By Shirley Reva Vernick
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

Funny how we writers shoot ourselves in the foot. I’m talking about the merciless way we pressure ourselves to be successful.

Actually, I’m talking about the way we define success, and how that definition can cripple our creativity.

"Sell more copies!" we command ourselves. "Boost that amazon.com rank!"

How can the creative juices flow on our next project when we’re so worried about the numbers on our current publication?

Clearly, sales figures are important for those of us who are trying to make a living. But obsessing about our stats can trigger productivity-quashing anxiety.

I think we need to expand our definition of success in a way that stimulates a more fertile mindset. A mindset where we give ourselves the freedom, the personal permission, to write from the heart and feel good about it, bestseller list or not.

Here is my new definition of personal success. Aside from the sales reports, I am succeeding if:

• I’m enjoying my work—writing with enthusiasm and honing my craft.


• My teenaged daughters are seeing me working hard in pursuit of my goals.


• I’m getting positive reviews.


• People are visiting my website and Facebook author page.


• I’m receiving speaking invitations.

A word about the first point—enjoying my work. I know the old adage “do what you love and success will follow” can sound Pollyannaish, but it has worked for me.

Take my first book, The Blood Lie, a YA novel based on a real anti-Semitic hate crime that happened in the 1920s. When I first got the idea for the book, some people in my circle tried to warn me off. “Historical Jewish-America—it’s too narrow a subject of interest,” they advised. “No one will buy it.” I, however, saw a broader theme, one with immediate contemporary relevance: intolerance. The book was published and went on to win several awards, including the Simon Wiesenthal Once Upon a World Book Award.

My second book, Remember Dippy (Cinco Puntos Press, May 2013), is also a story from the heart. In this novel, 12-year-old Johnny is dreading summer vacation because he has to help out with his autistic cousin, Remember.

Remember is fanatical about Twinkies. He’s awkward. He watches the weather channel for fun. So Johnny is sure the summer is going to be a bust. But when some jewels go missing...and the local jock gets stuck in the lake during a storm...and a lonely new girl comes to town...things get more exciting than either boy could have imagined.

The story was inspired by the people in my life (some of whom are relatives) who have cognitively-based behavioral differences. I felt I had to write this story, and I think the book’s writing reflects that commitment.

Moving on to the point about positive book reviews. Does this mean that any less-than-stellar review constitutes a failure? No! This is a lesson I’m still learning. I have to remind myself that, no matter the inherent value of my work, there are going to be people who don’t love it and rave about it.

Just as there are professors who never give A’s, just as there are people who like us but don’t want to be our best friend, there are going to be reviewers who criticize. That’s just life.

Shirley's window view

I encourage every writer to develop a kinder, gentler definition of success. The way I see it, if we’re going to do the hard work of writing, and if our sales figures are never going to be as high as we’d fantasized, we should do whatever we can to keep ourselves motivated, productive and sane.

Twinkles, the muse

Jiffy, the distraction

Follow @sharronmcelmeel

By Sharron L. McElmeel
for Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations

For several decades I’ve worked with books for children and young adults and with the authors/illustrators that create them.

I’ve written about the books and their creators, taught educators to enjoy and use the books in classrooms and libraries, built webpages to showcase the books and the authors and illustrators, and in general become an avid promoter of literacy.

Along the way, I’ve watched young readers utilize websites, and I’ve observed educators navigating the World Wide Web, seeking information useful to their work. I’ve developed some opinions about books, and periodicals, and websites.

Often I’m asked about the ins and outs of building a website.

Here are my answers to the most frequently asked questions.

FAQs About Websites for Authors and Illustrators — And What Teachers and Librarians Want to See

1. Do I really need a website?


2. What domain name should I register?


3. What information does a visitor to a site want?


4. Will my site help increase the opportunities for school/library appearances?


5. Isn’t there enough on the web about me without me creating a website, or a blog, or anything for that matter?


6. Should I have something that moves?


7. When I list my books, what information do librarians and teachers really want?


8. Should I sell my books on my site?


9. How do I get people to come to my site?


10. Are there any other hints authors or illustrators should know?

1. Do I really need a website? It seems like a Facebook account or a blog would be as effective — and it is much easier for me to deal with myself. Maybe it would be more effective.

