Tuesday Debut – Presenting Lynn Street! PLUS A Giveaway!!!

Welcome to today’s edition of everyone’s favorite introduction-to-new-talent show, Tuesday Debut!!!

We are so lucky around here, aren’t we? Not only do we get to meet fabulous new authors every week (and sometimes new illustrators or publishers or other related picture book writing debuts), but it seems like we almost always have amazing giveaways for you guys to win!

This week is no exception.

First, I’m delighted to announce that the winner of last week’s giveaway, a copy of SQUASH & PUMPKIN: #SquashGoals by G.G. McQueen is. . .

Ilona B!!!

Congratulations, Ilona! I hope you enjoy the book! Please email me so I can get it to you!

And next, I’m thrilled to announce that for this week, our debut-ess is kindly offering a giveaway of a copy of THE BLUE JAYS THAT GREW A FOREST (U.S. addresses only) OR a Zoom visit with a classroom or library of the winner’s choice. Whichever one the winner wants! To put yourself in thr running to be the randomly selected winner, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post by Monday September 22 at 3 PM Eastern!

Doesn’t that title make you want to read the book immediately? Instant hook – how could blue jays grow a forest?

Let’s not wait another moment to find out! Please join me in welcoming today’s Tuesday Debut-ess, Lynn Street, who will share her journey to publication and maybe give us a hint as to the answer to that question . . . or maybe not, so that we all have to go read the book to find out! 😊

Title: THE BLUE JAYS THAT GREW A FOREST
Author: Lynn Street
Illustrator: Anne Hunter
Publishing House: Peachtree
Date of Publication: August 5, 2025
Fiction or Nonfiction: Nonfiction
Age range of your book: 4-8

Busy blue jays race to stockpile acorns before winter arrives—tap, tap, tapping them into soft ground. But time is short, and other hungry animals scramble for the same seeds. While jays depend on acorns to help them survive, oaks depend on jays to scatter fruit far and wide. Some of the cached seeds that aren’t eaten will sprout. This nature story celebrates the symbiotic relationship between blue jays and oaks and the forests that flourish from this connection.

SUSANNA: Welcome, Lynn! We’re so excited to have you join us today! Your title and cover are so engaging! Where did the idea for this book come from?

LYNN: A photograph of a blue jay carrying an acorn in its beak inspired this book. I sensed a mystery—and a story. That an oak can grow from a tiny acorn is amazing. That one bird caching acorns over a lifetime can impact the growth of forests is astounding!

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

LYNN: I started in 2020 with a draft, then I focused on more research and expert interviews through 2021. The manuscript sold in 2022. There was more research (and fact checking) to do for the back matter even after acquisition. Nonfiction takes much longer to pull together than you might think!

SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?

LYNN: Yes, there were probably 20-30 drafts for this story. I had the initial idea for structure correct, but getting all the steps right for the acorn-gathering process took some time.

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

LYNN: I had been through multiple critique groups and workshops with this story—plus a conference manuscript review by an experienced author who was so excited about the blue jays! Her enthusiasm helped me realize that it was time to share the manuscript with others.

SUSANNA: It’s incredible, isn’t it, how much work it takes to get the few hundred words of a picture book ready for submission! When and how did you submit?

LYNN: This is the manuscript that caught the attention of an agent. From that point, my agent Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary handled the submission strategy. That was in 2022.

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”?

LYNN: It was about six weeks before we had a response—which is fairly quick!

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 😊)

LYNN: I had some discussions with my (future) editor about the vision for the manuscript before I found out that it was accepted. The formal email came through with the offer a bit later.

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

LYNN: Maybe two to three months.

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

LYNN: I had no idea what to expect since this was my first sale. My agent handled the process, and I had no hesitation accepting the offer. It all seemed very standard.

If authors do not have an agent, they might want to join the Author’s Guild. You can get your contract reviewed as part of your yearly membership.

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

LYNN: We didn’t change much about the manuscript, some word choices here and there. The closing scene was expanded, as well as the back matter. There were several rounds of revision and meetings just to make sure all the text was fitting on each page spread and working well with the art. It was fortunate that the editor’s vision and mine were aligned from the start.


SUSANNA: It sounds like all the work you did before submission really paid off! What was your experience of the illustration process like?

LYNN: I was able to see sketches before the final art was done, so I had a good sense of how the book was evolving. I did feel valued. I did receive F&Gs about two months before I had my author copies (fold & gathers – which is the book as it will be printed in color, but the pages are not bound together).

text copyright Lynn Street 2025, illustration copyright Anne Hunter 2025, Peachtree

I was excited to have Anne Hunter chosen as the illustrator for this project. I knew her work, and her background in scientific illustration is a great fit for a nature-themed picture book. Anne’s art has the same tone as the text, to me, so it is a perfect pairing.

text copyright Lynn Street 2025, illustration copyright Anne Hunter 2025, Peachtree

SUSANNA: People are interested in how art notes work – did you include any with your manuscript or not?

