Guest Interview: Liz Garton Scanlon & Carol Kim on Finding the Story You’re Meant to Write

By Liz Garton Scanlon

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.

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New Voices: Casie Bazay & Ginny Myers Sain on Persistence

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,

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Guest Post: Author Amy Alznauer on Artistic Collaboration

By Amy Alznauer

Discovering a New Magic at the Heart of the Creative Life

As artists, we spend most of our time alone in a room writing or drawing. On our bad days, we wonder if our efforts are nothing more than a narcissistic pursuit of a private vision.

I spent many days like this as I worked for over a decade – pre-agent,

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