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CYNTHIA LEITICH SMITH
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. To date, she has published three children's books and looks forward to upcoming releases, including books for the YA/adult audience. Cynthia's fiction is noted for its diversity, humor, lyricism, and mid-to-southwestern settings. Still early in her career, she has shown tremendous range and loves to experiment.
She is the acclaimed YA author of TANTALIZE (2007), and its companions, ETERNAL (2009) and BLESSED (forthcoming), all Gothic fantasies from Candlewick Press. She also has written several YA short stories as well as books for younger readers. TANTALIZE was a Borders Original Voices selection, honored at the 2007 National Book Festival, and The Horn Book called it "an intoxicating romantic thriller." A graphic novel adaptation of TANTALIZE is in the works.
Cynthia was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Her previous states of residence are: Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, and Oklahoma. She is a tribal member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
Today, she lives in Austin, Texas, with her four cats and her husband, award-winning children's book author Greg Leitich Smith's comedic 'tweener novels include: NINJAS, PIRANHAS, AND GALILEO (Little Brown, 2003), which won a Parents' Choice Gold Medal, as well as TOFU AND T. REX (Little Brown, 2005).
"Quincie must make a terrifying choice in a heart-pounding climax that will have teen readers weeping with both lust and sorrow." —Kirkus Reviews
"Readers will be tantalized by this dark, romantic, and disturbing fantasy of vampires, werewolves, and a strong no-nonsense heroine. Fans of Stephenie Meyer and Annette Curtis Klause will eat it up." —School Library Journal
"An intoxicating romantic thriller… Quincie's longing for a physical relationship with her boy-wolf is as palpable as the taste of the food… Smith adds a light touch of humor to the soup, but the main course is a dark romance with all the gory trimmings." —The Horn Book Magazine
“Notions of predator and prey are deliciously explored in this gothic elixir, a dark romantic thriller that is equal parts Bon Appetit and Dracula.” —The Horn Book Magazine review
of Listening Library's audio production
Cynthia is the award-winning author of JINGLE DANCER (Morrow, 2000), INDIAN SHOES (HarperCollins, 2001), and RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME (HarperCollins, 2001)(Listening Library, 2001). She is a member of faculty at the Vermont College M.F.A. program in Writing for Children and
Cynthia has been a featured author/speaker at the Texas Book Festival and the National Book Festival as well as at schools, public libraries, museums, universities, and conferences of such groups as: the American Library Association; the Texas Library Association; the International Reading Association; the
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.
INDIAN SHOES (HarperCollins, 2002)(ages 7-up), declared by Kirkus: "A very pleasing first-chapter book from its funny and tender opening salvo to its heartwarming closer. An excellent choice for younger readers." School Library Journal hailed: "a good book for any elementary-aged reluctant reader and a necessity for indigenous children everywhere." INDIAN SHOES has been named a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, a finalist for the Texas Institute of Letters Award, to the 2003 Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education; and to Choices 2003, Cooperative Children's Book Center. It also was named to the NEA Native American Book List and the 2004-2005 Crown List. Most recently, INDIAN SHOES was chosen as the featured intermediate title for "Read On, Wisconsin!" (an online book club for students sponsored by the state's First Lady) in March, 2005.
Cynthia's latest picture book is SANTA KNOWS (Dutton, 2006), a holiday title, co-authored by her husband, Greg Leitich Smith, and illustrated by Steve Björkman. SANTA KNOWS is Cynthia and Greg's first book written together. The Horn Book Magazine named it among
an expansion of her writing from contemporary realistic fiction to also embrace fantasy. TANTALIZE also is her first title set in Austin, where she now makes her home. The Horn Book calls the novel an "intoxicating romantic thriller." BookPage says the book "will appeal to fans—both teens and adults—of Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
TANTALIZE was named a Borders Original Voices Nominee in March 2007 and Chapters (Canadian bookstore chain) named it a Junior Advisory Board Pick. In addition, the novel was chosen for the 2007 Texas Book Festival and the 2007 National Book Festival. The Bloomsbury Review cheers, "Cynthia Leitich Smith is the Anne Rice for teen readers."
Cynthia has published short stories, including "The Gentleman Cowboy" appearing in PERIOD PIECES: STORIES FOR GIRLS (HarperCollins, 2003)(ages 8-up), "The Naked Truth," appearing in IN MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE: AWARD-WINNING AUTHORS TELL STORIES ABOUT THEIR GRANDMOTHERS (HarperCollins, 2003)(ages 8-up), and "A Real-Live Blond Cherokee and His Equally Annoyed Soul Mate," appearing in MOCCASIN THUNDER (HarperCollins, 2005). PERIOD PIECES was selected as a Bank Street Best Book (starred) and to NYPL Women In Books For the Teenage. IN MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE also was named to NYPL Books For The Teenaged. Her upper YA short story, "Riding With Rosa" appeared in the March/April 2005 issue of Cicada magazine.
She was also named one of three honored authors by "A Gathering of Readers," an International Indigenous Youth Reading Celebration during the week of April 18-22, 2005. Throughout summer/fall 2005, she was a visiting faculty member at the Union Institute & University/Vermont College MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program. She became a permanent faculty member in October 2005.
Her website, www.cynthialeitichsmith.com was named one of the top 10 Writer Sites on the Internet by Writer's Digest and an ALA Great Website for Kids. Her Cynsations blog, cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com was listed as among the top two read by the children's/YA publishing community in the SCBWI "To Market" column. Her website offers articles, interviews, reading recommendations, publishing news, and annotated links. It was named one of the top 10 writer sites on the Internet by Writer's Digest, and it was recognized among "Great Sites for Kids" by the American Library Association in the "Authors/Illustrators" category.
