Heart and Spirit: An Interview with Ami Polonsky

By Carol Coven Grannick

My chronicles explore the heart and spirit of writers, the emotional and psychological issues and strengths that stir our creativity and are stirred by our work and the obstacles that impact our processes.

What strengths does each writer have that create and maintain emotional resilience?

How does an author’s or illustrator’s own internal process and state of mind intertwine with the narrative arc of her work?

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Intern Insight: LGBT Spotlight Interview with Honey St. Claire

Intern Insight: LGBT Spotlight Interview with Honey St. Claire

Honey St. Claire, photograph by Kadaver

By Kate Pentecost

I’m sure everyone has seen the buzz that the movie “Love, Simon” has gotten and is still getting from audiences across America.

As part of the LGBT community myself, I can tell you from experience that representation for LGBT kids can be and frequently is absolutely life-changing as they grow into confident,

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New Voice: Lisa Bunker on Felix Yz

New Voice: Lisa Bunker on Felix Yz

By Gayleen Rabakukk

Lisa Bunker is the debut author of Felix Yz (Viking, 2017). From the promotional copy:

“If it wasn’t for the fused-with-Zyx thing, I suppose I would just be normal—whatever that means.”

When Felix Yz was three years old, a hyperintelligent fourth-dimensional being became fused inside him after one of his father’s science experiments went terribly wrong. 

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Guest Post: A.R. Capetta on Something Good Happened in 2016: Where Does LGBTQ YA Go From Here?

By A.R. Capetta

A.R. Capetta writing

While the goal of this blog series is to celebrate LGBTQ YA, there’s so much more room for growth.

It might seem like LGBTQ YA books are hitting new heights, when in reality they’re only beginning to find their audience.

In the words of Alex London,

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Guest Post: A.R. Capetta on Something Good Happened in 2016: LGBTQ YA Genre Fiction

By A.R.Capetta

One of the standout differences in the LGBTQ offerings in 2016, as opposed to previous years, is a boost in genre fiction.

While I love reading LGBTQ books of all kinds, in my truest and nerdiest heart, I’m a lifelong reader and devoted writer of genre fiction.

Stories with marginalized main characters tend to take a particular route through the publishing world–starting with “issue” books,

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Guest Post: A.R. Capetta on Something Good Happened in 2016: Intersectionality in LGBTQ YA

By A.R. Capetta

Rainbow Boxes is a charitable initiative to connect LGBTQIA fiction with readers across the United States.

When Cori McCarthy and I did our research for Rainbow Boxes (AKA the most fun research–it mainly consisted of reading every LGBTQ YA book we could find),

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Guest Post: A.R. Capetta on Something Good Happened in 2016: Celebrating LGBTQ YA

Rainbow Boxes co-founders Cori & A.R.

By A.R. Capetta

In 2015, it seemed like there was a slowly growing list of excellent YA books with central LGBTQ main characters–but there were clearly still barriers making it difficult for readers, especially teen readers, to find them.

Fellow YA author Cori McCarthy* and I created Rainbow Boxes to help bridge that gap,

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Book Trailer: Three Truths and a Lie by Brent Hartinger

Book Trailer: Three Truths and a Lie by Brent Hartinger

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Check out the book trailer for Three Truths and a Lie by Brent Hartinger (Simon Pulse, 2016). From the promotional copy:

A weekend retreat in the woods and an innocent game of three truths and a lie go horribly wrong in this high-octane psychological thriller filled with romantic suspense by a Lambda Award–winning author.

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Cynsational Summer Awards Roundup

Cynsational Summer Awards Roundup

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Boston Globe-Hornbook Awards for Excellence in Children’s Literature: “Winners are selected in three categories: Picture Book, Fiction and Poetry, and Nonfiction. Two Honor Books may be named in each category.”

The National Book Awards Longlist: Young People’s Literature from The New Yorker. Peek: “…a novel in verse about a twelve-year-old soccer nut,

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Summer LGBTQIA in Children’s-YA Lit Roundup

Summer LGBTQIA in Children’s-YA Lit Roundup

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Writing LGBTQ Picture Book Lit in 1989 Versus Now (AKA Heather Has Two Mommies and Morris Has a Dress) by Mark Joseph Stern from Slate. Peek: “Some schools want it to be more of a broad anti-bullying story. Rather than Morris being himself and the dress being a part of him—which is the message I’m hoping people get from it—they want the book to be about how Morris just likes to dress up for fun.”

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