Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
And welcome to Tuesday Debut, where you get to meet brand new picture book writers sharing their journey to publication with their debut books!
I love being able to meet these talented people as they’re emerging onto the world picture book stage, having the chance to get a peek at their books, and learning about how those books came to be.
And we get to cheer them on, and share them and their books on social media, and with our friends, and our kids’ teachers, and our local public librarians to give them a little boost, because with so many great books out there it can be hard to get noticed.
With that in mind, one of our group of thoughtful readers here – Katelyn O. – suggested last week that I provide the ISBN# of the books (along with the title, publishing house, and date of publication which were already included,) to make it easier for everyone who reads the post to request the book from their local libraries.
See?
This is what happens when great minds get together!
So I have added that in. Thank you, Katelyn!
Before we get to today’s debut-ess, I have a giveaway winner to announce! Last week’s debut-ess, Megan Hamilton, author of Zoom To The Stars – A Bedtime Adventure, offered a Picture Book Manuscript Critique to one lucky winner.
And the winner is. . .
Catherine Ann Velasco!!!
Congratulations, Cathy! If you could please email me, I will put you in touch with Megan so you can get your critique!
AND we have a new giveaway for this week which is not one giveaway but three! Inspired by Sue Sutherland a few weeks back, today’s debut-ess is offering 3 unsigned books to 3 different people who comment on the post – 1 to a commenter, 1 to a commenter’s favorite library, and 1 to a commenter’s favorite school or teacher! All you have to do to get yourself in the running to be one of the randomly selected winners is leave a comment on today’s post by 3 PM Monday March 23rd! (And of course if you’d like to be nice and go the extra mile, feel free to share the book cover and/or this blog post on social media!)
And now, it is my pleasure to introduce you to today’s Tuesday Debut, Raluca Sirbu, and her beautiful book, MY GIFT!
Title: My Gift
Author: Raluca Sirbu
Illustrator: Alisa Barannik
Publishing House: Histria Books
Date of Publication: 10/2025
Fiction or Nonfiction: Fiction
age range of your book: 6-8
ISBN #: 978-1592115563
Once, in a country shaped like a heart, a brave girl faced a time when a powerful king and his dragons forbade the telling of stories. With only a magical box and three secret tales, she brought light and happiness to her people, even when shadows tried to keep them silent.
SUSANNA: Welcome, Raluca! Thank you so much for coming over to chat with us today! WE are so looking forward to hearing about your journey to publication with this unique and beautiful story! Where did the idea for this book come from?
RALUCA: This story aligns with the perennial advice: write what you know. It began as a pebble dropped into a lake, creating wider and wider circles. The original idea was simply to rewrite a Romanian folktale and introduce my culture to readers. As I worked on it, the story grew to include some truths about my beautiful country and the socialist regime I grew up in. And as an immigrant, I’ve come to realize that the only things one truly carries in a suitcase are native wisdom and lived experiences—the real gifts.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
RALUCA: The story was in an amorphous format for a while before putting pen to paper. But then it clicked – during the night, of course. I remember we were visiting a friend out of state, and I got up at 6 am and wrote the story in a couple of hours.
SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?
RALUCA: Yes, I went through many revisions, although the core of the story remained the same. The most helpful advice I can offer new writers is this: don’t give up if you truly believe in your story. Along the way, I received very different reactions—from “You don’t write Scheherazade-style stories as picture books” to a paid critique who initially declined to work on the manuscript because it seemed too complex. A few days later, he emailed me to say he couldn’t get the story out of his head and was ready to dive in together. That person was one of the founding editors of Boyds Mills Press.
This is Leo. Raluca says: We have 5 cats [wait, I can explain!!] Leo is a very loving cat. He follows me and stays by my side whenever possible. Not sure if he knows he is not a dog.
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
RALUCA: When I was undoing previous changes again and again.
SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?
RALUCA: I queried both agents and publishing houses that accepted unsolicited manuscripts.
SUSANNA: How long after you found out about your book going to acquisitions (if you did) or after you submitted were you told it was a “yes”?
RALUCA: After three months, the publisher asked me not to submit the story further, which, of course, gave me hope. After 6 months from submission, they said “yes.”
SUSANNA: When did you get “the call”, which these days is more likely to be “the email”? (Best moment ever! 😊) and how did you celebrate (if you care to share 😊)
RALUCA: It was certainly one of the best moments ever. My husband was out in the yard when I received the email, and I ran toward him, squealing with excitement. He had no idea what had happened and was trying to figure out whether I was in trouble. The book is dedicated to him—he’s the wind in my sails. And of course, after that, I told everyone I knew. 😊
SUSANNA: That is lovely! How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?
RALUCA: they sent me the contract in the acceptance email.
SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?
RALUCA: The story was accepted relatively early in my writing career – I started from ground 0 in 2020 with the first class in writing for children, and the book sold in 2023. So, I was not very well prepared, and I regret not reaching out to an agent to pull them in. In terms of advances, I received < $5K and split it with the illustrator. The royalties are standard and tiered, starting with 5%. I got 10 free author’s copies.