LYNN: Because this is nonfiction, I had what I’d call fact notes. One of the spreads, for example, I made sure that the transition from season to season was clear. I did not make any suggestions related to the art or how the birds would be depicted.

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

LYNN: Yes, I did get advance notice of reviews in Booklist, SLJ, and The Horn Book. That was exciting! Other reviews I found out about through the publishing house. It helps to have the pull quotes early so that you can design social media posts or add them to your website.

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

LYNN: I had the offer in 2022 and the book in hand fall of 2025—so, three years!

SUSANNA: It’s a great moment, isn’t it, when you finally get to hold your book in your hand! What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?

LYNN: The publisher sent out a lot of review copies and digital ARCs. We are working on a Teacher Tip Sheet with activities that will go on the publisher’s website for my book’s resources.

Other things happen that can’t be planned. The book’s illustrations have been chosen for the 2025 Original Art Exhibit by the Society of Illustrators in New York. That’s a great honor! Also, the book was a Junior Library Guild Selection, and I found out around the time the book was going to print.

I have a publicist that has reached out to bookstores for me when the stores have requested that an author not contact them directly. That’s worked well for me.

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

LYNN: Many of the marketing activities have been up to me to pursue, such as blog appearances, and visits to schools, libraries, and bookstores. I’ve done all of those things! Blogs are fairly easy to book if you ask in advance, but it’s smart to spread out the posting dates. The interviews and posts take some time to pull together.

I have a sell sheet and a postcard. I also print coloring pages if requested for activities. By late September there will be educator resources added to my website.

I did Storytime Sprint (follow them on Bluesky!), which allowed me to read my story on Zoom. Listeners then give reviews at online bookstores and are eligible for a giveaway. It’s a good way to build awareness of your book.

I also joined several book promo groups. That has helped me the most! Being with other authors who are also trying to make sense of how to market their books brings up so many good ideas and discussions.

SUSANNA: Storytime Sprint sounds very interesting, and book promo books have really become kind of the norm for anyone with a new book out. 10 years ago, people were just beginning to use them! How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?

LYNN: I started writing in 2016 (my first children’s picture book class), and I sold my first book in 2022. Six years!

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?)

LYNN: The best thing I did was to write many manuscripts—both fiction and nonfiction. I would recommend joining or starting a critique group to practice revision and hear other perspectives. When you do have a manuscript accepted, you may be asked to revise fairly quickly, over a week or two, or even to make a quick change in a day. My critique group practice made me more flexible when it came to seeing possibilities for reworking text. Also, I have more than one critique group. The oldest group formed with other 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge members. Other groups came together as a result of workshops.

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

LYNN: A couple of things:

The whole process of finding an agent and selling my first book took longer at every stage than I thought it would. That waiting and uncertainty can be very frustrating, but that time is also a chance to try out different writing styles, meet various writing critique partners, and learn what types of books you want to write. Once the process of publication was in full swing, I was so happy that I had the connections and skills to handle all of the plates I had to juggle.

Also, it helps to either create a website for yourself or have one designed long before you have a book launching. It’s the one project I’d suggest doing early on—even before you have an agent. A brief landing page will give you a presence and a place to build up your online resume of news, events, and accomplishments.

Pace yourself on classes, workshops, and conferences. There will always be more opportunities than you have time to pursue. Topics like how to do school visits can wait until you have a book sold!

Thank you so much for having me on your blog!

SUSANNA: Thank YOU so much for taking the time to visit with us and share so much interesting and valuable information. We all appreciate the opportunity to learn from you! Best of luck with this and future titles!

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

And remember, your comment on today’s post by Monday September 22 at 3 PM Eastern puts you in the running to be the randomly selected winner of Lynn’s giveaway: winner’s choice of either a copy of THE BLUE JAYS THAT GREW A FOREST (U.S. addresses only, please) OR a Zoom visit with a classroom or library of your choice!!!

Author Lynn Street, who likes a cup of tea, chocolate, shortbread, sometimes popcorn 😊

Lynn is a science-inspired author sharing STEAM stories with young readers. Her writing celebrates nature and invites readers to slow down and explore, to become budding naturalists and citizen scientists. She volunteers for nature organizations and is dedicated to environmental education and integrating art, science, writing, and nature for kids.

Website: lynnstreetbooks.com
Social media links:
Instagram: @lynnstreetbooks
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/steamteambooks.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynn.street.1466

You may purchase Lynn’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!

82 thoughts on “Tuesday Debut – Presenting Lynn Street! PLUS A Giveaway!!!”

