By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Welcome back to Cynsations!

I look forward to sharing information and inspiration about youth literature and publishing throughout 2016 (find out more about contributing to the blog).

This spring I’m also excited about the paperback release of Feral Pride (Candlewick, 2016) and appearances that include “In Reality and Fantasy: Diversity Done Right — with Author Cynthia Leitich Smith”, in conjunction with North Texas SCBWI, March 19 at the Latino Cultural Arts Center in Dallas, the Texas Library Association Conference in April in Houston and the Asian Festival of Children’s Content at the National Library in May in Singapore.

But first here’s a quick peek at the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults winter residency in Montpelier.

My workshop co-leader An Na

Books by visiting author-illustrator Shandra Strickland

By visiting faculty Nova Ren Suma and visiting author Kirby Larson

Alumni Anne Williard and Margaret Turner White before their graduate lectures.

In his lecture, faculty Tom Birdseye quotes Rita Williams-Garcia.

Faculty William Alexander and David Macannis Gill

Congratulations to the Inkredibles — Winter 2016 graduates!

See more photos on my Tweet deck @CynLeitichSmith or #vcfawcya.