SUSANNA: Can you tell us a little about the editorial process?
RALUCA: This part, I think, is unusual. There were NO edits on my original manuscript.
SUSANNA: What was your experience of the illustration process like?
RALUCA: I was paired with a very talented illustrator, Alisa, and we began working on pagination and illustrations together fairly early in the process. It was a pleasure collaborating with her—she had a wonderful vision for the story and truly brought it to life. I still remember tearing up when I saw the first sketches.
We worked closely through each stage of the illustration process, discussing pagination, scenes, and visual details. The full illustration process took about nine months, and it was fascinating to watch the story evolve visually during that time. When the final artwork and proofs came together, I felt the illustrations captured the spirit of the story beautifully.
Yes, I included art notes, but our collaboration was very close, and we discussed a lot as the illustrations evolved.
SUSANNA: What unique and gorgeous illustrations! Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc? What was that like?
RALUCA: The publisher mentioned they sent the story for various reviews. I did not see any answers. I researched and learned that only about 1% of books receive reviews.
SUSANNA: How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
RALUCA: It took over two years from acquisition to the first copy. This included the 9 months for illustrations.
SUSANNA: What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?
RALUCA: The publisher is a frequent participant in national and international book fairs, and they are exposing the book at these events. They also have international distribution, including the UK, where they also distribute this book.
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
RALUCA: Marketing is my least favorite thing about this business. But oh, so necessary. I created bookmarks and knocked on the doors of various independent bookstores and local B&N to introduce my book. Similarly with state and local libraries. I contacted book reviewers and YouTube story readers and participated in a couple of book fairs. I have a monthly newsletter. I do have suggested activities for teachers on my website. All this competes with the fact that I work full-time and love to write.
SUSANNA: I think that is something many writers struggle with – writing is our passion and what we want to spend our time on, but marketing is necessary and something a lot of us aren’t all that comfortable with. I always find it easier to talk up other people’s books than my own! How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
RALUCA: I started writing during the pandemic as we were isolated and working from home. I sold the book in 2023
SUSANNA: What is the most important/helpful thing you learned on your way to publication? (Or what is your most helpful piece of advice for up and coming writers?)
RALUCA: I know I’m repeating myself, but I truly believe this: don’t give up. Publishing is a very subjective business, but a good story will eventually find a home. It might take time. The journey can also be tough on the ego, so resilience becomes one of the most important qualities a writer can have.
SUSANNA: Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication?
RALUCA: Thank you so much, Susanna, for facilitating this blog, supporting writers, and helping promote their books.
SUSANNA: It is truly my pleasure, Raluca! Thank YOU so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers! We so appreciate the opportunity to learn from your knowledge and experience, and wish you all the best with this and future titles!
Readers, if you have questions for Raluca, please post them in the comments below and if she has time I’m sure she’ll respond! And remember, your comment on today’s post by Monday, March 23rd at 3 PM Eastern puts you in the running to be one of THREE randomly selected winners for Raluca’s generous giveaways of 3 unsigned copies of her book, MY GIFT – 1 to a commenter, 1 to a commenter’s favorite library, and 1 to a commenter’s favorite school or teacher!
Author Raluca Sirbu, who is nuts about nuts.
Weakness: pistachios. Somebody needs to take them away 😊
https://ralucasirbu.com
Facebook; Raluca Sirbu
(@raluca1991.bsky.social) — Bluesky
You may purchase Raluca’s book at:
(all links below are book-specific)
Indiebound/Bookshop.org
Amazon
Barnes&Noble
We can help our debut authors successfully launch their careers by:
– purchasing their books
– recommending their books to friends and family
– recommending their books to our children’s teachers and librarians
– recommending their books to our local libraries and bookstores
– suggesting them as visiting authors at our children’s schools and our local libraries
– sharing their books on social media
– reviewing their books on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and other sites where people go to learn about books.
Thank you all for stopping by to read today! Have a lovely, inspiration-filled Tuesday! Maybe today is the day you’ll write your debut picture book 😊
Missed any previous Tuesday Debuts? Check them out HERE!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
What a gorgeous book! Congratulations Raluca! 🎉
It’s lovely, isn’t Armineh? I’m looking forward to getting to read it!
Thank you so much, Armineh! Beautiful name!
Thank you!
The artwork is incredible. It sounds like a lovely book. Very interesting interview. Thanks for the post.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Rosi!
Thank you so much, Rosi. Yes, the illustrator is a very talented young lady. She is a Ukrainian refugee who lives in Portugal.
What a beautiful book, Raluca! Congratulations!
Thanks for stopping by to read, Rose! I’m sure Raluca will be buoyed by your words!
Thank you, Rose.
Lovely journey, lovely story. & Thanks for the inspiration .
I’m glad you feel inspired, Annette! Take that inspiration and run with it – who knows what you might write today! 🙂
Thank you Annette. Yes lovely journey indeed. It seemed like yesterday when I flew the iron bird to this land 🙂
This book looks amazing! Congratulations!
