Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 7
October 15, 2024
In Memory: Author Lore Segal
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
“Esteemed author and educator Lore Segal, who wrote and translated clever and sunny children’s tales alongside the autobiographical adult stories and novels informed by her early life as a Jewish refugee during WWII, died on October 7 at her home in Manhattan. She was 96,” reported Publi...
October 14, 2024
New Voice: Ginger Reno on Believing in Yourself & Debut Novel, Find Her
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Today I’m excited to share my interview with debut author Ginger Reno (Cherokee) about her path to publication and her middle grade novel, Find Her (Holiday House, Oct. 15, 2024). From the publisher’s website:
Five years, three months, and twelve days.
That’s how long Wren’s mother has b...
October 11, 2024
Author Interview: Zetta Elliott on Prequels, Decolonizing Imagination & Creative Responses to Book Challenges
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Today we’re visiting with author Zetta Elliott on a wide variety of topics: writing prequels, providing honest interpretations of historical events, and finding creative responses to book challenges. Her newest title is The Oracle’s Door, a prequel to the bestselling Dragons in a Bag ser...
October 10, 2024
Throw Back Thursday: Margaret Peterson Haddix on Thriving as a Long-Time, Actively Publishing Children’s-YA Author
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Congratulations to Margaret Peterson Haddix on the publication of The Stolen Key, the third book in the Mysteries of Trash and Treasure series (Quill Tree, Sept. 2024). From the publisher’s website:
Colin has spent all summer solving mysteries with his friend Nevaeh. But they’ve only ever dealt with other p...
October 9, 2024
Author Interview: Sher Lee on Recreating Classics with a Queer Twist
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
By: AJ Eversole
Excited to speak to Sher Lee today about her YA fantasy debut! A queer retelling of a classic Chinese folktale, Legend of the White Snake (Quill Tree, 2024), is full of romance, suspense, and just enough thrill to keep your grip tight on the pages. I’ve previously spoken to Sher about her co...
October 8, 2024
In Memory: Author-Agent Dilys Evans & Author- Illustrator James Proimos
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Dilys Evans
“Dilys Evans, a trailblazing representative of children’s book illustrators, and a fierce champion for recognition of their contributions to the fine arts world, died on July 23 at age 88,” reported Publishers Weekly.
A native of England, Evans moved to the United States in 1...
October 4, 2024
Author & Editor Interview: Author Debbie Zapata & Editor Kristine Enderle on Addressing Tough Topics in Picture Books
Today we welcome author Debbie Zapata and her editor, Kristine Enderle of Magination Press to discuss writing about tough topics, bilingual books, and Debbie’s latest book, Abuela’s Letter, illustrated by Alejandra Ruiz (Magination Press, October 2024).
Debbie Zapata, author and Licensed Clinical Social Worker
When considering picture book topics, the loss of a grandparent probably doesn’t show up on that many brainstorming lists. What prompted you to write Abuela’s Letter?
...October 3, 2024
Thowback Thursday: Author Jen Ferguson on What She Has Learned As A Writer
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Congratulations to author Jen Ferguson on the publication of A Constellation of Minor Bears (Heartdrum, September 2024)! From the publisher’s website:
Before that awful Saturday, Molly used to be inseparable from her brother, Hank, and his best friend, Tray. The indoor climbing accident that left Hank with ...
October 2, 2024
Author & Illustrator Interview: Creative Team Mary Tony & Pyrce Raphael Share Their Alaska Native Heritage in Windswept
During the pandemic some baked sourdough bread, others learned to knit or gardened. Author Mary Tony reflected on life deeply and compiled the stories of her childhood adventures of growing up near Chitina, Alaska into a memoir, Windswept: Chitina Alaska Childhood, illustrated by Pyrce Raphael (Fathom Publishing Company, 2024) and a companion book told from the perspective of the animals in the area, Windswept: Tales for Children, illustrated by Pyrce Raphael (Fathom Publish...
October 1, 2024
Author Interview: Hena Khan on Learning New Techniques to Reach Readers Across Age Categories & in Various Formats
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Today we welcome Hena Khan to Cynsations as she discusses her new middle grade graphic novel, We are Big Time, illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui (Penguin Random House, 2024), featuring an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team.
This is a stellar year for Hena with five books out. Despite he...
