Career Achievers: Janet Nolan Focuses on Positives to Build a Picture Book Career

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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 Gayleen Rabakukk

Janet Nolan is a successful children’s author with a long, distinguished career.

In children’s-YA writing, maintaining an active publishing career is arguably an even bigger challenge than breaking into the field.

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Guest Interview: Publisher Prashant Pathak of Wonder House & SCBWI’s Sarah Baker Reflect on Bologna Children’s Book Fair

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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: Elisabeth Norton and Publisher Prashant Pathak in Wonder House Books’s booth at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, photo by Melanie Rook Welfing.

The 61st edition of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair took place April 8 – 11 in Bologna,

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Guest Interview: Illustrators Julien Chung & Jacinta Liu Share Tips for Navigating the Bologna Children’s Book Fair

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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: Jacinta Liu in the exhibition of the 2024 featured country, Slovenia, at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

The 61st edition of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair took place April 8 –

Continue Reading Guest Interview: Illustrators Julien Chung & Jacinta Liu Share Tips for Navigating the Bologna Children’s Book Fair »

Cynsations Intern: Mitu Malhotra Reflects on “Where I’m From”

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By Mitu Malhotra

In the foothills of the Himalayas, when the fireflies danced and the moon rose over the sharp silhouettes of the world’s tallest peaks, I listened to my grandfather and father recite Urdu poetry: ghazals, nazms and shers—songs, poems and couplets reminiscing about life. Those are indeed my favorite childhood memories. Those were the long summer holidays before electronic media invaded our lives.

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New Voices: Doan Phuong Nguyen & Patricia Tanumihardja Share Inspirations & Publishing Journeys

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By Gail Vannelli and Gayleen Rabakukk

Spotlight image: Doan Phuong Nguyen celebrates the release of her new book.

Today Cynsations is excited to share the publishing journeys of two children’s authors, Doan Phuong Nguyen and Patricia Tanumihardja. Doan Phuong is the author of Mèo and Bé (Tu Books,

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Bologna 2023: Visiting the Bologna Children’s Book Fair as it Celebrates 60

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By Elisabeth Norton

Spotlight image: Sarah Baker and Jess Racklyeft at the SCBWI booth at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

This year Bologna Children’s Book Fair celebrated its 60th fair. I asked three visitors to this year’s fair to share more about their experiences with the readers of Cynsations.

Arthur A.

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New Voices: Shachi Kaushik & Susan Johnston Taylor Share Picture Book Advice

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By Gayleen Rabakukk

Spotlight image: Shachi Kaushik celebrating Diwali with her new book.

I love sharing the success stories of Austin authors with Cynsations readers. Today I’m interviewing two debut picture book authors, Shachi Kaushik and Susan Johnston Taylor, about their paths to publication and advice for aspiring writers.

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New Voices: Melissa Coffey & Kristin Wauson on SCBWI’s Role in their Journeys

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By Gayleen Rabakukk

Featured image: Melissa Coffey signing advance copies at the 2022 Texas Library Association Conference.

Today I’m pleased to welcome two Austin authors to Cynsations, Melissa Coffey and Kristin Wauson. Melissa is the debut author of Fridge-Opolis, illustrated by Josh Cleland (Little Bee Books,

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New Cynsations Reporter for New England Helen Kampion

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By Gayleen Rabakukk and Stephani Martinell Eaton

We are thrilled to welcome Helen Kampion to Cynsations as a reporter covering the New England area.

Helen is very active in the children’s-YA literature community and we’re excited about the posts she will contribute!

Welcome, Helen! You’ll be covering the New England youth literary scene.

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