Cynsational News - Cynthia Leitich Smith

By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, A.J. Eversole, Mitu Malhotra, and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations

Spotlight Image: Bright Lights and Summer Nights by Shauntay Grant, illustrated by Zach Manbeck (Tundra Books, 2025).

Author/Illustrator Insights

Author Interview: Katrina Moore from Only Picture Books. Peek: “My ‘mission’ as an author is to write books that children will hug for ages…I want to make books that children genuinely love…because they see themselves in the story, because they connected with the subject so deeply, or because it makes them think anew, or feel a certain way—and they want to hold onto that.”

Q&A: Nova Ren Suma, Author of “Wake the Wild Creatures” by Elise Dumpleton from The Nerd Daily. Peek: “There was an agonizing point…when I lost all confidence…But when you’re about to let go of something, right at that emotional edge, if it’s really a thing you’re meant to do, you won’t be able to give it up…I threw myself into revising the book and proving I could make it into something beautiful.”

Martha Brockenbrough: Staying Curious by Sarah S. Davis from Kid Lit Craft. Peek: “[M]y most important relationships are with my fellow authors. It’s the people we work alongside who can help us become the writers we want to be…When we watch others work, we can be inspired. Educated. Challenged as we witness what is possible. Comforted when we need it…because this is a hard way to make a living….”

Author Interview: Cindy Chang by Shenwei from Reading As I Am. Peek: “[M]y advice would be to give yourself permission to protect your creative process. Keep a little corner of your art that’s just for you, where you can explore freely without pressure. And when the demands of publishing start to feel overwhelming, return to that quiet place to remember why you create in the first place.”

New Voice: Rhonda DeChambeau on Writing a YA Verse Novel About Body Issues by Gail Vannelli from Cynsations. Peek: “Don’t stop trying new things! We never know what the market will call for. Also, being published is partly about luck—being ready with the right project at the right place and right time. The best we can do is continue writing and keep working on projects we believe in, that have something important to share….”

Interview With Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Author of Kareem Between by Michele Kirichanskaya from Geeks Out. Peek: “Writing is a journey. The books you see published were not written perfectly as such. Every first draft starts out incomplete and each draft faces revision after revision until the book gets better and better. So do not give up hope. Keep studying craft and revising your book and one day, it will find its home!”

Equity & Inclusion

In Conversation: Natalie Naudus and Jenna Voris from Publishers Weekly. Peek: [Jenna Voris:] “[W]hen I was growing up, a lot of the queer books that were being published, what few…were being published, were about boys and gay men. The first time that I actually saw queer women, and specifically lesbians, was on Glee. That was a really interesting environment to grow up in, not really seeing that kind of relationship.”

Rebekah Taussig Talks With Roger by Roger Sutton from The Horn Book. Peek: “I was in my mid-to late twenties when I first started to explore the idea of disability as an identity and being exposed to disability culture and being a part of a group. I didn’t have that when I was younger….I wanted to offer a different narrative…for how to think about and talk about disability….”

Q&A With Alanna Bennett by Amanda Ramirez from Publishers Weekly. Peek: “There are so many things that you have to deal with and so many unspoken biases that I really wanted to explore through [the main character]. People are going to take what she says and…does a certain way, view it through a certain lens, because that’s the extra baggage that any Black girl is already carrying.”

Jewish American Heritage Month 2025: Q&As With Children’s Book Creators compiled by Iyana Jones from Publishers Weekly. Peek: [Leah Cypess:] “I wanted to present a universal and entertaining story where the reader can experience Judaism the way [the character] does, as a seamless and joyful part of her life. That was more of a challenge than I expected, because I…wanted readers—some of whom may never have met someone Jewish before—to read the book without…feeling confused.”

Five Questions for Ibram X. Kendi by Roger Sutton from The Horn Book. Peek: “Some people have been led to believe that if they know the history of White Americans, then they know American history—when they only know a portion of American history….[T]o know the entire book, we must read all the chapters. And two of the chapters of the book of America are Native American history and Black American history.”

In Conversation: Julie Murphy and Jonathan Van Ness from Publishers Weekly. Peek: “It’s so impactful to understand that not only are you not alone in this moment in time, but you’re not alone over the course of history. It’s…powerful to know that people like you have existed long before you….I wanted to write a book that speaks to the truth of queer history, so…young, queer people know…they’re not alone.”

