Congratulations to Abigail Hing Wen on the publication of Loveboat Forever (HarperTeen, Nov. 7, 2023), companion to her previous title, Loveboat, Taipei (HarperTeen, 2020). The adaptation of her first novel is now streaming on Paramount+ as Love in Taipei. From the promotional copy:
Pearl was ready for a worldwide stage.
Continue Reading Throwback Thursday: Abigail Hing Wen on Character Development »
Spotlight image: Mitu Malhotra and Lesléa Newman with Lesléa’s books.
Today we welcome Lesléa Newman to share her writing process. I have long admired Lesléa’s lyrical works for children. Her YA novel October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard (Candlewick, 2012) was a mentor text for me during my MFA journey.
Continue Reading Author Interview: Lesléa Newman Discusses Poetry, Point of View & Always Matt »
Congratulations to Dawn Quigley (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) on the publication of Jo Jo Makoons: Snow Day, illustrated by Tara Audibert (of Wolastoqey and French heritage)(Heartdrum/HarperCollins, Sept. 19, 2023), third in the Jo Jo Makoons chapter book series. From the promotional copy:
Oh, snow day, snow day, what a very fun no-school day!
Continue Reading Throwback Thursday: Dawn Quigley on Her Drive to Write for Young Readers »
Spotlight image: Debut author Anna Sortino
Happy Deaf Awareness Month! I’m Kerry O’Malley Cerra, and I’m here with Anna Sortino to help you celebrate September with books representing d/Deaf and hard of hearing experiences. We’re calling this Five in Five (x2).
Continue Reading Guest Interview: Five in Five with Authors Kerry O’Malley Cerra & Anna Sortino »
By AJ Eversole
I am thrilled to have award winning author Jen Ferguson (Métis/White) today on Cynsations! We’ve hosted her previously to speak about her debut, The Summer of Bitter and Sweet (Heartdrum, 2022). The book went on to win many awards including the 2022 Governor General’s Literacy Award,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Jen Ferguson on Sophomore Books & Shaping Characters »
Thirteen and In Between
The year I was 13, I grew from five-foot-seven to five-ten and three quarters. One day, a seventh grader gazed up at me and snapped, “Move, you big palooka.” You could say that moment I felt pretty small.
That year I also ran our school carnival.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Lyn Fairchild Hawks Advocates for Thirteen-Year-Old YA Protagonists »
At the recent Texas Library Association Conference, authors Angeline Boulley, interviewed by Cynthia Leitich Smith, headlined the closing keynote. The authors appeared in conversation, discussing books, writing, and their shared love of libraries. I’m thrilled to share highlights from their conversation with our Cynsations readers.
Continue Reading Author Conversation: Angeline Boulley talks with Cynthia Leitich Smith »
Congratulations to Martine Leavitt on the publication of her newest novel, Buffalo Flats (Margaret Ferguson Books, 2023). From the promotional copy:
Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Leavitt has traveled by covered wagon from Utah to the Northwest Territories of Canada, where her father and brothers are now homesteading and establishing a new community with other Latter-Day Saints.
Continue Reading Throwback Thursday: Martine Leavitt on Writing & My Book of Life by Angel »
Congratulations to editors Nora Shalaway Carpenter and Rocky Callen on the release of their new anthology, Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories That Smash Mental Health Stereotypes (Candlewick, April 11, 2023). Contributors include: Mercedes Acosta, Karen Jialu Bao, James Bird, Rocky Callen, Nora Shalaway Carpenter,
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 »