Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 61

Survivors: Carolyn Crimi on Thriving as a Long-Time, Actively Publishing Children's Author

Learn more about Carolyn Crimi.By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

In children’s YA writing, maintaining an active publishing career is arguably an even bigger challenge than breaking into the field.

Reflecting on your personal journey, what bumps did you encounter and how have you managed to defy the odds to achieve continued success?

My kneejerk reaction to that question is, “What success?”

So I suppose one way I’ve managed to stay in the game is redefining what that word means and how impo...

Pura Belpré Award Winner & New Voice: Juana Martinez-Neal on Alma and How She Got Her Name

By Traci Sorell
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Juana Martinez-Neal is a force of nature already this year.

Having won the 2018 Pura Belpré Award for her illustrations in La Princesa and the Pea, written by Susan Middleton Elya (Putnam, 2017), she now has her own debut picture book, Alma and How She Got Her Name (Candlewick, 2018).

Candlewick acquired the story in a seven-publisher auction and is releasing it simultaneously in Spanish and English.

Publishers Weekly, and

Full Cover & Author Quotes (Blurbs) for Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

click image to enlargeMy deepest thanks to distinguished authors An Na, Joseph Bruchac and Guadalupe Garcia McCall for sharing their thoughts about my forthcoming contemporary realistic novel, Hearts Unbroken (Candlewick, Oct. 2018).

Here's what they had to say:

“I loved her irreverent, hilarious, and subversive dismantling of stereotypes. Cyn’s trademark, spot-on dialogue captures the teen spirit perfectly. I want Lou to be my best friend!” —An N...

Bookseller Interview: Nicoletta “Nico” Maldini of Libreria Trame Bookstore in Bologna, Italy.

By Angela Cerrito
for SCBWI Bologna 2018 and Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Note: This interview is part of a series focusing on the Bologna Children's Book Fair. 

SCBWI Assistant International Adviser Angela Cerrito talks with Nicoletta “Nico” Maldini, a partner in the Libreria Trame Bookstore in the heart of Bologna, Italy. 

Tell us about Liberia Trame, what inspired you to open the bookstore?

I started working in a bookstore since 1990, after my second degree in liberal arts...

Cynsational News

By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Robin Galbraith, Gayleen Rabukukk & Kate Pentecost for Cynsations

Author/Illustrator Insights

3 Questions with Sylvia Vardell from Children’s Book Council. Peek:

“ ...I’ve always found that kids love poetry—it’s the grownups (who buy books) who have the mental blocks about what they think poetry is or should be.”

Finding Your Way Out of the Margins by Caleb Roehrig from CBC Diversity. Peek:

"... it was just around that same time that I finally discovered the work...

New Voice: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow on Mommy's Khimar

By Traci Sorell
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

I’m delighted to share my interview with Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, a fellow Epic Eighteen debut author of Mommy’s Khimar, illustrated by Ebony Glenn (Salaam Reads, 2018)).

This cheerful and empowering story which centers on a young Muslim, African American girl who loves wearing her mommy’s khimar (headscarf) received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly.

I know children will gravitate to the uplifting text and illustrat...

Guest Post: Carol Coven Grannick on Transitions: Lunging Forward, Leaning Back

By Carol Coven Grannick
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

I am leaving my day job at an extraordinary early childhood center on June 30.


Plenty of people think I am “retiring.” But if you’re reading this, you probably could guess that I’m not retiring at all. I’m beginning my full-time career as a writer.

At last. I’ve written and taught about transitions much of my life as a clinical social worker and still struggle with how to convey these vulnerable, beautiful, painful yet joyful, times i...

Survivors: Marion Dane Bauer on Thriving as a Long-Time, Actively Publishing Children's-YA Author

Learn more about Marion Dane Bauer.By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

In children’s-YA writing, maintaining an active publishing career is arguably an even bigger challenge than breaking into the field.

Reflecting on your personal journey (creatively, career-wise, and your writer’s heart), what bumps did you encounter and how have you managed to defy the odds to achieve continued success?

My first response to that question was . . . how can I talk about bumps? I have been so darned lucky! I...

New Vision: Melanie Linden Chan on Finding Your Path & Moth and Wasp, Soil and Ocean

By Traci Sorell
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

I love picture books, especially the ones like Moth and Wasp, Soil and Ocean: Remembering Chinese Scientist Pu Zhelong's Work for Sustainable Farming (Tilbury House, 2018) that combine beautiful art and help me learn something new.

Debut illustrator and fellow Epic Eighteen member, Melanie Linden Chan creates a gorgeous visual scrapbook to convey the work of the late Chinese scientist Pu Zhelong, who helped villagers in China learn abou...

LoonSong: A Writers Retreat & LoonSong: Turtle Island

LoonSong: A Writer's Retreat is scheduled for Sept. 6 to Sept. 10 at Elbow Lake Lodge in Cook, Minnesota.

Faculty include children's-YA authors Nikki Grimes, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Bruce Coville, Marion Dane Bauer, Jane Buchanan, Sarah Aronson, and Debby Dahl Edwardson as well as agent Michael Stearns of Upstart Crow Literary and editorial director and publisher Yolanda Scott of Charlesbridge. Note: author Susan Cooper, who was previously listed on the site, will not be abl...