Glad you like it, Barb! The illustrations really draw you in, don’t they? And I’m sure the story does as well!
I can see from your illustrations, your story is beautiful. Congratulations on reflecting back to Romania and making it come alive for children. 🩷
The opportunity to read folk tales we aren’t familiar with is a wonderful opportunity for all of us, Robin. I’m looking forward to reading this one. And we’re having an extra Tuesday Debut on Thursday this week with is a nonfiction PB about another country that I also think will be fascinating to read.
The effort and love you put into this blog blows my mind. You are amazing. Thank you for everything!
I am so glad to do it!
Thank you, Rob. Yes, it is a beautiful country – a lesser-known treasure
What an interesting concept! Congratulations, Raluca, your book is beautiful!
So glad you like it, Kim! It is a beautiful book!
Thank you, Kim.
During last nights Connect meeting we agreed fairy tales, folk tales, myths need to make a comeback! Congratulations, Raluca!
I totally agree, Julie! I am always on the lookout for things in those categories that might make good PBs!
I agree, Julie. Such a fantastic resource. Thank you!
What a beautiful story Raluca! And I love your hopeful words of “not giving up on what you truly believe in.” Congratulations to you!
I think most writers who succeed keep those words in mind, Sharon. The road to publication is a winding one with a lot of ups and downs and no shortage of obstacles, so we have to keep hoping, keep believing, keep learning, keep writing, keep submitting!
So well said Susanna – and your gift of sharing formats like this is so encouraging and greatly appreciated!
I really appreciate your note, Sharonm. Thank you. And as Susanna mentioned, this industry is abundant in obstacles and tough love. At the same time, I have not experienced a more supportive group of people than in this industry.
I love that the island is shaped like a heart!
I know, Jodie! Isn’t that beautiful?!
Yes, Romania is still in the shape of my heart. Thank you for your note, Jodie.
It’s beautiful to see folk tales come to life. I also love how Raluca says “I’ve come to realize that the only things one truly carries in a suitcase are native wisdom and lived experiences—the real gifts.” Reminds me to put a little more emotion and life into my own characters. Thank you for sharing and good luck!
I’m with you, Sonja! I love folk tales! I’d very much like to read this one, having learned a little of the back story. And good point – putting more emotion into our characters is something we can all keep in mind!
Thank you for your note, Sonja. Indeed, we breathe life into our characters.
Congratulations, Raluca! The story and the beautiful illustrations make me want to read this right away!
They are very attention-getting, aren’t they Cathy? I’d like to see the whole books!
Plus I really want to read the story!
A book coming your way, Susanna! Just tell me where 🙂 It would be my honor.
Thank you Cathy. Yes, the illustrations elevate the book. I was very lucky to work with Alisa.
Thank you Cathy. Yes, the illustrations elevate the book. I was very lucky to work with Alisa.
Congratulations, Raluca! Wishing you all the best of success! LM
Thanks for stopping by to cheer for Raluca, Lynne!
Lynne Marie – thank you so much!
Congratulations and thank you for sharing! Your insight and advice is much appreciated!
So glad you enjoyed Raluca’s post, Sara!
Thank you, Sara. I hope my experience is helpful.
Congrats on your beautiful book, Raluca! I love your advice and the illustrations are stunning.
The illustrations have certainly garnered a lot of admiration, Laura! I am very interested in getting to read the story!
Thank you Laura. Good to “see” you again.
Congratulations on your beautiful debut, Raluca!
Thanks for stopping by to read and support Raluca, Sarah!
Thank you so much, Sarah. It means a lot.
The illustrations are stunning! Congrats, Raluca!
They really are, Cathy! Very eye-catching, and with so much to explore!
Thank you, Cathy. I will reach out to Alisa and share all the heartwarming comments from you all. She’ll be delighted.
Hi Raluca,
Congratulations book, “My Gift”…sounds like a great book to give my granddaughter on her upcoming bday. She loves books!! And loves anything to do with friendship, and the gift of hope itself. I’d love to find an island in the shape of a heart…especially in March.
I hope your granddaughter enjoys it!
Happy birthday to your granddaughter and best wishes. Thank you so much for your note.
What a lovely book! The story sounds so intriguing and I love cultural retellings! I’m looking forward to reading your book. Congratulations!
Thank you so much for your note, Debbie.
Someone should take away pistachios. That got me 😂. The cover feels magical, and makes me want to dive right in. Declined for a paid critique because the story is too complex? That is wild…I want to write a story like that!
Congratulations. I can’t wait to read this with my kids, and thank you for the kind words Susanna.
Yes – seldom does the day go w/o my snack. 🙂 Thank you so much for your note, Katelyn.
Raluca, your book sounds wonderful! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your journey. I’m placing this book on my “to read list”! 🙂
Thanks, Susanna for another great post❣️
Beautiful book! Thank you for stopping by!
l love these kinds of stories. So glad to see it found a publisher. Congrats and best wishes.