Author taps love of comics for 1st graphic novel by Matt West from CNN. Here’s a sneak peek: “I’m a big believer in no matter what kind of art you do or want to do that you have to really delve into that genre a lot,” says [Cecil] Castellucci. “I took out my charge card and bought a [ton] of comic books!” See a new interview with Cecil Castellucci from Bookslut.
Every Picture Book Tells a Priceless Story by Teddy Jamieson of The Herald. Focusing on children’s picture book illustration. Source: ACHOCKABLOG.
Flight Tour Blog from author Sherman Alexie. Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature.
Linda Johns, author of the Hannah West mystery series (recommendation), launches a new site designed by Lisa Firke of Hit Those Keys.
Guest Blogger Alan Gratz on the post-contract revision of Samurai Shortshop (Dial, 2006) from Darcy Pattison’s Revision Notes.
Humor with Ruth McNally Barshaw from the Institute of Children’s Literature. A chat transcript.
Levine Greenberg Literary Agency: official agency site. “We love middle grade, young adult, and cross-over titles that strike a chord with young readers, and we are always looking for projects that reflect the real lives, inner imaginings and issues of today’s teen and preteen readers.”
Linda Urban, author of the forthcoming, A Crooked Kind of Perfect (Harcourt, fall 2007) also debuts a new site, also designed by Lisa Firke of Hit Those Keys. Note: Lisa doesn’t just design sites for people named Linda; she also designed mine.
Never Mind the Snakeskin, My Boy Got the Sheepskin by Kerry Madden from The Washington Post. A personal essay from the author of Louisiana’s Song (Viking, 2007)(excerpt).
Picture Book Fans! Enter for a chance to win Pest Fest by Julia Durango, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus (Simon & Schuster, 2007) from Three Silly Chicks. See an excerpt.
Potter artist Mary GrandPré makes magic from The Detroit Free Press. Source: Big A little a.
Promoting Your Novel: How To Make a Book Trailer by romance novelist Brenda Coulter from No rules. Just write. Source: Mitali’s Fire Escape; see Mitali’s book trailer.
The Texas Book Festival has re-designed and relaunched its site. “Now visitors will have the convenience of the same familiar web address, but will see great new user-friendly content. The website will feature printable event schedules, author bios, photos, past festival information, and up-to-date details about the 2007 festival, November 2-4. The new website also features the vibrant ‘Children’s Chapter’ with information on all of their favorite authors.” Note: I’m thrilled to see such great names as Shannon Hale, Kimberly Willis Holt (author interview), Deborah Wiles, and Mo Willems already on the schedule. This just in–I’ll be joining them, speaking about Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007) at the festival on Nov. 4! Hope to see some of you there!
YA fans! Enter for a chance to win Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (HarperCollins, 2007). Source: Class of 2K7 blog.
More Personally
Author David Lubar says of my new release Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007): “It’s a fun, inventive read, filled with vampires, werewolves, and food. Bravo to Cynthia. (Though there’s no way I’m ever letting her cook anything for me. Read the book to find out why.)” Glad to hear you’re reading again! Read the whole post.
Burlesque of the Damned chimes in: “in Quince, the author has created a strong female character capable of kicking supernatural butt with a pair of snazzy red cowboy boots. Verdict: Tantalizingly cute.”
Cynsational Notes
Soon Cynsations will go on summer hiatus! If you’re an interviewee who has yet to turn in answers, please touch base with me on your status. It likely will make the most sense to defer your interview until regular posting resumes.
Thank you to the Central Texas Teachers of English for the lovely gift certificate to Mars on South Congress in Austin! The Tandoori chicken is highly recommended!