Kansas State U. Powwow with son Carlos & cousin Matthew Lester (senior)
By Traci Sorell
I had no idea how beneficial an agent could be when I attended my first SCBWI conference in October 2013.
I quickly realized how much about the industry I did not know.
I began to network with other children’s writers,
Continue Reading Guest Post: Traci Sorell on Signing with a Literary Agent »
Jenny Kay Dupuis is the first-time author of I Am Not a Number, co-authored by Kathy Kacer, illustrated by Gillian Newland (Second Story, 2016). From the promotional copy:
When eight-year-old Irene is removed from her First Nations family to live in a residential school she is confused,
Continue Reading New Voice: Jenny Kay Dupuis on I Am Not a Number »
Today I’m honored to feature Monique Gray Smith, “a mixed heritage woman of Cree, Lakota, and Scottish descent” and the author one of my favorite new titles–my official go-to gift book for 2016.
What put you on the path to writing for young readers?
I never set out to write for young readers and to be honest,
Scholastic Book Club will soon be offering my debut tween novel, Rain Is Not My Indian Name, as a diversity selection through book clubs.
Rain Is Not My Indian Name (HarperCollins and Listening Library, 2001)(ages 10-up). Available as an unabridged audio download.
Continue Reading Scholastic Book Club to Offer Rain Is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith »
Enter to win one of two author-signed copies of Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie, illustrated by Yuyi Morales (Little Brown, 2016). Obtained from BookPeople. Cynsations sponsored. Eligibility: North America. From the promotional copy:
Thunder Boy Jr.
Continue Reading Giveaway: Signed Copy of Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie & Yuyi Morales »
Of late I had the honor of joining Daniel José Older and Sabaa Tahir in answering questions on Diversity in YA Fantasy from Maggie Reagan from Booklist. My thoughts included:
I’ve had students ask me, “How do I write this without freaking out the white folks?” And yet authors hold back at the peril of young readers.
Continue Reading Telling Better Stories: Writing Diverse YA Fantasy »
Check out the book trailer for Dreaming In Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices, edited by Lisa Charleyboy (Tsilhqot’in) and Mary Beth Leatherdale (Annick Press, 2014). From the promotional copy:
A powerful and visually stunning anthology from some of the most groundbreaking Native artists working in North America today.
Continue Reading Book Trailer: Dreaming In Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices »
My children’s books Jingle Dancer (Morrow, 2000), Rain Is Not My Indian Name (HarperCollins, 2001) and Indian Shoes (HarperCollins, 2002) join Joseph Bruchac‘s The Heart of a Chief (Dial, 1998) as companion books to Louise Erdrich’s The Round House (Harper,
