Welcome to this week’s edition of Tuesday Debut, everyone!

Today we get to start with giveaway goodies! I love days that start like that, don’t you? 😊

We’re a little behind on giveaway winner announcements because of the Valentiny Contest (and also because I forgot to add it into last week’s post 🤣)

So, the winner of Alison McGauley’s book, KENZIE’S LITTLE TREE, from a couple weeks ago (post HERE) is. . .

Danielle Hammelef!!!

And the winner of Robin Currie’s book, JUST ENOUGH ROOM FOR CHRISTMAS, due out September 2, or a cute stuffed cow – winner’s choice! – from last week (post HERE) is. . .

Claire A. B. Freeland!!!

Congratulations, Danielle and Claire! I have already communicated with Danielle about her prize, but Claire, please email me so I can get your prize organized for you!

And now, as though those two giveaways weren’t enough, we have a new giveaway for this week! Today’s debut-ess, Alli Straus, is offering one lucky randomly selected winner a signed copy of her adorable IT’S BEDTIME, OSKI! AND AND a 45 min ‘Ask Me Anything about Self-Publishing”  Zoom event! How amazing is that?! Just leave a comment on this post by Monday March 17th at 3PM Eastern and you could be the lucky winner!!!

Now, I won’t keep you in suspense another moment because I know you’re dying to get a peek at this book and hear about Alli’s experience with self-publishing while simultaneously being agented and having a book under contract with a traditional publisher!

Title:  It’s Bedtime, Oski!
Author: Alli Straus
Illustrator: Krystyl Campbell
Publishing House and Date of Publication: Sprite Publishing (self)
Fiction
Readership age range of your book 0-5 years

Oski, a restless pug, struggles to find the perfect spot for bedtime, trying all his favorites without success. After soft suggestions turn into a firm command, he finally settles in the coziest place of all—snuggled between his two favorite people.

SUSANNA: Welcome, Alli! Thank you so much for joining us today! We are really looking forward to hearing about your book journey with IT’S BEDTIME, OSKI! Where did the idea for this book come from?

ALLI: Since adding Oski to the family six years ago, bedtime has always been a process. He’d spin left, then right, grab a toy, knead his blanket—then start all over again. It was maddening, and no one could sleep until he found his spot. As a mom and a writer, I saw how relatable this was for new parents and knew it would make a fun bedtime book—because whether your kids are furry or not, nobody’s getting good sleep!

Alli, her gorgeous book, and the adorable little fellow who inspired it! 😊

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

ALLI: I started this book in 2020, like so many others, and revised it countless times while taking classes on picture book writing—learning everything from proper formatting to rhyming techniques and character development. But life happens, and when I had to return to work, the manuscript sat untouched for a while. Revisions are part of the process, and for me, it was fascinating to compare my first draft to the final version. The rhyming structure made it especially challenging—changing just one word could throw off an entire stanza, which throws off the entire manuscript. At one point, I even questioned whether it should be written in rhyme at all, leading to a prose version. But writing it in prose took away the bouncy, fun feeling so back to rhyme it went. Every step, every revision, was necessary to get the book where it needed to be, and while it took time, that’s just part of crafting a story.

SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions? 

ALLI: Absolutely. Revising is essential, and for me, that always includes creating a dummy or two. I’m a visual thinker, so I need to see and hear how the text flows with page turns. No matter the manuscript, folding up paper and sketching out stick-figure scenes has consistently helped me refine pacing, rhythm, and overall storytelling. It’s a simple but powerful tool that makes every draft stronger.

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

ALLI: I knew it was ready when I had revised it so many times that there was nothing left to tweak—every rhyme was tight, every word felt intentional. To be sure, I brought it to my critique group at the local SCBWI, and their insightful feedback reinforced that it was finally where it needed to be.

SUSANNA: At what point did you decide to self-publish rather than submit to traditional publishers?  Did you try traditional first? Or did you have specific reasons for wanting to self-publish? 

ALLI: I started submitting to agents and publishers with no bites. At the same time, I was under contract with a traditional publisher for another manuscript (I am still under contract) who kept pushing back the pub date. I didn’t have any control. That’s when I realized I didn’t want to spend years hoping someone else would give my book a chance. So, I took a leap and self-published—not just to get this book into the world, but to see if self-publishing was the right path for me. Turns out, I like both, and I hope to continue publishing along this hybrid path.

SUSANNA: How did you find an illustrator?

ALLI: A friend mentioned she knew a graphic designer who posted adorable doodles on Instagram and was also interested in illustrating a children’s book. I saw her work, loved her style, and decided to step out of my comfort zone and reached out. I explained that had no idea what I was doing but was eager to collaborate. Krystyl was excited by the idea and we met over coffee to discuss how we could work together to bring both our dreams to life.

text copyright Alli Straus, 2025, illustration copyright Krystyl Campbell 2025, Sprite Publishing

SUSANNA: Did you and the illustrator have a contract of any kind?  

ALLI: Yes. Since I was handling both the writing and publishing responsibilities, and paying her a fee, I drew up a contract based on a traditional publishing agreement. We negotiated her fee, which I structured as an advance, paying half at the start of the project and the remainder once the book was published. We agreed on terms such as how many spreads, would she do the cover art, who would upload to the platform etc. The contract also outlined what would happen if the project didn’t move forward, as well as the rights I would have regarding the illustrations for marketing, promotion, and merchandise. While Krystyl retained ownership of her artwork, I was granted the rights to use the images for the book and related promotional materials for the life of the title. Initially, she requested more upfront than I could afford, so I offered an incentive—she would receive a percentage of any profits we made. This arrangement worked well for both of us, as it motivated her to market the book more actively. If the book sold well, she stood to earn more than her original fee, which aligned our goals and made it a true partnership.

