Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 49
March 4, 2021
Author Interview: Kat Cho & The Asian Author Alliance
Kat Cho is the founder of Asian Author Alliance—a group to celebrate Asian Kidlit and the diversity of stories that originate from the Asian Continent.
When did you first become interested in going into writing and publishing? What sparked your interest?
I always loved to write stories ever since I was really young, but I didn’t write to pursue publication until a few years ago. I was coping with the loss of a loved one and I realized that writing helped me find a bit of joy...
March 3, 2021
Sally J. Pla Discusses the Importance of Honest Depictions of Autism & Mental Health
As the parent of children on the autism spectrum and who also struggle with anxiety, I am a big fan of Sally J. Pla‘s books and their representations of neurodiversity. Her most recent middle grade novel Stanley Will Probably Be Fine illustrated by Steve Wolfhard (HarperCollins, 2018), and her debut The Someday Birds, illustrated by Julie McLaughlin (HarperCollins, 2017), offers respectful and honest depictions of mental health.
And I certainly recognized my children’s co...
March 2, 2021
Guest Post: Kelly Jensen Discusses How Much-Needed Anthologies Fill Gaps in Youth Literature
By Kelly Jensen
It was mid-2014 when I got a rush of frantic messages on Twitter from a number of authors telling me to be in touch with Elise Howard at Algonquin Young Readers (AYR). She really wanted to talk with me.
One talk quickly led to a group call with Krestyna Lypen, editor at AYR, and in January 2015, I sold my first in a trio of nonfiction anthologies to Krestyna and Elise. That book, Here We Are: Feminism For The Real World (2017) came to me through seeing and reading so much incred...
March 1, 2021
New Visions: Author-Illustrator Isabella Kung Discusses her Journey to Publication
I am so pleased to welcome author-illustrator Isabella Kung to discuss her journey to publication and to share her inspiration for her debut picture book No Fuzzball! (Scholastic, 2020).
What first inspired you to illustrate for young readers?
I always loved reading children’s books and the love only grew as I aged. They continue to fuel me with imagination; allow me to escape to a world of wonder; connecting me to my inner child.
When I was a young college studen...
February 26, 2021
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali (Kokila, 2021).
Author/Illustrator Insights
Alice Childress by Crystal Allen from The Brown Bookshelf. Peek: “I write about those who come in second, or not at all—the four hundred and ninety-nine and the intricate and magnificent patterns of a loser’s life…My writing attempts to interpret the ‘ordinary’ because...
February 25, 2021
Heart and Spirit: An Interview with Ami Polonsky
My chronicles explore the heart and spirit of writers, the emotional and psychological issues and strengths that stir our creativity and are stirred by our work and the obstacles that impact our processes.
What strengths does each writer have that create and maintain emotional resilience?
How does an author’s or illustrator’s own internal process and state of mind intertwine with the narrative arc of her work?
The honest and deep responses I receive from writers intervie...
February 24, 2021
Author Interview: Sue Ganz-Schmitt on Vulnerability in Picture Books
Picture book author Sue Ganz-Schmitt had two new picture book releases last fall, and both contained storylines that embrace differences and fostered inclusion.
Used with permission; citation below.In That Monster on the Block, illustrated by Luke Flowers (Two Lions, 2020), which won the 2020 Northern Book Lights Award for Humor, Monster learns that his new neighbor is not a greedy goblin, an ogre, or a dastardly dragon. Instead, he’s a clown! Monster badmouths Clown to the ne...
February 23, 2021
Guest Post: Salima Alikhan & Editor Sarah Brian Discuss Collaboration
My most recent release, Soraya and the Mermaid, illustrated by Jen Naalchigar and Atieh Sohrabi (Reycraft, 2020), is the first in a series. The second book, Soraya and the Dragon, releases this spring.
Working on a series means constant collaboration and communication with an editor. I am so thankful that my editor, Sarah Jane Brian, is one of the most wonderful human beings ever.
Working on a series together means getting to know each other’s personalities and working styles ...
February 22, 2021
New Voices: Roseanne A. Brown & Diana Ma on Creating Characters That Mirrored Themselves
I’m excited to introduce our readers to Roseanne A. Brown, author of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (Balzar + Bray, 2020), and Diana Ma, author of Heiress Apparently (Abrams, 2020). While these two YA debut novels may seem different in genre and tone, their authors both realized the goal of creating characters that validated themselves.
Roseanne A. Brown
What was your initial inspiration for writing this book?
I first got the idea for A Song of Wraiths and Ruin in 2016....
February 19, 2021
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Jump at the Sun by Alicia D. Williams, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2021).
Author/Illustrator Insights
Delacorte Press Author Spotlight: Louisa Onomé from KidLit411. Peek: “Keep going. Whether it’s learning to revise, or trying a new idea, or writing a few words each day, it’s so important to continue. And try not to get so worke...
