By AJ Eversole
Super excited to chat with debut author, Kauakanilehua Mahoe Adams today on Cynsations. Reading An Expanse of Blue (Heartdrum, 2026) was a transformative experience for me. From the opening to poem I was hooked and ready to follow main character Aouli along on her journey. So far the young adult novel-in-verse has received a stunning three stars and released on May 19th!
By Gayleen Rabakukk
Author Andrea M. Page
Author Andrea M. Page (Hunkpapa Lakota) died March 5, 2026 at the age of 61, after a difficult battle with breast cancer, stated Walker Brothers Funeral Home. Andrea taught 6th grade English Language Arts for more than 30 years. During that time, she started researching the Lakota Code Talkers,
By AJ Eversole
Today we have Christine Hartman Derr (Cherokee) to discuss her debut novel, Raven Rising (Heartdrum, 2026). Raven, Rising has received two starred reviews ahead of its July release. Today Christine speaks to the heart of the story and how being Cherokee has shaped her life.
Raven possesses magical powers in the kitchen.
Today we are excited to welcome to Cynsations, Nora Shalaway Carpenter, contributing editor of Onward (Charlesbridge Teen, 2026) a collection of sixteen short stories published on Feb. 24. While reading Nora’s latest anthology, I was reminded of Amitav Ghosh’s words: “The climate crisis asks us to imagine other forms of human existence—a task to which fiction is the best suited of all cultural forms.” Kirkus Reviews called this book “A powerful look at a shifting world,” and in a starred review,
Today we are super excited to welcome Ernesto Cisneros to Cynsations to talk about his new middle grade novel Queso, Just in Time (HarperCollins 2026), which was released in March. Ernesto Cisneros’s debut Efren Divided (HarperCollins, 2020) won the Pura Belpré Award in 2021.
Continue Reading Author Interview: Ernesto Cisneros on Dialogue, Mentors & Finding Time »
By AJ Eversole
Today we welcome author Byron Graves (Ojibwe/Lakota) whose debut novel, Rez Ball (Heartdrum, 2023) won the William C. Morris Award, the American Indian Youth Literature Award and multiple student-choice state awards. His new book, Medicine Wheels, publishes June 2 from Heartdrum.
What drew you to explore skateboarding culture after the success of Rez Ball?
Sharon G. Flake is as much an inspiration in person, as are her written words on the page. Today we are excited to welcome this three-time Coretta Scott King Honor winner, and veteran author to Cynsations to discuss her latest release Hattie Mae Begins Again (Knopf,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Sharon G. Flake on Inspiration, Community & Poetic Outcomes »
By AJ Eversole
Today we’re welcoming award-winning author Carole Lindstrom (Anishinaabe/Metis) to discuss her new middle grade novel, Red River Rose (Bloomsbury, March 2026) and the importance of presenting authentic experiences in historical fiction.
You’re making your middle grade debut with Red River Rose. What drew you to expand into longer narrative fiction,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Carole Lindstrom on Longer Narrative Fiction & Red River Rose »
I connected with Varsha Bajaj through her books long before we became friends online. I have read every one of them and shared them with kids. It’s an honor to celebrate Varsha at Cynsations as she welcomes her new novel, Roar (Nancy Paulsen Books, May 2026).
Your forthcoming middle-grade book,
Effective immediately, Cynsations is on spring hiatus. Read the posts from our most recent series here: