Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 18
May 24, 2023
Kidlit Caravan Authors Carrie Tillotson, Harshita Jerath & Rebecca Gardyn Levington on Sophomore Book Inspiration
By I’m thrilled to welcome Kidlit Caravan members, Carrie Tillotson, Harshita Jerath, and Rebecca Gardyn Levington to Cynsations today!
Why did you write this picture book?
Carrie: The short answer is that my editor asked me to! The long answer is a bit more involved. My editor suggested that I write a sequel to my debut picture book, Counting to Bananas, illustrated by Estrela Lourenco (Flamingo Books, 2022), and suggested that it might be an alphabet book, with one title idea ...
May 23, 2023
Author Interview: Srividhya Venkat Reflects on Her Creative Life & Picture Book Writing
I’m thrilled to welcome Srividhya Venkat to Cynsations today!
What do you love most about the creative life/being an author? Why?
I consider my creative life to be a privilege and I’m grateful that I get to do this every day. I like that I can decide what projects to work on and do them at my own pace (with the exception of contracted projects). It’s an honor to be in a space where I create stories and shape them into something young readers would care about, and hopefully g...
May 22, 2023
Guest Post: Lyn Fairchild Hawks Advocates for Thirteen-Year-Old YA Protagonists
Thirteen and In Between
The year I was 13, I grew from five-foot-seven to five-ten and three quarters. One day, a seventh grader gazed up at me and snapped, “Move, you big palooka.” You could say that moment I felt pretty small.
That year I also ran our school carnival. I called vendors, got classmates to be clowns, and hyped up my fellow eighth graders to do ring toss, face painting, you name it. There’s a photo my mom took of me one night, surrounded by stacks of papers...
May 19, 2023
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, A.J. Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: The ABCs of Asian American History by Renee Macalino Rutledge, illustrated by Lauren Akazawa Mendez (Bloom Books for Young Readers, 2023).
Author/Illustrator InsightsSimply Seven With Samantha Hawkins: My Mommy Marches from Jena Benton. Peek: “Whatever you write, whatever you put out into this world, make it yours, and make it count! Write to change the world, write to ...
May 18, 2023
Throwback Thursday: Bethany Hegedus on Embracing Your Strengths, Between Us Baxters & Truth with a Capital T
Congratulations to Bethany Hegedus on the upcoming publication of You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community, co-written with Arun Gandhi, illustrated by Andrés Landazábal (Candlewick Press, June 2023). From the promotional copy:
Peace is you. Peace is me.
Peace is the great big We of community.
Where can we find peace? It shows in the way we walk, stand, or form a circle. It can be found when we play or dig in the garden, speak up or ask for help, or sit still and listen to the silence....
May 17, 2023
Author Conversation: Angeline Boulley talks with Cynthia Leitich Smith
At the recent Texas Library Association Conference, authors Angeline Boulley, interviewed by Cynthia Leitich Smith, headlined the closing keynote. The authors appeared in conversation, discussing books, writing, and their shared love of libraries. I’m thrilled to share highlights from their conversation with our Cynsations readers.
Angeline’s latest book is Warrior Girl, Unearthed (Henry Holt & Co., May 2, 2023). From the promotional copy:
Perry Firekeeper-Birch has always k...
May 16, 2023
New Voices: Doan Phuong Nguyen & Patricia Tanumihardja Share Inspirations & Publishing Journeys
By Gail Vannelli and Gayleen Rabakukk
Spotlight image: Doan Phuong Nguyen celebrates the release of her new book.
Today Cynsations is excited to share the publishing journeys of two children’s authors, Doan Phuong Nguyen and Patricia Tanumihardja. Doan Phuong is the author of Mèo and Bé (Tu Books, 2023), a middle grade (MG) historical novel taking place during the Vietnamese War. Patricia is the author of Ramen for Everyone, illustrated by Shiho Pate (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2023). Do...
May 12, 2023
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, A.J. Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Rani’s Remarkable Day by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Anoosha Syed (Clarion Books, 2023).
Author/Illustrator InsightsMagical Realism As a Genre for Youth: Author Karla Valenti Invites Exploration of Big Questions by Nawal Qarooni from We Need Diverse Books. Peek: “Writing for young people allows me to create stories that combine both the cultural richness of my experie...
May 11, 2023
Throwback Thursday: Christine Day’s Path to Publication & I Can Make This Promise
Congratulations to Christine Day on the upcoming publication of We Still Belong, cover art by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw)(Heartdrum, August 1, 2023). It’s Christine’s third middle grade novel with Heartdrum. In a recent starred review, Kirkus Reviews called it “A rich, captivating story that will resonate with readers.” From the promotional copy:
Wesley is proud of the poem she wrote for Indigenous Peoples’ Day—but the reaction from a teacher makes her wonder if expressing herself is importan...
May 10, 2023
Bologna 2023: Visiting the Bologna Children’s Book Fair as it Celebrates 60
Spotlight image: Sarah Baker and Jess Racklyeft at the SCBWI booth at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
This year Bologna Children’s Book Fair celebrated its 60th fair. I asked three visitors to this year’s fair to share more about their experiences with the readers of Cynsations.
Arthur A. Levine is the founder of Levine Querido books.
Sanne Dufft is an author/illustrator from Tübingen, Germany.
Sarah Baker is the Executive Director of the Society of Children’s Book Writers...
