Welcome to our special Thursday edition of Tuesday Debut!
Sometimes, there are so many wonderful new authors to share that I can’t fit them all on Tuesdays, and I knew you wouldn’t want to miss this one!
Today’s debut-ess has written an absolutely gorgeous, lyrical book which has received three starred reviews – pretty impressive for a debut! It is based on a true story. I hope you will love hearing about it as much as I did!
In addition, she is offering a giveaway – winner’s choice of either a copy of her beautiful book, OR a query letter critique! All you need to do to put yourself in the running to be the randomly selected winner is leave a comment on today’s post by Monday, March 23rd at 3 PM Eastern.
Please join me in welcoming Rebecca Rose Mooradian, author of Rose By The Sea: An Armenian Journey of Courage and Hope!
Title: Rose by the Sea: An Armenian Journey of Courage and Hope
Author: Rebecca Rose Mooradian
Illustrator: Myo Yim
Publishing House: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (@simonkids)
Date of Publication: March 3, 2026
Fiction or Nonfiction: historical fiction
age range of your book: 4-8+
ISBN #: 978-1665944137
Dzovinar (“zill-ven-ar”) lives with her family in Armenia, where the hillside is dotted with sheep and the apricot trees bloom every spring. She loves her home—but one day, soldiers storm her village, and she returns to an empty house. Their parents gone, Dzovinar and her sister are forced to flee. Afraid and alone, they journey across the desert, then over the ocean: first to France and then to America, where they hope a new future will bloom. Changed but not lost, Dzovinar takes root in a new land…forever a rose by the sea.
SUSANNA: Welcome, Rebecca! Thank you so much for joining us today to tell us about your gorgeous book! I think our readers are going to be very interested in the history. Where did the idea for this book come from?
REBECCA: This book is based on my great-grandmother’s immigration story, so it has been with me as long as I can remember. My father, Don Mooradian, worked as a columnist and wrote about Dzovinar (“zill-ven-ar”) in an article when I was 6. That article was called, “Let’s forget old hatreds.” I think there are a lot of echoes of that piece in Rose.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
This was one of this magical experiences where the story had been rattling around in my brain for so long that by the time the first few lines occurred to me the rest wrote itself in a few hours. That is not at all the norm for me, but I think I had been thinking about Dzovinar for so long that I knew what the book needed to be. I wrote it in an afternoon in 2020.
SUSANNA: That is incredible. I’ve read just a few excerpts that are available and the writing is so lyrical and lovely! So moving! What an accomplishment to be able to write it in an afternoon! Did you go through many revisions?
The version I wrote six years ago is essentially what was just published. There are a few changes that happened once it was at Atheneum — I think the biggest one was that in theoriginal draft it was a little less clear that Dzovinar’s parents were gone; I had the line about her father’s boot being left behind on the front walk, but I hadn’t made it super clear, and didn’t have details relating to her mother’s disappearance. My editor also had me add some more reflective lines while Dzovinar is on the boat in which she is remembering her parents; likewise at the end there is a bit more of a summary of what she’s been through. There’s a fine line when writing about a period of history this dark; clarity is important but I did’t want anything to feel overly explicit either.
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
It went out on submission in 2022. Between writing it and going out on sub I switched agents, and there were other works out on submission so this one waited around a while.
SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?
It went out on submission in September 2022. I already had an agent for a different work which never sold.
Rebecca’s writing buddy, Wendell Juniper (Wendy June) 😊
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”?
It was a few days! It happened so fast. It went out on 9/26 and by 9/29 we’d had emails from two editors saying they were taking it to acquisitions, and were told ‘yes’ after zoom calls with each. An auction was set up, but I knew already who I wanted to go with based off very different visions for the book; one editor wanted to omit some of the specific places/names so it would become a more universal immigration story. The other wanted to lean into the Armenian aspect of the story. Because it is family history and because the Armenian genocide is an important part of history that needs to be remembered, I knew which one of those visions most aligned with mine and was thrilled to go with Atheneum.
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 ☺)
I got the offer on October 17, 2022. It was an email and I was totally over the moon. I think I celebrated by buying a book at my favorite bookstore.
SUSANNA: How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?
It felt like forever!! In actuality, it was May 2023. That is a pretty long on ramp though not unheard of.
SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?
It took so much longer and was more involved. I really didn’t know what to expect and was so grateful for my amazing agent at the <me (Alice Fugate at Joy Harris — she now works at University Press of Kentucky).
SUSANNA: Can you tell us a little about the editorial process?
I received my edit letter in April 2023. Once illustrations were underway there were a few more edits. I really love line editing and loved working with Feather Flores.
SUSANNA: What was your experience of the illustration process like?
