Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 66

New Voice: Interview & Giveaway: Jeanette Bradley on Love, Mama

By Traci Sorell
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

I am pleased to shine the spotlight on a fellow Epic Eighteen debut picture book, Love, Mama by author-illustrator Jeanette Bradley (Roaring Brook, 2018). From the promotional copy:

When Mama leaves her young penguin Kipling, he knows she'll return home soon—yet he still can't help but miss her. 

After all, Pillow Mama won't read, Picture Mama won't laugh, and Snow Mama is too cold to cuddle.

But then Kipling receives a special delivery f...

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

Learn more about Lisa Wheeler.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?

I think the biggest bump (aside from pre-publication days when I was gathering all my rejections) came durin...

Guest Post: Mari Mancusi on A Once and Future Book

Mari Mancusi pulls the sword from the stone.By Mari Mancusi
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Fourteen years ago, when I began my publishing journey, I was under the assumption that if you wrote it (and it was good) it would sell.

Sell to a New York publisher. Be stocked at bookstores. Be discovered by readers. Happily ever after, the end.

And it certainly seemed that way when my tween YA time travel novel, The Camelot Code, sold to Dutton/Penguin at auction in 2007. It was a sweet two-book...

Author Interview: Bethany Hegedus on Alabama Spitfire: The Story of Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird

By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Just about a year ago, I became a Writing Barn Fellow, which means I serve as a teaching assistant and provide logistical support for classes and workshops.

It also means that I've gotten to know author Bethany Hegedus better and I couldn't pass up the chance to interview her about her new picture book biography, Alabama Spitfire: The Story of Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird, illustrated by Erin McGuire (HarperCollins, 2018). From t...

Cynsational News

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

Author/Illustrator Insights

Day 28: YA Panel and Day 28.5 YA Panel Part 2 from The Brown Bookshelf. Peek:

“Treat yourself to today's spotlight: an industry chat with authors Justina Ireland (Dread Nation) [Balzer + Bray/ Harper Collins, 2018], Brandy Colbert (Little & Lion) [Little, Brown, 2017] and Dhonielle Clayton (The Belles) [Freeform/Disney, 2018]....

Guest Interview: Author Cheryl Lawton Malone on Elephants Walk Together

By Helen Kampion
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Cheryl Lawton Malone is the author of the picture book, Elephants Walk Together, illustrated by Bistra Masseva (Albert Whitman, 2017). From the promotional copy:

As calves, Asian elephants Precious and Baba roam the wild together, curious and proud. 

But when they get captured and are split up, their time together seems like a distant memory. 

Still, separated by many miles and over many years, their friendship remains, an...

Guest Post: Sharon Darrow on Back-Story, Future-Story, and On-going Action: Replicating Life with Authenticity

Learn about World within Words: Writing and the Writing Life.By Sharon Darrow
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

When I talk to my students about point of view and plot action and their relationship, I find myself musing about how we humans really work.

Things happen to us and around us seemingly simultaneously: we receive stimuli (things and people act in our world), and we respond, observe, talk, think, move, and emote in a blindingly fast sequence.

Not long ago, while I was speaking to a...

Survivors: Cinda Williams Chima on Thriving as a Long-Time, Actively Publishing YA Author

Learn more about Cinda Williams Chima.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?

Although I’ve been writing since third grade, I didn’t publish my first novel until I was over fifty...

New Voice: Laney Nielson on Peppermint Cocoa Crushes

By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Laney Nielson is the debut author of Peppermint Cocoa Crushes (Skypony, 2017). From the promotional copy:

Sasha is so excited for her school's Winter Variety Show! She and her best friends, twins Karly and Kevin, have been working on a song and dance routine for it, with super cute candy cane costumes. 

Sasha is sure they'll be the best. And she's even more confident that her secret plan -- to tell Kevin about her crush on him -- wil...

Cynsational News

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

Author/ Illustrator Insights

How Speak Became a Graphic Novel: Three Questions with Laurie Halse Anderson by Travis Jonker from School Library Journal. Peek:

 “In the early drafts, I had too many words. I had to learn to peel away every extraneous word and trust what the art would show.”

Day 20: Liara Tamani from The Brown Bookshelf. Peek:

“I always start with something...