Hello, my friends!
We haven’t had a Tuesday Debut in awhile… I guess we’re all in summer vacation mode đ But I’m happy to say we have one today!  And what better than a little inspiration in the middle of summer?  Maybe you’ll head off to the beach after reading this post and find yourself scribbling down a great new idea!!!
So without further ado, allow me to introduce you to our newest debut-ess, Stacey Corrigan!
The Pencil Eater
By: Stacey Corrigan
Illustrations by Steve Page
MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing
August 6, 2019
Fiction, ages 4-8
The Pencil Eater hunts for tasty treats but encounters some obstacles along the way. Frustrated by his efforts, The Pencil Eater visits an elementary school and a whole new set of problems await.
SUSANNA: Welcome, Stacey! Â Thank you so much for joining us today. Â We’re thrilled to have you! Â Where did the idea for this book come from?
STACEY: I teach second grade and pencils in my classroom always disappear. About five years ago, I had just sharpened a bunch of pencils and the pencils were gone 15 minutes later. In frustration, I said, âSecond graders are pencil eaters.â My students laughed. I wrote down the idea and started on my very first manuscript that weekend.
SUSANNA:Â How long did it take you to write this book?
STACEY:Â It took 5 years to write the book in its current form. That original manuscript was terrible. I wrote what was more like a character sketch, thought it was brilliant, Googled âpublishers accepting manuscripts,â and sent away. If you are new, donât do that. Almost every picture book on the shelf has been through extensive critiques and revisions.
Luckily, an editor took the time to write me a very nice rejection letter. She very politely told me that while my premise was good, I needed to work on my craft. I Googled âpicture book craftâ and discovered the KidLit World.
I shelved THE PENCIL EATER for a bit and found some critique partners. After a year or so writing other stories, I went back to THE PENCIL EATER. I gave it a plot, added some humor, and took it through several rounds of critiques and edits. Illustrator Steve Page and publisher Tannya Derby also shaped the story into what it is today.
SUSANNA:Â Did you go through many revisions?
STACEY: I must have revised THE PENCIL EATER 100 times. I found critique partners extremely helpful. I could not have gotten published without them. They are so supportive and knowledgeable. A couple of my CPs are also illustrators and taught me how to leave room for the illustrator. One suggested dummying out THE PENCIL EATER. That helped me cut a lot of words and I recommend using this strategy. To learn more about it, check out Wendy Martinâs post on Tara Lazarâs blog here.
SUSANNA:Â When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
STACEY:Â A couple of my CPs yelled at me (in all caps and everything) and told me to stop revising and to send it out.
After that, I read it to a class full of Kindergarteners who didnât know me. They listened to it and loved it. One of them drew a picture of The Pencil Eater on their own. That pretty much cinched it for me. It was time to submit.
SUSANNA: I love that your CPs gave you a kick in the…, er, that is, gave you encouragement to send out your ms! đ Hurray for Cps!!!  When and how did you submit?
STACEY:Â I was a member of the KidLit411 Facebook Page and read a thread about MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing. I was impressed by Tannya Derbyâs honesty and how she handled a tough situation, so I queried MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing. I followed their submission guidelines and heard back from them a few months later.
SUSANNA: When did you get “the news”? (Best moment ever! đ)
STACEY:Â I was having a terrible day and remember getting the email notification thinking, âGreat, another rejection.â I opened the email, saw the word âCongratulations!â and burst into tears.
SUSANNA:Â How did you celebrate signing your contract?
STACEY:Â I cried a little, high-fived my family and called my parents to tell them. Then, we ran off to my sonâs baseball game. I remember the reality of it set in while I was watching the game.
SUSANNA:Â Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?
STACEY:Â As a small publisher, Tannya was very clear about the terms of the contract early on in the process so they were exactly what I expected. MCP doesnât give advances but does have higher royalties so I am happy with the arrangement.
SUSANNA:Â How was the editorial process?
STACEY: Tannya involves both the author and illustrator in the editing process. The whole book is a huge collaboration.
SUSANNA:Â Can you tell us a little about your experience of the illustration process?
STACEY:Â Tannya sent me digital illustrator samples and asked me to pick which one I liked best. I picked Steve. He nailed the visions I had of The Pencil Eater. In fact, an early version of my manuscript was The Purple Pencil Eater. I dropped the word purple, but Steve somehow knew that my MC was purple.
At first, I was super intimidated about giving feedback. Both Tannya and Steve have years more experience than I do and I didnât feel comfortable making suggestions. But they were really good about asking me what I thought. It was the best experience. I think thatâs what makes MacLaren-Cochrane a great publisher to work with.
SUSANNA: That sounds amazing, Stacey. Â I know the amount of input authors and illustrators get varies from publisher to publisher and editor to editor, but it seems like you got to be very involved which must have been fantastic on so many levels – both artistically in terms of creating your book and educationally in terms of learning about the process. Â Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc?
STACEY:Â I havenât yet.
SUSANNA:Â How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
STACEY:Â It took about 26 months.
SUSANNA:Â Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
STACEY: Promoting the book was one area I was nervous about. I am quite shy around strangers and am not much of a salesperson. I quickly learned though that so many people in my day to day life are willing to help. Friends, family members, my agent, my work colleagues, and members of the writing community have really come through for me and put me in contact with the right people. My husband found a venue for my release party, a cousin wrote a grant to fund an author visit, another organized a summer park event around The Pencil Eater, my school is throwing a big event at the beginning of the year, and the list just keeps growing.
