Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 41

Author Interview: Elana K. Arnold On Writing & Containing Multitudes

By Rebecca Kirshenbaum

Today on Cynsations we welcome the prolific Elana K. Arnold, who talks neuroatypicality, her new book, and how she—and all of us—contain multitudes.

I am a big fan of your work, and I’m also in awe of your range in writing picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA. And nailing it all! I’m pretty excited about your early middle-grade novel, Just Harriet (HarperCollins, 2022). Can you tell us about it? What else are you working on right now?

Thank you! My core ph...

In Memory: Patricia Reilly Giff

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Patricia Reilly Giff, beloved and prolific author, died June 22 at her home in Trumbull, Connecticut from cancer. She was 86.

Obituary: Patricia Reilly Giff by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly. Peek:

“Patricia Reilly Giff [is] widely known for her Newbery Honor-winning novels Lily’s Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods, as well as humorous series including the Kids of the Polk Street School.”

Patricia Reilly Giff, Popular and Prolific Children’s Author, Dies ...

Cynsational News

By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations

Spotlight Image: Welcome to the Cypher by Khodi Dill, illustrated by Awuradwoa Afful (Annick Press, 2021).

Author/Illustrator Insights

Q&A With Rukhsanna Guidroz by Pooja Makhijani from Publishers Weekly. Peek: “I want kids to know that the human spirit is extremely resilient and has no bounds. There are a myriad of experiences that are equally valuable, and it’s okay to be...

Shelli R. Johannes on the Importance of “YOUniqueness”

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Today Cynsations welcomes Shelli R. Johannes. Shelli shares with our readers the ups and downs of her publishing journey and how she stays the course. She also shares with us what types of stories she likes to tell and how she has come to be inspired by the importance of what she calls “YOUniqueness.”

As a young adult author, how did you get into writing picture books?

I started writing in 2004 when my daughter was born. I got five months of maternity leave as a ban...

In Memory: Bernette Ford

Photo courtesy of Boxer Books

By Clara Hammett

Bernette Ford, author, editor, publisher, and champion of books by people of color died of cancer on June 20. She was 70.

Obituary: Bernette Ford, Who Made Children’s Books More Diverse, Dies at 70 by Neil Genzlinger from the New York Times. Peek: “Bernette’s firm yet gentle editorial touch with the text [Bright Eyes, Brown Skin, co-authored by Cheryl Willis Hudson (Just Us Books, 1990)] was brilliant in expressing the pulse of what’s now called Bl...

Guest Interview: Elisa Zied & Liara Tamani Discuss Writing, Revisions, & Publishing

By Elisa Zied

I recently read Liara Tamani’s All the Things We Never Knew (Greenwillow, 2020)—a 2020 Kirkus Reviews Best YA Book of the Year that’s now out in paperback—and I couldn’t put it down. I laughed, cried, and swooned over the romantic, immersive, and layered story—a perfect YA novel. Here’s a brief description from her website:

The Sun is Also a Star meets “Love & Basketball” in a tumultuous, lyrical teen romance about two African American, high school basketball stars who fall in lov...

Cynsational News

By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations

Spotlight Image: Change Sings by Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loren Long (Viking Books for Young Readers, 2021).

Author/Illustrator Insights

Charlie and Lola Author Lauren Child Says Children’s Books Should Be Taken Seriously by Alison Flood from The Guardian. Peek: “There is a common, and lazy, assumption that creating work with children in mind is easier or less demandin...

Author-Illustrator Interview: Deborah Marcero on Whole-Hearted Creating

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

I am excited to welcome author-illustrator Deborah Marcero to Cynsations today to talk about her latest work as well as what she loves about the creative process of writing and illustrating books.

Welcome, Deborah! What do you love most about the creative life/being an author? Why?

I love waking up to a life every day that encourages, begs, and demands me to bring my whole heart, my passion, my hope, and my imperfect self to what I am doing and making with my time. I...

In Memory: Floyd Cooper

Photo credit: Velma Cooper

By Rebecca Kirshenbaum

Celebrated illustrator Floyd Cooper died on Friday, July 16, 2021, in Easton, Pennsylvania after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Velma and sons Dayton and Kai and his grandchildren. He was 65.

Floyd Cooper, Illustrator of Black Life for Children, Dies at 65 from the New York Times by Alex Vadukul. Peek: “He sought to revive and recount chapters of African American history that he felt weren’t taught enough in classrooms.”

Obitua...

New Cynsations Reporter Clara Hammett

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Today, I am excited to welcome Clara Hammett to the Cynsations Team! Clara joins us as a reporter-at-large covering the many facets of the children’s-YA community. I know that Clara’s enthusiasm for books and their creators will surely endear her to Cynsations readers.

Welcome to Cynsations! Could you tell us about your vision for your coverage here at the blog? Why did you decide to take on this role in the conversation of books?

Clara at VCFA with Stephani and Jess...