By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabukukk, Robin Galbraith and Stephani Eaton for Cynsations
Cover Reveal
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade (Roaring Brook, spring 2020). From the flap copy:
Water is the medicine.
By Traci Sorell
For those of us newer to the field of children’s literature, the numerous writing rules for various age groups and in different genres can feel overwhelming.
As one who appreciates the guidelines but also creatively breaks them when necessary, I am thrilled to welcome a group of rulebreakers to Cynsations.
Members of the Notable 19s,
Continue Reading New Voices: Creative Rulebreakers Among the Notable 19s »
By Traci Sorell
Today we’re chatting with picture book authors Viviane Elbee and Hannah Holt, both members of the Epic Eighteen debut group.
Viviane Elbee
Viviane Elbee, debut picture book author of Teach Your Giraffe to Ski (Albert Whitman,
Continue Reading New Voices: Vivian Elbee & Hannah Holt on Persistence »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Robin Galbraith, Gayleen Rabukukk, and Stephani Eaton for Cynsations
Author/Illustrator Insights
The Art of Breaking Things: Q & A With Laura Sibson from Elisa Zied. Peek:
[Libba Bray’s] “talk focused on writing as an extreme sport and at the end of the talk she invited the audience to join her in a year of writing dangerously…
What are we to make of the knowledge that we share DNA with a banana?
No, I’m not kidding. All life on earth evolved from a single-celled common ancestor—our genes and banana genes are over 60 percent identical.
I love thinking about this because stories are the same.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Lisa Papademetriou on Writing Tools »
By Traci Sorell
Today Cynsations features two debut picture book authors, Margaret Chiu Greanias and Melissa Stoller, both members of the Epic Eighteen group.
Margaret Chiu Grenias
Maximillian Villianous, the debut picture book of author Margaret Chiu Greanias,
Continue Reading New Voices: Margaret Greanias & Melissa Stoller on Writing Craft Resources »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Robin Galbraith, Gayleen Rabukukk, and Stephani Eaton for Cynsations
Author/Illustrator Insights
Q&A: Isabel Quintero & Zeke Peña by Antonia Saxon from Publishers Weekly. Peek:
“Quintero: My situation with Zeke is unique in that [unlike most author-illustrator collaborators] we communicate throughout the whole process.
My third middle grade novel, Lizzie Flying Solo (HarperCollins, 2019), came out a few weeks ago. It took me 13 years to get that book just right.
It was the manuscript my agent signed me for in 2010, but back in the heyday of Harry Potter [by J.K.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Nanci Turner Steveson on Writing Mirrors »
By Traci Sorell
Today, we have two award-winning Epic Eighteen debut authors, Christy Mihaly, author of Hey, Hey, Hay: A Tale of Bales and the Machines that Make Them, illustrated by Joe Cepeda (Holiday House, 2018) and Jessie Oliveros, author of The Remember Balloons,
Continue Reading New Voices: Christy Mihaly & Jessie Oliveros on Their Paths to Publication »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Robin Galbraith, Gayleen Rabukukk, and Stephani Eaton for Cynsations
Author/Illustrator Insights
New Release: Up For Air by Laurie Morrison ’12 by Leah Jones and Laurie Morrison from VCFA Wild Things. Peek:
“I returned to it [the manuscript] several months later and saw that there was an extremely boring subplot that could simply drop away…and the rest of the book came together smoothly,