Writing Craft

Q&A: Mia P. Manansala, Author of “Death in the Cards” by Elise Dumpleton from The Nerd Daily. Peek: “[T]he biggest challenge was making sure the book felt like a proper YA story that teens would …want to read….I realized that I didn’t necessarily need to ‘sound’ like a teenager…, I just needed to make you ‘feel’ the way a teenager does (the intense highs and lows, being misunderstood, trying to figure out who you are)….”

Grace Lin: Respect Your Readers by Robert Lee Brewer from Writer’s Digest. Peek: “Whenever I write a novel, there’s always a point where the slog become a depressing stew that I feel like I will never get out of….[I]t is part of the process…I remember thinking, ‘Maybe this will be the time I don’t get through!’ [U]pon reflection, it was probably the same for each of the novels….”

Troublemaking: A Conversation With Arree Chung by Betsy Bird from School Library Journal. Peek: “[S]witching from picture books to a graphic novel felt familiar—my picture books often use panels and sequential art…On the other hand, tackling a project that required an entire screenplay-style script and more than 250 pages of art was no small feat. It stretched my storytelling skills in new ways…[F]inishing something so substantial was incredibly rewarding.”

“Chooch Helped” This Author and Illustrator Win the 2025 Caldecott Medal by Samantha Balaban from NPR. Peek: “[Artist Rebecca Lee] Kunz says she tried to evoke a lot of Oklahoma…with her illustrations….‘I think of that warm color palette, earth tones…And because it’s a story of warmth and of love and sibling love, those colors seemed right for that.’ Kunz used many layers, some collaging, painting, and a lot of line work to create the illustrations.”

How to Dress for a Fairy Tale, a Guest Post by A. R. Capetta by Amanda MacGregor from Teen Librarian Toolbox. Peek: “A single outfit can contain culture and individuality, emotion and contradiction, textural experiences and visual delights, a sense of history and a connection to the present moment, bold statements, subtle nods, a sense of humor…One way that I wrote about costume was by using a few evocative details—and letting the reader imagine the rest.”

Interview With Page Powars (And They Were Roommates) by Cherokee Crum from YA Books Central. Peek: “My editor really helped me understand the importance of worldbuilding in contemporary (basically, real life) stories. We often discuss worldbuilding in fantasy, but it’s just as important in contemporary….[M]y editor told me that the worldbuilding section of his notes was twice as long as it was for a high-fantasy novel he was simultaneously editing….”

Publishing

AAP Sales: Up 7.3% in March from Shelf Awareness. Peek: “Total net book sales in March in the U.S. rose 7.3%, to $978 million, compared to March 2024…The jump in March sales was high enough to push year to date sales into positive territory for the first time in 2025…Trade revenues in March rose 4.4%, to $714.8 million, led by children’s/YA hardcovers, up 18.8%….”

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Launching Sarah Barley Books from Shelf Awareness. Peek: “Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing is launching Sarah Barley Books, an imprint that will be part of the Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers imprint…The new imprint will publish ‘vibrant literary and commercial books that appeal directly to readers eight and up.’”

Mattel Press Launches Fisher-Price Board Book Series by Karen Raugust from Publishers Weekly. Peek: “Mattel Press is introducing a new Fisher-Price board book series called Smilestones. The first three titles, I Am Kind!, I Can Listen!, and I Can Babble!, will launch on Aug. 12. A second wave…, I Can Sign!, I Have Big Feelings!, and I Can Potty! debuts on Oct. 7. Mattel’s titles are distributed by Simon & Schuster.”

Booksellers

ABA Celebrates the Resilience of Booksellers in the Face of Challenges by Claire Kirch from Publishers Weekly. Peek: [ABA CEO Allison Hill:] “In many ways, our 2024 annual report echoes our 2023 annual report: hundreds of new stores, the largest Winter Institute in ABA history, the largest Children’s Institute in ABA history, and the most successful Independent Bookstore Day to date…ABA’s mission [is] to help independent bookstores survive and thrive….”

The American Booksellers Association Children’s Institute (Ci2025) takes place Jun. 11 to Jun. 14 at the the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR. The event offers “four days of educational programming, keynote talks, author receptions, publisher parties, and dedicated time to network with booksellers, authors, and publishers from around the country.” Registration is open.

Libraries

A Roadmap for Restoring School Librarians by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly. Peek: “The recently released report Restoring Librarians: Challenges and Strategies by Debra Kachel, a retired school librarian, affiliate faculty member at Antioch University Seattle, and PARSL Core Team member, details how…districts overcame major hurdles and beat the odds….[C]onsistent advocacy efforts spearheaded by strong library leaders were a significant factor in the districts’ ability to hire school librarians.”

The ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition takes place Jun. 26 to Jun. 30 in Philadelphia. Featured children’s speakers include Angeline Boulley and Grace Lin. See the schedule here. Register for the conference here.

Movers & Shakers 2025 by Executive Editor Lisa Peet from Library Journal. Peek: “This year’s Advocates, Community Builders, Change Agents, Innovators, and Educators are teaching future teachers, raising up immigrant communities, showing college students their library’s benefits, standing up to anti-library legislation, helping their communities recover from climate-impact disasters, providing access for unhoused and incarcerated populations, and using comics to teach civic literacy—to name just a few.”

Marketing

Three Author Book Marketing Mistakes That Will Hold You Back by Sandra Beckwith from Build Book Buzz. Peek: “1. Asking other authors, ‘What are you doing to market your book that works?’ Why it’s a mistake: Each book has its own audience….2. Not tracking your marketing activities and results. Why it’s a mistake: You won’t know what works and what doesn’t if you aren’t linking tactics to outcomes….3. Refusing to invest in your book’s quality.”

Education/Other Resources/Events

An Unlikely Story, 111 South St., Plainville, MA is presenting a discussion with YA novel-in-verse author Rhonda DeChambeau, along with middle grade novel-in-verse author Elaine Dimopoulos. They will chat about Rhonda’s debut novel Top Heavy (Holiday House, 2025). Rhonda will then sign books. The event takes place Jun. 15 at 4pm at the store. Register here.

Anderson’s Bookshop’s 3rd Annual LITapalooza: A Literary Love Fest for Educators & Authors! takes place in Naperville, IL on Jul. 24. “We are bringing K-8 educators & #kidlit creators back together for a day of community, learning, and celebration of all things literacy!”

The free 25th Annual Library of Congress National Book Festival will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 6 from 9am to 8pm. This public event brings together bestselling authors and book fans for author talks, panel discussions, book signings and other activities.

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators‘ virtual 2025 Summer Conference takes place Jul. 31 to Aug. 3. “Dive into every aspect of the children’s book world, from writing and illustrating to translating, marketing, and self-publishing….[G]et inspired by sessions tailored for illustrators, picture book authors, nonfiction writers, graphic novel creators, and more….You’ll have access to all 50+ sessions until Sept. 14th.” View the schedule here and register here.

Penguin Random House Spring Book & Author Festival 2025. If you missed attending the festival on May 5—which was a day packed with author panels and interviews, book buzzes, virtual shelf browsing, and more—you can still access the On Demand videos and resources for three months from the event date. Register here.

Simmons Univerity’s Summer Children’s Literature Institute: “Are We There Yet? takes place Jul. 25 to Jul. 27. The Institute’s speakers include well-known children’s authors, including Cynthia Leitich Smith, Traci Chee and Adib Khorram.

Awards

Congratulations to the 2025 Green Earth Book Award winners and honorees in six categories: Picture Book Primary, Picture Book Intermediate, Children’s Fiction, Children’s Non-fiction, Young Adult Fiction and Young Adult Non-fiction. “From powerful storytelling to compelling non-fiction that brings environmental issues and information to young people in relatable ways, these books offer a unique and vital perspective to the conversation around our planet’s future.”

Congratulations to the authors and illustrators who made the 35th Annual Reading the West Awards Shortlists, especially in the categories of Picture Books, Young Readers and Young Adults. The awards honor the best fiction, non-fiction, and illustrated books for adults and children set in one of the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association member states, or created by an author or artist living in the region. Voting is open until May 31; winners are announced Jun. 12.

Congratulations to Candlewick Press, which has been named the winner of the 2025 Bologna Prize for the Best Children’s Publishers of the Year for North America. “The prize is given by the publishers themselves who are asked to nominate those publishing houses that have stood out in terms of their creativity, innovation and the quality of their editorial choices.”

Congratulations to Kim Johnson, who won the 2025 LA Times Book Prize in the category of Young Adult Literature, for The Color of a Lie (Random House Books for Young Readers, 2024). “The Times’ Book Prizes recognize outstanding literary achievements and celebrate the highest quality of writing from authors at all stages of their careers.”

