Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 81

New Voice: Michael Merschel on Revenge of the Star Survivors

By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Michael Merschel is the first-time author of Revenge of the Star Survivors (Holiday House, 2017). From the promotional copy:
Middle school meets the Dark Side in this painfully funny survival story of social misfit Clark Sherman. 
When Clark crash-lands on the inhospitable planet of Festus Middle School, he soon learns the natives don't take kindly to newcomers . . . particularly ones who practice Jedi mind tricks and follow nerdy TV...

New Voice: Author-Illustrator Suzanne Del Rizzo

By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

While a well-published illustrator, Suzanne Del Rizzo celebrates her authorial debut with My Beautiful Birds, which she also illustrated (Pajama Press, March 2017). From the promotional copy:

Behind Sami, the Syrian skyline is full of smoke. The boy follows his family and all his neighbours in a long line, as they trudge through the sands and hills to escape the bombs that have destroyed their homes. But all Sami can think of is his pet...

Guest Post: Bethany Hegedus on Writer Mama Survival Guide

By Bethany Hegedus
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

There are craft books on writing and parenting books galore, but nothing on how to be a “Writer Mama.”

I’ve watched many friends make the transition, somehow blurry-eyed making it to the page in between breast feeding and diaper changes. 
I’ve witnessed my friends with kids in elementary school put in longer hours, taking their laptops with them to doctor appointments and school pick-ups. My friends with teens write with them at...

In Memory: Amy Krouse Rosenthal

By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Children's Author and Filmmaker, Dies at 51 by Sam Roberts from the New York Times. In addition to 28 children's books and two memoirs, she also wrote many essays, including the recent You May Want to Marry My Husband, published just 10 days before her death. When her obituary was published March 13, 2017, the Times reported it had been read online 4.5 million times.

The dating profile-style essay about her hus...

Cynsational News

By Cynthia Leitich Smith & Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynsations

How Jumanji Inspired Karuna Riazi's Novel The Gauntlet by Nivea Serrao from Entertainment Weekly. Peek:"...as a Muslim author writing in this really horrible political climate where a lot of Muslim kids are not made to feel welcome or at home, or no longer have a physical home to turn to, it was amazing that this architecture felt like welcoming people home. It was a beautiful thing to imagine — someone coming and see...

Author-Illustrator Interview: Chieu Anh Urban on Developing Interactive Board Books

By Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Congratulations on Color Wonder: Hooray for Spring! (Little Simon, 2016) This is your third novelty book. 

Cynsations readers may remember your debut Raindrops: The Color of Showers (illustrated by by Viviana Garofoli, Sterling, 2010) and the creative process you described then.

Thank you for having me back; it's hard to believe seven years have gone by. I'm excited to still be working on novelty books, and appreciate the opport...

Interview: Lee & Low New Voices Award Winners

Roberto PenasBy Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Lee & Low Books recently announced Roberto Penas of Olathe, Kansas won the 17th annual New Voices Award.

His manuscript, "Pedro Flores: The Toymaker," is a biography of the inventor of the modern yo-yo.

In the early 1900s, Flores emigrated from the Philippines to the United States, where he pursued an education and his entrepreneurial ambitions. He redesigned the toy and named it "yo-yo" (Tagalog for "come back.")

Roberto...

Lee & Low New Voices Awards

Roberto PenasBy Gayleen Rabakukk
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Lee & Low Books recently announced Roberto Penas of Olathe, Kansas won the 17th annual New Voices Award.

His manuscript, "Pedro Flores: The Toymaker," is a biography of the inventor of the modern yo-yo.

In the early 1900s, Flores emigrated from the Philippines to the United States, where he pursued an education and his entrepreneurial ambitions. He redesigned the toy and named it "yo-yo" (Tagalog for "come back.")

Roberto...

2017 Europolitan Con: Agent Penny Holroyde & Author-Illustrator Chris Mould

By Catherine Coe
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Note: This is the final installment of our series focusing on the SCBWI Europolitan Conference. Author Catherine Coe interviewed agent Penny Holroyde and her client author-illustrator Chris Mould.

Agent Penny Holroyde started her career in publishing over twenty years ago working in the rights department at Walker Books and selling picture book co-editions across the world.

She then relocated to Massachusetts and worked as Director of R...

2017 Europolitan Con: Art Director Laurent Linn of Simon & Schuster

By Gabriela Nicole Gonzalez
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Laurent Linn, Art Director for Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, began his career as a puppet designer/builder in Jim Henson's Muppet Workshop, creating characters for various productions, including the Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island films. With Henson for over a decade, he worked primarily on Sesame Street, becoming the Creative Director for the Sesame Street Muppets, winning an Emmy Award.

Current...