I’m thrilled to welcome Kidlit Caravan members, Carrie Tillotson, Harshita Jerath, and Rebecca Gardyn Levington to Cynsations today!
Why did you write this picture book?
Carrie: The short answer is that my editor asked me to! The long answer is a bit more involved.
By Gail Vannelli and Gayleen Rabakukk
Spotlight image: Doan Phuong Nguyen celebrates the release of her new book.
Today Cynsations is excited to share the publishing journeys of two children’s authors, Doan Phuong Nguyen and Patricia Tanumihardja. Doan Phuong is the author of Mèo and Bé (Tu Books,
I recently chatted with Austin author Carmen Oliver about her latest release—Building an Orchestra of Hope: How Favio Chavez Taught Children to Make Music from Trash, illustrated by Luisa Uribe (Eerdmans, 2022)—and finding balance, given the many hats she wears. In the photo above,
By AJ Eversole
I’m excited to feature past Cynsations reporter Kim Rogers in celebration of her debut picture book! We love to see our team succeeding.
What is the heart of Just Like Grandma?
I call it the “beating heart” because it creates palpable emotion that you can feel.
Spotlight image: Debbie Zapata reads Up and Adam, illustrated by Yong Ling Kang (Kids Can Press, 2022) with the assistance of an American Sign Language Interpreter for a group at an Austin park.
Today we welcome two Texas authors to Cynsations to share their path to publication for books inspired by their own families.
Continue Reading New Voices: Alda P. Dobbs & Debbie Zapata Create Books Inspired by Family »
By Varsha Bajaj
Count Me In (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2019) is an uplifting story of a community rallying to support its own. It is a story that celebrates finding your voice.
In 2020, it was a finalist for the Global Read Aloud program which helped librarians and teachers find it.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Varsha Bajaj Makes Real Connections in a Virtual World »
The Austin chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is particularly vibrant, and among its many offerings is a mentorship program named for Cynthia Leitich Smith!
I have been the program’s mentor twice, most recently working with the wonderful Carol Kim.
By AJ Eversole & Gayleen Rabakukk
We’re happy to welcome two debut Oklahoma YA authors to Cynsations today! Casie Bazay’s novel, Not Our Summer (Running Press Kids) released on May 11, 2021 and is a #1 Oklahoma Bestseller. Ginny Myers Sain‘s novel, Dark and Shallow Lies was published by Razorbill/Penguin on September 7,
Continue Reading New Voices: Casie Bazay & Ginny Myers Sain on Persistence »
By Gayleen Rabakukk and Stephani Martinell Eaton
Image above: Author Amy Mucha with her daughter, declaring their rights.
Today we welcome two picture book authors who used Twitter pitch events to connect with agents and editors to get their debut books published.
Tina Mowrey
What was your initial inspiration for writing this book?
Continue Reading New Voices: Tina Mowrey & Amy Mucha on Pitching Picture Books »
By P.J. Hoover
Hello, and a huge shout out to my mythology fans out there! I’ve loved mythology for ages, so when I started spinning stories of my own, there was only one path to take. Of course I was going to create stories with mythology.
My newest book,
Continue Reading Guest Post: Author P.J. Hoover on Adapting Mythology for Today’s Young Readers »