Articles by and about or quoting Cynthia, her books, and her Web site have been featured in: American Western Magazine; The Baton Rouge Advocate; Better Homes and Gardens; Brazos Family Magazine, Byline Magazine; Book Links; Book Magazine; California Kids!; Children's Literature; The Children's Writers' Market Guide; The Christian Science Monitor; The Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune; The Dallas Morning News; Horn Book Magazine; The Journal of Bibliotherapy; The Kind News; Library Talk; The Miami Herald; Radio Disney Chicago; The Topeka Capitol-Journal; Once Upon A Time; Our Children; Teacher Librarian; Writer's Digest; and many other outlets, including K-VUE/ABC TV Austin, K-EYE/CBS TV Austin, WEOL A.M. 930 in Elyria (OH), KCMN 1530 AM in Colorado Springs, KAMU TV in College Station (TX).
In addition, she and the covers of her first three books were featured on a poster published by the Equal Opportunity Division of the Bureau of Reclamation, which appeared at U.S. federal workplaces nation-wide, as part of a campaign “Building a Brighter Future for Our Children and Our Community” in celebration of Native American Heritage Month 2005, and Cynthia was highlighted with author Joseph Bruchac on the November page for the 2005 Author and Illustrator Birthday calendar, published by Perma-Bound.
She is a member of the Authors Guild, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Writers' League of Texas, the Western Writers of America, Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers, and the Horror Writers Association. She graduated with degrees in news/editorial and public relations from the White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas, Lawrence in 1990 and from the University of Michigan Law School in 1994. She also studied abroad in Paris, France during the summer of 1991 via a program sponsored by Tulane Law School and the University of Paris IV.
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?
Cynthia Leitich Smith's Books
ETERNAL
(Candlewick Press, Feb 2009)
(A gothic fantasy - ages 14-up)
TANTALIZE
(Candlewick Press, 2007)
(a gothic fantasy - ages 14-up)
JINGLE DANCER, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and
Ying-Hwa Hu,
(Morrow / Harper-Collins, 2000)(ages 4-up)
INDIAN SHOES
(HarperCollins, 2002)
(ages 7-up).
SANTA KNOWS
(Dutton, 2006)
RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME (HarperCollins, 2001)(Listening Library, 2001)(ages 10-up)
Young Adults. Cynthia's more recent titles are a picture book, SANTA KNOWS (Dutton, 2006) and a young adult gothic fantasy novel, TANTALIZE (Candlewick, 2007).
JINGLE DANCER, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu, (Morrow / Harper-Collins, 2000)(ages 4-up) was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award, runner-up for the Western Writers Association Storyteller Award, and Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies. It was also named to the Texas 2 x 2 List. School Library Journal said, “…a welcome addition to stories about traditions passed down by woman of a culture.” Book magazine named it among “Debuts that Deliver.”
RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME (HarperCollins, 2001)(Listening Library, 2001)(ages 10-up) also was an Oklahoma Book Award finalist and earned Cynthia the title of 2001 Writer of the Year from Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. Kirkus said it was “tender, funny and full of sharp wordplay.” School Library Journal called it, “a wonderful novel of a present-day teen and her patchwork tribe.” Audio File adds,"Rich with sorrow and the longing for resolution in a life diminished by loss, the story of Rain's journey toward her own identity is captivating and exceedingly hopeful." And Bob Langstaff at WAMV AM/Amhert, VA noted, "It's kind of like a combination of 'Northern Exposure' and 'Party of Five'." The audio production was aired as the
November 2005 Book of the Month by Red Tales, Aboriginal Voices Radio, The Earth 106.5 (based in Canada).
among "Holiday High Notes." Kirkus Reviews called it "…a newly minted winner." Publishers Weekly cheered it as "fantastic," and The Miami Herald highlighted it among "Worthy Titles for the Holidays."
Cynthia's first upper YA novel is TANTALIZE (Candlewick, 2007)(Walker U.K., 2008), a gothic fantasy aimed at ages 14-up. It’s one of the new books that signal
National Council of Teachers of English; Reading The World; The Second Native American Authors Conference; Star-Lit Children's Literary Festival; etc. She also is a popular cyber presenter (Maine Library Association; New Hampshire Library Association; New England Library Association; Turtle Mountain Teachers Association; Salisbury University Children's Literature Festival, Westlake (Texas) High School), etc.
"Looking for something to read that will make your TV jealous? Cynthia Leitich Smith's Tantalize has it all—hot vampires and wolf-boys, a super-cool heroine in cowboy boots, nail-biting suspense, romance, chills 'n' thrills, and Austin, Texas. What more could you want?"
—Libba Bray, New York Times best-selling author of A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY and REBEL ANGELS
"Cynthia Leitich Smith is the Anne Rice for teen readers. . . . Smith has a vivid imagination, and her intricate plot keeps readers guessing until the very end." —The Bloomsbury Review
"…Quincie's sarcastic narration and take-charge attitude, will appeal to fans—both teens and adults—of Buffy the Vampire Slayer…readers will certainly be licking their lips at the end of the Tantalize, their appetites whetted for Smith's next enticing adventure." —BookPage
"If Joan Bauer took a crack at dark fantasy, the result would probably be something like this gothic-horror comedy...the immersion in food culture--including an overhauled menu, as grisly as it is gourmet--successfully builds on the sensual aspects of vampire mythology." —Booklist
What they're saying about TANTALIZE
Candlewick Press (Feb 2009 )
