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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Reflections on Cover Design with Author Suma Subramaniam & Illustrators Sandhya Prabhat & Shreya Gupta

 

By Suma Subramaniam

I’m honored to be in conversation with my artist-collaborators and share the inside story of the cover-design process for our upcoming debut fiction and nonfiction picture books, Namaste Is A Greeting, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Candlewick, October 2022), and She Sang For India: How M.S.

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Gayatri Sethi and Annika Sarin on Defying Categorization & Unbelonging

By Suma Subramaniam

I’m pleased to welcome Gayatri Sethi, author of Unbelonging (Mango and Marigold Press, 2021) and co-founder of desi kidlit community to Cynsations! Welcome, Gayatri!

What do you love most about the creative life/being an author? Why?

Collaboration. I love working with creatives,

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Author & Illustrator Interview: Kavita Ramchandran & Srividhya Venkat talk on Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps

By Suma Subramaniam

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.

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We Need Diverse Books Announces the Opening of Applications for the 2021 WNDB Internship Grants

By Suma Subramaniam

We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) has announced the opening of the application process for the 2021 WNDB Internship Grants. In the program’s successful first six years, fifty-four diverse publishing interns received supplemental grants. Of the fifty-four grantees who have since graduated from their educational institution, thirty-four have gone on to pursue full-time work in publishing.

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