Happy Tuesday Debut Day, Everyone!

We get to start today’s festivities with not one, not, two, not even three, but FIVE giveaways from our generous visitors from Picture Book Junction ’23 last week!

That is so amazing we should probably have cake!

Shucks! No probably about it! 😊

It’s June. That means Strawberry Shortcake!

Help yourself to a slice or three and hope you’ll be one of the lucky 5 randomly drawn winners of the randomly selected 5 prizes!

Ready?

And the winners of the PBJ ’23 giveaways are. . .

Penny Taub, who won the query and picture book critique from Sarah Hovorka!!!
Kimberly Read, who won the signed copy of THE BOO CREW from Vicky Fang!!!
Kelly Kates, who won the picture book critique from Jack Wong!!!
Phyllis (sorry I don’t know your last name!) who won the signed copy of THE WISHING FLOWER from A.J. Irving!!!
and
Wendy Greenley, who won the signed copy of ONLY FOR A LITTLE WHILE from Gabriela Orozco Belt!!!

Congratulations to all the lucky winners! Please email me so we can work out getting you your prizes!

And now, before I introduce you to today’s debutess, let me tell you that she is giving away a signed copy of her debut picture book, CALL ME CALVIN to one lucky winner (US residents only) AND a picture book manuscript critique (800 words or less, fiction, rhyme or prose) to another lucky winner! So leave a comment on this post by Monday June 26th at 3 PM Eastern to qualify for that random drawing!!!

If you need another piece of cake after all that prize giving, help yourself, and then please allow me to introduce you to the one and only Mary Vander Plas, debut author of CALL ME CALVIN!

Title: Call Me Calvin
Author: Mary Vander Plas
Illustrator: André Ceolin
Publisher: Albert Whitman
Date of Publication: 6/22/23
Fiction. Age 3-7

Synopsis: Ever since Calvin was born, he’s been Dad’s “Little Man.” At first Calvin liked the special nickname the two of them shared. But now that he’s getting older, Calvin doesn’t feel big and strong like Dad. One afternoon playing in the yard, Calvin discovers that maybe that’s okay. He’s Calvin, and that’s exactly who he should be.

MARY: First, I want to thank you for featuring Call Me Calvin on your blog. Your class, Making Picture Book Magic, is the first one I took when starting out and it’s so good! I still refer back to the materials and use the things I learned.

SUSANNA: Thank you, Mary! I’m so glad you found Making Picture Book Magic helpful and I so appreciate you mentioning it! Welcome! We are so happy you’re here with us today! Congratulations on your first ever picture book, due out in just 2 days, and thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to give us the benefit of your experience. Where did the idea for this book come from?

MARY: I think we’ve all experienced situations where little kids wish they could do things that big kids or grown ups can do. Maybe that little kid was us many (many!) years ago. The idea for this manuscript had been lingering for a long time. I knew there were similar books published, so I needed to find a unique way to tell it.

My son played college basketball and after the games the players would walk around the edge of the court and high five with all the kids who lined up. At one game I really focused on the kids, watching their faces and their body language. They were so in awe of these tall players and an idea started to turn into an outline in my head! It was an afternoon game, and I didn’t fly out until the next morning, so I went to a college town IHOP and sat in a sticky booth and wrote the first draft on a small notebook I keep in my purse. And to be fair, the booth was sticky because I had pancakes!

I definitely go through periods of creative drought. I think it’s important to remember that it’s ok to just take time and observe the world around you. Let your mind wander.  I also find that critiquing or entering a fun contest like the ones you and others host can help keep my head in the game!

SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?

MARY: I wrote the first version in 2019 and it was acquired in 2021. It went through a lot of changes, but the core plot remained the same. Once I figured out what the manuscript was REALLY about, it started to take shape. I worked with a mentor, and she challenged me to think outside the box and stretch myself. I was reading lots of content on the subject and kept coming across the nickname “Little Man.” That’s when the revision magic happened. I wanted to write a book that gently touched on seemingly innocuous things that parents say and I wanted Calvin to stand up for himself after he went through a period of internal conflict. Then André brought the words to life!

SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?

MARY: Yes, tons of revision. Too many to count. I was never good at math. I’ll stick to writing. 😊

I’m the kind of person who cannot just sit down and get something on paper right away. I used to think this was somehow inferior to people who can do this. But I’ve learned that we all have our own approach and that’s okay! During this process I read books that might be comps or mentor texts and I use good old Google to read articles, blog posts or anything that is related to what I’m writing.

Norman and Gatsby, Mary’s writing buddies, who are undoubtedly extremely helpful!

SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?

MARY: After I had done significant work on it and ran it through my many trustworthy critique partners and my mentor, I felt it was ready. In general, I think once you’ve put in the time and work required and have been intentional about researching agents and editors that might be a fit, all you can do is send it out into the world and see what happens. And I’ll add that critique partners are such a gift! I remember in an early version the child was upset because they couldn’t reach the elevator buttons. Even Grandma, with her hunched over shoulders, could do it. I had just become a grandma and a critique partner pointed out that grandmas aren’t always seen as or depicted as that old! She said, “you’re not hunched over yet!” So that part got cut!  

SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?

MARY: I had an above the slush pile submission opportunity with an editor through a workshop. After scouring his MSWL I knew this manuscript might catch his eye. And it did! At the time I didn’t have an agent, but I was able to find one who was willing to negotiate the contract for me. Unfortunately, he wasn’t looking to add picture book clients, but he was (and still is) amazing. I’m grateful for his help.

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”?

MARY: It was about a month and a half. I was encouraged because when the editor emailed me saying he was taking it to acquisitions he mentioned that he and his team already had an illustrator in mind. That made me cautiously optimistic!

SUSANNA:. When did you get the call; which these days is more likely to be “the email”?  (Best moment ever! 😊)

MARY: The editor emailed me on a Friday saying that he was taking it to the acquisitions meeting on Monday. He said he’d let me know as soon as he knew anything. That was a long weekend!!! But I got the wonderful email on Monday and immediately called a close writer friend and we celebrated over the phone. Fellow writers are sometimes the only ones who really understand this process, so it was nice to share the news with her…then with my family, of course.

SUSANNA: Did you have to make changes to the book in order to sell it?

MARY: Yes. Before it went to acquisitions, I did a couple rounds of revision with the editor. I was terrified at first, but I found out rather quickly that editors are just trying to make your book the best it can be. His suggestions made it stronger, and he always wanted my thoughts on what he was suggesting. The entire experience was positive.

SUSANNA: How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?

MARY: It was about a month from offer to contract. My husband and I went out to a nice dinner to celebrate. In retrospect, we probably should have gone to IHOP for pancakes!

SUSANNA: That would have been very full circle 🙂 Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?

MARY: I didn’t really know what to expect but I was happy with the advance and all the other terms. I’d say the terms were pretty standard for a mid-size publisher.

SUSANNA: Can you tell us a little about the editorial process?

MARY: We had already done a couple rounds of revision so after it was acquired, we didn’t need to make a lot of changes. There were a few emails back and forth about word choice and minor things, but most of the revising had already been done. I never felt like the editor was trying to change my vision for the manuscript. And his vision aligned with mine which made it a fairly easy process.

SUSANNA: What was your experience of the illustration process like?

MARY: I loved this part. It was so exciting to see the cover sketches. The internal art came later. In fact, I got the email with the internal pdf just as we were ready to take off on a flight to Italy with our son’s basketball team. So, I had to wait for a bit to really look at it which tested my patience. But I’d seen André’s online portfolio, so I knew I was going to like his illustrations. I got to go through the initial sketches and add comments along with those of the art department and editor. It was cool seeing what they said! This step of the process really made me realize that a picture book is absolutely a collaboration between author and illustrator, even if they never meet. Our words are truly only half of the book and seeing the illustrator’s vision brought to life is so satisfying.