More about this book

Maybe, but one must remember that a Facebook account is only accessible to those who are your friends or who know your page exists—and to those who do have a Facebook account. Some are making efforts to avoid Facebook as intrusive and time-consuming.

Use of Facebook still is not as universal as Facebook promoters would like the public to think – and it is still a “social” network. (Many schools block Facebook and other social networks, making that venue completely inaccessible to teachers and students during the day; some block blog sites as well).

No doubt, Facebook and blogs are much easier for individuals to upload pictures. A web creator is often needed for a webpage.

Major search engines do search blog entries just as they do conventional websites—a major plus for both websites and blogs. Some people have constructed their blogs to mimic the informational status of a website – meaning that there are “book” pages, “about me” types of information, and blogs are able to have the rolling updates posted periodically.

The most effective combination seems to be a website that provides the information that is more strategically organized: background information about the author/illustrator, pages providing the background of a book, contact information and so forth.

A link to a blog from the webpage will allow the author/illustrator to keep her/his fans up-to-date on writing projects or just daily/weekly happenings. The nature of a blog is that the most current information appears on the screen and older entries roll down and are automatically archived on the blog in case someone wishes to access earlier posts.

A webpage encourages an author or illustrator to put their best foot forward on their webpage — to develop a strategically planned virtual home and then to take advantage of the more informal aspects of a blog. A link from the website to the blog will direct visitors to the up-dates.

Visit Jane Kurtz

This plan allows the webpage to be worded in language that does not demand frequent up dates. “Fall 2013 Release” rather than “Coming this Fall” type of language. The blog, since it is the nature of a blog, can be used to provide more frequent and timely up-to-date comments about a body of work.

Jane Kurtz’s website is an example of a site that provides the archival type of structured information while her blog (linked from her website) provides information about her daily/weekly activities in the world of world of literacy. No one thinks that older blog posts are “out-of-date,” those entries are just viewed as earlier posts.

2. What domain name should I register?

I think the very best names mark your “brand” – you, your name. I would avoid cutesy phrases and titles that make me always “think” about the location of your site. But if you insist, try to register your name as a domain and provide a referring page that takes visitors to your domain.

For example, Laurie Halse Anderson’s site is at www.madwomanintheforest.com, and there is no referral from the expected lauriehalseanderson.com. Dori Hillestad Butler’s site is at http://www.kidswriter.com - easy enough to remember if you visit often but she also provides a referral from her “name” domain at http://www.doributler.com.

Some authors find that their “names” are common enough or taken by domain squatters so the author must devise other names for their sites. Avi, a writer of many genres of books for all ages, found his “name” taken by a vision product company. So his website is www.avi-writer.com - an appropriate solution.

Michelle Edwards is a gifted author and illustrator. However, a different Michelle Edwards is a realtor and has claimed the domain so Michelle Edwards the writer cleverly morphed her name into one by using the final “e” in Michelle as the initial “e” in Edwards, making her site www.michelledwards.com . The only problem is that, unless you are alert, you might miss that nuance. I might have preferred www.michelle-edwards.com, but alas that was claimed by a business person who sporadically posts on her site.

Strangely enough, in May of 2013, the business-woman Michelle Edwards has her domain redirected to a blog – her most recent post features Neil Gaiman. Those who might happen upon this post might assume it is the writer Michelle Edwards that hosts the site.

It is very essential one clearly identifies themselves as a writer or illustrator of books for young readers on their home page. If visitors cannot determine who you are within the first six seconds on your site, you haven’t done enough to identify yourself.

Cynthia Leitich Smith has claimed, this site, www.cynthialeitichsmith.com, as her virtual home. Her blog is at cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com and she also has a Facebook page, a Twitter account (@CynLeitichSmith), as well as a YouTube channel. Clearly her presence promotes her brand – her name.

According to several website experts, it is estimated that 40 percent to 50 percent of website visits are the result of direct navigation (meaning the URL is typed directly into the navigation bar); thus, it makes sense to have the URL for your site as intuitive as possible.

3. What information does a visitor to a site want?

There is most likely a different list of wants for every individual visitor. However, in general, visitors to an author or illustrator’s site want something they can’t find elsewhere.

If your site does not offer something unique to the mix, let your publisher or general sites do the job.

A visit to an author’s/illustrator’s site should offer background to a book, bits and pieces of the author’s/illustrator’s life that impacted the book’s creation, or in general comments only available on the book creator’s site.

