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| 2016 Holiday |
Happy New Year!
Cynsations will officially return from winter hiatus in late January.
In the meantime, consider this an invitation to query me about potential future interviews, guest posts, giveaways, book trailers, and more.
Cynsations was launched in 2004 and is considered one of the flagship blogs of the children’s-YA literature industry and community.
The national Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, School Library Journal, The American Library Association and Writer’s Digest have recognized it for its large, consistent readership and/or quality. On a less formal basis, the blog is assigned in various children’s-YA literature classes and cited in academic papers and both national and university critical review publications. Where the number of active blogs (and readers) has slowly decreased across the board, Cynsations continues to attract a steady increase with each passing year.
Cynsations’ audience is made up of a spectrum of devoted readers from
children’s-YA literature core community as well as layperson fans and
young readers–especially teens with a strong interest in reading and
writing. The tone is upbeat. Sensitive topics are welcome. Profanity is not.
Posts should be inspirational or informational with real writer/illustrator/reader/gatekeeper takeaway. My focus is the children’s-YA book market only, by which I mean the international market with an emphasis on North America. While I agree that many books published for grown-ups may be enjoyed by teens, they are outside my area of concentration.
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| 2016 Holiday |
Interested contributors (or their representatives) should contact cynthia@cynthialeitichsmith.com to discuss possibilities.
Posts are scheduled on a rolling basis once all text, links and images are received (in the same submission) and approved.
I reserve the right to edit, largely for consistency of style, however no additions will be made without express approval of the contributor. I seldom decline a post, though it has happened, either because the topic was not a fit or the overall quality fell short. I do occasionally ask for minor revisions.
Traditionally trade published debut children’s-YA authors, illustrators and author-illustrators are eligible for the New Voices/Visions interview series. These posts involve a choice of available questions and a request for a couple of tie-in images in addition to book creator(s) photo(s) and book cover. Independently published debuts also are eligible, but require a more extensive vetting process.
I also routinely feature interviews with more established children’s-YA book creators as well as agents, editors (corporate and independent), translators, critics/commentators, marketing/publicity/PR professionals, book event planners, teachers, librarians, university professors of library science and education, creative community and conference/workshop leaders, MFA educators and administrators, literacy and literacy nonprofit advocates, diversity advocates, children’s-YA literature bloggers, and other book lovers/leaders of all stripes.
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| Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (Austin, Texas) |
These interviews can be long (two-part), short (two thoughtful questions and answers) and various lengths in between. They may be conducted by me or another member of the youth literature community. For example, authors may interview each other, especially if they have, say, books with related topics or set in the same historical time period or featuring the same diversity element. A new author may interview her writing mentor (or vise versa). An established author may interview his agent (ditto). An up-and-coming illustrator may interview her art director (capiche?). The combinations are endless.
Guest posts may be submitted by those in the above mentioned categories as well. These should run approximately 500 words.
Topics related to the craft of writing, techniques of illustration, the creative life and heart, the business of publishing, and literary diversity–defined broadly–are especially welcome.
Pitches may also be submitted for a week-long or occasional series of posts on, say, YA horror or children’s poetry or the faculty of an upcoming workshop or winners and honor recipients of a particular award.
In addition, the blog also features book trailers, cover reveals and giveaways for new releases as well as links to quality content similar to its own (including links to reader/teacher guides and classroom activities and various online tie-ins (like, say, an interactive map of a high-fantasy setting).
Thank you for your consideration. It’s an honor to participate in the conversation of books for young readers. I look forward to rebooting in a few weeks.