Esther, welcome back to Cynsations! What’s new in your writing-teacher life?
I’m happy to report: the teaching part of my teaching-author life is taking off in all sorts of new directions this year, literally and figuratively. I continue to teach writing for children workshops at both the University of Chicago’s Graham School’s Writer’s Studio and Chicago’s Newberry Library,
Continue Reading Author-Teacher Interview: Esther Hershenhorn »
By Patti Buff
for SCBWI Bologna 2016
and Cynthia Leitich Smith‘s Cynsations
Kathleen Ahrens was born in the suburbs of New York City and aspired to be an astronaut and to live in a skyscraper. Poor eyesight led her to forgo the first dream,
Continue Reading 2016 SCBWI Bologna Author Interview: Kathleen Ahrens »
Check out the cover of The Changelings by Christina Soontornvat (Jabberwocky/Sourcebooks, 2016). From the promotional copy:
All Izzy wants is for something interesting to happen in her sleepy little town. But her wish becomes all too real when an enchanting song floats through the woods and lures her little sister Hen into the forest…where she vanishes.
Continue Reading Cover Reveal & Author Snapshot: The Changelings by Christina Soontornvat »
Former editor and foreign rights manager Stephanie Fretwell-Hill has joined boutique agency Red Fox Literary.
“Stephanie approaches the children’s book business with the same thoughtfulness and concern for authors and illustrators that we at Red Fox Literary strive to be known for,” says agency co-founder Karen Grencik.
Fretwell-Hill began her publishing career in 2004 at Walker Books Ltd.
Continue Reading Former Editor Stephanie Fretwell-Hill Joins West Coast–Based Red Fox Literary »
Learn more from Lee & Low.
Obituary: Andrea Cheng by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly.
“Children’s book author and educator Andrea Cheng, whose books often focused on intercultural and intergenerational relationships, died on Dec. 26, 2015 following a long illness. She was 58.
By John L. Amundsen
Program Officer,
Outreach and Communications
ALA Office
for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) family, along with all of ALA, are saddened to learn of the death of Larry Romans, director at large of the GLBTRT on Thursday.
His service to the Library community was vast;
Of late I had the honor of joining Daniel José Older and Sabaa Tahir in answering questions on Diversity in YA Fantasy from Maggie Reagan from Booklist. My thoughts included:
I’ve had students ask me, “How do I write this without freaking out the white folks?” And yet authors hold back at the peril of young readers.
Continue Reading Telling Better Stories: Writing Diverse YA Fantasy »
What’s Trending? What Is, What Was, What’s Soon to Be in Kid Lit by Elizabeth Bird from A Fuse #8 Production. Note: a quick cheat sheet for those seeking savvy.
Current Representations of American Indians in Children’s Literature by Natasha Gilmore from Publishers Weekly.
from the real Hampton’s Throne
I worry a lot about vision.
As a forty-something woman (okay, close to fifty), my vision seems to be diminishing on a daily basis. Cheap pairs of Walmart reading glasses are scattered through every room in my house – and still, I can’t seem to find a pair when I need them.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Shelley Pearsall on The Importance of Vision »
One day, I was at the grocery store with my daughter when I spotted a crazy man in the car beside ours.
Zara was very small, perhaps three years old, she watched while he sat in his car, talking to himself, as I unpacked the groceries.
When I finally sat behind the wheel,
