Author-Illustrator Interview: Ellie Peterson Reflects on Her Creative Process & Winning the Washington State Book Award

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 Suma Subramaniam

We’re thrilled to have Author-Illustrator Ellie Peterson on Cynsations today.

Congratulations on winning the Washington State Book Award! How has winning the award changed or affected your creative life?

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Author Interview: Will Taylor Reflects on the Washington State Book Award, Writing Influences & Staying Motivated

By Suma Subramaniam

We’re thrilled to have Author Will Taylor on Cynsations today.

Congratulations on winning the Washington State Book Award! How has winning the award changed or affected your creative life? What hasn’t changed?

Thank you so much! I remember attending the Washington State Book Award ceremony the year before my first book came out and thinking “Maybe someday!” It’s truly wild that it’s actually happened.

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Cover Reveal & Author Snapshot Suma Subramaniam on My Name Is Long As A River

Check out the cover for a new picture book by Cynsations own Suma Subramaniam, My Name Is Long As A River, illustrated by Tara Anand, due out from Penguin Workshop on May 28, 2024. From the publisher’s description:

In this sweeping picture book, an Indian girl discovers the power of her name as she travels along the river she was named after.

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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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Author Interview: Jyoti Gopal Shares Strategies for Juggling Multiple Projects

By Suma Subramaniam

I’m thrilled to welcome Jyoti Gopal to Cynsations today!

You lived in many countries before settling down in the United States. How did that experience inform you as an author? 

Living outside one’s culture, learning different languages, straddling different ways of being – these were gifts,

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Author Interview: Sangu Mandanna Reflects on her Publishing Journey

By Suma Subramaniam

I’m thrilled to welcome Sangu Mandanna to the Cynsations blog today!

Could you tell us about your latest book?

My latest book, Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom (Penguin Random House, 2022) is a middle grade fantasy about what happens when a young girl’s sketchbook world comes to life.

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Kidlit Caravan Authors Debbie Zapata, Donna Cangelosi, Margaret Aitken, Rebecca Gardyn Levington & Robyn McGrath Discuss Picture Book Journeys

By Suma Subramaniam

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Kidlit Caravan authors Debbie Zapata, Donna Cangelosi, Margaret Aitken, Rebecca Gardyn Levington, and Robyn McGrath to Cynsations.

Kidlit Caravan is a troupe of authors and author-illustrators with debut picture books headed your way in 2022.

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WNDB Internship Alumnx Series: Literary Agent Jas Perry

By Suma Subramaniam

We’re honored to bring to you interviews from alumnx of the WNDB Internship Program. Since the program’s inception, We Need Diverse Books has supported over 80 grantees in summer internships. An incredible 70 percent of the grantees have gone on to find permanent positions in the publishing industry (with many already acquiring books of their own).

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