By Traci Sorell
Today, we have two award-winning Epic Eighteen debut authors, Christy Mihaly, author of Hey, Hey, Hay: A Tale of Bales and the Machines that Make Them, illustrated by Joe Cepeda (Holiday House, 2018) and Jessie Oliveros, author of The Remember Balloons,
Continue Reading New Voices: Christy Mihaly & Jessie Oliveros on Their Paths to Publication »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Robin Galbraith, Gayleen Rabukukk, and Stephani Eaton for Cynsations
Author/Illustrator Insights
New Release: Up For Air by Laurie Morrison ’12 by Leah Jones and Laurie Morrison from VCFA Wild Things. Peek:
“I returned to it [the manuscript] several months later and saw that there was an extremely boring subplot that could simply drop away…and the rest of the book came together smoothly,
By Traci Sorell
Tony, I’m delighted to welcome you to Cynsations! You have written a detailed, well-paced historical middle grade novel, Chula the Fox (White Dog Press, 2018), set in the Chickasaw homelands of what is now Mississippi in the 1700s.
Congratulations on winning the 2019 Ben Franklin Award Gold Medal from the Independent Book Publishers Association and the 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards Bronze Medal for Multicultural Fiction in the Juvenile-Young Adult category for your debut work!
Continue Reading Native Voice: Anthony Perry on Growing as a Writer »
Ideas for stories have to come from somewhere.
Today, Swati Teerdhala and Kip Wilson, two YA debut authors, share what inspired them to write their stories as well as advice they have for beginners.
Swati Teerdhala
What first inspired you to write for young readers?
Continue Reading New Voices: Swati Teerdhala & Kip Wilson on Funneling Inspiration Into a Book »
In a world of various career options for smart, charming folks like yourself, why did you choose editing children’s books?
Ha! Nice of you to say. My parents had the same question in 1984.
To be honest, it started when I was a senior in college because I was (slash am) a poet,
Continue Reading Editor Interview: Arthur A. Levine on Levine Querido »
By Traci Sorell
I’m delighted to welcome Jen Betton and Aidan Cassie to Cynsations today to share their interesting journeys to becoming author-illustrators for children.
Jen Betton is winner of the 2012 SCBWI Illustration Mentorship Award and the Portfolio Grand Prize at NESCBWI in 2014.
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Robin Galbraith, Gayleen Rabukukk, and Stephani Eaton for Cynsations
Author/Illustrator Insights
Spotlight On Middle Grade Authors Part 10: Emma Otheguy by Cindy L. Rodriguez and Emma Otheguy. Peek:
Today I am excited to introduce you to Joshua S. Levy and Karla Manternach, two middle grade authors whose debut novels surprised some of their friends. Joshua is the author of Seventh Grade Vs. The Galaxy (Carolrhoda, 2019) and Karla is the author of Meena Meets her Match illustrated by Rayner Alencar (Simon &
By Traci Sorell
I adore picture book poetry anthologies. The variety of poems and artwork inspire me every time. Thanku: Poems of Gratitude (Millbrook Press, Sept. 3, 2019) marks the debut of artist Marlena Myles as a picture book illustrator. Edited by the award-winning author Miranda Paul,
Continue Reading Poetry Anthology Editor & Illustrator Interview: Miranda Paul & Marlena Myles »
Vaunda Micheaux Nelson is a successful children’s author with a long, distinguished career.
In children’s-YA writing, maintaining an active publishing career is arguably an even bigger challenge than breaking into the field.
Reflecting on your personal journey (creatively, career-wise, and your writer’s heart), what bumps did you encounter and how have you managed to defy the odds to achieve continued success?