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 British Book Awards, especially in the categories of Children’s Non-fiction, Children’s Illustrated and Children’s Fiction. The awards “showcase, connect and uplift the individuals and teams who bring books and stories to the world….The Books of the Year spotlight the titles that have stirred imaginations, started conversations [and whose] pages have been well-thumbed, well-worn and well-loved….”

Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library’s Minnesota Book Awards, especially in the categories of Children’s Literature, Middle Grade Literature and Young Adult Literature. The year-long awards program connects the world of Minnesota books—writers, artists, illustrators, publishers and editors—to readers throughout the state.

Congratulations to the winners of the 36th Annual Oklahoma Book Awards, especially in the categories of Children and Young Adult.

Congratulations to the 2025 finalists of the BC and Yukon Book Prizes, and especially for the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize and the Shiela A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize. The prizes are given to recognize and promote the achievements of the book community in BC and Yukon.

Congratulations to the authors and illustrators who made the American Library Association’s Booklist’s 2025 Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth list. “The top 10 historical fiction titles…cover locales from Washington, DC to Nigeria to France, and time periods from the Protestant Reformation to the Harlem Renaissance to the mod era in London, exploring themes and revealing truths that transcend geography and time.”

Congratulations to the authors and illustrators whose books made the Children’s Book Council’s 2025 Favorites Awards Lists in the categories of Children’s K-2nd Grade Favorites, Children’s 3rd-5th Grade Favorites, Middle-Grade Favorites, Young Adult Favorites, Teacher Favorites and Librarian Favorites. In curating the lists, “children, teens, teachers, and librarians across 50 states read newly published K-12 grade books and vote for the ones they like best.”

Congratulations to the authors and illustrators who were nominated for the Washington Library Association’s 2026 Towner Award. This award, presented in the spring, is for the best nonfiction picture books written for 2nd-6th grade students and chosen by such students.

First round voting takes place June 2 – 17 for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ 2025 Crystal Kite Awards. This peer-selected award honors writers, illustrators and translators in 15 divisions across the globe. Voting is open to everyone, including non-members.

Scholarships & Grants

We Need Diverse Books Emergency Grant. WNDB provides emergency grants of between $500 and $1,000 each to diverse authors and illustrators, publishing professionals, and educators who are experiencing dire financial need. Funding is currently available for (1) Palestinian writers and illustrators and (2) Diverse creators and publishing professionals impacted by the L.A. wildfires. Apply here.

From This Cynsations Series

More Personally – Cynthia

Firefly Season, my latest picture book, is now available from Heartdrum! Gorgeously illustrated by Kate Gardiner, it’s receiving terrific reviews:

★ Publishers Weekly (starred): “…longing, love, and the blessing of found sisterhood.”

Kirkus Reviews: “A glowing tribute to family across distance and lineage.”

In other picture book news, the 25th anniversary of my debut title, Jingle Dancer, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu (HarperChildren’s, 2000) was April 5. Huge gratitude to everyone who has enjoyed and championed the book over the years!

A quick favor? My latest middle grade novel, On a Wing and a Tear, and the YA thriller Looking for Smoke by KA Cobell (both Heartdrum, 2024) are shortlisted for the Reading the West Book Awards. Would you please consider casting your votes?

Speaking of On a Wing and a Tear, the title was named a Texas Institute of Letters Deirdre Siobhan FlynnBass Award for Best Middle Grade Honor Book, among Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the 21rst Century (So Far), and to the Horn Book 2025 Summer Reading List. Read Process Talk: On a Wing and a Tear with Cynthia Leitich Smith from Uma Krishnaswami. Peek: “Native family and community relationships tend to be widely extended. Writing a cast reflective of that dynamic in a book for the very young demands deft brushstrokes.”

In other middle grade news, Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem (Blue Stars #1) by Kekla Magoon, Cynthia Leitich Smith and Molly Murakami (Candlewick, 2024) was named to the 2026 Nēnē (Hawaii) Award Graphic Novel Short List, to the 2025 Little Maverick (Texas) Graphic Novel Reading List, and among CBC Books Favorites.

Moving on to my upcoming YA anthology, Legendary Frybread Drive-In (Heartdrum, 2025), received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, which called the anthology, “Superlative!” It has also been named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and the audiobook cast has been announced: Tiffany Ayalik, Katie Anvil Rich, Darrell Dennis, Kinsale Drake, Elva Guerra, Mapuana Makia, Jessica Matten, Jesse Nobess, Tanis Parenteau, Rainy Fields, Isabella Star, Delanna Studi, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Erin Tripp, Jordan Waunch. The book is available for pre-order, and your support would be appreciated!

