New Voices: Joseph Elliott & Kate O’Shaughnessy on Writing the Books They Wanted to Read

New Voices: Joseph Elliott & Kate O’Shaughnessy on Writing the Books They Wanted to Read

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Today we welcome middle grade debut authors Joseph Elliott and Kate O’Shaughnessy as they talk about their inspirations as well as writing the book they needed and wanted to read.

Joseph Elliott

What first inspired you to write for young readers?

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New Voices: Rob Justus & Kirsten W. Larson on Switching to a Career in Children’s Literature

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Rob Justus

What first inspired you to write for young readers?

After not drawing for about 15 years, I picked up a pencil for the first time and rediscovered my love for creating. I would say I’ve always had a quirky mind that would go to outlandish places,

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New Voices: Arianne Costner & Sarah Kapit and the Journey to Publication

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Welcome to middle grade authors Arianne Costner and Sarah Kapit who discuss both their publication journeys, starting from the inspiration for their debut novels, as well as their favorite craft books. And we want to wish Arianne a very happy book birthday as her debut, My Life as a Potato (Random House,

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New Voices: Adalyn Grace & Rabiah York Lumbard on Character, Career & Connection

New Voices: Adalyn Grace & Rabiah York Lumbard on Character, Career & Connection

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Today I am pleased to introduce YA debut authors Adalyn Grace and Rabiah York Lumard to our Cynsations readers. Both of these authors talk about the importance that their main characters’ identities bring to their work, their transitions to writing as a career, as well as connection to community.

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New Voices: Lyla Lee & Susan Hansen on Writing the Stories Only You Can Write

By Gayleen Rabakukk

Today I’m interviewing two Texas authors whose childhood experiences inspired them to be writers and shapes the stories they’re writing today.

Susan Hansen is the author of From Behind All the Veils: The Story of Táhirih, illustrated by Susan Reed (George Ronald Books, 2019).

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New Voices: EM Castellan & Betty Culley on How “Place” Inspired Their Fiction

New Voices: EM Castellan & Betty Culley on How “Place” Inspired Their Fiction

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

In her essay, “Place in Fiction,” Eudora Welty writes, “The truth is, fiction depends for its life on place. Location is the crossroads of circumstances….”

Today, I am pleased to welcome two debut YA authors for whom place stirred their creativity.

EM Castellan is the author of In the Shadow Of The Sun (Feiwel &

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New Voices: Chris Baron & Aimee Lucido on What Inspired Their Middle Grade Debuts in Verse

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Welcome to Chris Baron and Aimee Lucido! These two debut authors of middle grade novels in verse discuss inspiration, MFAs, and the mentor texts that stimulated their writing.

Chris Baron

What first inspired you to write for young readers?

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