Teachers particularly appreciate extension ideas and ties to curriculum pieces. The ideas need not be elaborate – just plant the seed such as those ideas accompanying Laurie Lawlor’s book Rachel Carson and Her Book that Changed the World on her site.

4. Will my site help increase the opportunities for school/library appearances?

Possibly. Offer to speak at conferences, libraries, anywhere that those who have funds to invite you are at. Your presentation will be the major selling point as word of mouth is the most effective advertisement. Your website alone will not be a major factor, but it can make contacting you easier. Put as few roadblocks in the way as possible.

Forms always turn me off – just because I am never sure that the message is going to the author or illustrator that I want to contact. And I don’t know what e-mail address to whitelist in my mail program. The forms just don’t seem friendly.

Protect your personal e-mail with a dedicated e-mail for author visit contacts but visitors appreciate the “direct contact.”

Regardless of whether you decide to use forms or an e-mail address or an author visit coordinator, make sure e-mails are answered promptly. Gracious responses will be the key.

Accessibility is often a key, too – check out the experience of Dori Butler who was brought to a school by a sixth grader.

5. Isn’t there enough on the web about me without me creating a website, or a blog, or anything for that matter?

Perhaps, only you can be the judge of that. However, when I am searching for an author for a conference appearance, or searching for information about a new book, I most frequently head to a dedicated website expecting to find the most information, links to reviews, interviews etc. Such a site saves me an immense amount of time. A well constructed website serves as a gateway to other information about the author/illustrator and his/her books.

6. Should I have something that moves?

Yes, but if it is gratuitous then forget it. Make sure it adds something your audience actually might want, not just what you want. Example: "No" to animated flash pages that force visitors to wait through cutesy animations before moving into your site. "Yes" to book trailers that introduce your books or share an interview with you. But even then offer but don’t automatically start the video.

7. When I list my books, what information do librarians and teachers really want?

Title, publisher, and date of publication. Users need to know if the book is new, or published long enough ago to warrant a look in the library for copies purchased previously.

Images from the jacket covers are always helpful. Full citation information makes it convenient for writers of articles/blogs to cite a book.

Actually, as a writer of reference materials about authors/illustrators, I like best those sites that provide a citation such as those on Jim Aylesworth’s site. Example: Aylesworth, Jim. The Mitten. Illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Scholastic, 2009 32 pages. ISBN-10: 0-439-92544-4; ISBN-13: 978-0439925440. $16.99.

I don’t think the ISBN number is crucial, but some do like to have those so if you can include information as appropriate. Definitely include publication date. Don’t make visitors hunt for the details.

8. Should I sell my books on my site?

You can and offering to autograph purchased copies (and perhaps free shipping or a good discount) might give you the edge. Unless you offer something special you will not compete with the local brick-and-mortar store which can offer immediate delivery; or the online stores that offer free shipping and convenience (often one-step shopping).

9. How do I get people to come to my site?

Visit McBookWords

Promote your website address on your business cards, book jackets, anyplace that you are able to put the address in front of readers. It is a vehicle that stretches your other promotional efforts.

At conferences when papers mount up and are too cumbersome to carry – a bookmark or card with your web address will provide all the information I need – provided your website is well developed. Makes following up on your presentation easy and informative.

And in the content mention your colleagues, popular books that your books connect to, anything that legitimately mentions other content that searchers might use and stumble across your site – and be impressed by what you have to say.

And this is a perfect opportunity to use your Twitter account and your Facebook account to keep readers aware of new pages, new books, and other information about your writing.

10. Are there any other hints authors or illustrators should know?

There is much more for the actual developer, but the ideas are more technical than content per se. For example:

Search engines do not like frames as they have difficulties indexing framed pages; and those who want to return to a specific page on your site have difficulty since the address bar no longer indicates the actual page. One should make sure intuitive keywords are used in the site’s meta-tags to make the page as easy to find as possible.

Visitors prefer to click rather than scroll, so make the pages shorter with links for more information. Pay particular attention to resolution and readability especially if you are using dark backgrounds.

But above all else – remember that first impressions are still the most important.

Good luck. If you thought these 10 tips were helpful or informative but have other questions you’d like to ask, send them to sharron@mcbookwords.com - use the subject heading “Website Question.”

for Cynsations

Tamera Will Wissinger is the first-time author of Gone Fishing: A Novel In Verse (Houghton Mifflin, 2013). From the promotional copy:

For fishing tomorrow

it’s just us two.

