Cynthia Leitich Smith

Cynthia Leitich Smith
Cynthia Leitich Smith at the 2013 Texas Book Festival.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of Michigan (J.D.)
Period	2000-present
Genre	children's and young-adult fiction, Native American literature, Gothic fantasy/horror, humor, realistic fiction
Website
cynthialeitichsmith.com

Cynthia Leitich Smith is a New York Times best-selling ^[1] author of fiction for children and young adults. A member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, she writes fiction for children centered on the lives of modern-day American Indians.^[2] These books are taught widely by teachers in elementary, middle school, high school, and college classrooms.^[3][4][5] In addition, Smith writes fanciful, humorous picture books and gothic fantasies for ages 14-up.^[6] Regarded as an expert in children's-YA literature by the press, she also hosts a website for Children's Literature Resources.^[7] Smith is a former faculty member at Vermont College of Fine Arts, teaching in the Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program.^[8]

Smith, a graduate of the University of Kansas and University of Michigan, lives in Austin, Texas.^[9]

Books

Jingle Dancer,^[10] illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu.^[11] A picture book for ages 4 and up. Published in 2000 by Morrow/HarperCollins, the book was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award,^[12] a runner-up for the Western Writers of America Storyteller Award,^[13] and is listed as a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies,^[14] on the 2002 Texas 2x2 list,^[15] and on the 2002 Michigan Reader's Choice Award List.^[15]

Rain is Not My Indian Name^[16] is a novel for middle school readers. Upon its publication by HarperCollins, Smith was recognized as 2001 Writer of the Year by Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers.^[17] Like Jingle Dancer, it was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award.^[18] An audio book version of this title is available from Listening Library/Random House.^[19]

Indian Shoes^[20] is a chapter book for ages 7 and up. Published in 2002 by HarperCollins, it was selected for inclusion on the NEA Native American Book List. It is also listed as a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies,^[20] the 2003 Best Children's Books of the Year by Bank Street College of Education,^[15] and Choices 2003 by the Cooperative Children's Book Center.^[15]

Santa Knows,^[21] also by Greg Leitich Smith^[22] and illustrated by Steve Bjorkman,^[23] is a humorous holiday picture book, published in 2006 by Dutton, for ages 4 and up. In 2006, it was included among "Holiday High Notes" by the Horn Book,^[24] "Worthy Stories for the Holidays" by the Miami Herald, and cheered as a "newly minted winner" by Kirkus Reviews.^[25]

Tantalize^[26] is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2007 and 2008 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include vampires and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and gothic fantasy. It was also published in 2008 by Listening Library/Random House,^[27] Walker Books U.K.,^[28] Walker Books Australia and New Zealand,^[29] and Editions Intervista in France.^[30] Tantalize was named to the 2011 list of Popular Paperbacks by the Young Adult Library Services Association and ^[31] and featured at the 2007 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.^[32]

Eternal^[33] is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2009 and 2010 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include angels, vampires and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and Gothic fantasy. It also was published by Listening Library/Random House,^[34] Walker Books U.K.,^[35] Walker Books Australia and New Zealand,^[36] and Amber in Poland. The U.S. paperback edition debuted at #5 on the New York Times best-seller list (children's paperbacks) and #13 on the Publishers Weekly best-seller list.^[1]

Holler Loudly,^[37] illustrated by Barry Gott,^[38] is a humorous tall tale picture book, published in 2010 by Dutton, for ages 4 and up. Holler Loudly was featured at the 2010 Texas Book Festival ^[39] and was a Dolly Parton's Imagination Library selection.^[40]

Blessed^[41] is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2011 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include angels, vampires, and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and Gothic fantasy. It also was published by Walker Books Australia and New Zealand ^[42] and Walker U.K.^[43] Blessed was a YALSA Teens Top 10 nominee.^[44]

Tantalize: Kieren's Story,^[45] illustrated by Ming Doyle,^[46] is a fully illustrated young adult gothic fantasy graphic novel, published in 2011 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include vampires and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and Gothic fantasy. It also was published by Walker Books Australia and New Zealand ^[47] and Walker U.K.^[48]

Diabolical^[49] is a young adult gothic fantasy novel, published in 2011 by Candlewick Press, for ages 14 and up. Fantasy elements include angels, ghosts, demons, hell hounds, vampires, and shapeshifters. The novel is a genre bender, employing elements of mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, and Gothic fantasy. It also was published by Walker Books Australia and New Zealand ^[50] and Walker U.K.^[51]

Works

Books

• Jingle Dancer (2000)
• Rain is Not My Indian Name (2001)
• Indian Shoes (2002)
• Santa Knows (2006)
• Tantalize (2007)
• Eternal (2009)
• Holler Loudly (2010)
• Blessed (2011)
• Tantalize: Kieren's Story (2011)
• Diabolical (2012)
• Feral Nights (2013)
• Eternal: Zachary's Story (2013)
• Feral Curse (2014)
• Feral Pride (2015)

Short stories and essays

• "The Gentleman Cowboy" in Period Pieces: Stories for Girls, published by HarperCollins in 2003, for ages 8 and up.
• "The Naked Truth" in In My Grandmother's House: Award-Winning Authors tell Stories about their Grandmothers, published by HarperCollins in 2003 for ages 8 and up.
• "A Real-Live Blonde Cherokee and His Equally Annoyed Soul Mate" in Moccasin Thunder,^[52] published by HarperCollins in 2005 for ages 12 and up.
• "Riding With Rosa" in Cicada literary magazine (Vol. 7, No. 4, March/April 2005) for ages 12 and up.
• "Haunted Love" in Immortal: Love Stories with Bite, published by BenBella in 2008 for ages 12 and up.
• "Cat Calls" in Sideshow: Ten Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists, and Other Matters Odd and Magical,^[53] published by Candlewick Press in 2009 for ages 12 and up.
• "The Wrath of Dawn," co-authored by Greg Leitich Smith in Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd, published by Little, Brown in 2009 for ages 12 and up.
• "Isolation" in Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories, published by HarperCollins in 2011, for ages 13 and up.
• "Mooning Over Broken Stars" in Girl Meets Boy, published by Chronicle in 2012, for ages 12 and up.
• "Friends in Dark Places" in Dear Teen Me, published by Zest in 2012 from ages 12 and up.
• "Cupid's Beaux" in Things I'll Never Say: Stories About Our Secret Selves, published by Candlewick in 2015 from ages 12 and up.

See also

• List of writers from peoples indigenous to the Americas

References

See also

• Official website
• Cynsations blog
• CL Smith Interview at BookReviewsAndMore.ca
• Cynthia Leitich Smith at Library of Congress Authorities, with 10 catalog records