My recent author events included the Texas Authors and Illustrators Middle Grade and YA Panel at the Texas Librarian Association convention in Dallas, online visits with Oklahoma and Texas schools, a presentation at 2025 El Dia de los Ninos at Arizona State University, a keynote at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, school visits in Dallas and Fort Worth through Texas Book Festival’s Reading Rock Stars, and four presentations at the Franklin County Children’s Literature Festival in Ottawa, KS. Thank you to all of my hosts and to my events agent, The Booking Biz! (We’re currently open to invitations for the 2025-2026 school year.)

In Heartdrum imprint news, check out the cover of Jo Jo Makoons: Super-Scary Sleepover by Dawn Quigley & Tara Audibert (2025); now available for pre-order!

Congratulations to Heartdrum authors and illustrators on their latest awards and honors!

A Constellation of Minor Bears by Jen Ferguson (2024) was named to the Horn Book 2025 Summer Reading List.

I Am Osage: How Clarence Tinker Became the First Native American Major General by Kim Rogers and Bobby Von Martin (2024) was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award.

Looking for Smoke by KA Cobell was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and was named to both the CCBC Choices list and among CBC Books Favorites.

Red Bird Danced by Dawn Quigley (2024) was named to the CCBC Choices list.

Rez Ball by Byron Graves (Heartdrum, 2023) won the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award (presented by the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the National Council of Teachers of English), the Oklahoma Library Association’s Sequoyah Award, the Colorado YA Award, and the novel has been named to about 30 state lists.

Stitches of Tradition: Gashkigwasso Tradition by Marcie R. Rendon and Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (2024) was named to the CCBC Choices list.

When We Gather: Ostadahlisiha: A Cherokee Tribal Feast by Andrea L. Rogers and Madelyn Goodnight (2024) was named to the CCBC Choices list and won the Oklahoma Book Award.

More Personally – Gayleen

It’s been a busy spring for me – I finished the first semester of my masters in library science, then went to a fabulous revision retreat hosted by the Nonfiction Ninjas – the authors behind Nonfiction Fest that happens every February. I’m excited to consider their suggestions as I revise this summer.

I also recently testified before the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee about the impact a proposed bill would have on my local library. I encourage you to connect with Authors Against Book Bans and similar local organizations – for me that’s Texans for the Right to Read and the Texas Freedom to Read Project. I’m pleased to report both the House and Senate versions of this bill died before final passage.

More Personally – Suma

This summer, I am offering up two online craft-focused fiction writing courses for children, seven years and above. Please share with anyone you think would be interested. Thank you for spreading the word.

The details are here as well as on my website: https://sumasubramaniam.com/teaching/
Time: 10 am – 11.30 am PST
Dates: Writing Lab1: Monday, June 23rd to Friday, June 27th
Writing Lab 2: Monday, July 7th to Friday, July 11th
Course Fee: $199.00. Since it is my first time offering this online, I’m including an early bird rate of $179.00.
Quick link to register: https://forms.gle/aea6ZLjXrDnB31K49

More Personally – A.J.

This spring I’ve been hard at work trying to get out of the query trenches and land an agent! It has been a slow and steady process that is really helping me learn how to be patient!

Right now I am trying to decide what my summer goals are: I hope to either revise an adult fantasy manuscript I’ve been working on, or finish the first draft of a new middle grade idea. We will see which one wins out.

I’m thrilled to share that I have stories featured in two upcoming anthologies! “Hearts Aflutter” will be included in the indigenous YA anthology Legendary Frybread Drive-In out August 26th, bringing readers a sweet tale of young love, cultural connection, and the magic that happens when two hearts finally find each other at a legendary drive-in.

I’m also excited to have “Dilasulo Walks” featured in another anthology, Beyond The Glittering World, out November 4th! My story explores what happens when museum artifacts cultivate their own consciousness and yearn for the lives they were meant to live. Both pieces celebrate Cherokee culture and storytelling in different ways, and I couldn’t be more honored to share these stories with readers alongside such talented authors. I can’t wait for you all to read them!

More Personally – Mitu

This spring I am excited to be participating in The Highlights Foundation Whole Novel Workshop: A Virtual Course for Middle Grade and Young Adult Writers. The online course allows me flexibility and it is a wonderful opportunity to be mentored by authors and poets like Gloria Munoz, Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Nikki Shannon Smith, Alisa Alering, Ashley Hope Perez and Eric Bell.