Author Interview: Uma Krishnaswami on Series Writing & The Sunshine Project

By Suma Subramaniam

Uma Krishnaswami is one of the best and most distinguished author/mentors in the children’s publishing industry. I have enjoyed the Book Uncle trilogy so much and feel honored to welcome her to discuss the third book in the series.

Your forthcoming book, The Sunshine Project (Groundwood Books,

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Cynsational Books of 2024

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

The Cynsational Books of 2024 were selected by Cynthia Leitich Smith from nominations by Cynsations Team members. Titles published by Heartdrum or authored/illustrated by Cynsations team members are ineligible.

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Author Interview: Uma Krishnaswami on Writing Sequels, The Use of Italics & When It’s Time to Listen to Your Inner Critic

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 Mitu Malhotra

Spotlight image: Author Uma Krishnaswami, photo by S. Shrikhande

Today we are excited to welcome Uma Krishnaswami to Cynsations.

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Writers Alex Sanchez, Anica Mrose Rissi & Sheela Chari Reflect on Teaching Writing

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 Michael Leali

The world of children’s literature is a rich landscape of teaching and learning. Many acclaimed writers seek to share their knowledge, building up the next wave of writers for young people.

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Guest Interview: Uma Krishnaswami & Vaunda Micheaux Nelson Reflect on Writing’s Journey

By Uma Krishnaswami

I have been a fan of Vaunda Micheaux Nelson’s work for decades now. We’ve been together in a writing group since 1997. I can’t imagine letting a manuscript go to my agent without having this amazing writer and friend cast her eyes on it first. I feel so fortunate that she is in my writing circle—my life circle.

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Guest Interview: Uma Krishnaswami & Aimee Sicuro Explore Creative Pathways

By Uma Krishnaswami

Aimee Sicuro’s illustrations for my picture book, Bright Sky, Starry City (Groundwood Books, 2015), blew me away. There were so many elements that just opened up the universe of my story about a girl who loves the sky. When I saw the illustrations, I became convinced that Aimee had read my mind.

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Guest Post: Uma Krishnaswami Reflects on the Power of Design in Narrative Nonfiction Books

By Uma Krishnaswami

Threads of Peace: How Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Changed the World (Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2021) took me all of nine years from contract to publication. When I began writing my first draft, I knew I’d need to look for photos.

I had decided to use a combination of archival images and photographs that my husband and I had taken in India and the United States in places important to the lives of both Mahatma Gandhi and Reverend King.

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Guest Post: Lindsey Lane on Reframing the Reality of Books Going Out of Print, Part 2: Author/Illustrator Perspective

By Lindsey Lane

When an author or an illustrator gets the news that their book is going out of print (OP) or out of stock (OS), it is a blow. A tragedy. It feels like a death in the family.

After all, a book is a creation, something that sprang from our imaginations,

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