Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 135

New Voice: Crystal Chan on Bird

Curriculum GuideBy Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

Crystal Chan is the first-time author of Bird (Atheneum, 2014). From the promotional copy:

It’s only natural to have silence and secrets in your family when you’re born on the same day that your brother died. At least, that’s sure what it seems like for twelve-year old Jewel.

Add to that the fact that you’re the only mixed-race family in your rural Iowan town, and well, life can get kind of lonely sometimes. But when a boy named John moves...

Guest Post: Eric Pinder on The X Files: Why Alphabet Books Are Not as Easy as ABC

Photograph by Katie KosterBy Eric Pinder
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

A teacher once learned the hard way not to tell his college class to write a children’s book without specifying a genre and topic. He anticipated a wonderful mix of fractured fairy tales, rhyming romps, and heroes’ journeys.

A week later, almost the entire the class turned in alphabet books instead.

“It looked easy,” they explained.

The teacher, of course, was me, and I shouldn’t have been so surprised. Alphabet books...

Cynsational News

Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

Conversation about Diversity in Children's Literature from KQED. Click below to hear  author-illustrator Christopher Myers, author Mitali Perkins, illustrator LeUyen Pham, and, from the gatekeeper community Nina Lindsay, supervising librarian for children's services at the Oakland Public Library, former judge on the Newbery Award selection committee, as well as Kathleen Horning, director of the Cooperative Children's Book Center at the Univ...

Guest Post: Debby Dahl Edwardson on Lens Shifting

By Debby Dahl Edwardson
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by the year 2020, white people will be a minority in this country.

What this means, among other things, is that increasing numbers of people will be checking that new box on the census labeled “multiracial.” People no longer required to identify themselves as of one race only will increasingly identify as multiracial.

What does this say about the search for self, the very stuff of young adult lite...

New Voice: Lamar Giles on Fake ID

By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

Lamar Giles is the first-time author of Fake ID (HarperCollins, 2014). From the promotional copy:

Nick Pearson is hiding in plain sight. In fact, his name isn't really Nick Pearson. He shouldn't tell you his real name, his real hometown, or why his family just moved to Stepton, Virginia. 

And he definitely shouldn't tell you about his friend Eli Cruz and the major conspiracy Eli was uncovering when he died. About how Nick had to choose between solving...

Guest Post: April Henry on Just Add Tension: How to Make Any Book - But Especially Mysteries and Thrillers - Better

By April Henry
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

When Cynthia invited me to write a guest post for her blog about some aspect of writing mysteries, I knew immediately what I wanted to write about. Tension.

The trick to writing a good mystery or thriller is to have plenty of tension. Heck, that’s the trick to writing any good book, period.

But how do you get that tension? Here are some things that work for me:

Grab them by the throat

You start right out of the gate, like these first sentences:

•...

Event Report: Jeff Crosby's Launch for Rockabilly Goats Gruff

Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

My weekend highlights was author-illustrator Jeff Crosby's launch of Rockabilly Goats Gruff (Holiday House, 2014) at the Writing Barn in Austin.

For the celebration, the Barn was converted to the "Shimmy Shack." Jeff hosted a 1950's rockabilly costume contest (with art as the prize), and refreshments included musical mini cupcakes, moon pies, and floats! 

Authors, illustrators & book event planners: this launch was a huge win with fans...

Cynsational News

Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

Cover Reveal: Tut: The Story of My Immortal Life by P.J. Hoover (Starscape/Macmillan) from Roots in Myth.

How I Got Into Publishing by Simon & Schuster Editor Zareen Jaffery from CBC Diversity. Peek: "What people don’t tell you about publishing is that more than half your job requires being social—this is an industry based on relationships. Those 'connections' I had been afraid of before I started my career were more about having people vouc...

Book Trailer: Saving Baby Doe by Danette Vigilante

By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

Check out the book trailer for Saving Baby Doe by Danette Vigilante (Putnam, 2014). From the promotional copy:

Lionel and Anisa are the best of friends and have seen each other through some pretty tough times--Anisa's dad died and Lionel's dad left, which is like a death for Lionel. They stick together no matter what. 

So when Lionel suggests a detour through a local construction site on their way home, Anisa doesn't say no.

And that's where Lionel and...

New Voice: Sara B. Larson on Defy

By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

Sara B. Larson is the first-time author of Defy (Scholastic, 2014). From the promotional copy:

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and heart-racing romance.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. 

But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night,...