I am pleased to introduce Cynsations readers to our newest reporter, Rebecca Kirshenbaum, pictured above with one of her sons. She will cover books by neurodiverse authors reflecting neurodiverse characters as well as their work more globally.
Welcome to Cynsations! Could you tell us about your vision for covering books written by neurodiverse authors here at the blog?
Continue Reading New Cynsations Reporter Rebecca Kirshenbaum »
Sam McBratney, author of nearly 70 books for children and young adults, died Sept. 18 at his home in County Antrum, Northern Ireland. He was seventy-seven.
Sam McBratney is best known as the author of the best-selling children’s book Guess How Much I Love You illustrated by Anita Jeram (Candlewick,
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabukukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: William Still and His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad by Don Tate (Peachtree Publishing Company, 2020).
Author/Illustrator Insights
Today Cynsations celebrates the debuts of YA authors Adiba Jaigirdar and Kim Johnson. They discuss their journey to publication—the inspiration, the challenges, and the accomplishments. Both authors drew from their own experiences and identities to create their compelling stories.
Adiba Jaigirdar
What was your initial inspiration for writing this book?
Continue Reading New Voices: Adiba Jaigirdar & Kim Johnson on Their Journeys to Publication »
By Emma Kress
2020. What. A. Year. And, um, as you may have noticed, it ain’t over yet.
So what is it that drags us from our beds each day? Sure, for many of us it’s our insistent children. But besides them? Hope.
This year, we’ve seen the footprints of hope everywhere: billboards thanking medical workers,
As a talented author and poet, how does your love of poetry influence your picture books?
Poetry is where I got my start. I have loved words from the moment I meet them and found it was great fun to twist them around and make them sing! I wrote my first poem when I was eight years old and continued to and through adulthood.
Continue Reading Awesome Authors: Danna Smith on How Poetry Inspires Picture Books »
I’m so excited to welcome debut middle-grade authors Tziporah Cohen and Donna Barba Higuera to Cynsations today. Both authors share with us the joys and challenges of writing to their own experiences.
Congratulations on your debuts!
Tziporah Cohen
What first inspired you to write for young readers?
Continue Reading New Voices: Tziporah Cohen & Donna Barba Higuera on Writing Their Own Experiences »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabukukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: It’s Halloween, Little Monster by Helen Ketteman, illustrated by Bonnie Leick (Two Lions, 2020).
Author/Illustrator Insights
Making a Joyful Noise Through Writing by Ashley Franklin from We Need Diverse Books.
By Kim Rogers
Today, I’m happy to chat with award-winning Choctaw and Cherokee author Gary Robinson. He is also a film maker and digital artist. His young adult book Standing Strong (7th Generation Books, 2019) is part of the Pathfinder series and won the 2019 Moonbeam Children’s Book Gold Award.
I’m excited to welcome Crystal Allen, author and co-director of Kindling Words, who shares with Cynsations readers her vision for the retreat as well as her thoughts on writing.
Congratulations on being named co-director of Kindling Words! First, can you tell us a little bit about the Kindling Words retreat and its history?