SUSANNA: Are you able to give a ballpark figure of any kind (or a specific one if you’re so inclined ☺) about the cost of the illustrator? 

ALLI: For a 32-page picture book, I hesitate to throw out a number as the cost of hiring an illustrator really depends on a few factors: how many illustrations you need, whether you want cover art, the illustrator’s experience and how fast you want it done. Different styles—like digital vs. watercolor—also affect the price. I found that illustrators on Fiverr typically charge per illustration or per spread, with additional costs for revisions. Some artists offer great deals at around $30 per illustration, while others might charge more for detailed or unique styles. If you’re on a tight budget, you could also save by incorporating fewer full-page spreads and using more vignettes or smaller illustrations. My experience tells me to plan a budget of $1,000 and you won’t be disappointed.

SUSANNA: What was the illustration process like since you were directing it? Any particular challenges?  Anything you particularly enjoyed? 

ALLI: They say you need to leave room for the illustrator, and I definitely learned that firsthand. I thought I had a clear vision, but Krystyl’s style brought something beyond what I expected—her color choices and those little “Easter eggs” throughout the book were such a delightful surprise. I also loved how the story evolved during the illustration process. Originally, the cat was just a side character, but as we worked on the spreads, we realized we needed to introduce him earlier to provide more context. Krystyl ended up giving the cat more purposeful cameos, which added an unexpected layer to the story.

SUSANNA: How did you format your book for publication? 

ALLI: I started by analyzing recently published picture books to get a sense of page count, hardcover vs. paperback, and book size before deciding on an 8.5” x 11” hardcover. The size seemed perfect for little hands, durable enough for them to handle, and showcased the illustrations beautifully.

Our biggest challenge was figuring out pagination—how many spreads did we need? Where should the title page go—on page one or four? On the left or right? It sounds simple, but it stumped us! I ended up deferring to Krystyl for this part. Once we were ready to upload the files to the printer, we realized they had very specific formatting guidelines to follow. So, we made a few adjustments based on their instructions. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what Krystyl did with the margins and gutters. In the end, we ended up with a 36-page book, which we’re thrilled with. Plus, the extra pages didn’t add much to production costs.

SUSANNA:   How did you select a printing service? 

ALLI: I looked at Ingram Spark, KDP, Mixam and Lulu. I wanted a print on demand option that allowed me to send a direct link to purchase for the book. Using this type of service exempts me from having to do all the production work behind the scenes – as the printing company did the work for me. This meant that I didn’t have to buy my own inventory, package and ship the orders, track sales etc.  It’s an extra cost worked into the price of the book, but worth it. I ended up choosing Ingram Spark because they offered this option with a higher profit margin than the others as well as an opt-in to a world-wide distribution program if I chose to participate.

SUSANNA: Did you do a print run so you’d have inventory, or is your book print-on-demand?

ALLI: Print on demand and the metadata is out in the universe! No ebook, no Barnes & Noble and the like. POD is my preferred way to sell this book, but I opted in for distribution and now my book is available on Bookshop.org as well as Amazon. I purchased a few boxes direct from IngramSpark to have on hand for any author visits/festivals that come up.

SUSANNA:   How long was the process from writing through publication of your book? 

ALLI: I wrote my first draft of It’s Bedtime, Oski on April 8, 2020! I sent it out to a few agents in 2021 and then it sat in the drawer until Krystyl and I revived it on Feb 15, 2024.  The book was essentially done January 2025. 

SUSANNA:   Were you able to get your book reviewed by Kirkus, SLJ, Hornbook, Booklist etc?

ALLI: No. I wanted to, reviews are so important but once I realized how expensive reviews costs, I chose not to add this to my budget.

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

ALLI: I have a website and I am fortunate that I have a huge following on Instagram @oski_the_pug and I plan on marketing heavily on social media. However, I also hope to participate in person at local festivals and author events as I made the cutest bookmarks on Canva and I bought stickers from Sticky Brand that I can’t wait to pass out! 

Alli, Oski, and their buttons

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

ALLI: This book started as a passion project—a way to learn the ins and outs of self-publishing. I’m incredibly proud of myself because, despite my history of not finishing things, I stuck with it. I held myself accountable, learned new skills, and stepped outside my comfort zone multiple times to make it happen. I had no team, just determination (and an amazing illustrator). It’s nice to be able to share it with others.

SUSANNA: You did a great job! It’s a beautiful book! Oski is so cute! 😊 Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers, Alli! You’ve given us lots of insight into the world of self-publishing and we really appreciate it! Here’s wishing you all the best with this and future titles – both traditionally published and self-published!

ALLI: Thank YOU!!!! I appreciate the support!

SUSANNA: Readers, if you have questions for Alli, please post them in the comments below and if she has time I’m sure she’ll respond! And remember, your comment by Monday March 17th at 3PM Eastern makes you eligible to be the randomly selected winner of Alli’s amazing giveaway – a signed copy of her book AND a 45 min ‘Ask Me Anything about Self-Publishing”  Zoom event!!!

Website: www.allistraus.com  There’s an option to buy the book there and/or join my mailing list.
Facebook: Allison Straus
Instagram: @alli.straus.writes  My dog’s account is @oski_the_pug
Blue Sky: @allistraus.bsky.social, but I don’t use it…yet.
The link to purchase my book is https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=23WISMIClizrEM96Th26OMtTCuHuzOFHPpWAH17ALqc

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

Ingram Spark

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!