Today’s Tuesday Debut is all about reaching for the highest of goals!

But first, some goodies!

The winner of last week’s giveaway, a signed copy of Lori Dubbin’s terrific Perfect Match, The Story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton, is. . .

Emmie Werner!!!

Congratulations, Emmie! Please email me with your snail mail address so we can get your book out to you!

And this week, one lucky person can win a copy of Anita Yasuda’s Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains! (US addresses only, please.). Just leave a comment on today’s post by 3 PM Eastern on Monday September 30th and you could be the randomly selected winner!

And now, Happy Book Birthday and a warm welcome to Anita Yasuda, today’s Tuesday Debut!

Title: Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains
Author: Anita Yasuda
Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu
Publishing House: Clarion/ Harper Collins
Date of Publication: September 24, 2024
Fiction or Nonfiction: NF
age range of your book: 4- 8

Junko Tabei dreamed of a life climbing mountains. But men refused to climb with her. Sponsors told her to stay home. And gloves were not made to fit her hands. Junko, eager and unstoppable, wouldn’t let these obstacles get in her way. Instead, she planned an expedition to summit Mount Everest with an all-women team. Battling icy peaks, deep crevasses, and even an avalanche, Junko refused to give up. She climbed step by step . . . up, up, ever up! After summiting the world’s tallest peak, Junko took on a new challenge: protecting the wild spaces she loved for future generations.

SUSANNA: Welcome, Anita! Thank you so much for joining us today! We can’t wait to hear all about your publishing journey! Where did the idea for this book come from?

ANITA: The idea for this book came to me on a walk with one of my best friends, who, like me, loves to hike. Unlike me, she is also a mountaineer and was planning a trek to the Himalayas. As she trained and planned, I began thinking about Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Mount Everest. I knew of Junko’s feat and accomplishments from attending high school on exchange in Japan.

Step by step, I immersed myself in the life of Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Mount Everest. Her story resonated with me on a personal level, as I too share a deep love for mountains. I watched interviews with her, read her books, and learned about her involvement with the Himalayan Adventure Trust Japan (HAT-J), where she served as the Japanese representative. Her journey became a source of inspiration and a connection that I couldn’t ignore.

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

ANITA: It took me roughly a year, working on and off, to write this book. I enjoy walking as I write. While walking, I think of words and page turns. I have found that after months of walking and writing, the manuscript flows much more easily onto the page.

I am most productive during the summer when I write outside in the writer’s shed my husband built for me a few years ago.

Anita’s writing desk. . .

. . . and the view from her desk 🙂

Once I had a draft of UP, UP, EVER UP! that I liked, I enrolled in a few picture book classes at the Highlights Foundation and “How to Write a Picture Book Biography” with Nancy Churnin at The Writing Barn. Nancy was very supportive, and I found the class, lessons, and feedback invaluable. I also met authors who became friends and some agency mates.

SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?

ANITA: I have around fifty versions of this manuscript saved on my computer and in notebooks. Why so many? Well, even small changes count as different versions. For example, I might change just one verb on a page. Why such attention to detail? Because one verb can make the difference between a page that really impresses in a picture book, and one that doesn’t help to move the story forward as it should.

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

ANITA: I knew the manuscript was ready after sharing it with critique partners and considering their feedback. When you find yourself repeatedly moving and removing the same comma, it’s time to send your manuscript out into the world. I also created several book dummies and practiced reading aloud from them to double-check page turns. I asked myself if I could strengthen a sentence, use stronger verbs, and if I had adequately captured the scene.

SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?

ANITA: I submitted this manuscript to my agent, Lori Steel who then put together a submission package, including a cover letter and short synopsis.

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”?

ANITA: I believe UP, UP, EVER UP! was selected by my first editor, the lovely Harriet Low, about a month or so after it went to acquisitions. I’m not exactly sure because this happened during the pandemic, while I was still busy teaching preschoolers and taking care of my father.

SUSANNA: When did you get “the call” (which these days is more likely to be “the email”!)? 

ANITA: Before my book was sent for acquisition, I completed a revise and resubmit (R and R) for the interested editor. I integrated some information from the back matter into the main text.

About a month later, I received a call from my wonderful agent, Lori Steel of Steelworks Literary. I believe I was out on a walk, which was the perfect setting to receive a phone call, regarding a manuscript about a woman who loved the outdoors.

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

ANITA: I’m not sure how long it took for the contract to arrive. I have to admit that I was so busy with work and family obligations that those months are a blur. I don’t remember feeling anxious. After years of working for educational publishers, I knew that it took time for contracts to arrive.