Not Mom, not Grandpa,

not Lucy.

It’ll be like playing catch or

Painting the garage.

Just Dad and Me.

Fishing.

Using a wide variety of poetic forms – quatrains, ballads, iambic meter, rhyming lists, concrete poetry, tercets and free verse – this debut author tells the story of a nine-year-old boy’s day of fishing.

Sibling rivalry, the bond between father and son, the excitement – and difficulty – of fishing all add up to a day of adventure any child would want to experience.

Matthew Cordell illuminates this novel-in-verse throughout with his energetic black-and-white line drawings.

While each poem can be read and enjoyed on its own, the poems work together to create a story arc with conflict, crisis, resolution and character growth.

The back matter of this book equips the reader with a Poet’s Tackle Box of tools and definitions for understanding the various poetic forms the author uses in this story.

How did you approach the research process for your story? What resources did you turn to? What roadblocks did you run into? How did you overcome them? What was your greatest coup, and how did it inform your manuscript?

There is a nonfiction section in Gone Fishing called “The Poet’s Tackle Box,” which includes information about the poetic forms that I used when I wrote the poems for the book.

To develop that end matter section, I read a pyramid of poetry and reference books. I wanted to make sure that the poems and the details about them were accurate. It was challenging because each book was structured a little differently and included or excluded some forms.

Finally, in the front of one of my rhyming dictionaries, I found a section that outlined rhyme, rhythm, and stanza patterns. That information was my key. From there, I developed more detail about each of these poetry components, added in poetry techniques, and elaborated on the different poetic forms. It not only helped shape that section of the manuscript, but it changed how I think about poetry.

As a poet, how did you achieve this level in your craft? What advice do you have for beginner poets interested in writing for young readers?

The first book Tamera recalls singing along to as a child

I’d love to tell you that I was born a poet, but it wouldn’t be true. I can say that I’ve always had a natural interest in poetry – the sounds of words when they rhyme and the rhythm and beat of well-constructed lines have always drawn me in.

Even before I could read, I loved to sing and chant nursery rhymes. I guess I’ve been practicing for a very long time. And up until a few years ago I wrote a lot of bad poetry, and then it started to be mediocre, and finally after more practice, it got better.

The best advice I could offer someone interested in writing poetry for young readers is:

1. Read a lot of poetry, both rhyming and unrhymed. Seek out contemporary poetry for a variety of age levels (from babies to adult) and think about content and structure as you read. Include classic poetry; that’s a great way to tune your ear to the basic elements of poetry and to see how those poets used form and technique.


2. Study rhyme, rhythm, stanza patterns, poetry techniques, and poetic forms. Understand the tools you’re working with so that you can control your poetry. (I think this is what people mean when they say, “know the rules before you break them.”)


3. Write and revise. Practice and make it better and better.


4. Work with other poets. Read your poetry and theirs out loud. Tune your ear to what sounds good and what sounds off. Writing for children is meant to be read out loud – I think this is especially true of poetry. Make sure your poetry sounds natural and is effortless to read out loud, and more importantly, make sure anyone else reading it will have that same level of success.


5. Several years ago Heidi Bee Roemer, a poet whose work I admire, suggested that I consider submitting to the magazine market. Once my poetry was polished enough, I took that advice and eventually sold my first poems and received my first publishing credits from children’s magazines. That boosted my confidence, added to my resume, and gave me the encouragement to keep trying. I happily pass along Heidi’s good advice.

Tamera's temporary desk (during a home remodel)

Thank you for hosting me on Cynsations today, Cynthia! I appreciate being here.

What inspires Tamera.

Advice for ladies and gentlemen.

By Cynthia Leitich Smith
for Cynsations

“What Not to Wear,” starring Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, is a reality TV show in its tenth and final season on TLC.

The focus of the makeovers is as much about celebrating the contributors as it is helping them to evaluate, reconfigure and embrace their best-fit personal style.

Stacy and Clinton offer insights that apply not only to why a pencil skirt might work on your body but also why you deserve to look and feel your best.

The hosts are witty, adorable, thoughtful and upbeat.