  2. robdonart123 says:
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    robdonart123's avatar

    Your book sounds amazing. I love learning something new and this one is a must read. I know blue jays are squawkers from experience, but I never knew they were acorn experts. Thank you and congratulations! ♥️

  4. Barbara Seregi says:
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    Barbara Seregi's avatar

    This book looks delightful! I love anything about birds, so I know I will love this. And the illustrations are gorgeous. Congratulations, Lynn!

  5. writerdi2020 says:
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    writerdi2020's avatar

    I am so excited about this book! Great topic, beautiful lyricism and illustrations. This interview was outstanding and gives such good specifics about your processes in bringing this book into the world. Congrats and thanks for sharing!

  6. kcollazo says:
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    kcollazo's avatar

    Thank you for sharing your journey, Lynn! With Blue Jays all around my house, I now understand why they are up at the crack of dawn until late into the evening—lots of work to do! Your book is beautiful! Congratulations!

  10. Patricia Finnegan says:
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    Patricia Finnegan's avatar

    CONGRATULATIONS, Lynn!!! In addition, thank you for sharing your personal PB journey, as well as the information related to this particular book.

    THE BLUE JAYS THAT GREW A FOREST sounds fabulous — I’ve ordered a copy from Amazon and will post reviews wherever I can once the book arrives.

    Enjoy the special glow of having your book reaching the hands and hearts of readers:-)

  12. plrobison says:
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    plrobison's avatar

    Congratulations, Lynn, what a beautiful pb–I love learning more about the natural world and kids, teachers, librarians and parents will too! Thanks too for sharing your journey. It’s really nice to hear about what goes on behind the scenes of a debut project.

  14. Claire A. B. Freeland says:
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    Claire A. B. Freeland's avatar

    This is a great example of a book that is for any age. I sure didn’t know the role of blue jays in the growth of trees. I can’t wait to read it in full. The language is beautiful and the art is gorgeous. Congratulations!!

  16. angelamsteffen924 says:
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    angelamsteffen924's avatar

    Lynn, congratulations on your book! My children love birds, so this might be sitting next to our other bird books on the shelf. I enjoyed reading your interview and really appreciate your comment about pacing oneself on workshops, conferences, etc. I would love to sign up for all of them, but know I can’t. I have come to realize I need to slowdown and focus on what I have learned from past conferences or webinars, before adding more information inside of my head. Best of luck to you!

    • Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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      Susanna Leonard Hill's avatar

      That is true, Angela. There is such a temptation to keep cramming new information into our heads in the hopes that the thing that will really make a difference for us is in that next class or book or workshop. But we really do need time to let the information we’ve already gathered percolate, to practice with it and see where we are.

    • Lynn Street says:
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      Unknown's avatar

      Thanks, Angela! So many great things to learn about birds. I’m glad you came to the same conclusion about pacing yourself with the courses. I used to over-enroll and have learned to step back a bit. I use more of my focus now for writing.

  19. margiecmn says:
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    MLRobbie's avatar

    A very interesting, informative interview! It is always so encouraging to hear about an author’s journey in writing a story and getting it published.

    I can’t wait to read the book. I had never thought about how blue jays held such an important role in propagating oak trees! The illustrations are gorgeous!!

    Congratulations!!

    Margaret R.

  20. Karen Condit says:
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    Karen Condit's avatar

    I’ve always admired science-based picture book authors. I don’t think I could ever do it, but I’m so glad there are people like you who can! I love Blue Jays! And I know I would love your book. Thank you for the post!

    • Lynn Street says:
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      Unknown's avatar

      Thanks, Karen! I’m glad you enjoyed the interview and love jays! Science-based picture books are not easy to write – a limited page space to convey concepts. The illustrations help to carry so much of the story!

  22. susanaobandobarquero says:
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    susanaobandobarquero's avatar

    Wow Lynne, I think I love your book already. Thanks for the advice on creating a website and to pace myself with classes and others. I have been feeling overwhelmed with all there is nowadays to learn about writing that sometimes it discourages me because WHEN will I have the time to know EVERYTHING?!!! But now I will tell myself: Pace yourself, PATIENCE! … deep breath. 🙂

    • Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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      Susanna Leonard Hill's avatar

      I know EXACTLY how you feel, Susan! And I’ve been doing this for a long time. It seems like there is always more to learn, and even when you learn things, they change, and you have to learn again 🤣. But it’s all part of the process. We do the best we can, and we have each other, because we’re all in this together!

  25. marty bellis says:
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    marty bellis's avatar

    Such a fascinating topic, Lynn. Here I’ve been blaming the squirrels for all the acorns scattered around my yard. Now it seems the bluejays are the culprits, too! Oh well, who doesn’t love them, acorn scavengers that they are. So much personality. Congrats on all the awards and recognition.

  26. Angela Calabrese says:
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    Angela Calabrese's avatar

    I LOVE how you encourage your young readers to “slow down and explore,” Lynn. In this hectic world, that is sage advice.

    Congrats on your lovely book! Can’t wait to read it.

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