Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 8
September 30, 2024
In Memory: Authors Cynthia DeFelice & Francine Pascal
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!
Author Cynthia DeFelice
Children’s book author Cynthia DeFelice, oft-lauded for her deft storytelling and absorbing themes, died on May 24, in Geneva, N.Y. She was 72, reported Publishers Weekly.
The child of a psychiatrist and an English teacher, DeFelice grew up in a home filled with b...
September 27, 2024
Career Achievers: Janet Nolan Focuses on Positives to Build a Picture Book Career
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!
Janet Nolan is a successful children’s author with a long, distinguished career.
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 wri...
September 26, 2024
Throwback Thursday: Author Dawn Quigley on Humor, Chapter Books & Decolonizing Grading
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 Dawn Quigley (Ojibwe) on the publication of Rule School, fourth book in the Jo Jo Makoons chapter book series, illustrated by Tara Audibert (Wolastoqey)(Heartdrum/HarperCollins, Sept. 10, 2024). From the publisher’s website:
It is good to follow the rules. But there are just so many! In t...
September 25, 2024
Author Interview: Andrea Rogers Celebrates Tradition with When We Gather
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
Author Andrea L. Rogers (Cherokee) joins us today to discuss her new picture book, When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw) (Heartdrum, May 2024).
What is the heart of When We Gather?
Wild Onion gathering and gatherings were a part ...
September 24, 2024
Author Interview: Doan Phuong Nguyen on Immigration, Assimilation & Writing
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 overjoyed to welcome children’s author Doan Phuong Nguyen, who has written two middle grade books related to her Vietnamese heritage. Her debut novel, Mèo and Bé, illustrated by Jesse White (Tu Books, 2023), was a 2024 Notable Book for a Global Society and a 2023 Freeman...
Author Interview: Doan Phuong Nguyen On Immigration, Assimilation & Writing
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 overjoyed to welcome children’s author Doan Phuong Nguyen, who has written two middle grade books related to her Vietnamese heritage. Her debut novel, Mèo and Bé, illustrated by Jesse White (Tu Books, 2023), was a 2024 Notable Book for a Global Society and a 2023 Freeman...
September 23, 2024
In Memory: Picture Book Authors Katey Howes & Florence Minor
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!
Author Katey Howes
“Children’s author Katey Howes, whose picture books often focused on STEM/STEAM themes, creativity, and individualism, died on May 20 in Langhorne, Pa. She was 47,” reported Publisher’s Weekly.
From Howes’ website, “A former physical therapist, Katey had a fascination ...
September 20, 2024
Author Interview: K.A. Cobell on the Fine Line of Fiction Inspired by Tragic Facts
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!
In June, I had the pleasure of meeting author K.A. Cobell during the very week her debut novel, Looking For Smoke (Heartdrum, 2024) was published. I downloaded the audiobook and was so captivated by the mystery that I finished it in only a couple days. I couldn’t wait to interview K.A. a...
September 19, 2024
Throwback Thursday: Alicia D. Williams Shares How Children Inspire Her Writing
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 Alicia D. Williams on her book, Mid-Air (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, April 2024) being longlisted for the National Book Award!
From the publisher’s website:
A tender-souled boy reeling from the death of his best friend struggles to fit into a world that wants him to grow up tough and u...
September 18, 2024
Author Interview: Jill Tew On Writing Dystopian For A New Generation
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
I have seriously loved every title I’ve read that comes from the JoyRevolution imprint, and this YA Dystopian—featuring Black main characters who have to bring down the corporate overlords all while riding a forbidden, tension-filled romance—had me on the edge of my seat. I knew I wanted to f...
