Cynthia Leitich Smith
Cynthia Leitich Smith is best known for her humor, her realistic contemporary fiction, and her fantasy writing in books for children and teenagers. She is the author of a picture book, Jingle Dancer, an early reader chapter book short story collection, Indian Shoes, and a 'tween novel, Rain Is Not My Indian Name. More recent titles include a picture book, Santa Knows, which was named among "Holiday High Notes" by The Horn Book Magazine, a young adult Gothic fantasy, Tantalize, which was a Borders Original Voices pick, a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, and was featured at the 2007 National Book Festival. Her latest novel is a Gothic fantasy, Eternal. Cynthia looks forward to the publication of yet another Gothic, Blessed, as well as of a graphic novel adaptation of Tantalize and a picture book, Holler Loudly. She has also written numerous short stories for various anthologies, most recently "Haunted Love," which appeared in Immortal. Her books have received many honors including those via: Book Magazine (Debuts That Deliver); CCBC Choices; NCSS Notables; Library Talk (Editor's Choices); and Bank Street Best Books of the Year. She's a two-time finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award and a Wordcraft Circle Writer of the Year. Cynthia's Web site was named a Writer's Digest Top 10 Writer Sites on the Internet and an ALA Great Site for Kids. In addition, her "Cynsations" blog has been named one of the top two most read by SCBWI, and School Library Journal says, "If you're going to read only one blog, this is it!" Cynthia received a journalism degree from The University of Kansas, a JD from The University of Michigan Law School, and she has studied law in France. She makes her home in Austin, Texas, with her husband and sometimes co-author Greg Leitich Smith.
Visit Cynthia's website at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com.
Faculty Writing for Children & Young Adults