I have also been sending out flyers for Author Visits and have been doing blog tours all summer.
SUSANNA:Â How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
STACEY:Â It took me about two years. I credit that to having great CPs, good timing, and a little luck.
SUSANNA:Â Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication?
STACEY:Â Donât give up. If you are serious about writing, learn the craft, find good critique partners, and believe in the process. Lots of the CPs and writers I started with are starting to get agents and get published right now. It takes time but it has been worth the wait!

Author Stacey Corrigan
Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers, Stacey! We are all grateful to you for sharing your experience and expertise and wish you the very best of success with this and future books!
Readers, if you have questions for Stacey, please post them in the comments below and if she has time I’m sure she’ll respond!
You may purchase Stacey’s book at:
(all links below are book-specific)
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! Â Have a lovely, inspiration-filled Tuesday! Â Maybe today is the day you’ll write your debut picture book đ
Missed any previous Tuesday Debuts? Â Check them out!
Christy Mihaly – Hey! Hey! Hay! A Tale of Bales And The Machines That Make Them
Jessie Oliveros – The Remember Balloons
Beth Anderson – An Inconvenient Alphabet: Ben Franklin And Noah Webster’s Spelling Revolution
Hannah Holt – The Diamond And The Boy
Laura Renauld – Porcupine’s Pie
Annie Romano – Before You Sleep: A Bedtime Book Of Gratitude
Melissa Stoller – Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush
Sherry Howard – Rock And Roll Woods
Kate Narita – 100 Bugs! A Counting Book
Vivian Kirkfield – Pippa’s Passover Plate
Laura Roettiger – Aliana Reaches For The Moon
Matthew Lasley – Pedro’s Pan: A Gold Rush Story
Natalee Creech – When Day Is Done
Margaret Chiu Greanias – Maximillian Villainous
Wendy Greenley – Lola Shapes The Sky
Danielle Dufayet – You Are Your Strong
B.J. Lee – There Was An Old Gator Who Swallowed A Moth
Cathy Ballou Mealey – When A Tree Grows
Pippa Chorley – Counting Sheep
Sandra Sutter – The Real Farmer In The Dell
Jill Mangel Weisfeld – Riley The Retriever Wants A New Job
Kathleen Cornell Berman – The Birth Of Cool: How Jazz Great Miles Davis Found His Sound
Eleanor Ann Peterson – Jurassic Rat
Sarah Hoppe – Who Will? Will You?
Marla LeSage – Pirate Year Round
Very informative interview. As a fellow teacher, I’ve been in that very place what your idea arose. Can’t wait to read The Pencil Eater. Congrats, Stacey.
Thanks, Jim! I appreciate your support!
Thanks, Jim! I appreciate your support!
Congrats Stacey! It looks like a great book. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Thank you, Marla!
Congrats, Stacey. What a cute concept, and I couldn’t agree more on the importance of good critique partners!
I owe so much to mine. Thanks for your kind comments.
Thanks for sharing your story, Stacey. Great concept. Can’t wait to read it.
Thank you, Carole!
Great story! Congratulations! (PS Kinders are pencil eaters as well…and grands snack along quite well. LOL)
Yes, I imagine Kinders keep The Pencil Eater hopping and the teachers too. Thanks so much for your kind words.
I have watched you go the process and have seen some of the ups and downs. You have been so determined and have never given up. You have given so much credit to those who have helped you and have shared you success with us. Your book is awesome and you deserve the best!! Many sequels to come!!
Cindy, you have been there for me since the beginning. First as a classroom mentor and now as a great friend. Thanks for sticking with and believing in me through all the up and downs.
Congratulations Stacey! My son is starting second grade this year. I’d better stock up on pencils. I look forward to reading this with him.
Yes, you better! Seriously though, second graders are awesome. Best wishes for a great school year and thanks!
Congratulations, Stacey!! This book sounds fantastic. Thank you for sharing your publication journey with us.
Thank you, Lisa!
I loved reading about the inspiration behind The Pencil Eater. Great interview, Susanna and Stacey!
Thanks, Gabi! I appreciate your support.
Congratulations and good luck with The Pencil Eater. I’m sure there’s a bit of nonfiction in there. Pencil eaters were REAL in my 3rd grade classroom!
Thanks and LOL @nonfiction. So true.
Stacey,
So excited for you and the purple pencil eater sounds like a fun book!
Thanks! I had fun writing it.
Congrats, Stacey! Loved hearing more about your book.
Thanks so much! I am very excited.
Congratulations, Stacey! Loved reading your story. Good luck with your book launch!
Thanks, Teresa! I appreciate your support!
These pencil-eaters also visited my 2nd grade classroom long ago . . . not much you can do! I’m eager to get to your book! Thanks for sharing!
LOL. Thanks Karen!
Congratulations. I haven’t seen your book yet, but it sounds adorable.
Thank you, Laura.
Congrats on your debut, Stacey! Having just sharpened 4 packs of pencils for my kiddosâ teachers, I sure hope they donât get eaten in 15 minutes! đ
Terrific interview. Congratulations, Stacey, this book looks fun! I like that you pursued a publisher you already had respect for. I’m sure it gave you that much more confidence moving forward with her.
Great interview! Congrats on your debut, Stacey! And I can’t help but think that it would be great to adapt the Purple People Eater song to this book….He was a two-eyed, two-horned, flying purple pencil eater…..
So sorry I am late to the party…I loved reading about your book journey and how you never gave up and how CPs were such an important part of your journey. Congratulations!!! It looks like a fab book!