Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 72

Guest Post: Helena Echlin on How to Write (& Rewrite) a Tale of Suspense

By Helena Echlin
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Cynsations Note: 

Happy Halloween! 

Yesterday we heard from Gillian French about techniques for building suspense. 

Today Helena Echlin shares her take on giving your readers goosebumps. 

And if you looking for even more ways to scare your readers, check out this post from April Henry, one of the post popular Cynsations posts ever.

And now, Helena.

One rainy Friday the 13th a few years ago, I met up for a drink with fellow no...

Guest Post: Gillian French on Hooking Readers: How to Build Suspense

By Gillian French
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Cynsations Note: 

What scares you? Snakes? Spiders? Bigfoot? It's different for everyone. Likewise, authors use different approaches for building suspense. 

Our Halloween treat for you is a glimpse at techniques from two YA authors for upping the stakes. 

We suspect this is a topic you want to know more about, because the most popular Cynsations posts of all time is April Henry's guest post on adding tension.

So,without further...

Cynsations News

By Cynthia Leitich Smith,
Gayleen Rabakukk & Robin Galbraith
for Cynsations

Author Interviews

The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast by Samantha M. Clark from Watch. Connect. Read by Mr. Schu. Peek:

"Reading is how we learn, explore, experience, escape. When I was little, I moved around a lot....And with each move, I became a little more quiet and shy. But with stories in books, I could be anyone in any place. My world got so much bigger..."

A Conversation with YA Author Francisco X. Stork from Latin...

Guest Post: Sarah Albee on Brain Training: How Writers Must Learn to Shift Gears

By Sarah Albee
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

If you write for kids, chances are you are working on several things at the same time.

 Most writers of books for kids don’t have the luxury of working on one project for years and years. We are short-order cooks, juggling multiple tasks at multiple stages.

So how do we shift gears between projects?

To answer this question, I thought I’d start by giving you a tour of what’s on my own highly-organized and tidy desk today:

My laptop, which in...

Guest Post: Karen Leggett Salutes the Children’s Africana Book Awards

By Karen Leggett
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Brenda Randolph, founder and director of Africa Access, was raised in the segregated schools and libraries of Richmond, Virginia.

“I was an avid reader, but I never encountered crude racism in children’s books," she said. "I remember being irritated by some comments, but I never came upon viciously racist sentiments or characters. I think my African American librarians protected me by careful book selection.”

Randolph’s awareness jumped dram...

Survivors: Alex Flinn on Thriving as a Long-Time, Actively Publishing YA Author

Learn more about Alex Flinn.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 five books were realistic "problem" fiction. This was very much in vogue when my first two were publis...

Cynsations Intern: Robin Galbraith on Giving Yourself Permission to Write

Would-Be Kid Writer RobinBy Robin Galbraith
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

I tried to write my first story when I was in second grade. My family was gathered around the TV like every night. While “M*A*S*H” played in the background, I stared at my blank paper and dreamed up what I thought was a hilarious story of a girl who used every possible excuse to avoid going to bed—a subject I knew well.

During the commercials I excitedly told my mom my plans.

“Oh, hon,” my mom said. “It will never...

Cynsational News

By Cynthia Leitich Smith & Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynsations

Author Interviews

We've Been Waiting in the Wings Forever: A Queer Theater Story by Amy Rose Capetta from CBC Diversity. Peek: "It’s no real secret that the theater world, from the professional stages in NYC to the drama clubs in most schools are havens for creative and hardworking LGBTQIAP folks. Before I even knew I was queer, I found my people, and they shared my fervor for story-making, a heady mix of love and ambition that...

Author Interview: Cynthia Levinson on Fault Lines in the Constitution

By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Cynthia Levinson is co-author of Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Framers, Their Fights, And the Flaws That Affect Us Today, also by Sanford Levinson (Peachtree, 2017). From the promotional copy: 
Many of the political issues we struggle with today have their roots in the US Constitution.
Husband-and-wife team Cynthia and Sanford Levinson take readers back to the creation of this historic document and discuss how contemporar...

New Voice: Jonathan Rosen on Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies

By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Jonathan Rosen is the debut author of Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies (Sky Pony Press, 2017). From the promotional copy:

Twelve-year-old Devin Dexter has a problem. 

Well, actually, many of them. His cousin, Tommy, sees conspiracies behind every corner. And Tommy thinks Devin’s new neighbor, Herb, is a warlock . . . but nobody believes him. Even Devin’s skeptical. But soon strange things start happening. 

Things like the hot n...