We received another blurb this week, this time from author-extraordinaire Cynthia Leitich Smith.
“My Life as a Rhombus is a sensitive and powerful friendship story about two very different girls who connect over the toughest decision either of them will ever make. In his YA debut, author Varian Johnson offers a realistic, heartfelt, and thoughtful take on unplanned teen pregnancy from the perspective of a young math whiz trying to reconcile her future and past.”
I’ve never told Cynthia this, but I the first time I saw her in person (at the 2004 Austin SCBWI Conference), I didn’t have the courage to speak to her. I mean, she’s Cynthia Leitich Smith–and I was just a lowly, unpublished author. Anyway, about a year later, after meeting her husband, Greg, at another SCBWI event, she sent me the following email:
Dear Varian,
How is it that I don’t know you yet? 😉
I’m happy to report that two years later, I’m privileged to call her both a friend and a mentor.
Ok, time for ‘How’d I meet Cynthia’ stories. The first time I met Cynthia was at an SCBWI conference. It was the first one I’d attended in Austin — or anywhere, for that matter. I didn’t know anyone, including Cynthia. But she walked up to me, introduced herself and gave me a big welcoming hug. And for the remainder of the day — and ever since — she’s treated me like an old friend. (And she’s the only person other than my wife or mother to treat me to a cake on my birthday).