Hearts Unbroken
Cynthia Leitich Smith
You provide so many resources for other writers and mentor many up-and-coming talents (so much so that there’s an award named in your honor). What’s the biggest piece of advice you’d offer to teen writers just starting out?
Be your own best cheerleader. Listen to music that validates you. Stick encouraging notes on your mirrors, on your laptop and/or tablet screen. Choose friends who lift you up, who believe in you. As you read over your stories, reflect on them with self-praise. Soak up as much positivity as much as you can, whenever you can.
Your voice matters. Celebrate it.
Among other things, Hearts Unbroken deals with the challenge of staying true to yourself while navigating the ups and downs of love. If you could go back and tell your teen self one thing about love, what would it be?
You’re enough by yourself. Once you figure that out, buckle up. You’re in for an epic romantic journey.
Our festival slogan is “Read Everything.” What one book would you like to see on our official Read Everything list for 2018?
Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy, a page-turning, empowerment anthem for bibliophiles, movie buffs, and bad-ass geeks everywhere.