What were you doing when you heard you had won the CYBILS Award for Poetry? I was working on a big revision for my next middle grade novel. One of the judges Tweeted about the award. It was the best Valentine’s Day gift ever. Better than chocolate! This is a LOT of characters to invent and develop. What is your …
Interview with Joshua Khan
Lily is a strong heroine, both determined and intelligent, yet in Shadow Magic both the political power she ostensibly has, and the magical power that’s forbidden to women which she’s beginning to realize she has lots of, are not yet fully hers to wield. I assume that as the series progress, she will gain more actual power….Was it hard to hold Lily in …
Interview with JonArno Lawson and Sydney Smith
First off, congrats! We adored Sidewalk Flowers. Can you tell us a bit about how you came up with the idea for the book? JL: Thank you so much! It was a thrill to find out that Sidewalk Flowers got the Cybils Fiction Picture Book Award! The idea for the book came from a walk I was taking with my …
Interview with Kevin Sands
First off, congrats! We really loved The Blackthorn Key. Can you tell us a bit about how you came up with the idea?Thank you! I’m absolutely thrilled to have won the Cybils. The idea for The Blackthorn Key actually came during one of those times where I was specifically trying to think up new ideas (which almost never works). It …
Interview with Victoria Jamieson
First off, congrats! We adored Roller Girl. Can you tell us a bit about how you came up with the idea for the book?Thank you, and thank you for the honor of a Cybils award! I am so thrilled and humbled by the support. Roller Girl was born out of my love of roller derby. If you know anyone who plays the …
Interview with Tamara Ireland Stone
First off, congrats! We adored Every Last Word. Can you tell us a bit about how you came up with the idea for the book?Thank you so much! What an honor to have been nominated in the YA fiction category this year—and in such impressive company. I’m incredibly grateful to the Cybils judges for reading and supporting Every Last Word. …
Interview with Abby Hanlon
First off, congrats! We adored Dory and the Real True Friend. Can you tell us a bit about how you came up with the idea for the book? Did it flow naturally from Dory Fantasmagory? Thank you! I was thrilled to hear that Dory and The Real True Friend was recognized in this very meaningful way. I am a big fan of the …
Interview with Steve Sheinkin
First off, congrats! We loved Most Dangerous. Can you tell us a bit about how you came up with the idea for the book?Thanks so much! The idea came from a photo of a file cabinet. Seriously. A photo in Smithsonian Magazine. What got me was the dent in the top, where someone had obviously tried to break in. Then …
Interview with Grace Lin
First off, congrats! We adored Ling and Ting: Twice as Silly. Can you tell us a bit about how you came up with the idea for the book? Thanks! I was so thrilled that Ling and Ting received a Cybil! Ling and Ting started as a picture book originally titled Ling, Ting and Ming (sorry, Ming, you got axed). In …
Interview with Bridget Heos
First off, congrats! We adored I, Fly. Can you tell us a bit about how you came up with the idea for the book?Thank you! I’m so honored that CYBILS voters chose I, FLY among all the great nonfiction finalists! I got the idea for the story when I was walking through my kids’ school and saw that one of …