By Traci Sorell
Today we welcome two of my fellow Epic Eighteen creators, Elizabeth Lilly, author-illustrator of Geraldine (Roaring Brook, 2018) and Shanda McCloskey, author-illustrator of Doll-E 1.0 (Little, Brown, May 2018).
Both Shanda and Elizabeth devoted time and effort to developing their skills before landing their first book contracts.
By Traci Sorell
I’m always amazed by those creators who can both write and illustrate their stories. Okay, I’ll admit a little jealous too. My talents do not lend themselves to do both.
So shining the Cynsations’ spotlight today on Sarah Lynne Reul is a treat.
She shares about how she creates her art and why she ultimately decided to become a children’s book author-illustrator instead of focusing solely on illustration.
Continue Reading New Voice: Sarah Lynne Reul on The Breaking News »
By Traci Sorell
To say that I’m thrilled to feature Daria Peoples-Riley, fellow Epic Eighteen member, today on Cynsations is an understatement.
This Is It (Greenwillow, 2018), her debut picture book as an author-illustrator, follows a young girl of color getting ready for a ballet audition.
By Traci Sorell
Today I’m pleased to shine the Cynsations’ spotlight on Dana Wulfekotte, a fellow Epic Eighteen member. Her debut picture book, Rabbit & Possum (Greenwillow, 2018), features the antics of these two friends hoping to share a snack but having to overcome an obstacle first.
Continue Reading New Voice: Interview & Giveaway: Dana Wulfekotte on Rabbit & Possum »
By Traci Sorell
I am pleased to shine the spotlight on a fellow Epic Eighteen debut picture book, Love, Mama by author-illustrator Jeanette Bradley (Roaring Brook, 2018). From the promotional copy:
When Mama leaves her young penguin Kipling, he knows she’ll return home soon—yet he still can’t help but miss her.
Continue Reading New Voice: Interview & Giveaway: Jeanette Bradley on Love, Mama »
By Beth Bacon
This post is the first in a series honoring reluctant readers.
Reading is the closest thing we have to magic in the real world.
Is there any other explanation for the way those small, squiggly symbols on the page transform into meaning in our minds?
While a well-published illustrator, Suzanne Del Rizzo celebrates her authorial debut with My Beautiful Birds, which she also illustrated (Pajama Press, March 2017). From the promotional copy:
Behind Sami, the Syrian skyline is full of smoke. The boy follows his family and all his neighbours in a long line,
Continue Reading New Voice: Author-Illustrator Suzanne Del Rizzo »
Congratulations on Color Wonder: Hooray for Spring! (Little Simon, 2016) This is your third novelty book.
Cynsations readers may remember your debut Raindrops: The Color of Showers (illustrated by by Viviana Garofoli, Sterling, 2010) and the creative process you described then.
Note: This is the final installment of our series focusing on the SCBWI Europolitan Conference. Author Catherine Coe interviewed agent Penny Holroyde and her client author-illustrator Chris Mould.
Agent Penny Holroyde started her career in publishing over twenty years ago working in the rights department at Walker Books and selling picture book co-editions across the world.
Continue Reading 2017 Europolitan Con: Agent Penny Holroyde & Author-Illustrator Chris Mould »
Obituary: Yumi Heo by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly. Peek: “[Henry] Holt’s Laura Godwin shared this remembrance:
‘Yumi was extremely gracious, enthusiastic, and inquisitive,’ she said. ‘I loved the way she incorporated ‘mistakes’ into her art rather than erasing or deleting them.
“If she drew a squiggle where she hadn’t intended,
