Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 127
September 15, 2014
Guest Post: Barbara Shoup on The Real Jack Kerouac
By Barbara Shoupfor Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Few writers attained the fame Jack Kerouac experienced after the publication of his novel, On the Road (Viking, 1957). The book captured the spirit of rebellion bubbling beneath the staid and satisfied 1950’s, and inspired countless young people to throw off their parents’ expectations and set out on adventures of their own.
Kerouac himself became an icon, a role he both gloried in and despised—and which, ultimately, undid him.
Looking for J...
September 12, 2014
Cynsational News
Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smithfor Cynsations
Where Books Meet Disaster: A Brief Reading List About Kids and Migration from Meg Medina. Peek: "The difficult story of migration is the Latino story, and it is the human story since time began." See also Eleven Books on Latin American Immigration and Migration from Lee & Low.
Hidden Emotions: How to Tell Readers What Characters Don't Want to Show by Angela Ackerman from Writers Helping Writers. Peek: "Fear of emotional pain, a lack of trust i...
September 11, 2014
Events Report: Kathi Appelt & Rita Williams-Garcia at The Writing Barn & BookPeople
Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations
Highlights of summer included a visit to Austin by two dear friends and coleagues New York City author Rita Williams-Garcia and College Station author Kathi Appelt. While in town, they taught a full-novel workshop at The Writing Barn and teamed up for an event at BookPeople.
Greg Leitich Smith and I also had the opportunity to visit with workshop students at The Barn
With Rita at County Line on the Lake
With Rita at The Driskill
With Rita and Kathi a...
for Cynsations
Highlights of summer included a visit to Austin by two dear friends and coleagues New York City author Rita Williams-Garcia and College Station author Kathi Appelt. While in town, they taught a full-novel workshop at The Writing Barn and teamed up for an event at BookPeople.
Greg Leitich Smith and I also had the opportunity to visit with workshop students at The Barn
With Rita at County Line on the Lake
With Rita at The Driskill
With Rita and Kathi a...
September 10, 2014
New Voice: Rachel M. Wilson on Don't Touch
Book Club GuideBy Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations
Rachel M. Wilson is the first-time author of Don't Touch (HarperTeen, 2014). From the promotional copy:
A powerful story of a girl who is afraid to touch another person’s skin, until the boy auditioning for Hamlet opposite her Ophelia gives her a reason to overcome her fears.
Step on a crack, break your mother’s back. Touch another person’s skin, and Dad’s gone for good.
Caddie can’t stop thinking that if she keeps from touching another per...
September 9, 2014
In Memory: Walter Dean Myers
Walter Dean Myers at the 2001 Bookfest at the Library of CongressCompiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith for CynsationsOver the summer, children's-YA literature lost a legendary author. My sympathies to his family, friends, and readers.
Walter Dean Myers, Prolific and Beloved Author of Award-Winning Children's Books, Dies at Age 76: Myers Touched So Many with His Eloquent and Unflinching Portrayal of Young African American Lives by HarperCollins from A Fuse 8 Production at School Library Journal. Pe...
September 8, 2014
Cynsational News & Return
Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith for CynsationsWelcome back to Cynsations!
I hope y'all had a joyful summer.
By Austin standards, it was blessedly cool in the 80s and 90s.
I finished up edits on the pass pages for Feral Pride (Candlewick, 2015) and focused on the business of being an author, deep-cleaning and reorganizing my home, and reconnecting with my close friends and family. Having finished the ninth (and final) book in the Tantalize-Feral 'verse, it felt like a good (and long overdue) t...
July 2, 2014
Cynsational News & Summer Hiatus
Austin's new boardwalk along Lady Bird Lake!Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith for Cynsations Thanks so much for being a Cynsational reader!
I appreciate your enthusiasm for and interest in the world of books for kids and teens.
Breaking news: Effective immediately, Cynsations is going on summer hiatus until September.
In the meantime, you can keep up with children's-YA books news on my author facebook page and @CynLeitichSmith on Twitter.
See y'all in the fall!
More News
A...
July 1, 2014
New Voice: Jennifer Mathieu on The Truth About Alice
By Emma Kate Tsai for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Jennifer Mathieu is the first-time author of The Truth About Alice (Roaring Brook, 2014). From the promotional copy:
Everyone knows Alice slept with two guys at one party. When Healy High star quarterback, Brandon Fitzsimmons, dies in a car crash, it was because he was sexting with Alice. Ask anybody.
Rumor has it Alice Franklin is a slut. It’s written all over the “slut stall” in the girls’ bathroom: “Alice had sex in exchange...
June 30, 2014
New Voice: M.K. Hutchins on Drift
By Cynthia Leitich Smithfor Cynsations
M.K. Hutchins is the first-time author of Drift (Tu Books, 2014). From the promotional copy:
Tenjat lives on the shores of Hell, an ocean filled with ravenous naga monsters. His island, a massive Turtle, is slowed by the people living on its back. Only those poor enough to need children to support themselves in old age condescend to the shame of marriage.
Tenjat is poor as poor gets, but he has a plan. Can Tenjat discover his sister’s secrets in time...
June 27, 2014
Cynsational News & Giveaways
Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smithfor Cynsations
Get It Write This Summer from Nerdy Chicks Rule Summer School 2014. Peek: "Kidlit Summer School is a four week writer’s workshop that will run from July 21 through August 15. Because we (Kami (Kinard) and Sudipta (Bardhan-Quallen)) both enjoy teaching writing classes, we wanted to find a way to offer craft-based writing advice on a particular topic each summer. Our 2014 course is going to focus on writing great characters."
Saying Something Simple...
