Writing is rewriting.
The third in a series of four posts celebrating the Oct. 9 release of my realistic contemporary YA novel, Hearts Unbroken (Candlewick).
We’re all the heroes of our own stories.
The same is true of our fictional friends and foes.
Continue Reading Hearts Unbroken: Writing Well-Rounded Secondary Characters »
Learn more about Cynthia Leitich Smith.
The second in a series of four posts celebrating the Oct. 9 release of my realistic contemporary YA novel, Hearts Unbroken (Candlewick).
We’re all living in the past, present and future.
Perhaps that’s never so true as on the page.
Continue Reading Hearts Unbroken: Writing (Sort Of) Timeless Contemporary Realistic Fiction »
On our way out to a high school winter dance.
The first in a series of four posts celebrating the Oct. 9 release of my realistic contemporary YA novel, Hearts Unbroken (Candlewick).
My senior year of high school, “Back to the Future” was a hot new release,
Continue Reading Hearts Unbroken: Writing Stories “Loosely Inspired By” Your Real Life »
Melanie at Mabel’s Fables in Toronto.
This month, Maud (Penguin, 2017) is releasing in paperback. And I feel one thing…Gratitude.
In this unstable publishing climate, not all books go to paperback.
It isn’t the natural progression it once was.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Melanie J. Fishbane on What Maud Taught Me »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith,
Robin Galbraith, Gayleen Rabukukk, & Stephani Eaton
Congratulations to Chris Barton, author of What Do You Do With a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, illustrated by Ekua Holmes (Beach Lane,
By Robin Galbraith
for Cynthia Leitich Smith‘s Cynsations
The Problem
Like many writers, I have a lot of books.
One of my favorite social activities is going to a friend’s book signing and buying their fabulous book. I also love keeping up with the newly published children’s and young adult offerings and buying those amazing books.
Continue Reading Intern Insights: How to Set Up a Halloween Book Project »
Sharon G. Flake, Homewood Library, Pittsburgh
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?
Nancy stands behind co-author & grandkid, Kaylee.
What an honor and joy it is to welcome debut children’s authors, Kaylee Morrison and Nancy Smith, who’re also citizens of Muscogee Nation!
Their picture book is Joshua and The Biggest Fish (Doodle and Peck Publishing,
Continue Reading New Voices: Kaylee Morrison and Nancy Smith on Joshua and The Biggest Fish »
Author Patricia Hermes died July 11, while Cynsations was on hiatus. She was 82.
After writing articles for national parenting magazines and an Op-Ed piece for The New York Times, a literary agent approached Hermes about writing for children.
“Hermes promptly wrote What If They Knew (Harcourt,
