Cynsational Reporters

Cynsational reporters offer news, interviews, and articles from around the world and on various topics in children's-YA literature, writing, and publishing.

International Reporters

Asia, Australia & New Zealand

More on Chris Cheng

With more than 35 titles in traditional and digital formats, including picture books, non-fiction, historical fiction, a musical libretto and an animation storyline, Christopher Cheng is well experienced in Australian children's literature.

He conducts workshops and residences for children and adults and holds an M.A. in Children's Literature. He is a board member for the Asian Festival of Children's Content and on the International Advisory Board and co-regional advisor (Australia and New Zealand) for the SCBWI.

A recipient of the SCBWI Member of the Year and the Lady Cutler Award for services to children's literature, Chris is a devoted advocate of children's literature, speaking at festivals worldwide.

Christopher will be covering the children's-YA book scene in Australia, New Zealand and across Asia for Cynsations. Read an interview with Christopher.

Canada

More on Lena Coakley

Lena Coakley was born in Milford, Connecticut and grew up on Long Island. In high school, creative writing was the only class she ever failed (nothing was ever good enough to hand in!), but, undeterred, she went on to study writing at Sarah Lawrence College.

She became interested in young adult literature when she moved to Toronto, Canada, and began working for CANSCAIP, the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers, where she eventually became the Administrative Director.

Witchlanders, her debut novel, was called “a stunning teen debut” by Kirkus Reviews and was the winner of the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for the Americas region. She is now a full-time writer living in Toronto.

Lena contributes news and interviews from the children's-YA creative, literature and publishing community in Canada.

United Kingdom

More about Siobhan Curham

Siobhan Curham began her career writing books for adults but, after becoming writer in residence for a high school, she discovered her true calling – writing books for young adults and children.

Her first novel for young adults, Dear Dylan, was winner of the Young Minds Book Award 2010, and is being re-launched in the U.K. in April 2012. Her second young adult novel, Finding Cherokee Brown, is being published in the U.K., France and Germany in 2013. She is currently writing a YA series with a TV tie-in.

Siobhan lives in a village just outside of London with her teenage son – who is mad about football, and her rescue dog, Max – who has a phobia of footballs! She dreams of one day living in America, which is where her grandma was from, and she goes to visit her family there every chance she can.

Siobhan contributes news and interviews from the children's-YA creative, literature and publishing community in the U.K.

Europe

More on Angela Cerrito

Angela Cerrito writes by night and is a pediatric physical therapist by day. Her debut novel The End of the Line (Holiday House, 2011) was selected for VOYA’s Top of the Top Shelf 2011 and Top Shelf for Middle Grade Readers 2011.

She is the Assistant International Advisor for SCBWI and regularly attends the Frankfurt and Bologna Book Fairs.

When she’s not writing, Angela enjoys eating, climbing in caves and jumping off cliffs. She lives in Europe with her husband, two daughters, a big black cat, a little white dog and a talking parrot.

Angela contributes news and interviews from the children's-YA creative, literature and publishing community in Europe and beyond.

Genre/Format Reporters

Young Adult

More on Karen Rock

In a quest to provide her eighth grade students with quality reading material, English teacher Karen Rock read everything out there and couldn’t wait to add her voice to the conversation of books.

Now a debut YA series author, Karen is thrilled to pen stories that teens can relate to. When she’s not busy reading and writing, Karen is downloading live versions of favorite songs, watching "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" marathons, obsessing over reality TV contestants (Adam Lambert you were robbed!), cooking her family’s delizioso Italian recipes, and occasionally rescuing local wildlife from neighborhood cats.

She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, her very appreciated beta-reader daughter and two King Charles Cavalier cocker spaniels who have yet to understand the concept of “fetch,” though they’ve managed to teach her the trick!

Check out her website, her co-author website, her Facebook page, and follow her on twitter @karenrock5. Then check out Camp Boyfriend.