Today we welcome author Tamara Ellis Smith and illustrator Nancy Whitesides to Cynsations to discuss the joys and challenges of creating a book that’s close to the heart. Their new book, Grief is an Elephant (Chronicle, 2023) is available now. It’s Nancy’s debut book, so Tamara kicks off the interview with questions about Nancy’s path to publication.
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.
Continue Reading Cover Reveal & Author Snapshot: A Bindi Can Be… by Suma Subramaniam »
I’m thrilled to welcome two Austin/VCFA authors with debut middle grade novels. I met Jacquetta Nammar Feldman at an intensive at The Writing Barn, and Sean Petrie and I were Vermont College of Fine Arts students at the same time. It’s very exciting when passages you’ve read in a workshop become a published book!
Continue Reading New Voices: Jacquetta Nammar Feldman & Sean Petrie: From Poetry to MG Novels »
By Laura Sibson
Today we welcome Rob Costello to share about his writing process. Rob and I attended VCFA together, and his writing has long impressed me. In fact, I use his short story “The Hole of Dark Kill Hollow” from Rural Voices: 15 Authors Challenge Assumptions About Small-Town America,
Continue Reading Guest Interview: Laura Sibson Talks to Rob Costello About Short Stories »
By Laura Sibson
Hello! I am thrilled to be here as a guest reporter chatting with you about the writing process and how it changes for each book. I wondered if this was only true for me, but it turns out that lots of other authors experience the same phenomenon. In this post, I’ll share with you the distinctions in drafting my manuscripts and over the next few days,
Continue Reading Guest Post: Laura Sibson on Finding a Writing Process That Fits Each Book »
Today I’m thrilled to welcome fellow Austin author and friend Jennifer Ziegler to the Cynsations blog for a chat about writing and teaching. Her latest middle grade novel, Worser (Margaret Ferguson Books/Holiday House, 2022) has received several starred reviews and lots of positive buzz.
Tell us about your new release,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Jennifer Ziegler on Word Play and Developing Characters »