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

ANITA: I trust my agent to negotiate the various aspects of a publishing contract. I am pleased with the nice deal and eagerly anticipate receiving my author copies.

cover image on an airplane flight to Japan

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

ANITA: After I completed edits on UP, UP, EVER UP! with my second editor, Kate at HC, the manuscript was shared again with illustrator Yuko Shimizu. I only made a few art suggestions in my manuscript if my text was not clear. I prefer not to include art notes. My words should be strong enough to convey the scene.

Right from day one, I was deeply moved that Yuko, a Caldecott honor artist, had loved the story and writing enough to sign on to the project.

During this process, both of us suffered the loss of our fathers. This, of course, affected the timeline, but editors were sympathetic. Once the project began again, I was lucky enough to see a few colored sketches. I was instantly awed by Yuko’s skill and imagination. As the sketches developed into spreads and were eventually inked, I could have cried at the depth and emotion she was able to convey, from each stitch in a knitted hat to the snaggle-toothed Nepalese children, each wee face distinct, to the tender depictions of Junko, her daughter, and husband. I think Yuko’s illustrations and my lyrical prose are the perfect match, and I hope readers feel equally awed with each page turn.

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

ANITA: UP, UP, EVER UP! is a 2024 Junior Library Guild Gold Selection and has received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. I was thrilled to receive this news. The entire team, including my agent Lori Steel who first believed in this manuscript, and the illustrator Yuko Shimizu who did amazing work completing page after page of complex illustrations, as well as the editorial staff at Clarion/Harper Collins, has worked hard on this picture book.

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

ANITA: Publishing feels like a slow climb to a summit, navigating through obstacles and slippery terrain. The journey of my manuscript, from submission to receiving an offer, and finally holding my ARC (author review copy), took about four years. As of writing this blog post, I haven’t received my books.

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

ANITA: Clarion/HarperCollins have been incredibly supportive of our book. Before its release, UP, UP, EVER UP! was featured in the Edelweiss catalog, which is accessed by over 140,000 registered booksellers, reviewers, and bloggers. Additionally, our title will be included in promotions for Asian American (and) Pacific Islander (AAPIH) Month and Women’s History Month by the marketing team. This fall, UP, UP, EVER UP! will be part of the Storytime Titles for Older Readers campaign with Clarion/HarperCollins, and directly marketed to teachers and librarians through avenues including conferences.

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

ANITA: I have organized a blog tour for my book, “UP, UP, EVER UP!” that will visit various blogs in Canada and the United States. I am a member of 12×12 picture book challenge. I joined the DiverseDreamers24 and PictureBooksEh! groups to assist with promotions on social media. I enjoy using Instagram and have been documenting the book’s journey there. My Instagram account also offers a glimpse into my life as an author.

I have developed curriculum guides featuring age-appropriate readings, language arts, math, social studies, science, and art related activities. The guides include a crossword, vocabulary list, and games. I am always willing to customize these materials for each classroom visit to ensure inclusivity for all learners.

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

ANITA: For nearly 20 years, I worked in educational publishing and wrote more than 100 books for young children across various genres including social studies and science and interest levels from K to 8. Despite my experience, I had never seriously considered creating a picture book until I attended my first in-person SCBWI conference in 2019. At the conference, I met many talented creators, listened to inspiring speakers, and learned about others’ journeys. Prior to that, I had always envisioned my first trade book to be a novel. However, after the conference, I immersed myself in reading as many picture books as possible and began to experiment with the form by writing several ideas, both fiction and nonfiction. “UP, UP, EVER UP!” came to life within two years of the initial concept and query.

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?)

ANITA: Enjoy what you write. You will be with your manuscript for a long time, so it is important that you choose a topic or create a character that you love.

I can’t stress enough the importance of attending classes if you can, applying for scholarships, and connecting with the kidlit community on social media if you are comfortable doing so. Critique groups are also another important part of the journey. Your critique partners are going to cheer you on and be there when the journey gets tough or offer a critical eye for your WIPs.

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

ANITA: I hope our book, “Up, Up, Ever Up!”, sparks wonder and that Junko’s journey will inspire your writing journey. Just begin step by step. Up, up, forever up.

SUSANNA: Thank you so much for taking the time to visit with us today, Anita, and share your wisdom! We all appreciate the opportunity to learn from you, and wish you all the best with this and future titles!

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

Author Anita Yasuda

Anita Yasuda is a former Montessori and ECE teacher and the author of numerous books for young readers. Her first picture book, “Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains,” has been selected as a 2024 Junior Library Guild Gold Selection and has received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. She also has another picture book released this year titled “Diwali: A Festival of Lights” with Penguin Random House, illustrated by Darshika Varma and in 2026, she will release “Bollywood Beat!”, a picture book with Kids Can Press, illustrated by Devika Oza. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time on the trails.

Anita’s website is https://www.anitayasuda.com/
Anita’s Instagram is https://www.instagram.com/anita.yasuda/
Yuko Shimizu’s Instagram is @yukoart

You may purchase Anita’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!