Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 77
September 7, 2017
New Voice: Leah Henderson on One Shadow On the Wall
By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Leah Henderson is the debut author of One Shadow On the Wall (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, June 6, 2017). From the promotional copy:
An orphaned boy in contemporary Senegal must decide between doing what is right and what is easy as he struggles to keep a promise he made to his dying father in this captivating debut novel laced with magical realism.
Eleven-year-old Mor was used to hearing his father’s voice, even if no one else could...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's CynsationsLeah Henderson is the debut author of One Shadow On the Wall (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, June 6, 2017). From the promotional copy:
An orphaned boy in contemporary Senegal must decide between doing what is right and what is easy as he struggles to keep a promise he made to his dying father in this captivating debut novel laced with magical realism.
Eleven-year-old Mor was used to hearing his father’s voice, even if no one else could...
September 6, 2017
In Memory: Jill McElmurry
By Cynthia Leitich Smithfor CynsationsAuthor-illustrator Jill McElmurry died in August while Cynsations was on summer hiatus.
Obituary: Jill McElmurry by Jill Kantor from Publishers Weekly. Peek: "Acclaimed children’s book author and illustrator Jill McElmurry...died of breast cancer on August 3, at her home in Taos, N.M. She was 62 years old.
"...McElmurry illustrated more than 20 picture books, of which she also wrote four. Her most widely known collaboration was with author Alice Sche...
September 5, 2017
Children's-YA Literature Community Joins in Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts
Gayleen RabakukkBy Gayleen Rabakukkfor Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Last week, I ached seeing the images of flooding and devastation in Houston and surrounding areas along the Gulf coast. With reports of record-setting high water also came amazing stories of people helping each other. I couldn't be more proud of my newly-adopted state!
For those in the kidlit community, once the immediate needs of food and shelter are met, the next priority is books. Our community has stepped up with aplo...
May 27, 2017
Summer Hiatus & Publishing Preview
Gayleen and Cynthia at the Austin SCBWI conferenceBy Gayleen Rabakukkfor Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Cynsations is now officially on summer hiatus, we will return in the fall with more inspiration, insights and information on children's-YA writing, illustration, literature and publishing.
In the meantime, keep up on all those topics with Cynthia Leitich Smith on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Cynsational Queries
If you have an idea for a Cynsations post, please email Gayleen to dis...
May 26, 2017
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith & Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynsations
Spotlight on Latina Illustrators by Cecilia Cackley from Latinx in Kidlit. Peek from Alyssa Bermudez: "Picture books are important because it allows children to visualize and understand their own stories as they grow up. They can see their lives reflected in this way. The world is an exciting and colorful place full of adventure, and picture books highlight this to kids and adults."
How Much Should You Personalize a Qu...
for Cynsations
Spotlight on Latina Illustrators by Cecilia Cackley from Latinx in Kidlit. Peek from Alyssa Bermudez: "Picture books are important because it allows children to visualize and understand their own stories as they grow up. They can see their lives reflected in this way. The world is an exciting and colorful place full of adventure, and picture books highlight this to kids and adults."How Much Should You Personalize a Qu...
May 25, 2017
Guest Post: Padma Venkatraman on Voice: Writing Lean, Spare or Lush, Rich
Padma writing on the dockBy Padma Venkatraman for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
One of the most vital aspects of timeless writing is voice. Every serious reader, every writer has (or must develop), a strong sense of what voice is. Yet, like time, voice eludes definition.
Of course, I’m going to try and define it. To me, voice is the promise of the first page – the texture of the writing. It’s like the background music in a movie – or the wash an artist lays down to prepare the painting – s...
May 24, 2017
Guest Post: Linda Joy Singleton on Novels to Picture Books, the Long & Short of Writing for Children
By Linda Joy Singleton
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
When I joined SCBWI, my biggest dream was to sell a middle-grade novel. I attended as many workshops as I could and was excited when there were speakers who wrote MG or YA.
But often I had to sit through talks on writing picture books.
It seemed like writers all around me were in love with the picture book genre. I enjoyed reading picture books to my kids, but I was writing for the kid in me and preferred thrilling middl...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
When I joined SCBWI, my biggest dream was to sell a middle-grade novel. I attended as many workshops as I could and was excited when there were speakers who wrote MG or YA.But often I had to sit through talks on writing picture books.
It seemed like writers all around me were in love with the picture book genre. I enjoyed reading picture books to my kids, but I was writing for the kid in me and preferred thrilling middl...
May 23, 2017
Book Trailer: This is How We Do It by Matt Lamothe
By Cynthia Leitich Smithfor Cynsations
Check out the book trailer for This is How We Do It by Matt Lamothe (Chronicle, 2017). From the promotional copy:
This is How We Do It follows the real lives of seven kids from Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda, and Russia for a single day.
In Japan, Kei plays Freeze Tag, while, in Uganda, Daphine likes to jump rope. But while the way they play may differ, the shared rhythm of their days—and this one world we all share—unites them. Th...
May 22, 2017
Guest Post: Melissa Stewart on Concept Picture Books
By Melissa Stewart
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Most people in the children’s literature community are familiar with picture book biographies, but did you know that there’s a second major category of nonfiction picture books?
It’s time to shine some light on concept picture books.
A concept picture book explores an abstract idea or process, and in many cases, offers a unique perspective or new way of seeing things.
This approach works well for authors interested in focusing on patte...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Most people in the children’s literature community are familiar with picture book biographies, but did you know that there’s a second major category of nonfiction picture books?
It’s time to shine some light on concept picture books.
A concept picture book explores an abstract idea or process, and in many cases, offers a unique perspective or new way of seeing things.
This approach works well for authors interested in focusing on patte...
May 19, 2017
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith & Gayleen Rabakukkfor Cynsations
Friendship, Family & Food: Hena Khan & Karuna Riazi on Writing for Salaam Reads by Kiera Parrot from School Library Journal. Peek from Karuna Riazi: "Fantasy has always been my first love and has always been the primary genre I write within. It’s also what I grew up on—particularly the plethora of marvelous girl-power centered narratives that cropped up in the 90s: Ella Enchanted [by Gail Carson Levine (H...
