Welcome to Tuesday Debut, everyone!

This week, Elizabeth Tracy is debuting with MYSTERY DRIVER: The Story of Alice Johnson and the First Soap Box Derby!

This is one of those books I love – the story of someone amazing who made a mark on history and yet somehow I had never heard of her until now. What would we do without nonfiction picture book writers to discover these topics and put them into books for young readers so that they – and we! – can learn new things?!

I know you’re eager to hear all about how Elizabeth came to write about young Alice, but first, we have a giveaway winner to announce!

The winner of Sandhya Acharya’s giveaway from last week – winner’s choice of either a written critique of a fiction picture book manuscript (up to 750 words) or a 30 minute AMA Zoom call – is. . .

koala bear!!!

Congratulations, koala bear! Please email me so I can hook you up with your prize!

Now, I’m delighted to introduce you to the one and only Elizabeth Tracy and her wonderful book about a young girl who signed up to race with the boys even though she wasn’t invited.

Title: Mystery Driver: The Story of Alice Johnson and the First Soap Box Derby
Author: Elizabeth Tracy
Illustrator: Anna Aronson
Publishing House: MIT Kids / Candlewick Press
Date of Publication: June 24, 2025
Fiction or Nonfiction: Nonfiction
age range of your book: Ages 4-8

Alice is determined to build the fastest car in the boys-only soap box derby in this empowering true tale of ingenuity, engineering, and the joy of creating your dreams.

SUSANNA: Where did the idea for this book come from?

ELIZABETH: The inspiration for Mystery Driver came to me one morning when I was listening to the radio. A Soap Box Derby representative was being interviewed about the history of the race. Back in 1933, a Dayton Daily News photographer spotted a handful of kids coasting downhill in homemade cars. He convinced the newspaper to sponsor a race for local boys, and hundreds showed up! But one girl, named Alice Johnson, also enlisted – even though girls were not invited.

The Soap Box Derby representative said Alice took second place and won a boys’ bicycle (which wasn’t quite true). Then he went on with his interview, and didn’t mention Alice again.  Wait a minute!  I thought. Who was this brave girl? How did she sneak in? And why weren’t girls allowed? I had to know more. Thus, my quest began.

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

ELIZABETH: That initial spark came nearly ten years ago! I’d just started taking children’s writing classes, and didn’t really know how to write a nonfiction picture book yet. But I had to learn Alice Johnson’s story. So, I made a beeline to my local library, the Dayton-area genealogical society, and the Dayton Daily News archives (which are available now on Newspapers.com, but they weren’t at the time). My real triumph came when I reached out to Alice Johnson’s family—and they reached back. They shared stories about Alice, and sent me materials from family archives, including Alice’s own account of her racing experience. I was floored.

SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?

ELIZABETH: So many revisions! I’m not sure of the exact count, but a couple dozen, at least. Over the years I took more classes, attended conferences, and worked with critique partners. I received a lot of feedback, much of which I took onboard. I don’t think Mystery Driver would have ever existed without the valuable input from others.

The snack that sustains Elizabeth through all those long hours of revision is Asian crackers with a handful of peanuts thrown in. 😊

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

ELIZABETH: I thought it was ready years ago, but it wasn’t. I submitted early on, and got some constructive criticism, but no offers. Then I was featured in #PBParty in 2019 and got several inquiries — but still no offers. Later that year I received a “revise and resubmit” from a junior editor at Page Street, but didn’t make it through acquisitions. So, it was back to the drawing board.

Then one of my critique buddies suggested I add some physics backmatter to my story. (The main text refers to physics concepts but does not explore them in detail.) Around the same time, I heard about MIT Kids, which is a collaboration between MIT Press and Candlewick Press. Finally, my manuscript was ready – and I had the perfect place to submit it.

SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?

ELIZABETH: I had an opportunity to submit to MIT Kids / Candlewick directly in late 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”?

ELIZABETH: I did not know that my book had made it to acquisitions. It was crickets…radio silence…

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 😊)

ELIZABETH: I was just about to give up. In March 2022, I remember sitting at the kitchen counter with my husband. I turned to him and said, “I love this story, but I don’t think I’ll ever get an offer. I don’t understand.” Then I opened my email, and voila!

SUSANNA: Wow! What timing! How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?

ELIZABETH: It took another month to get the contract, but it felt like forever. It was a good thing, though, because during that interval I signed with my agent, Tracy Marchini, so she was able to negotiate the contract for me.

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

ELIZABETH: This is my debut picture book, so I did not know what to expect.  However, my understanding is that royalties at MIT Kids are slightly lower than they are at some presses since there are two publishers involved (Candlewick and MIT Press). But I really wanted to work with MIT Kids, and Tracy was able to negotiate an excellent advance.

The timeline to publication was long – almost three years. But that was also a blessing in disguise because I was diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer in 2023. Luckily, Mystery Driver only needed light editing, and we had plenty of time to do it. So, the editing process was not stressful. In fact, it was a pleasant diversion from all my medical appointments and treatments. And I LOVED my editor, Kristin Zelazko.

