Rhonda DeChambeau is a Massachusetts children’s author and poet, and also an experienced speaker and presenter. Her debut YA novel in verse, Top Heavy (Holiday House, 2025), is a beautifully written book about Esme, a fifteen-year-old talented dancer who is thrilled to make the Elite dance team.
Continue Reading New Voice: Rhonda DeChambeau on Writing a YA Verse Novel About Body Issues »
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!
Earlier this year I had an experience that made me reflect deeply on perspective and details. My husband and I attended a Jon Batiste concert.
Continue Reading Reflections on Craft: Using Specific Details to Draw Readers into a Story »
Two award-winning Austin authors have ghostly books publishing this month: Adrianna Cuevas and Cynthia Leitich Smith. We couldn’t resist the opportunity for insight on eerie stories from these authors, so we arranged for them to ask each other questions. First up, Cynthia asks Adrianna questions about The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto (Farrar,
Continue Reading Authors in Conversation: Adrianna Cuevas & Cynthia Leitich Smith on Eerie Books »
I recently read Lyn Miller-Lachmann‘s young adult historical novel, Torch (Carolrhoda Lab, 2022), and am eager for Lyn to share her insights on writing in multiple points of view with Cynsations readers. First, from the promotional copy:
Czechoslovakia, 1969
Seventeen-year-old Pavol has watched his country’s freedoms disappear in the wake of the Soviet Union’s invasion.
Continue Reading Author Interview: Lyn Miller-Lachmann on Multiple Point-of-View & Torch »
I’ve written a few of books over the years, but My Brother Is Away [illustrated by Luisa Uribe (Random House Studio, 2022)] is my first attempt to write from my own life story. When I was in first grade, my brother was arrested. He was released from prison when I was in eighth.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Sara Greenwood on Writing from Real Life & My Brother Is Away »
Heroes and villains are typically archetypes that let us see the best––and worst––of the human race. In the Superhero genre, these characters are usually obvious: Superman and Lex Luther or Batman and the Joker. In real life, they can be obvious, too––we see that playing out on the world stage in the fight between Russia and Ukraine.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Jessica Vitalis on Heroes, Villains, & the Gray Space in Between »
By Barbara Dee
Spotlight image: Barbara Dee at the 2021 Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival.
If you write middle grade fiction, chances are good that at some point someone will ask: “Do you ever plan to write for grownups?”
It’s a question that always irks. I think what’s behind it is the assumption that writing for grownups is something to aspire to,
Continue Reading Guest Post: Barbara Dee on the Sound of Middle Grade: Getting the Voice »
I’m excited to welcome author Supriya Kelkar to Cynsations.
Her debut middle grade historical novel, Ahimsa (Tu Books, 2017) received starred reviews and made the Amelia Bloomer Top Ten list from the American Library Association.
Her picture book, The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Supriya Kelkar on Writing Personal Stories »
By P.J. Hoover
Hello, and a huge shout out to my mythology fans out there! I’ve loved mythology for ages, so when I started spinning stories of my own, there was only one path to take. Of course I was going to create stories with mythology.
My newest book,
Continue Reading Guest Post: Author P.J. Hoover on Adapting Mythology for Today’s Young Readers »
When I first read Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan (HarperCollins, 2012), I remember being completely amazed.
A brown bear or a pigeon narrating a picture book are one thing, but a gorilla narrating a meaningful middle grade novel? This was something else entirely.