Photos
Paris Pan Takes the Dare (hi-res)
The Great Call of China (hi-res)
Short Bio
Cynthea Liu is author of PARIS PAN TAKES THE DARE (Putnam), a humorous mystery novel for grades 4-7. THE GREAT CALL OF CHINA (grades 7-12) is part of Speak’s bestselling S.A.S.S. series. Her forthcoming picture book WOOBY AND PEEP (ages 4-8) will be released by Sterling in 2013. Based in Chicago, Cynthea has spoken to a number of schools in Illinois and across the country. She has also been a guest speaker for national conferences organized by the American Library Association, American Association of School Librarians, Association for Library Services to Children, and the Young Adult Library Services Association, among others. Locally and regionally, Cynthea has also spoken for the Illinois School Media Library Association, the Illinois Reading Council, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Chicago Teacher-Librarians Association. Cynthea is also a frequent guest author for local family literacy nights and young author conferences. She is also a writing coach and faculty member for conferences associated with the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and local universities and colleges. She has been featured on ABC’s Chicago 7 and the Chicago Sun Times.
Long Bio
Author Cynthea Liu
Cynthea Liu spent her formative years in Oklahoma and Texas where she was a Whiz Quiz member, an Academic Decathloner, and a spelling bee champion. (Yes, she was very popular.) After attending college on the East coast, she worked at a corporate job where she mastered PowerPoint and racked up thousands of frequent flyer miles. Eventually, she traded in her suit for sweats to do the fun stuff–writing for children.
Her novel for teens THE GREAT CALL OF CHINA
Writing for Children and Teens: A Crash Course
Cynthea is also the woman behind WritingforChildrenandTeens.com, a top ten Web site on the subject; a contributor to THE NEW WRITER’S HANDBOOK, Volume 2, A Practical Anthology of Best Advice for Your Craft and Career, edited by Philip Martin.
Cynthea has spoken to a number of schools in Illinois and across the country. She has also been a guest speaker for national and regional conferences organized by the American Library Association, American Association of School Librarians, Association for Library Services to Children, and the Young Adult Library Services Association, among others. In addition, Cynthea has been a guest author and writing coach for organizations like the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Chicago Young Authors, MuseWrite, and local universities and colleges. She has also been featured on ABC’s Chicago 7 and the Chicago Sun Times.
Interview Questions
- How did you do research for THE GREAT CALL OF CHINA? Have you been to China before?
- How do you manage to get everything done with a baby, your books, and your websites Writing for Children and Teens and AuthorsNow!?
- Do you plan your books out carefully beforehand or fly by the seat of your pants?
- Is there anything you learned about writing when creating THE GREAT CALL OF CHINA?
- Any advice for future authors?
- How do you deal with writer’s block?
- What made you start writing?
Media Contact: (Paris Pan Takes the Dare): Samantha Dell’Olio, Senior Publicist, The Penguin Group
Media Contact: (The Great Call of China): Allison Verost, Senior Publicist, The Penguin Group
Author Appearances: Emily Heddleson, The Penguin Group, Author Appearances Coordinator
On the Radio
Interview for The Weekly Reader with Rachael Hanel.
In the News
- 08/23/09 11AM CST, ABC 7's "Chicagoing" w/Bill Campbell features Cynthea Liu, Michelle Duster, Jen Cullerton Johnson, and Trina Sotira
- 08/09/09 Chicago Sun-Times features Cynthea Liu, Truth & 'Dare'
- 07/13/09 Paris Pan Launch Update: Over One Hundred Children's Book Professionals Raise $15,000 for Title I School in Oklahoma
- 07/09/09 Publisher's Weekly: Author Throws Online Party to Benefit School
- 06/11/09 Paris Pan Launch: Thirty Children's and Teen Book Professionals Raise Money for Title I School in Oklahoma
- 02/19/09 The Great Call of China Launch: New Fiction Novel featuring Adopted Teen Helps Fill for Young Adult Books for Foreign-Born Adoptees and Their Families
PARIS PAN, nominated for Texas Lone Star Reading List 2010
Paris Pan Takes the Dare draws you in and won't let you go until the end." 