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

ELIZABETH:mI loved everyone at Candlewick. Kristin left toward the end of the editorial process, but I was in good hands. What a group of talented (and personable) professionals! I spoke with Kristin and my new editor several times via Zoom and we all shared the same vision for this book. And I was able to participate in the selection of Mystery Driver’s illustrator, which I know isn’t always the case.

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

ELIZABETH: When Kristin brought Mystery Driver to the art department, they asked her to read the manuscript aloud — which I thought was wonderful! Then they asked what we had in mind for the illustrations and made suggestions. When I reviewed their recommendations, I fell in love immediately with Anna Aronson’s work. Her color palettes, her composition, and the way she captures both motion and emotion. Perfection. Plus, Anna studied History in college, which was fantastic. Mystery Driver takes place during the Great Depression, so it was great to have someone who understood what that meant for the story.

text copyright Elizabeth Tracy 2025, illustration copyright Anna Aronson 2025, MIT Kids/Candlewick

I was able to review Anna’s initial and final sketches. I was delighted! I’d made minimal art notes in my manuscript, preferring to leave the visual details to Anna and the art department. They did not disappoint. Anna thought of things I never would have. Like the cover images, front and back. Amazing! I love everything about Anna’s illustrations, but one of my favorite spreads is the one where we see Alice careening downhill, as we peer through the spectators’ legs. It captures how small Alice must have felt in front of a giant crowd of onlookers — 40,000 people were there!

text copyright Elizabeth Tracy 2025, illustration copyright Anna Aronson 2025, MIT Kids/Candlewick

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

ELIZABETH: I have not received reviews for Mystery Driver—yet. But it’s still a couple weeks before our launch. We still have time to catch some reviewers’ eyes! 

Talking about being an author, and giving the kids at her local library a “sneak peek” at her advice copy.

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

ELIZABETH: I received my advance copy in May. So, about three years.

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

Candlewick has people who market to the large chains as well as the independent bookstores. They have someone who works with the educational market, and she helped me develop a Tips for Teachers card (like a little recipe card) with suggestions for using Mystery Driver in the classroom. They’re also providing promotional copies and a banner for the national Soap Box Derby championship this summer.

They haven’t been able to help with travel, but that’s typical. And I’ve paid for my own postcards, posters, stickers and such. It would be nice if they had a budget for that but, like everyone else, publishers must cut back. Plus, they want to keep their books affordable, and I’m onboard with that.

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

ELIZABETH: Anna and I have two book launch events scheduled:

– Books of Wonder in New York City on June 26^th @ 6:00 PM

– Oblong Books in Rhinebeck, NY on June 29 @ 4:00 PM

And I’ll be doing a read aloud and activity, with Merritt Bookstore, at the Millbrook Farmer’s Market in Millbrook, NY on July 5 @ 10:30 AM.

Please come!

We also have some fun surprises. Anna created a wonderful “Spot the Difference” activity sheet, and my friend Annie made stickers and bandannas using the illustrations from Anna’s end paper designs (with Anna’s permission of course).

Elizabeth’s friend’s dog ,Möbi, modeling her limited-edition bandannas printed with Anna Aronson’s fabulous endpaper designs (for giveaway).

Oh! I’m also having cookies made by a talented baker called Mr. Butterscotch. I bet those will disappear fast!

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

ELIZABETH: I think I started taking writing classes around 2015. I was in #PB Party and also began publishing articles in Cricket Media’s STEM magazines, ASK and MUSE, in 2019. And then I sold Mystery Driver in 2022. So, it took three or four years before I was published, and another few years after that to sell my first picture book.

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?)

ELIZABETH: My advice for up-and-coming writers is to “be patient” (much easier said than done). This all takes time, but if you keep at it, things will fall into place. Continue to hone your craft and find your people, and you will get there. You will!

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

ELIZABETH: I’d like to point out how much I’ve learned from my peers. Classmates and critique buddies are sometimes the best teachers. I’m still in touch with some of my early classmates – and they’ve always been there with encouraging words. And my critique buddies support me in writing and in life. Being an author seems like a solitary experience but – at its best — it is a collaborative experience. We lift each other up!

SUSANNA: Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to other writers, Elizabeth! We so appreciate the opportunity to learn from your experience! MYSTERY DRIVER looks amazing, and we wish you all the best with it and with future titles!

ELIZABETH: It’s my pleasure! I appreciate the opportunity.

And thank YOU, Susanna, for paying it forward for so many years!

Author Elizabeth Tracy

Websites:
https://www.annaaronsondraws.com

My Social Media Links: (I’m mostly on Instagram and Facebook)
https://www.instagram.com/drliztracy/
https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.tracy.161
https://bsky.app/profile/drliztracy.bsky.social
https://x.com/DrLizTracy

Anna’s Social Media Links: (I think Anna is mostly on Instagram as well)
https://www.instagram.com/annaaronsondraws/
https://www.facebook.com/anna.aronson.9
https://bsky.app/profile/annaaronson.bsky.social
https://x.com/annaaronson28

Publisher’s Social Media Link:
https://www.instagram.com/candlewickpress/

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

You may purchase Elizabeth’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!