Holy cannoli, y’all! I had the absolute joy and privilege of going to Milkwood for the LGBTQ+ Peer Retreat two weekends ago, and it was everything I could have wished for and more. I’ve been shaking the duckling feathers and sourdough bread crumbs loose from my head all week (and recovering from the long voyage home followed immediately by a family wedding), and I already miss the incredible people I met there. I wish the weekend could have its own little pocket dimension where I could live for a month or two. Or maybe if they don’t check their cabinets too carefully…
For those who haven’t heard of Milkwood before, it’s a children’s book community retreat run by the award-winning children’s book author-illustrator, Sophie Blackall, and her husband, playwright Ed Schmidt, out of a renovated farm in upstate New York. They host a number of retreats and workshops for all manner of kid lit professionals on every side of our industry - authors, illustrators, booksellers, librarians, agents, publishing workers like myself, teachers, school counselors, and more! I was lucky enough to be included in this year’s LGBTQ+ Peer Retreat, where I met some of the wittiest, coolest, and most brilliant people in the world!
On the afternoon we arrived, we got our bearings and explored. I was astounded by the attention to detail in the decoration of this place. Being there feels like stepping into one of Sophie’s picture books. Literally every detail is either antique, hand-made, or otherwise highly curated. You can feel the magic and the history thrumming in the old bones of the farmhouse before you even learn the stories behind it.
And there were ducklings! Look at these babies! They hatch and grow up at Milkwood, and then return to their farm of origin once the Milkwood season ends in October.
That first evening, we were treated to a cocktail party and got to know each other, ate a delicious feast with Sophie and Ed, and ended the evening with a big group stroll. We talked about everything from our work, to our partners and families, to what potentially scary sleep habits we’re prone to (thankfully we had no disturbances in the night!). I slept like a rock under a heavy quilt and fluffy down comforter with the window cracked to let in the crisp Catskills night air.
When I woke up for breakfast, the mist was lifting from the mountains.
I fretted about what to do that first day, since there was so much to soak up as well as so much I wanted to work on. I did some drawing and painting in my sketchbook…
…wrote a bit…
… and drank a ton of coffee in between.
I also read a bunch of books in the picture book library, took a lie-down, and spent a lot of time peeking over my new pals’ shoulders and chatting with them about their work.
Even while I distractedly flitted about, it was SO grounding talking to queer artists and writers and hearing about their lives and their practices as they’ve grown past their early adulthood. Beyond just inspiration and excitement, it really helped me calm down the nasty (and delusional) internal voice that says that I should have hit my peak as a teenager, and that at 25, I’m past my prime. Ridiculous, I know, but hard to shake when it’s been rattling around your head for so long. With their reassurance (and some practical, technical advice), I was able to settle back down and get some good work done on the plot of the graphic novel that I’ve been working on since my final year of college (more to come on that another time…).
We had a barbecue and a campfire that night, and in Milkwood tradition, I wrote something we want to let go of on a piece of paper and tossed it in the fire. I burned a scrap with “perfectionism” scrawled across it. Ironically it didn’t fit on the paper, and I didn’t have an eraser.
The next day, I did more drawing, more writing, more reading, and more exploring. I laid on the floor of the library for a bit, and then enjoyed two workshops by Kathryn and Mati, about plot structure, and how books can serve childrens’ mental health, respectively.
It was also a huge honor to draw in one of the horse books and join the ranks of previous guests! When I was flipping through, I found drawings by personal children’s book heroes, old and new friends, publishing icons, and more. What incredible company to doodle among.
That third and final night, we enjoyed a feast and shared presentations of our work. I rambled about my graphic novel that’s still very much in progress and shifts every time I touch it, and I was moved to laughter, tears, and breathless applause by the work my new amazing friends have been doing. We stayed up laughing well into the night.
The next afternoon, we set off on our long trips home.
As tired as I am, I feel the most rested I’ve ever felt after a trip. This past weekend I traveled again, this time for my cousin’s wedding. Phew! That’s partially why this recap has taken so long!
Also, can the crew get some commotion for the food?? I didn’t take nearly enough pictures but look at this!!!! They took such amazing care of us, and completely forbade us from lifting a finger to help beyond clearing our plates. We were truly resting and digesting. Thank you for all your hard work!!!
Thank you to my new amazing friends for your openness and affection and expertise! I learned so much in such a short time, and I had SO much fun with you all! It was an honor to be thrown into the alchemy of the retreat with you, and I’ll be riding this high of inspiration, reassurance, and comfort for as long as I can!
Thank you so much Sophie and Ed for building the most magical retreat to foster the children’s book community, and thank you and your mighty team (Paige, Emma, Elliot, and Nan!) for taking such amazing care of us, even in the face of a total power outage right before we arrived. You are mighty!!
Thank you all again, and thank YOU for reading this if you’ve made it this far! The next post will be a sketchbook tour, since I’m just about to finish one!
Talk to you soon!
-Julia
Ahhhh so many fond memories reading through your recap! The cake, the horse book, the dreamy library 🤩 So glad you got to experience the magic for yourself!
This sounds magical, Julia! Thanks for sharing. I love your horse illustration too 😍