Tuesday Debut – Presenting Leah Moser! PLUS A Giveaway!

Welcome to Tuesday Debut where we are wishing a very happy book birthday to our debut-ess, Leah Moser, and her beautiful picture book, I AM A THUNDERCLOUD!

Not only is Leah sharing her time and expertise with us today, she is also kindly offering a giveaway of winner’s choice either a copy of I AM A THUNDERCLOUD (US addresses only) OR a picture book manuscript critique! What a treat! All you need to do to qualify for the random drawing is comment on today’s post by Monday April 8th at 3 PM Eastern!

So now that you’re extra excited, let’s hear from Leah and take a peek at her book!

Title: I Am a Thundercloud
Author: Leah Moser
Illustrator: Marie Hermansson
Publishing House: Running Press Kids, a Hachette imprint
Date of Publication: April 2, 2024
Fiction or Nonfiction: Fiction SEL
age range of your book: 4+

Big feelings are hard to manage, especially when you’re a small person trying to understand yourself and the world.  For those confusing stormy days, I Am a Thundercloud helps readers relate to their feelings through the sounds, sensations and colors of nature, making them feel comfortable and lighter.

SUSANNA: Welcome, Leah! Thank you so much for joining us today to share your knowledge and experience. We are looking forward to hearing all about how I AM A THUNDERCLOUD came to be! Where did the idea for this book come from?

LEAH: To stick with the nature metaphor, I had a ‘lightning bolt’ moment for I Am a Thundercloud. Sometimes an idea just pops into my head and a first draft flows. I tend to write about big emotions; anger is intense, consuming, and can be challenging for children to talk about.

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

LEAH: When I got the ‘lightning bolt’ moment, I was out of the house and had to use my phone to jot down a first draft. But it took quite a long time to turn I Am a Thundercloud into what it is now!

Leah’s work space

SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?

LEAH: I Am a Thundercloud went through many revisions! The first draft had an actual thundercloud looking down from the sky at angry animals. Some parts of the book stayed consistent – like describing how anger feels and the repetitive language: Boom, Crash, Roar, Crackle. But the story took shape through numerous critiques and discussions. Additionally, my agent Dan Cramer of Page Turner Literary Agency, had great edits and suggestions for this manuscript.

Leah’s work buddy 😊

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

LEAH: Dan and I worked collaboratively on this project. We were confident that after the edits, the manuscript was ready for submission.

SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?

LEAH: I signed with Dan in February 2021. I Am a Thundercloud went out on submission in May 2021.

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”?

LEAH: I Am a Thundercloud got a “maybe” from another publishing house in July 2021, but I found out it was a pass in September 2021. I got an email from Dan in October 2021 from Allison Cohen at Running Press Kids that said: I just wanted to let you know that I love this and am continuing the conversation in-house. I got an update in November saying she was still championing the story but waiting for an answer. Then, it happened…

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 😊)

LEAH: On December 10, 2021 I got an email from Dan with the subject: Jump up and down! Allison Cohen’s email was so kind, and she seemed incredibly enthusiastic about the book. She said: I could also “see” this book immediately and thought this…THIS…is a book I want/need for my little ones.  I mean, isn’t that the greatest thing for an author to hear? I’m getting emotional re-reading her email!

SUSANNA: That really is the greatest thing! How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?

LEAH: After getting the YES email in December, the contract wasn’t signed until April 22, 2022. Dan  made a few minor revisions to the contract before all parties agreed.

SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?

LEAH: To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect in a writing contract. This was the first time I was getting paid for my writing, so I was overjoyed to be in this position.

I received an advance in the “less than 5k” category, but that was okay with me.

RP Kids offered 5% royalty on hardcover, 3.75% paperback.

I recently received my 25 author copies. Additionally, RP Kids has been wonderful at sending copies here and there for contest winners or bloggers/reviewers who have requested a copy.