Part of my contract was that I would get to provide meaningful feedback on the illustrator choice, and I submitted a long list of illustrators I could picture working on Rose. Looking back, I can’t imagine this book with anyone other than Myo Yim. She added such magic and whimsy to the story, and did such an amazing job with historical and cultural references. I loved that Sonia Chaghatzbanian was the Art Director/Designer with Simon & Schuster as well and always knew that Rose was in the best of hands. The notes I gave were essentially, “This is beautiful! This made me cry!” I always felt Myo Yim did an incredible job.
text copyright Rebecca Rose Mooradian 2026, illustration copyright Myo Yim 2026, Atheneum BFYR
text copyright Rebecca Rose Mooradian 2026, illustration copyright Myo Yim 2026, Atheneum BFYR
SUSANNA: That’s wonderful. The art is truly gorgeous. Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc? What was that like?
That was surreal! I didn’t know what to expect and it felt so affirming to see that the book was making its way out into the world. I feel honored that Rose received starred reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, and Booklist.
SUSANNA: Amazing! Congratulations! That is such an accomplishment. Though from what I’ve read, extremely well-deserved! How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
Offer was October 2022 and first copy in hand was November 2025. Three years!!!
SUSANNA: What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?
They’ve submitted it for reviews. They’ve reached out to bookstores and sent promotional copies out. They’ve also reached out a few places to try and schedule events.
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
I reached out to a few book reviewers through instagram. I haven’t done much in way of promotional materials. That is something I would probably want to do differently (better!) with subsequent books.
SUSANNA: How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
I’ve always written and have had an agent since 2018. So it was 4 years of having an agent before I sold my first book. I have had so many close calls and rejections over the years. It is such a hard industry and one I wouldn’t be in unless I loved the actual process of writing!
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?)
Persistence is everything. Don’t give up. The idea that success just happens overnight is by and large a myth, on mostly the writers who make it are the ones who’ve worked very hard to make it.
Joy is also important. I think if writing brings you joy — even when it comes to telling sad or difficult stories — that is felt by the reader. I think too joy can carry you through the leaner times as a writer.
SUSANNA: Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers, Rebecca! We truly appreciate the opportunity to learn from you! Best wishes with this and future titles!
Readers, if you have questions for Rebecca, 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 the randomly selcted winner of a copy of Rose By The Sea: An Armenian Journey of Courage and Hope, OR a query letter critique from Rebecca!
Author Rebecca Rose Mooradian
Website: https://www.rebeccarosemooradian.com/
Instagram: @rebeccarosemooradian
You may purchase Rebecca’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 (ISBN #: 978-1665944137)
– 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 
wow! Such a lovely read! I can’t wait to read the full story. Congrats!
Isn’t it beautiful? I seem to be on a roll of sharing books with lyrical text. I did one for PPBF last week, and this one is AMAZING, and the book I’m planning for tomorrow is also lyrical. I can’t wait to actually read all of Rebecca’s book!
The story of the story, the story, and the artwork are all so inspiring! can’t wait to read this lovely picture book!
Me either, Mona! What little I was able to read off the publicly shared pages is so beautifully written and so moving. I am really looking forward to reading the whole thing!
I love when family history can tell the pain and truth in such a beautiful way. Picture books are magic that way—honoring and remembering. Gorgeous!
I agree, Annette! And to be able to present it in a way that is accessible to young children is a real talent!
This looks great. And it goes to show that getting an agent doesn’t magically make everything fall into place but is just the next step on a (hopefully joyful) journey.
That is so true, Jodie! Agents are very helpful, but they aren’t magic, and the market is so competitive. So many times it’s about getting the right manuscript across the right desk at the right time. It’s discouraging when you don’t sell, but it is very often not a reflection on the quality of your writing, just about what the editors are looking for at the time.
This is a beautiful tribute to your grandmother. I am the daughter of immigrant parents and have begun writing a novel about my mother’s journey. Their lives will always be a part of us, instilled forever in our hearts. Best of luck with your lovely book!
That sounds amazing, Barb! While you’re at it, maybe there’s a picture book version you can come up with. I know you have the ability to write lyrical text!
Congratulations on your book. I can’t wait to read it!
Me, either, Teri! Doesn’t it look amazing?!
This is beautiful! I can’t wait to read it! Congratulations on your debut! And thank you Susanna! You were right, we wouldn’t want to miss this one!
I was floored just by the few scraps of text that are available publicly, Lisa, so I am desperate to read the whole thing!
Me too!
This story sounds amazing, and the art is beautiful!
Isn’t it beautiful, Barb? I can’t wait to read the whole thing!
WOW what an amazing book, the story is important and the art is gorgeous. Congratulations on this amazing accomplishment.
It really is gorgeous, Inbal. It is a real talent to be able to take such a difficult topic and make it accessible to young children. I think we can all learn something from this book!
What a beautiful way to honor your grandmother and her story, Rebecca! The illustrations and writing on the two shared spreads are lovely. I can’t wait to read about the entire journey. Congratulations!
