At Cynsations this week we’re taking a deep dive into picture book biographies by interviewing eight debut biography authors. But first, today we’re kicking things off by featuring Bethany Hegedus, author of five published picture book biographies and more on the way.
Earlier this year I attended an SCBWI workshop where you discussed Social Emotional Learning.
We are pleased to welcome the author-illustrator team of Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps (Yali Books, June 2021) to Cynsations!
Written by Srividhya Venkat and illustrated by Kavita Ramchandran, Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps (Yali Books, June 2021) is a story about staying true to yourself and following your heart.
Today Cynsations welcomes Shelli R. Johannes. Shelli shares with our readers the ups and downs of her publishing journey and how she stays the course. She also shares with us what types of stories she likes to tell and how she has come to be inspired by the importance of what she calls “YOUniqueness.”
Continue Reading Shelli R. Johannes on the Importance of “YOUniqueness” »
I recently talked with Andrew Rushton, Associate Publisher with NordSüd Verlag (Switzerland), and Beth Terrill, Editor, NorthSouth Books (U.S.), to learn more about publishing in two different markets. In the above photo, Beth Terrill and Lulu the dog are enjoying a good story.
For people who are not familiar with NordSüd Verlag (NorthSouth Books,
Continue Reading Industry Interview: Andrew Rushton of NordSüd Verlag & Beth Terrill of NorthSouth »
I came here to talk about science, advocacy, and truth—themes in my first three picture books, releasing this fall.
My picture books focus on empowering kids with foundations of:
Continue Reading Guest Post: Lindsay H. Metcalf on Anxiety, Creativity & the Pandemic »
By Liz Garton Scanlon and Tricia Springstubb
Liz: I like to imagine we’re together in an actual garden – dirt underneath our fingernails and a bunch of seed packets newly emptied into the ground.
Tricia: Oh, yes! Is anything more hopeful than planting a seed? When I was seven or eight, I grew two straight lines of zinnias.
Continue Reading Guest Chat: Authors Liz Garton Scanlon & Tricia Springstubb on Seeds & Stories »
Nelly Buchet and Andrea Zuill are the author and illustrator, respectively, of Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family (Schwartz & Wade, 2020). Both are represented by Hen&ink Literary Studio.
Nelly is an actor and a debut author. Bonnier will publish her Can’t Do board book series in 2021.
Continue Reading Author & Illustrator Interview: Nelly Buchet & Andrea Zuill on Cat Dog Dog »
My first Skype chat was with a classroom in Texas. I traveled the “long” distance from my bedroom to my office, and one-by-one, the kids came up to the screen to ask me questions. Since then, I’ve enjoyed many more video chats. At first, I sat at my computer with a tiny camera attached to the screen.
Continue Reading Guest Interview: Pro Tips for Online Author Visits »
By Kate Messner
I’ll start this post with a confession. I don’t really have any secrets.
The truth is, when my first novel came out in 2009, I made all of the same overeager mistakes other debut writers make when that first book is released–over-promoting and dragging my wonderfully supportive family to book event after book event for an entire season.
Reading the “Best of 2019” lists, I was once again struck by the number of nonfiction titles. From picture book biographies to science and nature explorations, nonfiction covers every topic imaginable. So when I heard about the upcoming Nonfiction Fest (NF Fest), I wanted to share it with Cynsations readers while there’s still time to register for the free event.
Continue Reading A Closer Look at Nonfiction Fest with Author Susan Holt Kralovansky »