Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 79
May 4, 2017
Guest Post: Lindsey Lane on Marketing & Paperback Release of Evidence of Things Not Seen
By Lindsey Lane
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
What are you supposed to do when your debut novel releases in paperback?
a) Nothing
b) Heave a sigh of relief
c) Let everyone know
d) All of the above
Ahhh, the conundrums of marketing.
Guess what? There is no prescribed method for marketing our books. There is no must-do, have-to do, should-do list. There is no recommended amount of time you spend doing marketing.
And guess what else? Marketing is counter-intuitive to every thing we love to do a...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's CynsationsWhat are you supposed to do when your debut novel releases in paperback?
a) Nothing
b) Heave a sigh of relief
c) Let everyone know
d) All of the above
Ahhh, the conundrums of marketing.
Guess what? There is no prescribed method for marketing our books. There is no must-do, have-to do, should-do list. There is no recommended amount of time you spend doing marketing.
And guess what else? Marketing is counter-intuitive to every thing we love to do a...
May 3, 2017
Author Interview: Laurie Wallmark on Clarifying Complex Topics & Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code
By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Today we welcome Laurie Wallmark to discuss her new picture book, Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code, illustrated by Katy Wu (Sterling Books, May 16, 2017). From the promotional copy:
Who was Grace Hopper? A software tester, workplace jester, cherished mentor, ace inventor, avid reader, naval leader—and rule breaker, chance taker, and troublemaker.
Grace Hopper coined the term “computer bug” and taught computers to “speak English....
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Today we welcome Laurie Wallmark to discuss her new picture book, Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code, illustrated by Katy Wu (Sterling Books, May 16, 2017). From the promotional copy:Who was Grace Hopper? A software tester, workplace jester, cherished mentor, ace inventor, avid reader, naval leader—and rule breaker, chance taker, and troublemaker.
Grace Hopper coined the term “computer bug” and taught computers to “speak English....
May 2, 2017
Book Trailer: The Absoluteness of Nothing by C.G. Watson
By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
The Absoluteness of Nothing by C.G. Watson (Simon Pulse, May 2017) releases today in paperback. From the promotional copy:
Caleb Tosh has suffered one personal trauma too many, but this last one - the sudden departure of his mom - has pushed him down a dark and disorienting path.
His favorite video game, the Boneyard, becomes his go-to coping mechanism, and Tosh gladly gets lost in the maps of the game rather than moving through the lands...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
The Absoluteness of Nothing by C.G. Watson (Simon Pulse, May 2017) releases today in paperback. From the promotional copy:Caleb Tosh has suffered one personal trauma too many, but this last one - the sudden departure of his mom - has pushed him down a dark and disorienting path.
His favorite video game, the Boneyard, becomes his go-to coping mechanism, and Tosh gladly gets lost in the maps of the game rather than moving through the lands...
May 1, 2017
Guest Post: Jane Kurtz on Bringing Books Into the World
By Jane Kurtz
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Giving birth to a book is hard. I know. I know. Whine whine whine. Anyway, labor pains are almost over. The new middle grade novel is almost out in the world.
On the verge of my book’s birthday, I returned to the Portland school where my brother and fellow author, Chris Kurtz, was teaching third grade the year I was revising Planet Jupiter (Greenwillow, 2017) —and where I got to read the whole manuscript, chapter by chapter, week after week, t...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's CynsationsGiving birth to a book is hard. I know. I know. Whine whine whine. Anyway, labor pains are almost over. The new middle grade novel is almost out in the world.
On the verge of my book’s birthday, I returned to the Portland school where my brother and fellow author, Chris Kurtz, was teaching third grade the year I was revising Planet Jupiter (Greenwillow, 2017) —and where I got to read the whole manuscript, chapter by chapter, week after week, t...
April 28, 2017
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith & Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynsations
An Interview With Loving vs. Virginia Illustrator Shadra Strickland by Jennifer Tolo Pierce from the Chronicle Books blog. Peek: "The challenge for me was to retain the looseness and spontaneity of the drawings as if I were drawing right in front of each scene. I had to make up each scene by constructing collaged elements using photographs of the Lovings that I found online."
Six YA Titles That Epitomize #OwnVoice...
for Cynsations
An Interview With Loving vs. Virginia Illustrator Shadra Strickland by Jennifer Tolo Pierce from the Chronicle Books blog. Peek: "The challenge for me was to retain the looseness and spontaneity of the drawings as if I were drawing right in front of each scene. I had to make up each scene by constructing collaged elements using photographs of the Lovings that I found online."Six YA Titles That Epitomize #OwnVoice...
