Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Today we welcome authors Kekla Magoon and Cynthia Leitich Smith to Cynsations to discuss their collaboration on a new middle grade graphic novel series,
Today I’m welcoming Joy Bean, Lead Editor for Arctis Books, to Cynsations. Joy, many readers might not be familiar with Arctis Books. Can you tell us more about the company?
Arctis Books USA is the sister company of NorthSouth Books, which readers may be very familiar with,
Continue Reading Editor Interview: Joy Bean of Arctis Books Brings European Titles to U.S. Readers »
Spotlight image above: A.A. Prime accepts the Global Literature in Libraries Initiative Translated YA Book Prize. See the entire presentation here.
Early in the pandemic, the Global Literature in Libraries Initiative named two winners of its 2020 Translated YA Book Prize: The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi,
Continue Reading Guest Interview: A. A. Prime on Translating Red Mantle »
Learn more about Erin Cashman
By Erin Cashman
Recently, someone commented to me that writing fantasy must be easy, since I can just make up what I need to fit my plot.
I wish! As Lloyd Alexander said,
“Once committed to his imaginary kingdom, the writer is not a monarch but a subject.”
Continue Reading Guest Post: Erin Cashman on The Role of Research in Writing Fantasy »
Guillermo del Toro
(image from The Shape of Water media kit)
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.
Hannah West is the first-time author of Kingdom of Ash and Briars (Holiday House, 2016). From the promotional copy:
Building on homages to Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jane Austen’s Emma and the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, Hannah West makes a spectacular and wholly original debut.
Continue Reading New Voice: Hannah West on Kingdom of Ash and Briars »
By Amy Bearce
Confession: I have a terrible time with world-building. So, naturally, I consistently write fantasy, where world-building is critical.
You gotta be kidding me! Credit: Pixabay, mintchipdesigns, CC0
In real life, I’m not very observant about the space around me. I notice people’s emotions, but not what they are eating or what they are wearing.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Amy Bearce on World-Building Woes (& Wows) »
Discussion Guide & Common Core Teacher Guide
Kathryn Tanquary is the first-time author of The Night Parade (Sourcebooks Fire, 2016). From the promotional copy:
“I thought you might sleep through it.” The creature smiled.
Saki’s voice was little more than a whisper.
Continue Reading New Voice: Kathryn Tanquary on The Night Parade »
Find Alan on Facebook and @acumyn
Welcome, Alan Cumyn! What was your initial inspiration for Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend (Atheneum, 2016)?
There’s a short answer and a long one. The short: in January 2012, popular YA author Libba Bray gave a speech to over a hundred writers at Vermont College of Fine Arts in which she brought us through the ups and downs of her writing career.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Alan Cumyn on Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend »
By Janet S. Fox
Some of my favorite books ever are the books of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series. The fantasy of leaving home and entering a land where a child can experience talking animals, mythological creatures, desperate (and deadly) battles – where a child can be perceived as making real, respected choices –
Continue Reading Guest Post: Janet S. Fox on Blending History With Fantasy »
