sharing. You’re welcome to bring multiple projects at different stages, so you can choose what to focus on during your stay. The emphasis is on creating, dreaming, and discovering alongside fellow community members.

Please note that there is an optional day available to extend your stay. If you would like to add this date, please include it at checkout. For any other questions, please contact the support team.

As an in-person experience at the Retreat Center, this program offers a chance to step away from everyday life and fully enter the retreat atmosphere. It is not a jam-packed workshop; instead, it is a working retreat that blends opportunities for learning with generous time to retreat and make progress on your own projects.

Boyds Mills is committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment. Before the workshop, you will have access to the Community Standards, which ask for respectful engagement with fellow creatives, including faculty and staff.

The mission of this retreat is to positively impact children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire them to become their best selves. As you grow and ground yourself in community, your work grows too. Join this community-centered program to connect, create, and amplify one another.

This retreat is designed for anyone interested in writing or illustrating for children and teens across a range of formats and genres, including picture books, early readers, middle grade, graphic novels, and young adult novels.

At least one week before the retreat, you will receive access to a virtual classroom where you can introduce yourself to fellow writers and explore related resources, including the Community Standards.

Tentative Agenda

Please bring projects at any stage of the creative process, including ideas, drafts, or revisions.

• Day One: Thursday, May 7, 2026
  3–5pm Eastern: Arrival
  5:30pm: Appetizers followed by dinner
  7:15pm: Welcome and introductions
• Day Two: Friday, May 8, 2026
  Morning: Optional yoga, breakfast, retreat time
  Afternoon: Retreat time, informal writing/drawing together
  Evening: Appetizers and dinner, followed by a fireside chat
• Day Three: Saturday, May 9, 2026
  Morning: Breakfast, retreat time
  Afternoon: Retreat time, group photo, Zoom Q&A session
  Evening: Appetizers and dinner, followed by open mic and sharing
• Day Four: Sunday, May 10, 2026
  Morning: Breakfast, packing and retreat time, closing Q&A
  Afternoon: Lunch and farewells