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Cynthia Leitich Smith, called a "rising star" by Multicultural Review, writes fiction for everyone, but she has a particular affection for young readers, from kids to twenty-somethings. She is the acclaimed YA author of TANTALIZE (2007), and its companions, ETERNAL (2009) and BLESSED (forthcoming), all Gothic fantasies from Candlewick Press.
For more about Cynthia Leitich Smith, hop on over to her Author Spotlight
INTERVIEW
Cynthia Leitich Smith
CLF:
Have you always wanted to be an author?
Have you always wanted to be an author?CLS:I’ve always wanted to be a writer. My early impression of authors was that they
I’ve always wanted to be a writer. My early impression of authors was that they were people very distant from me, a middle-class Midwestern kid. Back then, my school district didn’t have author visits, and the idea of chatting with an author on the Web would’ve been science fiction. It’s all so different for young readers now, and I’m glad of that.It didn’t occur to me that becoming an author was a personal possibility until after I graduated from law school. Until that time, I was strongly focused on a career in journalism. Part of me will always be a reporter, but earning a graduate degree gave me the confidence to go for broke.CLF:Would you say you write in your favorite genre, and / or for your favorite market?
Would you say you write in your favorite genre, and / or for your favorite market?CLS:In terms of the big-picture market, yes, definitely. I’m a great fan of books for
In terms of the big-picture market, yes, definitely. I’m a great fan of books for young readers, from picture books through young adult novels. What attracts me to them is the potential for growth in the fictional heroes.With regard to genre, I’m honestly split between contemporary fantasy and realistic fiction, and my own work reflects those dual interests. CLF:What is your position on the age-old mantra that writers should write everyday?
What is your position on the age-old mantra that writers should write everyday?CLS:If we’re talking inclusively—email, interviews, grocery lists—sure.
If we’re talking inclusively—email, interviews, grocery lists—sure. Otherwise, it’s somewhat unrealistic for a professional writer to make time every day for fiction and/or creative nonfiction, especially given the demands of promotion, travel, speaking, etc. I’ve also heard there’s something called “a life,” but I can’t confirm that. That said, when I’m writing, I shoot for two pages in a sitting.CLF:Eternal is coming out soon. How was the experience of writing it different from
Eternal is coming out soon. How was the experience of writing it different from writing Tantalize?CLS:The biggest difference was in the pre-writing. With Tantalize, I had to learn how to
The biggest difference was in the pre-writing. With Tantalize, I had to learn how to write a Gothic, consider what had come before in the body of literature (and, before that, folklore), build my world, and give thought to what I had to add to the conversation of books. I spent a lot of time studying the history of the field and making the kind of big-picture decisions that would shape all of the books to come. With Eternal, the main challenge was in writing from alternating points of view, especially given that one was in a male voice—something I’ve never before attempted in my novel-length fiction. In addition, the co-protagonists—Miranda and Zachary—are heroes more different from me than any I’ve written before.CLF:Many successful authors confess that they never thought of their books being a
Many successful authors confess that they never thought of their books being a success. They just wanted to write. Would you say your success is something you strived for, or was it an ecstatic surprise?CLS:Am I successful? It’s such a slippery term. I guess I’m a bear of two brains—creative
Am I successful? It’s such a slippery term. I guess I’m a bear of two brains—creative and business. When I’m focusing on my art, it’s all that matters. I’m not the kind of author who frames her literary goals with regard to an anticipated market response. Rather, I follow my passion and prioritize my craft.But when it’s time to think about how to best connect books to young readers, I have a first-rate agent as well as a personal background in law, business, media, and marketing. Moreover, my belief is that we all have a responsibility to serve as ambassadors of sorts for literature and literacy, and I consider it a great honor to be part of the youth literature community. All of this is helpful when it comes to putting books in the hands of kids.
CLF:What is it that attracted you to writing for the children's and young adult market?
What is it that attracted you to writing for the children's and young adult market?CLS:Much of the good in my life, to varying degrees, I owe to children’s and YA books. When I was a little girl, my
Much of the good in my life, to varying degrees, I owe to children’s and YA books. When I was a little girl, my mother would take me to the library on Saturday mornings, mostly because it was a source of entertainment that fit into our mac-and-cheese budget. Consequently, I was well prepared for elementary and secondary school and beyond. I went on to excel in journalism and law school, and all of that readied me to hold my own in an extraordinarily competitive field.Besides, if someone had told me when I was eight that I would someday be walking with the magic makers, so to speak, I would’ve been over the moon.CLF:You used to work in restaurants as a teen. Did that influence you in any way when creating Sanguini’s, the Austin,
You used to work in restaurants as a teen. Did that influence you in any way when creating Sanguini’s, the Austin, Texas based vampire-themed restaurant in Tantalize?CLS:Absolutely! It was an inspiration. I was struck by what great stages restaurants are for drama—the thematic décor
Absolutely! It was an inspiration. I was struck by what great stages restaurants are for drama—the thematic décor and menus and costuming. There’s also a tremendous intensity to restaurant work, and for teens, especially teen girls, it’s one of the few job options where you can earn more than minimum wage and have ownership of sorts in your “station.”CLF:Are any of your characters or settings based on real people?
Are any of your characters or settings based on real people?CLS:The Austin, Texas setting in Tantalize is a real one though I did add the occasional street, business, and residence.
The Austin, Texas setting in Tantalize is a real one though I did add the occasional street, business, and residence. The same is true of North Dallas, Central Austin, and Chicago landscapes in Eternal. In some cases, my fictional cities are inspired by other places. For example, Hannesburg, Kansas from Rain is inspired by Frankenmuth, Michigan; and New Braunsfels, Texas, and Spirit, Texas from “Haunted Love,” which appears in Immortal: Love Stories with Bite, was inspired by Lockhart, Texas.As for characters, not so much. Natalie from Rain bears a physical resemblance to my best friend from childhood, and Brenek from Eternal carries the name of one of my dear local writer pals. But the characters themselves are wholly their own people.