April 27, 2017
Edward Gets Messy Wins Anna Dewdney Read Together Award
Compiled by Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Penguin Young Readers, the Children's Book Council, and Every Child a Reader announced yesterday Edward Gets Messy by Rita Meade, illustrated by Olga Stern (Simon & Schuster, 2016) is the winner of the first Anna Dewdney Read Together Award.
This award is to be given annually to a picture book that is both a superb read-aloud and also sparks compassion, empathy, and connection.
The award commemorates the life and wo...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's CynsationsPenguin Young Readers, the Children's Book Council, and Every Child a Reader announced yesterday Edward Gets Messy by Rita Meade, illustrated by Olga Stern (Simon & Schuster, 2016) is the winner of the first Anna Dewdney Read Together Award.
This award is to be given annually to a picture book that is both a superb read-aloud and also sparks compassion, empathy, and connection.
The award commemorates the life and wo...
April 26, 2017
Author Interview: Courtney Stevens on Faith in Lit & Life
By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Today we welcome author Courtney Stevens to discuss her upcoming YA novel, Dress Codes for Small Towns (Harper Teen, August 22, 2017). From the promotional copy:
The year I was seventeen, I had five best friends...and I was in love with all of them for different reasons.
Billie McCaffrey is always starting things. Like couches constructed of newspapers and two-by-fours. Like costumes made of aluminum cans and Starburst papers. Like troubl...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Today we welcome author Courtney Stevens to discuss her upcoming YA novel, Dress Codes for Small Towns (Harper Teen, August 22, 2017). From the promotional copy:The year I was seventeen, I had five best friends...and I was in love with all of them for different reasons.
Billie McCaffrey is always starting things. Like couches constructed of newspapers and two-by-fours. Like costumes made of aluminum cans and Starburst papers. Like troubl...
April 25, 2017
Author Interview: Anne Marie Pace on Writing Gothic Picture Books & Vampirina on TV
By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Today we welcome Anne Marie Pace to discuss her latest picture book, Vampirina At The Beach, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (Disney-Hyperion, April 2017) and it's forthcoming animated series on Disney Junior. From the promotional copy:
When the summer moon is full, a beach trip is an epic way to spend the night.
With her signature poise, Vampirina gears up for a festive time at the beach.
Keeping her ballet lessons in mind, Vampirina dem...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's CynsationsToday we welcome Anne Marie Pace to discuss her latest picture book, Vampirina At The Beach, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (Disney-Hyperion, April 2017) and it's forthcoming animated series on Disney Junior. From the promotional copy:
When the summer moon is full, a beach trip is an epic way to spend the night.
With her signature poise, Vampirina gears up for a festive time at the beach.
Keeping her ballet lessons in mind, Vampirina dem...
April 24, 2017
Author Interview: Jenn Bishop on Stormy Middle Grade Emotions
By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Today we welcome author Jenn Bishop to talk about her upcoming middle grade novel, 14 Hollow Road (Alfred A. Knopf, June 13, 2017). From the promotional copy:
The night of the sixth-grade dance is supposed to be perfect for Maddie; she’ll wear her beautiful new dress, she’ll hit the dance floor with her friends, and her crush, Avery, will ask her to dance.
Most importantly, she’ll finally leave her tiny elementary school behind for...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's CynsationsToday we welcome author Jenn Bishop to talk about her upcoming middle grade novel, 14 Hollow Road (Alfred A. Knopf, June 13, 2017). From the promotional copy:
The night of the sixth-grade dance is supposed to be perfect for Maddie; she’ll wear her beautiful new dress, she’ll hit the dance floor with her friends, and her crush, Avery, will ask her to dance.
Most importantly, she’ll finally leave her tiny elementary school behind for...
April 21, 2017
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith & Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynsations
The Changing Face of Family by Natasha Friend from CBC Diversity. Peek: "The traditional definition of family as a married mother and father and their children living under the same roof is woefully outdated, not to mention exclusionary."
A New Voice in Kid's Books by Melanie Kletter from Time For Kids Magazine. Peek: (Hena Khan) "....I had heard of resistance to mosques being built in communities, and some vandalism at mosques....
for Cynsations
The Changing Face of Family by Natasha Friend from CBC Diversity. Peek: "The traditional definition of family as a married mother and father and their children living under the same roof is woefully outdated, not to mention exclusionary."A New Voice in Kid's Books by Melanie Kletter from Time For Kids Magazine. Peek: (Hena Khan) "....I had heard of resistance to mosques being built in communities, and some vandalism at mosques....
