Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Congratulations to Alicia D. Williams on her book, Mid-Air (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, April 2024) being longlisted for the National Book Award!
From the publisher’s website:
A tender-souled boy reeling from the death of his best friend struggles to fit into a world that wants him to grow up tough and unfeeling in this stunning illustrated middle grade novel in verse “full of vulnerability and hope” (Booklist, starred review) from the Newbery Honor–winning author of Genesis Begins Again.
It’s the last few months of eighth grade, and Isaiah feels lost. He thought his summer was going to be him and his boys Drew and Darius, hanging out, doing wheelies, watching martial arts movies, and breaking tons of Guinness World Records before high school. But now, more and more, Drew seems to be fading from their friendship, and though he won’t admit it, Isaiah knows exactly why. Because Darius is…gone.
A hit and run killed Darius in the midst of a record-breaking long wheelie when Isaiah should have been keeping watch, ready to warn: “CAR!” Now, Drew can barely look at Isaiah. But Isaiah, already quaking with ache and guilt, can’t lose two friends. So, he comes up with a plan to keep Drew and him together—they can spend the summer breaking records, for Darius.
But Drew’s not the same Drew since Darius was killed, and Isaiah being Isaiah isn’t enough for Drew anymore. Not his taste in clothes, his love for rock music, or his aversion to jumping off rooftops. And one day something unspeakable happens to Isaiah that makes him think Drew’s right. If only he could be less sensitive, more tough, less weird, more cool, less him, things would be easier. But how much can Isaiah keep inside until he shatters wide open?
Take a look back at Alicia’s first Cynsations interview, discussing her debut novel Genesis Begins Again (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy, 2019) with Stephani Martinell Eaton in 2019.
New Voice: Alicia D. Williams Shares How Children Inspire Her Writing
As an author-teacher/librarian/agent/publicist/editor, how do your various roles inform one another?
Being both a teacher and writer, I’ve learned to use my experiences for inspiration and influence. I’ve even been inspired by after-school conversations with peers.
While working on Genesis Begins Again, I was a teaching assistant in kindergarten. During circle time, I took note of how children viewed themselves and their world. Also, at the beginning of every year, we’d notice the children of color, regardless of ethnicity, would never choose a brown or dark skin tone crayon from the multicultural crayon selection. Or, they would lightly, barely shade in their faces. I explored the why in my story.
I also listened to their curious comments to the stories being read aloud and wondered again.
When observing or interacting with students, I’m constantly wondering what life is like for them–at school, home, or even out and about. All of these different discoveries are filed in my mental Rolodex to be used as needed. And as a storyteller, I love love love reading aloud to my students, and they love it too.
Lastly, as a teaching artist, I combine both for arts-integrated lessons to get students to write using drama, movement, and music.
What were the best and worst moments of your publishing journey?
The best part of publishing was having my book go to auction. That was really exciting! But it was terrible to think that I loved all of these great publishers, but had to choose one and say no to the others. Erg!
Another best part was to know that a story I’ve been working hard on would one day be a real book—on bookshelves!
The worst of that, well, publishing takes a long time. It’s not zip, zam, boom, at all. My experience took four years and I watched people get book deals and then celebrate their launches while I waited. Now I realize that it was all for the best because Genesis had to bake in the oven and come out just at the right time.
What advice do you have for beginning children’s-YA writers?
What really worked for me was learning the craft. I talked talked talked about writing and dabbled in it. However, it wasn’t until I went to graduate school did my world of writing expand, not just with the craft, but also with literature. My courage and confidence grew, which definitely helped me to trust myself more. And most importantly, fall in love with kidlit and love children. In order to write this genre, I do believe you have to love the audience you’re creating for.
Cynsational Notes
Alicia D. Williams is the award-winning author of Genesis Begins Again, which received the Newbery and Kirkus Prize honors, a William C. Morris finalist, and won the Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Alicia D also debuted a picture book biography, Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston and followed up with Jane Addams Peace Award winning Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress. Her latest picture book, The Talk, won both Coretta Scott King and Golden Kite Honors. Alicia now celebrates her new novel-in-verse, Mid-Air.
Alicia shares a passion for writing which stems from conducting artist residencies in schools as a Master Teaching Artist of arts-integration. Alicia D infuses her love for drama, movement, comedy, and storytelling to inspire students to write their own narratives.
Stephani Martinell Eaton grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. where she spent most of her time thinking up stories and writing family newsletters to her out-of-town grandparents. Grandparents are a fantastic audience.
Before turning to writing professionally, Stephani taught English, first in middle school and later in high school and college. She has an MS in Teacher Leadership from Johns Hopkins University. She also holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts where she won the Candlewick Picture Book Award and the Marion Dane Bauer Award for middle grade fiction. The highlight of the MFA experience was spending a week in the UK with one of her literary heroes, Katherine Paterson, and her future agent, Lori Steel.
Stephani is the coordinator of tours and volunteers at Reynolda House Museum of Art and Gardens in Winston-Salem, North Carolina where she helps bring stories to life for visitors. In her free time you’ll find her gardening, reading, or planning a travel adventure. She lives with her husband, their two children, and two lively and affectionate Shelties.