Guest Post: Author Tamara Ellis Smith & Illustrator Nancy Whitesides on Tackling Stories Close to the Heart

Today we welcome author Tamara Ellis Smith and illustrator Nancy Whitesides to Cynsations to discuss the joys and challenges of creating a book that’s close to the heart. Their new book, Grief is an Elephant (Chronicle, 2023) is available now. It’s Nancy’s debut book, so Tamara kicks off the interview with questions about Nancy’s path to publication.

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Cover Reveal & Author Snapshot: A Bindi Can Be… by Suma Subramaniam

Spotlight image: Suma Subramaniam and Kamala Nair

Check out the cover of A Bindi Can Be … written by Cynsations very own Suma Subramaniam and illustrated by Kamala Nair (Kids Can Press May 7, 2024).

From: the Kids Can Press’ website.

A young girl discovers that a bindi is more than just a dot that goes between her brows.

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Throwback Thursday: Bethany Hegedus on Embracing Your Strengths, Between Us Baxters & Truth with a Capital T

Congratulations to Bethany Hegedus on the upcoming publication of You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community, co-written with Arun Gandhi, illustrated by Andrés Landazábal (Candlewick Press, June 2023). From the promotional copy:

Peace is you. Peace is me.
Peace is the great big We of community.

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Guest Interview: Lindsay H. Metcalf, Keila V. Dawson & Jeanette Bradley on Collaboration & Poetry Anthologies

By Lindsay H. Metcalf, Keila V. Dawson, and Jeanette Bradley

Lindsay: Thanks to Cynsations for inviting us to discuss the collaboration process for our latest picture-book poetry anthology, No World Too Big: Young People Fighting Global Climate Change, co-edited by Keila V. Dawson, Jeanette Bradley,

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Author Interview: Cate Berry on Finding A Creative Rhythm & Thank You, Teacher!

By Gayleen Rabakukk

Spotlight image: Cate Berry writing in her 1967 Shasta camper.

Austin author and fellow VCFA alumnx Cate Berry has a new picture book, Thank You, Teacher, illustrated by Sara Varon (Balzer+Bray, 2023). I was eager to catch up with her and get her take on rhyming picture books,

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Throwback Thursday: Jane Sutton on Revisiting a Theme

Congratulations to Jane Sutton on Gracie Brings Back Bubbe’s Smile, illustrated by Debby Rahmalia (Albert Whitman, 2022). Kirkus Reviews called the book “A tender reminder that family and culture can buoy us after loss.”

Take a look back at Jane’s first Cynsations guest post from 2010.

Guest Post: Jane Sutton on Revisiting a Theme

By Jane Sutton

My friend Fay called after reading my latest picture book.

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Guest Post: Sara Greenwood on Writing from Real Life & My Brother Is Away

By Sara Greenwood

I’ve written a few of books over the years, but My Brother Is Away [illustrated by Luisa Uribe (Random House Studio, 2022)] is my first attempt to write from my own life story. When I was in first grade, my brother was arrested. He was released from prison when I was in eighth.

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Wearing Two Hats: Editors & Agents Who Write: Editor Irene Vázquez & Agent James McGowan

By Helen Kampion

Spotlight image: Irene Vázquez & Levine Querido Marketing Director Antonio Gonzalez Cerna

Most of us think that agents and editors just do agenting or editing. But what if they are also writers? Does this make a difference how our work is viewed? Evaluated? This three-part series asks agents and editors to share their thoughts and experiences on wearing two hats.

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