One word permeated my first year as a full-time writer: “Submit!” I added an exclamation point because it deserves one. I’ll explain….
On June 3, 2018, I left my retirement job (having previously retired from my private practice as a Clinical Social Worker) at a beloved and extraordinary early childhood center to work for the first time in my life as a full-time writer.
Kim Rogers joins the Cynsations team as a reporter covering children’s-YA writing, illustration, publishing and other book news from Indigenous authors and illustrators.
Welcome to Cynsations! Could you tell us about your vision for Native voices coverage here at the blog? Why did you decide to take on this role in the conversation of books?
First off I’d like to say that I am so excited and honored to join Cynsations.
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Author/Illustrator Insights
We Are Writing Against Our Own Erasure by Jacqueline Woodson from Electric Lit. Peek: “I wanted the people I loved to have names. And as a child standing in front of that mirror, I already knew that my story had a right to exist in the world.
September is #WorldKidLit Month, a time to notice if world literature is reaching kids in the form of translations.
The movie “You’ve Got Mail” recently turned 20, with a New York Times critic noting both its staying power and its “dark commentary on how capitalism absorbs its critiques.” After all, this classic rom-com has the chain bookstore owner Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) woo the indie children’s bookstore owner Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) while putting her indie out of business,
Remy Lai, author and illustrator of Pie in the Sky (Henry Holt, 2019) and Cory Leonardo, author of The Simple Art of Flying (Aladdin, 2019) reflect on the debuts of their middle-grade novels. For both, finding fellow writers as mentors or critique partners along the journey proved invaluable.
Remy Lai
What first inspired you to illustrate for young readers?
Continue Reading New Voices: Remy Lai & Cory Leonardo Reflect on their Middle Grade Debuts »
By Traci Sorell
Getting a sneak peek at a beautiful picture book before it’s printed always brings me joy. When the book combines poetry and breathtaking images, my joy increases and my heart sings.
That’s what happened when I saw Evan Turk’s You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks (Atheneum, 2019).
I’m in complete agreement with its five starred reviews from Booklist,
By Janet Wong
It’s the start of a new year—the school year—the real new year to many of us.
Are you ready for a vacation already?
If you are a writer, consider this: Sign up this month for a conference, something—anything—having to do with books. Why?
Blogs like this one can be incredibly inspiring and easy to read in the comfort of your kitchen or office,
Continue Reading Guest Post: Janet Wong: Happy New Year! (It’s Time for a Vacation) »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabukukk, Stephani Eaton and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Author/Illustrator Insights
Q & A with Kekla Magoon by Sally Lodge from Publishers Weekly. Peek: “If you recognize the power of your own voice and your good qualities, you will be able to discover and stand up for what you believe in…. [M]y novels may appear different,
Charlotte Nicole Davis is the debut author of The Good Luck Girls (Tor Teen, Oct. 1, 2019).
How would you describe your writing apprenticeship and transition to an actively publishing author? What were the surprises, challenges and strategies that have defined your experience along the way?
The biggest surprise—and challenge—was probably how much my writing process had to adjust to working on a deadline.
I love true stories about people, which is why I write biographies. While I include names, places, events, dates, and accomplishments, I want them to be a natural part of the story.
Equally important to me is that I craft the text so that readers will feel something about the person I’m writing about. I don’t tell them what to feel. I trust that readers will supply their own emotions.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Carla Killough McClafferty on Evoking Feelings in Nonfiction »
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