Christine’s Retreat Experience:
On the business side, I learned to put a clause in my contract related to AI and preventing my work being used to train AI. Craft-wise, I learned to focus on writing the truest story and worry about marketing later. I’m also grateful to Elise for sharing her backspace-test for writing novels in verse, to ensure they aren’t prose hiding as verse!
Christine’s Scholarship Experience:
Receiving a scholarship at all was so validating. Getting to spend time being creative within a Native community was such a gift. I was able to relax, knowing our shared identity allowed us to all exist without explanation. Our writing/craft discussions were inspiring and contributed to my creative work while I was there. I arrived home refreshed and ready to continue that creative work, with the delightful addition of growing my community. The business discussions and sessions were illuminating, and the one on one talks were especially helpful.
Christine on Inspiring Kids
Our experiences shape our writing in known and unknown ways. My time at Highlights will undoubtedly show up in my work. In my novel in verse, it will show up as the structure that I ironed out while on campus. In my middle grade prose, it will manifest in how the main character connects with community while living away from his reservation. I’m sure it will continue to influence my characters, settings, and plots, as my time there is something that will stay with me.
About Christine
Christine Hartman Derr is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. She’s a graduate from VCFA’s Writing for Children MFA program, where she won the Revisionary Award, Candlewick Picture Book Prize, T.A. Barron Prize for Nature Writing, and was selected as a DEI Fellow and a Center for Arts and Social Justice Fellow. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Florida State University. Christine writes across age markets and genres in the KidLit realm, and is currently working on revising her middle grade novel in verse. Her work includes themes on identity, belonging, and sharing the Cherokee language. She runs the blog Paw Prints in the Sink and has written articles for regional publications. She’s honored to be a contributor to the anthology Legendary Fry Bread Drive-In, forthcoming from Heartdrum. Originally from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Christine lives in Tennessee with her spouse, children, and a rambunctious crew of lovable pets.
Website: christinehartmanderr.com
Instagram: @christinehartmanderr
Twitter: @PawPrintsBlog
Support a Scholarship at the Highlights Foundation
Our Special Scholarships are donor-guided scholarship funds. The creators (donors) of the scholarships help guide decisions about the fund, including the type of program they can be used on and who can be awarded the scholarship.
There are two ways to support our special scholarships:
1) Support an Existing Fund – Does one of our special scholarships already serve a purpose you’d like to support? All our existing scholarship funds accept donations to increase their impact and ensure their longevity.
2) Establish a Special Scholarship – You can also create your own scholarship fund. Here’s how: Options start at $1,500 per year with a minimum commitment of five years. As the fund creator, you can design the scholarship, designate who it supports, and set other criteria. Contact us to discuss options.
In addition to special scholarships, the Highlights Foundation also provides general scholarships. Supporting our general scholarship fund is another great way to support storytellers here at the Highlights Foundation.
