Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 74
October 6, 2017
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith & Gayleen Rabakukkfor Cynsations
Author Interviews
Questions & Answers by Supriya Kelkar from Nerdy Book Club. Peek: "...in all the books that filled my library, there was not one book featuring anyone who looked even remotely like me. I had dozens of books starring a diverse range of bears, from teddy bears to Little Bear to several types of brown bears, but not one book featuring a child with brown skin and black hair."
Chatting With Editors Who Make It Happen...
October 5, 2017
2017 Europolitan Con Portfolio Winner Interview: Ana Larrañaga
By Sanne Dufft
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Note: SCBWI Germany/Austria's Illustrator Coordinator Sanne Dufft interviewed Ana Larrañaga, a winner of the portfolio contest that took place at the SCBWI Europolitan Con in Belgium earlier this year. This is the second of two articles.
Ana Larrañaga was born in San Sebastian, Spain. She grew up in the country surrounded by a huge family and a lot of animals. After studying art, she went to Scotland with the intention of staying for onl...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's CynsationsNote: SCBWI Germany/Austria's Illustrator Coordinator Sanne Dufft interviewed Ana Larrañaga, a winner of the portfolio contest that took place at the SCBWI Europolitan Con in Belgium earlier this year. This is the second of two articles.
Ana Larrañaga was born in San Sebastian, Spain. She grew up in the country surrounded by a huge family and a lot of animals. After studying art, she went to Scotland with the intention of staying for onl...
October 4, 2017
2017 Eurpolitan Con Portfolio Winner: Simona M. Ceccarelli
By Angela Cerrito
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Note: Cynsations reporter Angela Cerrito interviewed Simona M. Ceccarelli, winner of the portfolio contest that took place at the SCBWI Europolitan Con in Belgium earlier this year. This is the first of two articles.
Simona M. Ceccarelli is a freshly hatched children’s writer and illustrator. A passion for visual storytelling and the success of her early whiteboard animation series “Drawn to Science” has actually d...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's CynsationsNote: Cynsations reporter Angela Cerrito interviewed Simona M. Ceccarelli, winner of the portfolio contest that took place at the SCBWI Europolitan Con in Belgium earlier this year. This is the first of two articles.
Simona M. Ceccarelli is a freshly hatched children’s writer and illustrator. A passion for visual storytelling and the success of her early whiteboard animation series “Drawn to Science” has actually d...
2107 Eurpolitan Con Portfolio Winner: Simona M. Ceccarelli
By Angela Cerrito
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Note: Cynsations reporter Angela Cerrito interviewed Simona M. Ceccarelli, winner of the portfolio contest that took place at the SCBWI Europolitan Con in Belgium earlier this year. This is the first of two articles.
Simona M. Ceccarelli is a freshly hatched children’s writer and illustrator. A passion for visual storytelling and the success of her early whiteboard animation series “Drawn to Science” has actually d...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's CynsationsNote: Cynsations reporter Angela Cerrito interviewed Simona M. Ceccarelli, winner of the portfolio contest that took place at the SCBWI Europolitan Con in Belgium earlier this year. This is the first of two articles.
Simona M. Ceccarelli is a freshly hatched children’s writer and illustrator. A passion for visual storytelling and the success of her early whiteboard animation series “Drawn to Science” has actually d...
October 3, 2017
Survivors: Cynthia Leitich Smith on Thriving as a Long-Time, Actively Publishing Children's-YA Author
Shelley Ann Jackson, Chris Barton, Jennifer Ziegler, Cyn & P.J. HooverBy Cynthia Leitich Smithfor Cynsations
Writers put so much emphasis on that first children’s-YA book sale, the debut launch—but maintaining an active publishing career is arguably a much bigger challenge than breaking into the business.
So, let’s talk about career endurance as authors of books for young readers.
I’ve invited numerous, well (and enduringly) published friends and colleagues to share their thoughts in futur...
October 2, 2017
Tantalize-Feral Verse 10-Year Anniversary
By Cynthia Leitich Smithfor Cynsations
Happy 10th birthday, Sanguini's!
The Tantalize series features YA Gothic fantasy novels in both prose and graphic formats. These stories, set in the Tantalize-Feral universe, are suspenseful with high action and include romantic elements as well as some humor.
The first novel was released in 2007.
The Feral trilogy is a spin-off of the Tantalize series. The books are set in the same universe and feature many
overlapping characters and settings.
The Tantali...
October 1, 2017
#PubForPR: Publishing for Puerto Rico
Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations
The Publishing for Puerto Rico charity auction will feature more than 250 book- and writing-related items that may be bid upon to benefit hurricane relief efforts.
These include an Author Website and Social Media Evaluation from me, author Cynthia Leitich Smith. The package includes a one-page evaluation of current status, highlights and opportunities, followed by email Q&A exchange or half-hour phone consult (the latter availab...
for Cynsations
The Publishing for Puerto Rico charity auction will feature more than 250 book- and writing-related items that may be bid upon to benefit hurricane relief efforts.
These include an Author Website and Social Media Evaluation from me, author Cynthia Leitich Smith. The package includes a one-page evaluation of current status, highlights and opportunities, followed by email Q&A exchange or half-hour phone consult (the latter availab...
September 30, 2017
In Memory: Dianne de Las Casas
By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Author Dianne de Las Casas died Aug. 21 while Cynsations was on summer hiatus.
A 'Magnetic Personality': Author, Storyteller Killed in Harvey House Fire by Jonathan Bullington from The Times-Picayune. Peek: "An award-winning author, Casas published more than two dozen books. She founded Picture Book Month, celebrated in November and recognized by the American Association of School Librarians."
Dianne Christine Casas Obituary from The New...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Author Dianne de Las Casas died Aug. 21 while Cynsations was on summer hiatus.A 'Magnetic Personality': Author, Storyteller Killed in Harvey House Fire by Jonathan Bullington from The Times-Picayune. Peek: "An award-winning author, Casas published more than two dozen books. She founded Picture Book Month, celebrated in November and recognized by the American Association of School Librarians."
Dianne Christine Casas Obituary from The New...
September 29, 2017
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith & Gayleen Rabakukkfor Cynsations
Author Interviews
Five Questions for Liz Garton Scanlon, Author of Caldecott-honored Book from the Writers' League of Texas. Peek: "I think in my transition from poet to children’s author, the biggest leap was, 'Why does something always have to happen?' I’m only sort of kidding. I felt so bullied by plot. But I’ve come to a much fuller understanding of where good plot originates — from deep inside a character..."
Devdutt Pattana...
September 27, 2017
New Voice: Ismée Williams on Water In May
By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Ismée Williams is the debut author of Water In May (Amulet Books, 2017). From the promotional copy:
Fifteen-year-old Mari Pujols believes that the baby she’s carrying will finally mean she’ll have a family member who will love her deeply and won’t ever leave her—not like her mama, who took off when she was eight; or her papi, who’s in jail; or her abuela, who wants as little to do with her as possible.
But when doctors discover a po...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Ismée Williams is the debut author of Water In May (Amulet Books, 2017). From the promotional copy:Fifteen-year-old Mari Pujols believes that the baby she’s carrying will finally mean she’ll have a family member who will love her deeply and won’t ever leave her—not like her mama, who took off when she was eight; or her papi, who’s in jail; or her abuela, who wants as little to do with her as possible.
But when doctors discover a po...