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

LEAH: After Dan and I collaborated to make the edits, there weren’t too many additional revisions to the manuscript. I know I got lucky; Allison Cohen (the editor), Dan, and I worked as an amazing team. We all had a similar vision for this book and communicated easily and efficiently. I never worried that the story was going off track because each edit made it stronger.  It truly became “our book” pretty quickly.

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

LEAH: Early on in the process, Allison asked Dan and I to share our “vision” for each spread. As someone who isn’t very visually artistic, this was a challenge. In fact, I Am a Thundercloud had no art notes at all! But together, Dan and I went through and added images and ideas to the document. I envisioned whimsical, emotional artwork that wasn’t too “cartoony” with really purposeful colors. Since my entire book is a metaphor, I was hoping for someone who could add additional metaphors to the illustrations. Allison ended up giving us a list of illustrators to select from. They were all terrific but one in particular got our attention…

Introducing Marie Hermansson – the AMAZING illustrator of I Am a Thundercloud. She was the missing piece to our Thundercloud puzzle! As soon as I saw her sketches, the character, and color palate, I was thrilled. She has been great to work with and is so talented.

Seeing the story come together from words, to black and white sketches, to full color has been such an incredible process. Allison kept Dan and I involved in every step, making small suggestions along the way.

text copyright Lean Moser 2024, illustration copyright Marie Hermansson 2024, Running Kids Press

SUSANNA: Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc? What was that like?

LEAH: As of March 20th, I am still waiting on advance reviews.

SUSANNA: How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?

LEAH: My first author copy actually got lost in the mail because… why wouldn’t that happen?! I had checked in about the status of my copy, and Running Press Kids couldn’t believe I didn’t have it yet. I finally got to hold my book on March 8, 2024. At first, I was shocked and focused on getting a good picture of me opening it. But then, when I was alone reading it, I got emotional. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 4 years – from idea to print. What a wild ride. It really is such a beautiful book 😊

Leah’s book arrives! 😊

SUSANNA: There’s nothing like holding your book in your hands for the first time! What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?

LEAH: I connected with the marketing team in September 2023. We scheduled a meeting to discuss the marketing and publicity plan for I Am a Thundercloud. Once again, I was blown away by everyone’s enthusiasm and excitement about the book. It’s another one of those “pinch me moments” where you have to remind yourself that this is about the book that you wrote!

The marketing team has been very responsive and helpful during this process. I ask a lot of first timer questions, and they respond kindly and efficiently. They are working behind the scenes to put my books on lists, to get it reviewed, and to connect me with schools and bookstores in my area. With my input, they have also created an activity sheet for me to use during my story time or school visits.

SUSANNA: That’s terrific! Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.

LEAH: I’ve done a lot of marketing and promoting of I Am a Thundercloud on my own. I’ve reached out to numerous bloggers who I admire. I’ve worked with the lovely Vivian Kirkfield to do my cover reveal and giveaway. I am active on social media (Twitter, Instagram, BlueSky), and am a part of SCBWI and the 12×12 picture book challenge. I am always trying to promote my book on my author pages, but also on my private, personal sites. I try to keep these accounts separate, but I know my close friends and acquaintances are also interested in supporting me and my book.

I was on the SCBWI blog as a guest writer and was interviewed by several wonderful kidlit bloggers and podcasters. Additionally, my promotional group PB Soar24, a group of debut picture book authors/illustrators, has been fabulous at promoting and supporting one another.

In the upcoming months, I will be visiting bookstores and schools, mainly around the DC area. For more information, visit LeahMoserWrites.com.

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

LEAH: I started writing regularly and submitting my work in January 2019. Since then, I’ve been working to develop my voice and gaining confidence as a writer. I sold I Am a Thundercloud in December 2021.

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?)

LEAH: Submit your work when it is ready. Don’t rush. Make sure you are happy and confident with your story! There is so much waiting on the road to publication so submit a draft when it’s the best version it can be.

