Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 24

Author Interview: Kim Rogers Finds Inspiration Everywhere, Plus Her Debut Picture Book: Just Like Grandma

By AJ Eversole

I’m excited to feature past Cynsations reporter Kim Rogers in celebration of her debut picture book! We love to see our team succeeding. 

What is the heart of Just Like Grandma?

I call it the “beating heart” because it creates palpable emotion that you can feel.

The beating heart of Just Like Grandma is intergenerational relationships.

What do you love most about the creative life/being an author? Why?

One of the things that I love most is making friends. I enjoy meeting...

Cynsational Books of 2022

The Cynsational Books of 2022 were selected by Cynthia Leitich Smith from nominations by Cynsations Team members.

The selections:

Berry Song by Michaela Goade (Tlingit/Haida) (Little, Brown, 2022) From the promotional copy:

On an island at the edge of a wide, wild sea, a girl and her grandmother gather gifts from the earth. Salmon from the stream, herring eggs from the ocean, and in the forest, a world of berries.

Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry.

Huckleberry, Snowberry, Strawbe...

Cynsations Winter Hiatus

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Happy Holidays, Cynsational readers!

Effective immediately, Cynsations is on winter hiatus. We’ll return after the ALA Midwinter Conference with more inspiration, insights, and info on children’s-YA writing, illustration, literature, and publishing. In the meantime, you’re welcome keep up on those topics with me at Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

But first, let’s raise a cup of cocoa to Cynsations Editor-in-Chief Gayleen Rabakukk, Industry News Re...

Cynsational News

By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, A.J. Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations

Spotlight Image: Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land by Mirelle Ortega (Harry N. Abrams, 2022).

Author/Illustrator Insights

STEM Tuesday—The Science of Art—Author Interview With Karen Latchana Kenney by Mary Kay Carson from From The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors. Peek: “[A] big part of my interest in writing about STEM topics is my desire to promote respect and awe for the wonders o...

Guest Conversation: Suma Subramaniam, Vikram Madan & Suniti Srinivasan on Collaboration in Picture Books

By Suniti Srinivasan

Editor’s note: Today we’re sharing a snapshot of the conversation from Cynsations Intern Suma Subramaniam‘s recent book launch for She Sang For India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice For Change, illustrated by Shreya Gupta (Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR, 2022). The chat was led by student writer Suniti Srinivasan and included author and illustrator Vikram Madan celebrating his new titles Owl and Penguin (Holiday House, 2022) and Bobo and Pup-Pup, illustrated by Nicola ...

Wearing Two Hats: Editors & Agents Who Write: Editor Arthur Levine & Agent Joan Paquette

By Helen Kampion

Featured image: Arthur Levine and Levine Querido crew celebrate 100 starred reviews.

Most of us think that agents and editors just do agenting or editing. But what if they are also writers? Does this make a difference how our work is viewed? Evaluated? This three-part series asks agents and editors to share their thoughts and experiences on wearing two hats.

Arthur Levine and  Auggie

Arthur Levine is President and Editor-in-Chief at Levine Querido where his mission is to bring ...

Wearing Two Hats: Editors & Agents Who Write: Editor Irene Vázquez & Agent James McGowan

By Helen Kampion

Spotlight image: Irene Vázquez & Levine Querido Marketing Director Antonio Gonzalez Cerna

Most of us think that agents and editors just do agenting or editing. But what if they are also writers? Does this make a difference how our work is viewed? Evaluated? This three-part series asks agents and editors to share their thoughts and experiences on wearing two hats.

Irene Vázquez is an Assistant Editor and Publicist at Levine Querido. They are a published journalist and poet and ...

Wearing Two Hats: Editors & Agents Who Write: Editor Frances Gilbert & Agent John Cusick

By Helen Kampion

Spotlight image: agent John Cusick signing a contract

Most of us think that agents and editors just do agenting or editing. But what if they are also writers? Does this make a difference how our work is viewed? Evaluated? This three-part series asks agents and editors to share their thoughts and experiences on wearing two hats.

Teddy and Jack, Frances’ editorial assistants

Frances Gilbert is the Vice President and Editor-in-Chief at Double Day Books for Young Readers. She has a...

Cynsational News

By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, A.J. Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations

Spotlight Image: Beautiful You, Beautiful Me by Tasha Spillett-Sumner, illustrated by Salini Perera (Owlkids, 2022).

Author/Illustrator Insights

Alexandra Alessandri on Multicultural Children’s Book Day IG Live with Mia Wenjen from YouTube. Peek: “One of the things that surprised me the most [when writing for children] was how much hope there is in children’s literature…There’s  somethin...

Guest Conversation: Suma Subramaniam, Ellie Peterson & Suniti Srinivasan on Creating Picture Books

By Suniti Srinivasan

Editor’s note: Today we’re sharing a snapshot of the conversation from Cynsations Intern Suma Subramaniam‘s recent book launch for Namaste Is A Greeting, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Candlewick, 2022). The chat was led by student writer Suniti Srinivasan and included author and illustrator Ellie Peterson; the conversation took place in October at Secret Garden Books in Seattle.

Suniti: To start off, when did you realize you want to be a children’s writer and tell us abo...