Cynthia Leitich Smith

Award-winning children’s and young adult author, curator of the Heartdrum Native-focused imprint at HarperCollins, and citizen of the Muscogee (Mvskoke) Nation; born and raised in the Kansas City area with strong roots in storytelling.

Biography

Early life

Cynthia Leitich Smith was born on December 31, 1967, in Kansas City, Missouri. She grew up in the Kansas City area as a shy child and a great fan of comics. Reading was an important part of her life from a young age, and she served as the editor of her middle school and high school newspapers. She has loved writing since she was a kid.

Arrival in / connection to Kansas City

Born and raised in the Kansas City area, Smith’s early experiences in KC shaped her love of storytelling and community. She is a citizen of the Muscogee (Mvskoke) Nation and centers Indigenous youth as heroes in her work. While she has lived in multiple states (Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas), her KC upbringing remains a foundational part of her identity and writing.

Career / contribution

Smith is a New York Times and Publishers Weekly best-selling author of fiction for children and young adults. She is the author-curator of Heartdrum, a Native-focused imprint at HarperChildren’s. Her work has earned major accolades, including the 2026 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, two-time American Indian Youth Literature (Young Adult) Award winner, 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Candidate, NSK Neustadt Laureate, Southern Miss Medallion winner, and Texas Literary Hall of Fame inductee.

She writes stories that center Indigenous youth and modern-day Native American lives. She is also a writing teacher and maintains the Cynsations blog on children’s literature.

Later years

As of 2026, Smith continues to be highly active, winning major awards and advancing Native representation in publishing through Heartdrum. She lives in Denton, Texas, with her two rescue Chihuahuas, Gnocchi and Orzo.

Defining contributions to Kansas City

1. Born and raised in the Kansas City area, bringing KC perspectives and storytelling roots to national and international literature.
2. Elevating Native American creators and stories, many of which resonate with themes of place, community, and resilience that echo KC’s diverse heritage.
3. Serving as a role model for young writers; her early editing experience in KC schools highlights local educational influences on her path.

Cultural legacy

Smith’s work has significantly impacted children’s and YA literature by increasing visibility for Indigenous voices. Her KC upbringing is frequently noted in her bios as the place where her writing journey began. She inspires KC-area readers and writers through her success and advocacy for diverse stories.

Contemporaries + collaborators

• Heartdrum authors and Native creators (various; see imprint for current list).
• Publishers and literary organizations advancing Indigenous literature.

Sites in KC associated with this person

• Kansas City area schools and libraries (early writing/editing experiences).
• General KC cultural institutions that may host or feature her work.

Source materials

• Official author site cynthialeitichsmith.com and Cynsations blog.
• Publishers Weekly, ALA, and award announcements.
• Interviews and profiles on her KC roots.

Controversies + complexity

None prominently noted; her focus is on positive representation and community in literature.

Sources