Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 33
April 6, 2022
Guest Post: Author Julie Lee on Remembering & Writing Forgotten History
By Julie Lee
Julie Lee is the author of the middle grade historical novel Brother’s Keeper (Holiday House, 2020), a story inspired by her mother’s escape from North Korea during the Korean War.
History has always eluded me. The longer it gets, the more there is to know, and so we distill it into digestible bits, until we are left with only forgettable dates and facts. Before I started researching Brother’s Keeper, I had only a vague understanding of the Korean War—also known as America’s Forgot...
April 5, 2022
Native Voices: Byron Graves Talks About The Importance of Connection
By: AJ Eversole
Today on Cynsations we introduce author Byron Graves. His debut short story, “Sometimes in September,” is included in the anthology All Signs Point To Yes (Inkyard Press, 2022) which releases on May 31, 2022. His debut young adult novel, tentatively titled Rez Ball (Heartdrum, 2023), has been sold to Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperChildren’s that centers Native stories and book creators.
All Signs Point To Yes, Releasing May 31. 2022.What is the heart of your short story in Al...
April 4, 2022
Author Visit Central Team Ben & Shanda McCloskey Talk About Successful Author Visits
Created by husband and wife team Ben and Shanda McCloskey, Author Visit Central is a website that streamlines book sales for author visits. In this interview, you’ll see how Shanda’s own experience with author visits led to the creation of AVC, as well as insight into what makes a great author visit.
What was your own experience with author visits, and what drove you to create Author Visit Central?
Shanda: Three years ago, I hit the ground running with school visits when my fir...
April 1, 2022
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender, AJ Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Anansi and the Golden Pot by Taiye Selasi, illustrated by Tinuke Fagborun (DK Children, 2022).
Author/Illustrator InsightsQ&A With Baptiste Paul and Jacqueline Alcántara, Climb On! by Olivia Mules from We Need Diverse Books. Peek: “There’s people who say, ‘I could never do that!’ versus people who say, ‘How did you do that?!?!’ For a long time...
March 31, 2022
Author Interview: Laura Shovan on Learning Something New With Each Project
Today I am thrilled to welcome Laura Shovan to Cynsations in anticipation of National Poetry Month in April. Laura is a novelist, educator, and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. She’s talking to us today about her writing and how with every project she tries to teach herself something new.
What do you love most about the creative life/being an author? Why?
Last year, I was doing a virtual visit with a mixed-ages Montessori class. It was the first time anyone had asked m...
March 30, 2022
WNDB Internship Alumnx Series: Literary Agent Jas Perry
We’re honored to bring to you interviews from alumnx of the WNDB Internship Program. Since the program’s inception, We Need Diverse Books has supported over 80 grantees in summer internships. An incredible 70 percent of the grantees have gone on to find permanent positions in the publishing industry (with many already acquiring books of their own).
Today, I am thrilled to welcome Literary Agent Jas Perry to Cynsations!
Welcome, Jas!
Arthur Levine was off for the week and the...
March 29, 2022
Author Interview: Gabrielle Byrne Reflects on the Power of Books & Writing
I’m thrilled to welcome Author Gabrielle Byrne to Cynsations today!
Welcome, Gabby!
When and where do you write? Why does that time and space work for you?
I wish I were one of those writers who can roll out of bed early, ready to rumble, or that I had set hours for creation that felt like an ingrained habit. I’m not—at all. I am a planner by nature, on the inside, but my body is a rambler and a gambler, so to speak. My when and where are both moving targets.
When I first be...
March 28, 2022
Editor Interview: Joy Bean of Arctis Books Brings European Titles to U.S. Readers
Today I’m welcoming Joy Bean, Lead Editor for Arctis Books, to Cynsations. Joy, many readers might not be familiar with Arctis Books. Can you tell us more about the company?
Arctis Books USA is the sister company of NorthSouth Books, which readers may be very familiar with, as they have been publishing picture books in the U.S. since 1989.
What I mean by “sister companies” is that we are owned by the same company (W1-Media GmBH, based in Hamburg, Germany). W1-Media also owns...
March 25, 2022
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender, AJ Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Imagine! Rhymes of Hope to Shout Together by Bruno Tognolini, illustrated by Giulia Orecchia, translated by Denise Muir (Red Comet Press, 2022).
Author/Illustrator InsightsWhy Authors Should Keep Writing “Difficult” Books for Kids by Kim Ventrella from Medium. “Storytelling gives readers and creators power over difficult topics, even when we’r...
March 24, 2022
Writing Chapter Books: Claudia Mills Chats About the “Between-ness & Betwixt-ness” of Chapter Books
Today we continue our focus on chapter books by talking with Claudia Mills, author of more than 60 books for young readers, including dozens of chapter books.
What appeals to you about writing chapter books?
Oh, so many things! But if I were to distill them into one, it’s that I love the “between-ness and betwixt-ness” of them, for both author and audience. As an author, chapter books allow me to create a story that has much of the complexity and depth of a full-leng...