I did include a few art notes but only to make clear what was happening. In this illustration, which I love, the art note said: [Calvin transforms into a tall basketball player who is slam dunking in front of fans.] There is so much to love about the spread! In the previous pages the art is softer and lighter in color. Then on this page turn there is a dramatic shift to moody, darker colors. Calvin is drawn to still resemble himself as a little boy, while at the same time indicating an older, bigger version of himself. I love the smirk on his face! In later pages his facial expression also changes to fit the tone of the story. The art is so amazing!

SUSANNA: Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc?

MARY: I got a nice review from Kirkus which was a huge relief.

SUSANNA: What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?

MARY: Albert Whitman offered an “Author Care” zoom meeting with other authors who would be releasing around the same time. They went over the things they would do including sending advanced reader copies to trade publications for review, sending them to librarians, media outlets, etc. They also submit for various applicable awards and post about the book on their social media. We were encouraged to let them know of any local/state awards, and we could ask them questions at any time during the process. I found this zoom to be very helpful and informative.

SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.

MARY: My book was initially slated for an April 1 release which was perfect timing for me because I didn’t have a lot of other things going on. I had a launch scheduled at an indie bookstore and they had started promoting it. Then the book got delayed until June 22 which was not such perfect timing! We’re in the middle of a construction project and move, and I have multiple other “life” things happening so I’m just focusing on doing blog interviews and posting on social media. I’m in a promo group with other authors and that has been helpful and fun. I don’t have an official book launch planned at a bookstore but I’m attending ALA in Chicago the weekend it releases so I’ll be surrounded by lovely, supportive writer friends.

I’ve hired someone who is much better at this than me, and I will have teacher resources and other materials on my website soon. Plus, she’s creating activities and materials that I can use when I do author visits in the future. Here’s a link to her website.

SUSANNA: How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?

MARY: I started writing seriously in 2017 and sold the manuscript in 2021. I feel very fortunate to have sold it, but the writing friends I’ve made along the way are the real prize. I’ve developed so many meaningful relationships with critique partners and others. That has made this journey absolutely amazing.

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?)

MARY: Always be open to things that spark your curiosity and write things down when they come to you… you will forget! And sometimes you need to kill your darlings. Even if it’s a little old grandma, lol!

SUSANNA: Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication?

MARY: Just that you never know which manuscript will be the first one to sell. We all know that it’s important to have several polished manuscripts, so be open to any opportunities where you can interact with agents and editors…webinars, workshops, conferences, etc., and really study their MSWL if it’s out there. It’s funny because this isn’t my “favorite” manuscript but I’m sure glad it sold! And I absolutely love the finished product!

Favorite snack—Dark chocolate covered almonds and sparkling water. Though sometimes I splurge and get Spindrift. Yum!

(SUSANNA: I LOVE Spindrift! Raspberry Lime and Pineapple are my favorites 😊)

MARY: I can’t show you my writing space right now because it’s a mess of boxes and building materials. Hopefully that changes soon. 😊

SUSANNA: Oh. Um. Isn’t that what an office is supposed to look like? Have I been doing it wrong, all this time? 🤣

Author Mary Vander Plas

Mary’s Website
Twitter
Instagram

SUSANNA: Mary, thank you so much for coming by today to share your knowledge and expertise with us! We so appreciate it, and wish you all the best with this and future titles!

Readers, if you have questions for Mary, please post them in the comments below and if she has time I’m sure she’ll respond!

You may purchase Mary’s book at:
(all links below are book-specific)

Indiebound/Bookshop
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 😊

Don’t forget to leave a comment below by Monday June 26th at 3PM Eastern for your chance to win Mary’s giveaways!

Missed any previous Tuesday Debuts?  Check them out HERE!