Yes, they have a serious hate on for “mom jeans,” but they love what they do, they’re great at it, and their enthusiasm is infectious. What's more, hairstylist Ted Gibson and makeup artist Carmindy are likewise spot-on terrific -- sharing insights, encouragement and helpful tips.

For my pals the U.K., I’ve never seen that version of the show, but I’m under the impression that the U.S. version is less caustic. Likewise, when I talk to friends here about WNTW, many are under the impression (from the title, I think), that the ambush and (literal) trashing of the "before" wardrobe are the whole point. They're not. Among other things, contributors are given $5000 to purchase a replacement wardrobe (and wouldn't most people living on a writer's income love that?).

Clinton and Stacy keep their critiques about the clothes, not the contributor, and they make an effort to help select new outfits that make sense for the individual's personality, goals, shape and lifestyle. What's more, they teach her how to do the same on her own.

Even better, their definitions of "beauty" and style are inclusive. Nobody's asked to go on a diet, embark on an exercise regime or have their body parts surgically rearranged.

Instead, it’s about each contributor embracing her unique awesomeness (taking into account larger societal expectations). The featured individuals span body type, orientation, gender identification, income, race, region, culture, etc.

As a fan of the show, it’s occurred to me that much of Stacy and Clinton’s advice could--with a tweak or two--apply just as well to a career in book writing as it does to creating a wardrobe.

It's all about what you're trying to say.

With that in mind:

Assess & Strategize

100+ degrees? Rock those arms.

Everyone’s body is different. I’m curvy with short arms and therefore often shop in the petite section, even though my height is average at 5’5”. As a brown-eyed brunette with light olive skin, I tend to look best in brights and jewel tones. I’m tall enough for a ¾ jacket but short enough (and mature enough) that I should probably keep skirts around the knee.

Everyone’s writing is different. I’m a fantasist and realistic fiction writer. I enjoy world building, write across age markets, lean toward multicultural casts, experiment with literary devices and often employ elements of suspense, mystery, humor and romance. In deciding where to go after the Feral series, I’ll weigh all this before making my next move.

Got it?

Okay, now consider your own writing, your predispositions and skills, what you might want to try—or try on—next.

Express Yourself

Stand out. What do you want to say and how?

Sure, you have to consider what’s appropriate to the situation. But no matter what, you’re communicating, people are paying attention, and you’ll be more effective if you own that responsibility. Dressing in over-sized clothes with holes in them says something. Pairing a colorful pattern with a more subtle one and a completer piece says something else.

Writers, what do you want to say and how? What’s the story you’re eager to share? The approach you want to take? How do you want the reader to feel as s/he turns the pages? What choices do you need to make to communicate that?

Color, Pattern, Texture & Shine

I organize tops by color, then prints by color family, then arm length.

Speaking of choices, there’s an art to style. Create interest by juxtaposing color, pattern, texture and shine against neutrals. It's the bland elements that make the flashier ones pop (without overwhelming).

There’s an art to writing. Create interest by juxtaposing poetic language, punctual language, description, action, dialogue, interior monologue, quasi-epistolary elements and/or literary devices against white space. Yes, what you don't say speaks volumes, too.

(Feature) Focus

You toss a shiny, colorful, print-and-ruffled blouse against a rattlesnake-textured crop pant and cover it up with a full-length, fur-trimmed corduroy jacket and you’ve got a scary mess.

You’d be better off with a button-up white cotton blouse and dark-wash jeans. Better still if you added a woven medium brown leather belt and some silver jewelry, plus a bright red bag and studded heels (that don’t have to match, but should go). Ask yourself what serves the outfit.

And ask yourself what serves the manuscript. You’re studying novels in verse and cooing over witty footnotes and enamored with graphic elements and thrilled that you can finally frame a voice well enough to succeed with alternating point of view. Nobody wants to wade through all of that at once. Choose for effect.

Try Stuff On

"Jeans go with everything." --Stacy

You’re intrigued by the dress, but you think it’ll hang on you like a potato sack. Try it on anyway. Maybe the color will make your eyes pop. Maybe a belt will create shape. You’ll never know until you try.

For me, the short story has been a tremendous venue for experimentation. It’s my literary dressing room.

Don’t get me wrong. Shorts (in fiction and fashion) are a wonderful end unto themselves. But there’s less at stake—in terms of time and money—with short fiction or nonfiction than with a book.

