New Voices: Casie Bazay & Ginny Myers Sain on Persistence

By AJ Eversole & Gayleen Rabakukk

We’re happy to welcome two debut Oklahoma YA authors to Cynsations today! Casie Bazay’s novel, Not Our Summer (Running Press Kids) released on May 11, 2021 and is a #1 Oklahoma Bestseller. Ginny Myers Sain‘s novel, Dark and Shallow Lies was published by Razorbill/Penguin on September 7,

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Kristy Everington and AG Ford Talk About Writing, Art, and Isobel Adds It Up

By Suma Subramaniam

We’re pleased to welcome the author-illustrator team of Isobel Adds It Up (Penguin Random House, 2021), Kristy Everington, and AG Ford to Cynsations.

In this lovely picture book, Isobel is a problem solver . . . addition, subtraction, multiplication, division! But trying to figure out who is causing all the noise next door is one problem she can’t quite work out.

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Picture Book Biographies: Gloria Amescua & Carol Kim Discuss Mentors on the Path to Publication

By Gayleen Rabakukk

We’re wrapping up our picture book biography series with two more Austin authors, Gloria Amescua, author of Child Of The Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter Of The Nahua, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh (Abrams, 2021) and Carol Kim, author of King Sejong Invents an Alphabet,

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Picture Book Biographies: Candy Wellins & Philip Hoelzel on the Importance of Critique Groups

By Gayleen Rabakukk

Critique partners can play a huge role in taking a manuscript to the next level. Today we’re chatting with critique partners Candy Wellins and Philip Hoelzel about their picture book biographies.

Candy’s book is The Stars Beckoned: Edward White’s Amazing Walk in Space,

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Picture Book Biographies: Azadeh Westergaard & Meghan P. Browne Reveal Their Writing Processes

By Stephani Martinell Eaton and Gayleen Rabakukk

Azadeh Westergaard

We are delighted to welcome author and illustrator Azadeh Westergaard to Cynsations today. Azadeh’s debut picture book, A Life Electric, illustrated by Júlia Sardà (Viking, 2021), focuses on the life of Nikola Tesla.

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Picture Book Biographies: Bethany Hegedus Explores Social Emotional Learning in Nonfiction

By Gayleen Rabakukk

At Cynsations this week we’re taking a deep dive into picture book biographies by interviewing eight debut biography authors. But first, today we’re kicking things off by featuring Bethany Hegedus, author of five published picture book biographies and more on the way.

Earlier this year I attended an SCBWI workshop where you discussed Social Emotional Learning.

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Teacher’s Guides: Adrianna Cuevas & Andrea M. Page on Creating Guides as Freelancers

By Gayleen Rabakukk

Today we’re talking with two authors who created educator guides for their own books, but have also made teacher’s guides for other authors.

Adrianna Cuevas

As a former teacher, did you use teaching guides in the classroom?

I was a Spanish and ESOL teacher,

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