Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 84
March 1, 2017
Guest Post: Carole Lindstrom on Writing on Two Continents
By Carole Lindstromfor Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Cynsations
I recently returned to live in the Washington D.C. area after a three-year stint living in Durban, South Africa.
Why Durban, you ask? Most people do. That is definitely a story I will be writing one day – so you'll have to stay tuned for that one.
My first picture book, Girls Dance, Boys Fiddle, illustrated by Kimberly McKay (Pemmican Publications, 2013), was published three months after I moved to Durban.
Don't get me wrong - I was thrill...
February 28, 2017
Author Interview: P.J. Hoover on Creating Promotional Tie-In Extras For Your Book
By Gayleen Rabakukkfor Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
When I first read P.J. Hoover's Cynsations post that mentioned video games related to Tut: The Story of My Immortal Life (Starscape, 2014), I thought, "She's an electrical engineer. That's not something someone like me could actually do."
Still, it's a very intriguing idea.
We hear all the time about kids playing video games instead of reading books. What if the video games could actually make them want to read?
When I hear...
February 27, 2017
Guest Post: Varsha Bajaj on Finding Your Book at Target
By Varsha Bajaj for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
On November 9, 2016, I was at my local Target store.
I had bought milk, eggs, bananas and dog treats and I wandered into the books section because that’s where I am known to stray when I need comforting.
Right there beside Dr. Seuss and under Eric Carle was This is Our Baby, Born Today (by Varsha Bajaj, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler, Nancy Paulsen Books, 2016).
I pulled out my phone and clicked a picture, as if I needed proof f...
February 24, 2017
Cynsational News & Giveaways
By Cynthia Leitich Smith & Gayleen Rabakukkfor Cynsations
Poeta Rebelde by Guadalupe Garcia McCall from Latinxs in Kid Lit. Peek: "Poetry gives voice to my fears. It allows me to express my concerns with bold and powerful words." See also Kwame Alexander & Nikki Grimes on the Power of Poetry from Publishers Weekly.
How to Use IBM's WATSON Artificial Intelligence to Improve Your Writing -- For Free by Martina Boone from Adventures in YA Publishing. Peek...
February 23, 2017
Author Interview: Lamar Giles on Writing Mysteries, Diversity & His Writing Journey
By Gayleen Rabakukkfor Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Lamar Giles' last Cynsations visit was in 2014 as a debut author.
Since then, he's had two novels named Edgar Award finalists by the Mystery Writers of America and helped found We Need Diverse Books.
He serves as senior vice president of fundraising for the non-profit organization dedicated to putting more books featuring diverse characters into the hands of all children.
I talked with him recently about the writing life and his latest mys...
February 22, 2017
Authors, Editor & Illustrator Interview: Fred Korematsu Speaks Up (Fighting for Justice)
By Gayleen Rabakukkfor Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Laura Atkins and Stan Yogi are the co-authors of Fred Korematsu Speaks Up, illustrated by Yukata Houlette (Heyday, 2017). From the promotional copy:
Fred Korematsu liked listening to music on the radio, playing tennis, and hanging around with his friends—just like lots of other Americans.
But everything changed when the United States went to war with Japan in 1941 and the government forced all people of Japanese ancestry to leave th...
February 21, 2017
Author Interview: Cynthia Levinson on The Youngest Marcher
By Gayleen Rabakukkfor Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Cynthia Levinson's most recent book has a direct correlation to one of her previous titles. I talked with her recently about writing her first picture book, social justice and biscuits.
Tell us about the process of transforming We've Got A Job into a picture book.
You’re right—The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton (Atheneum, 2017) evolved o...
February 20, 2017
New Voice: Sue Lowell Gallion on Pug Meets Pig
By Gayleen Rabakukkfor Cynthia Leitich Smith's CynsationsSue Lowell Gallion is the debut author of Pug Meets Pig (Beach Lane, 2016), illustrated by Joyce Wan. From the promotional copy:
Meet Pug. Pug is one happy pup. He has his own yard, his own bowl, and his own cozy bed. That is, until Pig moves in! Pig eats from Pug's bowl, interrupts Pug's work, and, worst of all, sleeps in Pug's bed. Will Pug and Pig ever learn to live together as friends?
With adorable illustrations from Joyce Wan,...
February 17, 2017
Cynsational News & Giveaways
By Cynthia Leitich Smith & Gayleen Rabakukkfor Cynsations
45 Books to Counter Islamophobia Through Stories from Kita B World. Peek: "...we invite you to fight fear with knowledge. In the same spirit of solidarity, we ask - can you help us take these books to as many children as possible in homes, schools, libraries and communities? We are a small team but with these resources, we are offering you a way to have conversations about diversity, address fears, and create a sense of belonging an...
February 16, 2017
Guest Post: Crossing the Bar: Or a YA Fiction Writer Tries Out Adult Non-Fiction
By Marianne Monson
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations
Up until the publication of my most recent book, Frontier Grit: The Untold True Stories of Pioneer Women (Shadow Mountain, 2016), I’ve primarily considered myself a young adult fiction writer.
When my editor asked me to take on this project, I protested that I wasn’t a historian, but she insisted that she wanted the book to have a strong narrative voice. The concept she proposed was a collection of pioneer biographies with part...
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's CynsationsUp until the publication of my most recent book, Frontier Grit: The Untold True Stories of Pioneer Women (Shadow Mountain, 2016), I’ve primarily considered myself a young adult fiction writer.
When my editor asked me to take on this project, I protested that I wasn’t a historian, but she insisted that she wanted the book to have a strong narrative voice. The concept she proposed was a collection of pioneer biographies with part...