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

LEAH: Be open to feedback. I know it’s hard because these stories are personal and important to us as writers. But when you do get your book published, it really changes from “my” book to “our” book. I know that the Running Press Team, Dan, and Marie all feel very connected to this story. And I am proud of that.

SUSANNA: That is great advice, Leah. Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers! We are all grateful for the opportunity to learn from you, and wish you all the best with this an future titles!

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

Author Leah Moser
Favorite Snack: Mms and pretzels 😊

Website: https://www.leahmoserwrites.com/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/LeahMoserWrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahmoserwrites/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/leahmoserwrites.bsky.social

You may purchase Leah’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!

81 thoughts on “Tuesday Debut – Presenting Leah Moser! PLUS A Giveaway!”

  1. Katie Schwartz says:
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    Katie Schwartz's avatar

    Leah, thank you for sharing your journey, how wonderful that everyone involved worked so well together! Congratulations on your book, looks gorgeous with strong colors to go with the strong emotions, and definitely something to celebrate!

  2. Dea Brayden says:
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    Dea Brayden's avatar

    Leah! Sharing the timeline and collaborative process that brought your book to life is so helpful. I’m really looking forward to reading your book. Congratulations! Love that photo of you jumping for joy. 🙂

  3. brilawyer says:
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    brilawyer's avatar

    Leah, thanks for sharing your journey! The timeline of when everything happened was especially helpful. I can’t wait to be in your shoes! Enjoy this feeling! I’m soooo excited for you!

  7. robdonart123 says:
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    robdonart123's avatar

    Congratulations! I can see how this book would be an awesome read aloud in the classroom. I am sure it would serve many adults as well. May this be the first thunderbolt of many to come. Come to think of it, I recall countless memories of thunder and lightning as a child. Thank you for sharing your journey.♥️

  8. happilyhiggledy says:
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    happilyhiggledy's avatar

    This sounds great. But, the most pressing question I have is… how did you take the pic of you jumping with the book?! It looks as if your knees are just off the ground, but they’re obviously not. Please help my brain understand 🙂 And congratulations! 🙂

  12. Kate Grimm says:
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    Kate Grimm's avatar

    Congratulations, Leah! I loved hearing about your journey. And can’t wait to read your book…my four-year-old was a little thundercloud yesterday, so this seems like a great way to work through big emotions with him!

  17. Danielle Hammelef says:
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    Danielle Hammelef's avatar

    Congratulations on your book! Thank you for sharing your journey with us–I can’t believe your author copies were lost in delivery. Your publisher sounds so supportive and I wish you a fun time marketing at book stores and more.

  19. DianaLynn Gibson says:
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    DianaLynn Gibson's avatar

    Congratulations, Congratulations, Congratulations! Your book reminds me so much of my great-nephew who hides under a blanket when he is upset, saying he feels “cloudy”. He won’t come back out until he feels “sunshine”. You have put his feelings into something he can relate to. Good for you!

  20. Laura Wippell says:
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    Laura Wippell's avatar

    A huge congrats Leah! A really important subject, and the illos look gorgeous! I hope you’re continuing to celebrate with lots of Mms and pretzels!

  22. esonderg says:
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    Eric Sondergeld's avatar

    Leah, congrats on your book! I like that sometimes the idea/title comes first and the draft follows. That’s how most of mine happen, even if the title might change later. Thanks for sharing your journey and good luck!

  26. laurakbower says:
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    laurakbower's avatar

    Yeah Leah!! I am so happy for you. It is an absolutely beautiful and important book! The text and illustrations are perfect for managing BIG emotions!

  28. Colleen says:
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    Colleen's avatar

    Leah’s story gives me hope! I know persistence is foremost and patience necessary, but it all comes down to the writing! Thanks for sharing!

    Colleen Fogarty

  32. Nancy Ferguson says:
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    Nancy Ferguson's avatar

    Wow! I first saw I am a Thundercloud on Aimee Satterlee’s blog and to read all about the process is so helpful and encouraging. Congratulations! Thank you for sharing this information. 

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