Me, either, Kim! Really looking forward to reading this one! I seem to be obsessed with lyrical books right now and this one certainly fits in that category!
I love this kind of historical accounting for my older picture book readers – fifth and sixth graders. These stories must be shared!
You are so right, Sandy! And to make the history accessible in a way that is palatable to kids is a real talent. It would be easy to frighten or upset them with some of these topics, but writers like Rebecca handle them so well!
What an absolutely beautiful book Rebecca – from the excerpts to the illustrations! And the history behind it makes it even more of a treasure. Congratulations!
Glad you like it, Sharon! I think a lot of us are eager to read this one!
you are so right about joy in writing! And what a list of starred reviews – congratulations!
Impressive, right, Robin?! And for a debut!
Look forward to reading this beautiful book! Congratulations, Rebecca!
Me, too, Ellen! I think we’re al going to enjoy it! And learn from it!
Congratulations! What an honor and a privilege to share your family’s story in such a beautiful way.
So true, Jen! And she did it so well!
Inspiring and beautiful! Congratulations, Rebecca! I can’t wait to read it!
I think we’re all going to love this one, Kim!
Your story is beautiful lyrically and pictorially. And such a tribute to your grandmother. I can’t wait to read it in its entirety.
Me either, Jean! It looks amazing!
That cover is gorgeous! I have just suggested my library purchase it!
It really is beautiful, isn’t it, Jules? And such an important topic!
My friend Leila Boukarim also wrote one worth reading!
Title please?
LOST WORDS
What a beautiful book! Congratulations 🙂
It really is beautiful, Katherine – both text and art!
It looks like a lovely book. A beautiful tribute to your great-grandmother, Rebecca. Congratulations!
I hope you get a chance to read it, Cathy!
What a gorgeous book! I just previewed it on Eidelweiss. I like the use colors in the text to anchor the scene and mood. Beautiful writing and stunning art. Congratulations!
That was smart, Sue! I bet you can see more of it on Eidelweiss – maybe all of it?
There are 7 spreads available to preview on Eidelweiss. Only 3 on Amazon. I definitely got more of a taste of how luscious the writing and art is through the Eidelweiss platform.
My library is already ordering multiple copies. I put a hold on one. Looking forward to reading it.
That’s great for Rebecca and Myo that the library is ordering multiple copies, Sue! It was nice of you to check!
Another gorgeous book that I can’t wait to read! Just put it on hold at my library. 3 years from offer to book in hand! I guess waiting gets easier the longer you do this? Maybe? Congratulations!
3 years isn’t actually all that bad, Kate. I had a book that took just shy of 9 and a half! 🙂
Holy Moly! 😳 I had no idea it could take that long. Here I am dying waiting for 50 precious words. Not even a month. 😂
Two things you need in abundance in this business: patience and a thick skin 🙂
This is a beautiful book in so many ways! Congratulations!
I agree, Karan! I’m looking forward to getting to read the whole thing!
This appears to be a lovely story coupled with beautiful illustrations! Congratulations, Rebecca. I can’t wait to read it!
Me either, Susan – the snippets available online were just enough to pique my interest and not enough to satisfy!
this is such an inspiring story and looks like a beautiful book!
I agree, Tara. I’d really love to read the whole thing!
Congratulations Rebecca. Such a beautiful book. Wishing you continued success.
She is certainly off to a great start, Jeanine! 3 starred reviews for her debut!
What a beautiful book! Thank you for sharing your inspirational journey to publication. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed hearing Rebecca’s story, Christy. The book is a tribute to her family.
This book is beautiful. I recently attended an Armenian culture day at our library in which two of my fellow bandmates performed traditional Armenian music. They are brothers from Armenia and told of the atrocities faced by Armenians. I can’t wait to read this book. Congratulations!
I admire Rebecca for tackling such a difficult topic for a picture book, Danielle. And it looks like she did an amazing job telling the story in a way that kids will be able to handle and learn from.
Oh my heart! Just reading the small samples – this story is so heartfelt and beautiful! Congrats Rebecca!
I agree, Deborah! Amazing!
Rebecca, I am so excited about your book! I am of Armenian descent on both sides. The Armenian genocide affected by father and grandfather’s family. It is an event that has had little attention. I can’t wait to read your book. Thank you for sharing your journey. The illustrations look beautiful!
It sounds like this book will be especially meaningful to you, Mary. I haven’t had the opportunity to read the whole thing yet, but it looks beautiful.
Rebecca, thank you for sharing your family’s story. It’s a difficult one to handle. Kudos! It came at the right time for me. I have a Cambodian daughter who lost her parents in the Cambodian genocide and a story is percolating in me. I’m so glad to have this as a mentor text. And, Susanna, thank you for the work you do.
All the best to both of you!
I’m so glad this book came along in time to help you tell your daughter’s story, Helen!
Congratulations on your debut, Rebecca! And as always, thank you Susanna for sharing!
My pleasure, Shuba!