I tried writing upper YA, boy voice and humor first through the short story, and now all three are hallmarks of my work.

It’s Not a One-Size-Fits-All World

You know something about one-size-fits-all clothes?

They’re shapeless. You're not. You deserve better.

You’re not a lesser person because you’re not size 2 or 20 or because you are a size 2 or 20. Own those curves and/or plains, baby, and find the fit that’s right for you!

YA fiction may be hot, but your passion and skill set are a better fit for nonfiction picture books. Or you’re writing YA fiction, but you’re skewing edgier or more literary or more humorous than the presumed ideal book of the moment. Don’t jam yourself into a one-size-fits-all story just to sell. Write the book that’s right for your future fans.

Be Educable

If you’re falling out of that top, you’re probably not going to be taken seriously at work. If you’re not getting dates, your off-duty nun apparel might have something to do with it. Don’t cling to what’s never going to work. Be open to improvement and a brighter future.

If you’re getting the same feedback from your critique group and in editor-agent conference consultations, it’s possible they’re all onto something. Listen. Consider. Revise.

Think About Use Value

"Every Texas woman should have a boot." -- Clinton

Are you ever going to wear that?

I bought some fully lined black leather pants (Nordstrom’s leather, not biker-chick leather), and they looked elegant. But I live in a city that boasts over three hundred days of sunshine and the heat that comes with it. I wore them once and now they’re in the donation pile.

How charming that you’re inspired to write a novel about the inner musings of a mollusk. You’ve done your mollusk research, channeled your inner phylum.

If you’re writing for writing’s sake, rock on with it. I believe in art for the joy of art. But if you want a career in children’s publishing….

Sorry, kitten. Nobody else (outside of perhaps your family) is going to read that.

Trust Your Gut

This will sound contradictory, but hey, it’s a balancing act. Yes, you need to make thoughtful decisions but don’t think yourself into paralysis. Maybe you don’t have an occasion for that dress, but wearing it makes you feel like you’re twirling on air. Buy it and throw a party.

Unless you’re deep in mollusk brain, write the book you have to write and let the market worry about itself. It might even surprise and reward you.

Be Your Own Boss

So far, my favorite “What Not to Wear” contributor is Emi from season 9.

She’s an effervescent science teacher, age 25, who loves her momma and grandmomma. But because of their fashion advice, she was dressing like she was 65 (and a frumpy 65 at that).

You have to wear what’s right for you, even if it doesn’t please everyone and/or challenges their comfort zones.

Writing children's-YA literature? News flash: you’re not a teenager anymore, and you don’t need your mother’s or grandmother's permission or approval. Ditto your minister, your husband, your children and the ex-best-friend you see at the occasional soccer game.

In style, you need to be true to yourself, and in story, you need to be true to your characters. Put them center stage and let the chips tumble.

Structure Is Your Friend

The cut of clothing can accentuate/de-emphasize your shoulders, curves and legs. It can take what you’re trying to say about yourself, your purpose and the occasion and make it more polished.

Story structure or a poetic form can help you organize your thoughts and make them more accessible to young readers.

It’s Not You, It’s the Clothes

You’ve tried on twenty pairs of jeans and none of them work. Keep trying. You may need to get alternations, but nobody said this wouldn’t take effort. Put in the time, and don’t make each attempt a reflection of who you are as a person.

So those aren’t the right jeans for you. So what. Keep the faith, and eventually, you’ll find a pair that make your booty look fantabulous.

You’ve sent twenty queries to twenty agents, and so far nothing’s panned out. Keep trying. You may need to revise or tweak your letter, but nobody said this wouldn’t take effort. Put in the time, and don’t make each attempt a reflection of who you are as a person.

So those aren’t the right agents for you. So what. Keep the faith, and eventually, you’ll find your manuscript’s champion.

You Deserve to Feel Great Now

Raise your hand if you like my new gold shoes!

Don’t wait until you finish that MFA program or sign with an agent or sell that book or win an award or make the bestseller list to begin celebrating the awesomeness that is you. Celebrate now!

Oh, wait. That one works for style and story without tweaking.

Go figure. And go ahead, celebrate!

More Personally

I watch re-runs of "What Not to Wear" while weight lifting. It makes me happy and offers enough to think about to distract me from the pain. It's the only reality television show I've ever watched.

