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.
We’re thrilled to welcome Anna-Marie McLemore to Cynsations today.
When you look back on your writing journey, what are the changes that stand out?
I’ve gone from coming from a place of thinking I had to apologize for my identities—especially my intersectional identities like being queer and Latinx—and thinking I had to apologize for including them in my stories,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Anna-Marie McLemore on Representation & Their Writing Journey »
Today we welcome Amra Sabic-El-Rayess to Cynsations. Her acclaimed memoir with Laura L. Sullivan, The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival (Bloomsbury, 2020) was a YALSA finalist for excellence in nonfiction.
Amra’s author biography describes her book as “a timely warning to Americans against othering,
I’m excited to introduce our readers to Roseanne A. Brown, author of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (Balzar + Bray, 2020), and Diana Ma, author of Heiress Apparently (Abrams, 2020). While these two YA debut novels may seem different in genre and tone,
Recently I chatted with Nasugraq Rainey Hopson, Tirzah Price, Rob Costello, and Monica Roe, four of Rural Voices’ (Candlewick, 2020) talented contributors. Here’s what they said about rural stories, stereotypes, and the representation of rural life in literature.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Nora Shalaway Carpenter & Challenging the Rural Stereotype »
Today Cynsations celebrates the debuts of YA authors Adiba Jaigirdar and Kim Johnson. They discuss their journey to publication—the inspiration, the challenges, and the accomplishments. Both authors drew from their own experiences and identities to create their compelling stories.
Adiba Jaigirdar
What was your initial inspiration for writing this book?
Continue Reading New Voices: Adiba Jaigirdar & Kim Johnson on Their Journeys to Publication »
Welcome to YA debut authors Francesca Flores and June Hur! Today they will share their journeys to publication. I found inspiration in how each came to her subject and crafted her protagonist.
Francesca Flores
Please describe your pre-publication craft apprenticeship.
Continue Reading New Voices: Francesca Flores & June Hur Share Inspiration & Advice »
And now, let’s welcome Nicole Kronzer and Suzanne Park to our stage Cynsations! These YA debut authors do have a background on the stage. Nicole is a former actor and improvisor, and Suzanne was a stand-up comedian.
Both share the influence these former pursuits have had on their work as writers.
I am delighted to introduce two YA debut authors to our Cynsations readers today.
Isabel Ibañez is the author of Woven in Moonlight (Page Street Kids, 2020), a fantasy drawn from Bolivian politics. Phil Stamper is the author of The Gravity of Us (Bloomsbury YA,
Continue Reading New Voices: Isabel Ibañez & Phil Stamper on The Journey to Publication »
By Nora Shalaway Carpenter and Rocky Callen
Cynsational Note: Today we are honored to welcome two YA debut authors, Nora Shalaway Carpenter and Rocky Callen, who talk about the importance and representation of mental health issues in YA literature, specifically their novels.
Nora: Hi, Rocky! I’m so excited to chat with you about our books.