Author Interview: Padma Venkatraman on Poetry, Publishing & Diverse Verse

By Mitu Malhotra

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.

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Author Interview: Doan Phuong Nguyen on Immigration, Assimilation & Writing

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!

By Gail Vannelli

Today, I’m overjoyed to welcome children’s author Doan Phuong Nguyen, who has written two middle grade books related to her Vietnamese heritage.

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The Power of Poetry: Carol McAfee Talks to Jasmine Warga About How Poetry Can Heighten Emotion

By Carol McAfee

I am delighted today to speak with author Jasmine Warga, whose books have always deeply moved me, from her very first book, My Heart and Other Black Holes (HarperCollins, 2015) to her recent Other Words For Home (HarperCollins, 2021). As recent events unfold and we feel we swim in a choppy and dehumanizing sea,

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