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Tag: suspense

Guest Post: Helena Echlin on How to Write (& Rewrite) a Tale of Suspense

Guest Post: Helena Echlin on How to Write (& Rewrite) a Tale of Suspense

Posted on October 31, 2017January 4, 2019

By Helena Echlin

Cynsations Note: 


Happy Halloween! 


Yesterday we heard from Gillian French about techniques for building suspense. 


Today Helena Echlin shares her take on giving your readers goosebumps. 


And if you looking for even more ways to scare your readers,

Continue Reading Guest Post: Helena Echlin on How to Write (& Rewrite) a Tale of Suspense »

Guest Post: Gillian French on Hooking Readers: How to Build Suspense

Guest Post: Gillian French on Hooking Readers: How to Build Suspense

Posted on October 30, 2017January 4, 2019

By Gillian French

Cynsations Note: 


What scares you? Snakes? Spiders? Bigfoot? It’s different for everyone. Likewise, authors use different approaches for building suspense. 


Our Halloween treat for you is a glimpse at techniques from two YA authors for upping the stakes. 

Continue Reading Guest Post: Gillian French on Hooking Readers: How to Build Suspense »

Guest Post: T.A. Maclagan on Spy Novel Covers & They Call Me Alexandra Gastone

Guest Post: T.A. Maclagan on Spy Novel Covers & They Call Me Alexandra Gastone

Posted on April 20, 2015January 4, 2019

By T.A. Maclagan

From the promotional copy of They Call Me Alexandra Gastone by T.A. Maclagan (Full Fathom Five Digital, 2015):

When your life is a lie, how do you know what’s real?


Alexandra Gastone has a simple plan: graduate high school,

Continue Reading Guest Post: T.A. Maclagan on Spy Novel Covers & They Call Me Alexandra Gastone »

About Cynsations


Cynthia Leitich Smith is a New York Times bestselling, award-winning author for young readers. Her 2023 release is HARVEST HOUSE, an Indigenous YA ghost mystery. Her most recent previous books are ANCESTOR APPROVED: INTERTRIBAL STORIES FOR KIDS, which was an ALA Notable Children’s Book; SISTERS OF THE NEVERSEA, which received six starred reviews; and HEARTS UNBROKEN, which won an American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award. She also is the author-curator of Heartdrum, a Native-focused imprint, and a member of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA faculty.

Cynsations Staff: Publisher Cynthia Leitich Smith; Editor-in-Chief/Author’s Assistant Gayleen Rabakukk; Intern Suma Subramaniam; Intern AJ Eversole; Intern Bree Bender; Industry News Reporter Gail Vannelli; and the Cynsational Reporters: Rebecca Kirshenbaum; Helen Kampion; Elisabeth Norton; Veeda Bybee; Clara Hammett; Michael Leali; Linda Joy Singleton.

Learn more about Cynsations here.

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