I’m very excited to welcome two Austin authors who have both written middle grade books with a series second releasing this year. Meredith Davis is the author of The Minor Rescue (Waterbrook, May 2025), and Mari Mancusi wrote Dawn of the Dragons (Little Brown,
Continue Reading Authors Interview: Meredith Davis & Mari Mancusi on Book Series & Promotion »
Today, I am excited to welcome Miriam Chernick to share her writing journey with Cynsations. Her debut The Zuzu Secret (Charlesbridge, 2025) is a heartwarming story about spunky Josie, her older brother Abe, and a bearded dragon. Two real life icons: James Herriot the British veterinary surgeon and author,
I’m thrilled to welcome Vermont College of Fine Arts faculty member and author Sara Ryan to Cynsations today. Their new book, Mountain Upside Down (Dutton, 2025) perfectly mixes the excitement of discovering one’s own identity, with the challenges of shifting family dynamics and outside forces beyond our control.
Continue Reading Author Interview: Sara Ryan Shares Library Love, Plus Craft, Career & Life Advice »
One chilly morning at the New England SCBWI conference Padma Venkatraman met me with warmth and included me in her conversation because I was one of the few people of color in that room. Many years later, in 2024, I attended a Highlights Foundation retreat on Writing through Trauma and Grief to Empower Readers where she was guest faculty—this time we chatted over cups of tea and shared our love of poetry.
Continue Reading Author Interview: Padma Venkatraman on Poetry, Publishing & Diverse Verse »
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!
Earlier this year I had an experience that made me reflect deeply on perspective and details. My husband and I attended a Jon Batiste concert.
Continue Reading Reflections on Craft: Using Specific Details to Draw Readers into a Story »
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 I’m excited to share my interview with debut author Ginger Reno (Cherokee) about her path to publication and her middle grade novel,
Continue Reading New Voice: Ginger Reno on Believing in Yourself & Debut Novel, Find Her »
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!
Congratulations to Margaret Peterson Haddix on the publication of The Stolen Key, the third book in the Mysteries of Trash and Treasure series (Quill Tree,
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 Hena Khan to Cynsations as she discusses her new middle grade graphic novel, We are Big Time,
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!
Congratulations to Sally J. Pla on the publication of Invisible Isabel, illustrated by Tania de Regil (Quill Tree, 2024)! From the publisher’s website:
…an illustrated middle grade novel about introverted Isabel Beane,
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!
Spotlight image: Author Uma Krishnaswami, photo by S. Shrikhande
Today we are excited to welcome Uma Krishnaswami to Cynsations.