In the past month, I've built a new wardrobe, and Clinton and Stacy's "essentials" list from Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide to Finding the Style That's Right for Your Body was the perfect place to start. Consider it highly recommended.

About Cyn

Enter to win

Enter to win

Cynthia Leitich Smith (that's me!) is the New York Times and Publishers Weekly best-selling author of the Tantalize series, the Feral series, numerous essays and short stories as well as several books for younger readers.

Cynthia's home base on the Web is www.cynthialeitichsmith.com. Check out her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter @CynLeitichSmith.

Thanks to P.J. Hoover for wowing us with her amazing new cowboy boots.

for Cynsations

Celebrate the Australia-New Zealand release of Feral Nights (Book 1 in the Feral series) and Eternal: Zachary's Story, illustrated by Ming Doyle (a graphic novel from the Tantalize series) by entering to win copies of your very own! Eligibility is international; anyone can win!

Feral Curse (Book 2) is off to copy editing. It's set in a fictional small town, based on Bastrop, Texas; and will be released in early 2014.

Feral Nights (Book 1 in the Feral series) is now available from Walker Books Australia and New Zealand. It was released in North America from Candlewick Press earlier this year. From the promotional copy:

Fans of the Tantalize quartet will thrill to see werepossum Clyde and other favorite secondary characters — plus all-new ones — take to the fore in book one of an all-new series.

When sexy, free-spirited werecat Yoshi tracks his sister, Ruby, to Austin, he discovers that she is not only MIA, but also the key suspect in a murder investigation.

Meanwhile, werepossum Clyde and human Aimee have set out to do a little detective work of their own, sworn to avenge the brutal killing of werearmadillo pal Travis.

When all three seekers are snared in an underground kidnapping ring, they end up on a remote island inhabited by an unusual (even by shifter standards) species. The island harbors a grim secret and were-predator and were-prey must join forces in a fight to escape alive.

Fans of best-selling author Cynthia Leitich Smith's Tantalize quartet will thrill to see favorite sidekick characters--together with all-new ones--take to the fore in this wry, high-action entry in an exciting new series.

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Eternal: Zachary's Story, illustrated by Ming Doyle (Walker/Candlewick, 2013), a Tantalize series graphic novel:

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Reckless guardian angel Zachary has an unusual assignment. He’s meant to save the soul of Miranda, high-school theater wannabe turned glamorous royal vampire. Completely devoted to Miranda, Zachary takes his demotion to human form in stride, taking a job as the princess's personal assistant.

Of course, this means he has to balance his soul-saving efforts with planning the Master’s fast-approaching Deathday gala.

Vivid illustrations by Ming Doyle elevate this darkly funny love story to a new dramatic level with bold black-and-white panels.

Cynthia Leitich Smith’s New York Times bestseller is reimagined as a graphic novel seen through the eyes of Zachary, guardian angel.

Eternal: Zachary's Story is told from Zachary's point of view and includes new scenes not seen in the preceding prose novel Eternal (Walker/Candlewick, 2009, 2010) as well as scenes previously told from Miranda's point of view.

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Cynsational Notes

Cynthia Leitich Smith & Feral Nights: an interview from Joy Preble. More thoughts on the new novel and its main characters, balance (or lack thereof) and the writing life, best Austin dining and other destinations, and much more. For more on the story behind the story, see Follow the (YA) Reader and Secret Asian Man: Yoshi Kitahara and Feral Nights.

Eternal: Zachary's Story artist Ming Doyle

The Horn Book says of Feral Nights: "Smith’s blend of supernatural suspense, campy humor, and romantic tension is addictive; allusions to both pop culture ('Thriller,' Monty Python) and literature (The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Most Dangerous Game) add to the fun. Most satisfying of all, Aimee and especially unassuming, injured Clyde leave their sidekick roles behind to come into their own."

Publishers Weekly chimes in: "Smith’s fantasy smoothly switches between the three protagonists’ perspectives, while expertly blending the mythical and the modern. The story’s sharp banter and edgy plot make for an entertaining and clever story about loyalty and reconciling differences."

Booklist calls it "sexy, fast-paced" and cheers the "ending that satisfies and should win her many new fans."

Kirkus Reviews cheers, "...dialogue that sparkles with wit, filled with both literary and pop-culture references. ('You’re saying that you and my sister perform exorcisms on vomiting children with rotating heads?')...playful, smart tone."