New Voices: Nicole Kronzer & Suzanne Park on How Improv & Stand-Up Comedy Influenced Their YA Debuts

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

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.

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Guest Post: Nora Shalaway Carpenter & Rocky Callen Talk Mental Health Themes in YA Literature

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.

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New Voices: Adalyn Grace & Rabiah York Lumbard on Character, Career & Connection

New Voices: Adalyn Grace & Rabiah York Lumbard on Character, Career & Connection

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Today I am pleased to introduce YA debut authors Adalyn Grace and Rabiah York Lumard to our Cynsations readers. Both of these authors talk about the importance that their main characters’ identities bring to their work, their transitions to writing as a career, as well as connection to community.

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New Voices: EM Castellan & Betty Culley on How “Place” Inspired Their Fiction

New Voices: EM Castellan & Betty Culley on How “Place” Inspired Their Fiction

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

In her essay, “Place in Fiction,” Eudora Welty writes, “The truth is, fiction depends for its life on place. Location is the crossroads of circumstances….”

Today, I am pleased to welcome two debut YA authors for whom place stirred their creativity.

EM Castellan is the author of In the Shadow Of The Sun (Feiwel &

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New Voices: Nikki Barthelmess & Laura Sibson on Using Memories to Create Authentic Fiction

New Voices: Nikki Barthelmess & Laura Sibson on Using Memories to Create Authentic Fiction

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Both Nikki Barhtelmess, author of The Quiet You Carry (Flux, 2019) and Laura Sibson, author of The Art of Breaking Things (Viking, 2019), revisited personal memories to write authentic stories of teens.

Nikki Barthelmess

What first inspired you to write for young readers?

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New Voices: Caitlin Lochner & Nina Moreno on What Inspired Their YA Debuts

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Caitlin Lochner author of A Soldier and a Liar (Swoon Reads, 2019) and Nina Moreno author of Don’t Date Rosa Santos (Disney-Hyperion, 2019) talk about what inspired their YA debuts and the perseverance needed in the writing life.

Caitlin Lochner

Please describe your pre-publication craft apprenticeship.

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New Voices: Swati Teerdhala & Kip Wilson on Funneling Inspiration Into a Book

New Voices: Swati Teerdhala & Kip Wilson on Funneling Inspiration Into a Book

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Ideas for stories have to come from somewhere.

Today, Swati Teerdhala and Kip Wilson, two YA debut authors, share what inspired them to write their stories as well as advice they have for beginners.

Swati Teerdhala

What first inspired you to write for young readers?

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