Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 39
November 4, 2021
In Memory: Gary Paulsen
By Bree Bender
Newbery award-winning author and children’s literature icon, Gary Paulsen has passed away. He was 82 years old.
Beloved Author Gary Paulsen has Died Aged 82 via MacMillan. Peek: “It was Paulsen’s overwhelming belief in young people that drove him to write. His desire to tap deeply into the human spirit and encourage readers to observe and care about the world around them brought him both enormous popularity with young people and critical acclaim from the children’s book community...
November 3, 2021
New Voices: Casie Bazay & Ginny Myers Sain on Persistence
By AJ Eversole & Gayleen Rabakukk
We’re happy to welcome two debut Oklahoma YA authors to Cynsations today! Casie Bazay’s novel, Not Our Summer (Running Press Kids) released on May 11, 2021 and is a #1 Oklahoma Bestseller. Ginny Myers Sain‘s novel, Dark and Shallow Lies was published by Razorbill/Penguin on September 7, 2021.
When you look back on your writing journey, what are the changes that stand out?
I began writing with the intent of getting traditionally published shortly after leaving t...
November 2, 2021
Kristy Everington and AG Ford Talk About Writing, Art, and Isobel Adds It Up
We’re pleased to welcome the author-illustrator team of Isobel Adds It Up (Penguin Random House, 2021), Kristy Everington, and AG Ford to Cynsations.
In this lovely picture book, Isobel is a problem solver . . . addition, subtraction, multiplication, division! But trying to figure out who is causing all the noise next door is one problem she can’t quite work out. Is it a marching band? A basketball team in the middle of a practice? Could it be a family of elephants?
Isobel d...
October 29, 2021
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Where Three Oceans Meet by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan (Harry N. Abrams, 2021).
Author/Illustrator InsightsQ&A with Caroline Kusin Pritchard, Gitty and Kvetch by Michele Kirichanskaya from We Need Diverse Books. Peek: “Listen to how kids talk with each other when adults aren’t controlling their play….It’s just like Shel Silverstein t...
October 28, 2021
Picture Book Biographies: Gloria Amescua & Carol Kim Discuss Mentors on the Path to Publication
We’re wrapping up our picture book biography series with two more Austin authors, Gloria Amescua, author of Child Of The Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter Of The Nahua, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh (Abrams, 2021) and Carol Kim, author of King Sejong Invents an Alphabet, illustrated by Cindy Kang (Albert Whitman, 2021). Their paths to publication are very different, but both illustrate how dedication to craft can lead to success.
In 2017, Gloria received the Lee & L...
October 27, 2021
Picture Book Biographies: Candy Wellins & Philip Hoelzel on the Importance of Critique Groups
Critique partners can play a huge role in taking a manuscript to the next level. Today we’re chatting with critique partners Candy Wellins and Philip Hoelzel about their picture book biographies.
Candy’s book is The Stars Beckoned: Edward White’s Amazing Walk in Space, illustrated by Courtney Dawson (Philomel Books, 2021), and Philip’s is Planting Hope: A Portrait of Sebastião Salgado, illustrated by Renato Alarcão, forthcoming from Atheneum.
Candy Wellins
What drew you to ...
October 26, 2021
Picture Book Biographies: Azadeh Westergaard & Meghan P. Browne Reveal Their Writing Processes
By Stephani Martinell Eaton and Gayleen Rabakukk
Azadeh Westergaard
We are delighted to welcome author and illustrator Azadeh Westergaard to Cynsations today. Azadeh’s debut picture book, A Life Electric, illustrated by Júlia Sardà (Viking, 2021), focuses on the life of Nikola Tesla. Booklist gave the book a starred review calling the book “An elegant and enlightening look at a man who brightened the whole world.” Welcome, Azadeh!
What drew you to the life of Nikola Tesla?
Years ago, I read Nik...
October 25, 2021
Picture Book Biographies: Bethany Hegedus Explores Social Emotional Learning in Nonfiction
At Cynsations this week we’re taking a deep dive into picture book biographies by interviewing eight debut biography authors. But first, today we’re kicking things off by featuring Bethany Hegedus, author of five published picture book biographies and more on the way.
Earlier this year I attended an SCBWI workshop where you discussed Social Emotional Learning. I was familiar with SEL in fiction picture books, but was surprised to hear you connect it with picture book biograp...
October 22, 2021
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: The Cot in the Living Room by Hilda Eunice Burgos, illustrated by Gaby D’Alessandro (Kokila, 2021).
Author/Illustrator InsightsInterview With Author Daniel Aleman by Michele Kirichanskaya from Geeks Out. Peek: “[I]t’s so important to lead with honesty….I think that the stories that come from a deeply personal, honest place always have a way of standing out...
October 21, 2021
Teacher’s Guides: Adrianna Cuevas & Andrea M. Page on Creating Guides as Freelancers
Today we’re talking with two authors who created educator guides for their own books, but have also made teacher’s guides for other authors.
Adrianna Cuevas
As a former teacher, did you use teaching guides in the classroom?
I was a Spanish and ESOL teacher, so I never used teacher guides from books in my curriculum. We were too busy conjugating verbs, role playing communication scenarios, and simply giving a thumbs up or down to stories we read.
You have one of the most int...
