Author-Teacher Interview: Gene Luen Yang on Writing, Teaching & the Hamline MFA Program

Author-Teacher Interview: Gene Luen Yang on Writing, Teaching & the Hamline MFA Program

Lean more about Cartoonist and Teacher Gene Luen Yang.

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Welcome to Cynsations. We last spoke to Dean Mary Francoise Rockcastle about the Hamline MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults back in 2006.

When did you join the faculty? What appealed to you about teaching in a low-residency program?

Continue Reading Author-Teacher Interview: Gene Luen Yang on Writing, Teaching & the Hamline MFA Program »

Guest Post: Carol Coven Grannick: Let’s Make a Plan: Reminders from Early Childhood Education

Guest Post: Carol Coven Grannick: Let’s Make a Plan: Reminders from Early Childhood Education

By Carol Coven Grannick

I walk into a classroom at the extraordinary early childhood center where I work, and watch a teacher kneeling or sitting at the height of one of her two-year-olds, one hand holding his, eyes meeting eyes.

Noah, I can see you’re having a hard time finding a way to play with Ari.

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Intern Insights: Kate Pentecost on Four Writing Tips from My Boy Guillermo del Toro

Intern Insights: Kate Pentecost on Four Writing Tips from My Boy Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro
(image from The Shape of Water media kit)

by Kate Pentecost 

Academy Award winning director Guillermo del Toro has been My Boy for a long time, way before his monster romance The Shape of Water took home Best Picture and Best Director at the 90th annual Academy Awards ceremony and was nominated for scores of others.

Continue Reading Intern Insights: Kate Pentecost on Four Writing Tips from My Boy Guillermo del Toro »

Career Achievers: K.L. Going on Thriving as a Long-Time, Actively Publishing Children’s-YA Author

Career Achievers: K.L. Going on Thriving as a Long-Time, Actively Publishing Children’s-YA Author

Learn more about K.L. Going.

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

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, what bumps did you encounter and how have you managed to defy the odds to achieve continued success?

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Interview: Author Brad Wagnon & Illustrator Alex Stephenson on The Land of the Great Turtles

Interview: Author Brad Wagnon & Illustrator Alex Stephenson on The Land of the Great Turtles

By Traci Sorell

I’m delighted to feature Brad Wagnon, a fellow Cherokee Nation citizen and author of The Land of Great Turtles (Rowe Publishing, March 2018). He is joined by Alex Stephenson, the book’s illustrator.

I met Brad a few years ago in Tahlequah through his work for the tribe. Continue Reading Interview: Author Brad Wagnon & Illustrator Alex Stephenson on The Land of the Great Turtles »