Cynthia DeFelice is the 2010 recipient of the Empire State Award for Excellence in Literature for Young People presented by the Youth Services Section of the New York Library Association.

Cynthia DeFelice has written numerous books, including 17 novels and 12 picture books. She lives in Geneva, NY.

The Empire State award is given annually and was first presented in 1990. It is a one-time award presented to a living author or illustrator currently residing in New York State. The award honors a body of work that represents excellence in children’s or young adult literature and that has made a significant contribution to literature for young people. Youth Services librarians through out the state submit nominations to an awards committee. The committee makes a decision that is then approved by the YSS Executive Board.

Previous recipients of the Empire State Award include Maurice Sendak, Madeline L’Engle, Peter Spier, Rafe Martin, and Linda Sue Park.