CLF:I love the cover art for Tantalize. Did you have any input into the outcome?
I love the cover art for Tantalize. Did you have any input into the outcome?CLS:Thank you! The original proposed cover was a slicker, more contemporary photograph, very sharp, and I fretted a bit that it made the protagonist look too much like a
Thank you! The original proposed cover was a slicker, more contemporary photograph, very sharp, and I fretted a bit that it made the protagonist look too much like a victim (especially in a girl-empowerment story). But when I expressed that, my wonderful publisher—Candlewick Press—zipped back to the drawing board and came back with final cover, which I just loved.CLF: What was the first book you published, and what was that experience like?
What was the first book you published, and what was that experience like? CLS:My first book was a children’s picture book, Jingle Dancer. It had something of a perilous path to publication, selling first to Lodestar. That initial contract was
My first book was a children’s picture book, Jingle Dancer. It had something of a perilous path to publication, selling first to Lodestar. That initial contract was cancelled during the Penguin-Putnam merger, and that was quite a sad day. Then the manuscript resold to Morrow, shortly before the HarperCollins takeover, which eliminated Morrow Junior Books. However, this time HarperCollins kept my contract. So, I have the dubious distinction of having sold my first book to one publisher, having resold and produced by a second, and having it released by a third.That was my welcome to the business side of publishing.CLF:Are you working on anything new at the moment?
Are you working on anything new at the moment?CLS:Yes, I’ve just finished a graphic novel adaptation of Tantalize, told from Kieren’s point of view, and I’m working on a prose novel, Blessed, which will crossover the casts
Yes, I’ve just finished a graphic novel adaptation of Tantalize, told from Kieren’s point of view, and I’m working on a prose novel, Blessed, which will crossover the casts of Tantalize and Eternal. I also look forward to the release of two new short stories, “Cat Calls,” to appear in Sideshow: Ten Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists, and Other Matters Odd and Magical, edited by Deborah Noyes (Candlewick, 2009) and “The Wrath of Dawn,” co-authored by Greg Leitich Smith, to appear in Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd, edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci (Little Brown, 2009).CLF:What paths have you taken in the way of promotion and marketing?
What paths have you taken in the way of promotion and marketing?CLS:I’m tempted to say pretty much all of them, but that would be overstating it. I’ve been known to send announcement postcards to teachers and librarians, to speak at
I’m tempted to say pretty much all of them, but that would be overstating it. I’ve been known to send announcement postcards to teachers and librarians, to speak at schools, libraries, and other venues, and I’m quite active on the Internet. Probably the latter is my most successful effort (and that most within my limited budget). Among other things, I run one of the largest children’s-YA websites on the Web at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com as well as a popular blog, Cynsations.CLF:What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?CLS:Focus on craft—first, last, always. Read. Reading counts as writing time. Err on the side of graciousness, but resist the urge to be a “good, little girl” or “guy.” (It’s still a
Focus on craft—first, last, always. Read. Reading counts as writing time. Err on the side of graciousness, but resist the urge to be a “good, little girl” or “guy.” (It’s still a business, and it can be, once in a while, a fierce one). Compete only with yourself, but give that your all. Whatever good is done for you, pay it forward many times over. And celebrate each victory, no matter how small. ETERNAL
(Candlewick, 2009)
At last, Miranda is the life of the party: all she had to do was die. Elevated and adopted by none other than the reigning King of the Mantle of Dracul, Miranda goes from high-school theater wannabe to glamorous royal fiend overnight. Meanwhile, her reckless and adoring guardian angel, Zachary, demoted to human guise as the princess’s personal assistant, has his work cut out for him trying to save his girl’s soul and plan the Master’s fast-approaching Death Day gala. In alternating points of view, Miranda and Zachary navigate a cut-throat eternal aristocracy as they play out a dangerous and darkly hilarious love story for the ages.
With diabolical wit, the author of TANATALIZE revisits a deliciously dark world where vampires vie with angels -- and girls just want to have fangs.
TANTALIZE
(Candlewick, 2007)
Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her hybrid-werewolf first love threatens to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. And just as she and her uncle are about to debut Austin’s red hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef.
Can Quincie transform the new hire into a culinary dark lord before opening night? Will Henry Johnson be able to wow the crowd in fake fangs, a cheap cape, and red contact lenses? Or is there more to this earnest fresh face than meets the eye?
As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who’s playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything?
CLS:Sometimes I’ll go through up to three “first” drafts until I have a foundation worth building on. From there, it depends on the individual
Sometimes I’ll go through up to three “first” drafts until I have a foundation worth building on. From there, it depends on the individual manuscript. I’ve never paid close attention to counting, but I’d say six-to-ten drafts wouldn’t be out of bounds.CLF:How long does it take you on average to complete a novel?
How long does it take you on average to complete a novel?CLS:About two years. Well, Rain Is Not My Indian Name took about three. Tantalize about four. And Eternal about two. Perhaps “two” is optimistic.
About two years. Well, Rain Is Not My Indian Name took about three. Tantalize about four. And Eternal about two. Perhaps “two” is optimistic.Or perhaps I’m getting a little faster.(Nah, I know better. Each book has its own journey, and we have to honor that).Candlewick Press, 2007 - ages 14-up
Candlewick Press, 2009; Pre-Orders now open
I read on your website that you have this habit, which you yourself call drastic. You write the first draft, read it, then delete and trash all hard and computer copies. Taking that method into account, how many drafts, on average, do you go through before you're satisfied with the end result?
CLF:
