On the #KidLitChat on Bluesky this past Tuesday, we were challenged to use one word to describe our life in 2026. My word was ‘journey’. My journey is multitiered. I am beginning my final year of full time employment, with an anticipated retirement date in July. I have worked in one capacity or another since I was 12 years old, and even in retirement, I am planning to start my own social work consulting business. Yet, it will be nice to have a flexible lifestyle, working only when I want to, providing a valuable service to my clientele, and- no alarm clock! And I’m in year 6 of Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 Picture Book writing community, which seems like a long time, until I realize that I only took up kidlit more seriously during the COVID epidemic. And who knows, I may not have done it without being stuck at home for most of 2020 and 2021. As I take these next steps, my dreams remain the same in many respects, however they gain new relevance as the year begins and I realize I will be in a much different place within a few short months. Happy to be here!
margaret.r.zotkiewicz 