Today I’m thrilled to welcome fellow Austin author P.J. Hoover to Cynsations!
P.J. may be best known for her fast-paced adventure novels like Homer’s Excellent Adventure (CBAY, 2020), The Hidden Code (CBAY Books, 2019) and Tut: The Story of My Immortal Life (Tor/Starscape,
Continue Reading Author Interview: P.J. Hoover Tackles Nonfiction With Problem Solvers »
Spotlight image: Patricia Newman signs a book for Bebe, the narrator of A River’s Gifts book trailer.
I’m excited to celebrate an amazing new book by Sibert Honor award winning author Patricia Newman and acclaimed illustrator Natasha Donovan. I’ve been lucky to be in a critique group with Patricia for over a dozen years—she’s one of the best critique partners ever.
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, AJ Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Something About Grandma by Tania de Regil (Candlewick Press, 2022).
Author/Illustrator Insights
Interview With Billy Yong, Debut Picture Book Illustrator of My Pet Feet from Debbie Ridpath Ohi.
Congratulations to Tom Angleberger on the publication of his new graphic novel, Two-Headed Chicken (Candlewick, Sept. 6, 2022).
Take a look back at his reflection on Children’s Literature as a Team Sport. It first appeared on Cynsations in February 2020.
I’m coming up on the 10th anniversary of Origami Yoda (Amulet,
I’m thrilled to welcome Sangu Mandanna to the Cynsations blog today!
Could you tell us about your latest book?
My latest book, Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom (Penguin Random House, 2022) is a middle grade fantasy about what happens when a young girl’s sketchbook world comes to life.
Continue Reading Author Interview: Sangu Mandanna Reflects on her Publishing Journey »
By Barbara Dee
Spotlight image: Barbara Dee at the 2021 Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival.
If you write middle grade fiction, chances are good that at some point someone will ask: “Do you ever plan to write for grownups?”
It’s a question that always irks. I think what’s behind it is the assumption that writing for grownups is something to aspire to,
Continue Reading Guest Post: Barbara Dee on the Sound of Middle Grade: Getting the Voice »
I’m excited to reveal the book trailer for Cynsations’ own Suma Subramaniam‘s debut picture book, Namaste Is A Greeting, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Candlewick, Oct. 11, 2022).
From the publisher’s description:
What is namaste? It’s found in a smile,
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, AJ Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Forever Cousins by Laurel Goodluck, illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Charlesbridge, 2022).
Author/Illustrator Insights
It’s Never Too Late: Seven Authors on Making Their YA Debuts After Age 50 by Julia Edelstein from Publishers Weekly.
Congratulations to April Henry on Two Truths and a Lie (Christy Ottaviano Books, 2022), an Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best YA.
Take a look back at April’s advice on tension, originally published in December 2010 and reposted in March 2014, it remains the most-viewed writing craft post in Cynsations history.
Not too far off the beaten track in Austin, visitors are welcomed to The Writing Barn retreat center, a place where deer wander the meadows, the buildings are air conditioned and rooms are filled with bookshelves. There, thirteen Native participants gathered the weekend of Aug. 4 to Aug.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Patricia Morris Buckley on the We Need Diverse Books Native Intensive »