Rainbow Boxes co-founders Cori & A.R.
By A.R. Capetta
In 2015, it seemed like there was a slowly growing list of excellent YA books with central LGBTQ main characters–but there were clearly still barriers making it difficult for readers, especially teen readers, to find them.
Fellow YA author Cori McCarthy* and I created Rainbow Boxes to help bridge that gap,
Continue Reading Guest Post: A.R. Capetta on Something Good Happened in 2016: Celebrating LGBTQ YA »
New Voice Danica Davidson on Attack on the Overworld
Writing books that tie in with an already-known franchise offers both its rewards and its own sets of challenges, but ultimately it’s something I’ve enjoyed doing.
I’m the author of the Overworld Adventure series (Skyhorse, 2015-)(also known as books for Minecrafters) and the Barbie comic book Barbie: Puppy Party (Papercutz,
Continue Reading Guest Post: Danica Davidson on Writing Merchandise Tie-In Children’s Books »
Amber Fang: Self-Publishing a Book from Arthur Slade. Peek: “…there it is. The breakdown of income and expenses. As you can see Amazon (and Createspace and affiliate money) amounted to most of my income. I put the expenses chart there, too.” Notes: (a) post includes charts breaking down sales figures;
Check out the book trailer for Wing & Claw: Forest of Wonders by Linda Sue Park (HarperChildren’s, 2016). From the promotional copy:
From Newbery Medal–winning author Linda Sue Park comes a captivating fantasy-adventure about a boy, a bat, and an amazing transformation.
Continue Reading Book Trailer: Wing & Claw: Forest of Wonders (Book 1) by Linda Sue Park »
This morning I see a child on the early side of toddler, snuggled like a well-placed puzzle piece in his daddy’s arms.
He smiles at me, reaches out with one arm, as if I will be a wonderful new discovery. I reach back…
But, no. The minute I do,
Confession. I have a difficult time celebrating my success. When it comes to my accomplishments there is a little voice in my head that suggests, as the Kirsty MacColl song goes, “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby.”
Perhaps it is also because my path to publication is a bit unconventional.
By NCTE
ATLANTA– Authors Jason Reynolds, Melissa Sweet, and Marilyn Nelson were just announced winners of prestigious literacy awards from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
Jason Reynolds won the 2017 Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children for his book Ghost (Atheneum).
Continue Reading Three Authors Receive Top Honors from NCTE »
Cynsations will resume posting Nov. 28, 2016.
Thank you, blog readers, contributors & intern Gayleen Rabakukk.
Thank you to all who support my creative writing, to my author and illustrator friends, Austin SCBWI family, VCFA WCYA family, diversity advocates, gatekeepers &
Courage, Connection & Hope: Interview with Gae Polisner from Book Club Advisor. Peek: “…a video interview on the power of literature, how The Memory of Things was created, and the impact of a national tragedy on a generation.”
Finding the Lost Voices in YA Historical Fiction by Pia Ceres from Lee &
Obituary: Yumi Heo by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly. Peek: “[Henry] Holt’s Laura Godwin shared this remembrance:
‘Yumi was extremely gracious, enthusiastic, and inquisitive,’ she said. ‘I loved the way she incorporated ‘mistakes’ into her art rather than erasing or deleting them.
“If she drew a squiggle where she hadn’t intended,
