Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 28

Author Interview: Sangu Mandanna Reflects on her Publishing Journey

By Suma Subramaniam

I’m thrilled to welcome Sangu Mandanna to the Cynsations blog today!

Could you tell us about your latest book?

My latest book, Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom (Penguin Random House, 2022) is a middle grade fantasy about what happens when a young girl’s sketchbook world comes to life. My main character, Kiki, struggles with OCD and uses art, creativity and specifically her sketchbook to cope with it. Inspired by the South Indian folklore her mother has told her about, Kiki’s sk...

Guest Post: Barbara Dee on the Sound of Middle Grade: Getting the Voice

By Barbara Dee

Spotlight image: Barbara Dee at the 2021 Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival.

If you write middle grade fiction, chances are good that at some point someone will ask: “Do you ever plan to write for grownups?”

It’s a question that always irks. I think what’s behind it is the assumption that writing for grownups is something to aspire to, because it’s harder than writing for kids.

Barbara visiting a middle school, spring 2021.

But here’s the thing. I’m a grownup, and I talk and writ...

Book Trailer: Namaste Is A Greeting

By Gayleen Rabakukk

I’m excited to reveal the book trailer for Cynsations’ own Suma Subramaniam‘s debut picture book, Namaste Is A Greeting, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Candlewick, Oct. 11, 2022).

From the publisher’s description:

What is namaste? It’s found in a smile, a friendship, a celebration. It exists in silence; it can be said when you’re happy or when you’re feeling low. For one small girl in a bustling city, namaste (“I bow to you”) is all around her as she and her mother navigat...

Cynsational News

By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, AJ Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations

Spotlight Image: Forever Cousins by Laurel Goodluck, illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Charlesbridge, 2022).

Author/Illustrator Insights

It’s Never Too Late: Seven Authors on Making Their YA Debuts After Age 50 by Julia Edelstein from Publishers Weekly. Peek: [YA/Middle Grade Author Betty G. Yee:] “I kept going because I found that I was my truest self when I was writing. I kept going becaus...

Throwback Thursday: April Henry on Adding Tension: How to Make Any Book – But Especially Mysteries & Thrillers – Better

Congratulations to April Henry on Two Truths and a Lie (Christy Ottaviano Books, 2022), an Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best YA.

Take a look back at April’s advice on tension, originally published in December 2010 and reposted in March 2014, it remains the most-viewed writing craft post in Cynsations history.

By April Henry

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 writin...

Guest Post: Patricia Morris Buckley on the We Need Diverse Books Native Intensive

By Patricia Morris Buckley

Not too far off the beaten track in Austin, visitors are welcomed to The Writing Barn retreat center, a place where deer wander the meadows, the buildings are air conditioned and rooms are filled with bookshelves. There, thirteen Native participants gathered the weekend of Aug. 4 to Aug. 7 for the third annual We Need Diverse Books’ Native Children’s and YA Writing Intensive.

Front row: Leona Prince (Dakelh), Workshop Assistant Gayleen Rabakukk, Loriene Roy (Chippewa)...

Author Interview: Jyoti Rajan Gopal Reflects on Owning Her Identity as a Writer

By Suma Subramaniam

We’re thrilled to welcome Jyoti Rajan Gopal to Cynsations.

When you look back on your writing journey, what are the changes that stand out?

There are several moments that stand out!

I knew that children’s publishing was extremely hard to break into, or even understand, because I had dipped my toes into trying to figure it out, and very quickly retreated. But one day, in the middle of a coaching session with other teachers as we worked in pairs about achieving personal goals...

Cynsational News

By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, AJ Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations

Spotlight Image: Dadaji’s Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane (Levine Querido, 2022).

Author/Illustrator Insights

Q&A With Christina Soontornvat and Rahele Jomepour Bell, To Change a Planet by Thushanthi Ponweera from We Need Diverse Books. Peek:[Christina Soontornvat:] “[O]ne person can make a difference. It’s so easy to get discouraged and feel small because t...

Throwback Thursday: Melanie Crowder on Parched

Congratulations to Melanie Crowder on her new young adult novel, Jumper (Viking, June 2022)! It received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews. Melanie recently joined the faculty of Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children and Young Adults program.

Take a look back at Melanie’s thoughts on her debut novel, Parched (Harcourt, 2013). This interview first appeared on Cynsations June 4, 2013.

See the Teachers’ Guide for Parched.

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Melanie Crowde...

New Voices: Melissa Coffey & Kristin Wauson on SCBWI’s Role in their Journeys

By Gayleen Rabakukk

Featured image: Melissa Coffey signing advance copies at the 2022 Texas Library Association Conference.

Today I’m pleased to welcome two Austin authors to Cynsations, Melissa Coffey and Kristin Wauson. Melissa is the debut author of Fridge-Opolis, illustrated by Josh Cleland (Little Bee Books, Sept. 6, 2022) and Kristin is the author/illustrator of Mr. Thatcher’s House (Sleeping Bear Press, Aug. 2022).

Melissa Coffey

What first inspired you to write for young readers?

Becomi...