Co-Author Interview: Kekla Magoon & Cynthia Leitich Smith on Collaboration, Careers & the Joy of Creating Children’s Books

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!

By Gayleen Rabakukk

Today we welcome authors Kekla Magoon and Cynthia Leitich Smith to Cynsations to discuss their collaboration on a new middle grade graphic novel series,

Continue Reading Co-Author Interview: Kekla Magoon & Cynthia Leitich Smith on Collaboration, Careers & the Joy of Creating Children’s Books »

Editor Interview: Joy Bean of Arctis Books Brings European Titles to U.S. Readers

By Elisabeth Norton

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 »

Guest Interview: A. A. Prime on Translating Red Mantle

 

By Avery Fischer Udagawa

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 »

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 »

Guest Post: Amy Bearce on World-Building Woes (& Wows)

Guest Post: Amy Bearce on World-Building Woes (& Wows)

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) »

Guest Post: Alan Cumyn on Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend

Guest Post: Alan Cumyn on Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend

Find Alan on Facebook and @acumyn

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

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 »