Debut author Cate Berry interviews illustrator Charles Santoso about Penguin and Tiny Shrimp Don’t Do Bedtime! (Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins, May 2018)
Cate: Hi, Charles! I’m here with Penguin and Tiny Shrimp to talk about—
Penguin: Hey, Charles! Love the cover, but what’s with the pajamas?
Continue Reading Cover Reveal: Penguin & Tiny Shrimp Don’t Do Bedtime »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith,
Gayleen Rabakukk & Robin Galbraith
Author/ Illustrator Interviews
Meet National Book Award Finalist Rita Williams-Garcia by Emily Temple from Lit Hub. Peek:
“How do you tackle writer’s block? I box, knit, write, and read.
Learn more about Uma Krishnaswami.
In children’s-YA writing, maintaining an active publishing career is arguably an even bigger challenge than breaking into the field.
Reflecting on your personal journey, what bumps did you encounter and how have you managed to defy the odds to achieve continued success?
Melanie J. Fishbane joins the Cynsations team as a reporter covering children’s-YA writing, illustration, publishing and other book news originating in Canada.
Melanie J. Fishbane holds an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and an M.A.
Continue Reading New Cynsations Reporter: Melanie J. Fishbane »
Cynsations Note:
Happy Halloween!
Yesterday we heard from Gillian French about techniques for building suspense.
Today Helena Echlin shares her take on giving your readers goosebumps.
And if you looking for even more ways to scare your readers,
Continue Reading Guest Post: Helena Echlin on How to Write (& Rewrite) a Tale of Suspense »
Cynsations Note:
What scares you? Snakes? Spiders? Bigfoot? It’s different for everyone. Likewise, authors use different approaches for building suspense.
Our Halloween treat for you is a glimpse at techniques from two YA authors for upping the stakes.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Gillian French on Hooking Readers: How to Build Suspense »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith,
Gayleen Rabakukk & Robin Galbraith
Author Interviews
The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast by Samantha M. Clark from Watch. Connect. Read by Mr. Schu. Peek:
“Reading is how we learn, explore, experience,
By Sarah Albee
If you write for kids, chances are you are working on several things at the same time.
Most writers of books for kids don’t have the luxury of working on one project for years and years. We are short-order cooks, juggling multiple tasks at multiple stages.
So how do we shift gears between projects?
Continue Reading Guest Post: Sarah Albee on Brain Training: How Writers Must Learn to Shift Gears »
Brenda Randolph, founder and director of Africa Access, was raised in the segregated schools and libraries of Richmond, Virginia.
“I was an avid reader, but I never encountered crude racism in children’s books,” she said. “I remember being irritated by some comments, but I never came upon viciously racist sentiments or characters. Continue Reading Guest Post: Karen Leggett Salutes the Children’s Africana Book Awards »
In children’s-YA writing, maintaining an active publishing career is arguably an even bigger challenge than breaking into the field.
Reflecting on your personal journey (creatively, career-wise, and your writer’s heart), what bumps did you encounter and how have you managed
to defy the odds to achieve continued success?
