Welcome to this week’s edition of Tuesday Debut!

Today we have the opportunity to hear about a picture book that is a collaboration – something we haven’t had too many posts on – so that should be interesting!

But first, we have a giveaway winner to announce!

The lucky winner of Donna Marx’s giveaway from last week – a signed and personalized copy of her book, GOOD LUCK, PUCK! plus some fun swag, is. . .

christym1234 (Christy Clark)

Congratulations, Christy! Please email me at your earliest convenience so I can get your book to you!

For today, we have not one, but TWO giveaways! Stacy is offering 1) a signed copy of STRONGER THAN, and 2) a picture book manuscript critique OR an AMA chat – winner’s choice. So two giveaways with two winners! To put yourself in the running to be one of the randomly selected winners of one of these two giveaways, just leave a comment on today’s post by Monday January 26th at 3 PM Eastern!

Today’s book, which will be out next week, is called STRONGER THAN, and was written by Stacy Wells, our debut-ess, in conjunction with Nikki Grimes! Can you imagine how cool that must have been?! Please join me in welcoming Stacy!

Title: Stronger Than
Author: Nikki Grimes and Stacy Wells (me)
Illustrator: E. B. Lewis
Publishing House: Heartdrum/HarperCollins
Date of Publication: 1/27/2026
Fiction or Nonfiction: fiction
age range of your book: 4-8

Dante is a Black Choctaw boy who struggles with nightmares and finds strength in the example and history of his ancestors who survived the Trail of Tears and the Tulsa Race Massacre.

SUSANNA: Welcome, Stacy! Thank you so much for joining us today! We haven’t had too many author collaborations, so we’re extra excited to hear about your journey to publication! Where did the idea for this book come from?

STACY: The idea took root during Nikki Grimes’s research for Talkin’ About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman (Orchard Books, 2002). In that process she learned that Bessie was a Black Choctaw. Nikki then wrote the first version of what is now Stronger Than and put it aside. Years later as she was going through her writing files, she found the story and knew there was something there. However, she also knew it wasn’t her story alone to tell. Through a chain of phone calls and email introductions from Cynthia Leitich Smith (author-curator at Heartdrum, a Native focused imprint at HarperCollins), Nikki and I were connected.

As for the story, we kept Nikki’s original idea, a Black Choctaw boy who struggles with nightmares, but collaborated on how he would overcome those nightmares. 

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

STACY: Early on Nikki and I established clear roles. We would brainstorm the story together, but she would write the narrative while I wrote the backmatter. Once we landed on how we would tell Dante’s story and other key elements, the writing itself came together quickly. Maybe a couple of months, more or less.

SUSANNA: That is quick, especially with a collaboration! Maybe it helped that it was a story that had been in mind for a while. When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?

STACY: Nikki is a legendary poet and writer, and I was squeaky-new to writing picture books. I followed her lead. There were a couple of back and forth conversations and outside critiques, including consulting again with Cynthia. Once we worked through those suggestions we both knew the story was ready to be shared.

SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?

STACY: Our collaboration was unique, and we knew where this book belonged. After working closely with Cynthia (and her championing of the story), Nikki and I both asked our agents to make an exclusive submission to Heartdrum.

Stacy’s writing buddy 😊

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”?

STACY: The whole Stronger Than journey took well over four years, from meeting Nikki to holding the finished book. But hearing back from acquisitions? That was surprisingly quick, maybe a month or so (if I’m remembering right, lol).

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 😊)

STACY: I got “the email” while I was working the circulation desk at the library one quiet morning (living my best youth librarian life) with my circ buddy right beside me. The second I read it, I turned and told her. Celebrating? Oh, I’m so bad at this. I think my husband and I went to dinner with friends? Honestly, I should’ve done something bigger.

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

STACY: Maybe three months? Maybe four? It seemed super quick at the time. For me, contracts since have not moved as fast lol.

Stacy’s writing snack 😊

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

STACY: This was my first contract outside of IP work, so I was pleased with the process and terms. I think it helped having a more experienced author walk alongside me. We have an awards clause (everyone should ask for this, you never know), our advance was split into two payments—signing contract and final delivery. As for advanced readers copies, I got 25.

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

STACY: The editorial process was pretty straightforward, and I’d say mostly line edits. We submitted a very strong story.

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

STACY: Nikki and I were so fortunate to have E. B. Lewis as our illustrator. He did a wonderful job bringing the story to life. His talent with watercolor is breathtaking and blended beautifully well with the text. We did not have art notes. I’m still pinching myself about the art in the book, I love it so much.

text copyright Nikki Grimes & Stacy Wells 2026, illustration copyright E. B. Lewis, 2026, Heartdrum/HarperCollins

text copyright Nikki Grimes & Stacy Wells 2026, illustration copyright E. B. Lewis, 2026, Heartdrum/HarperCollins

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

STACY: Weird. Joyful. Energizing. Humbling. It’s surreal to see and watch how other people react to your art. I wish there had been a workshop on how to prepare for this type of experience. Anyone want to write the curriculum with me????

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

STACY: Four and a half years (eons really in my mind), and if Edelweiss is accurate, with a first print run of 50,000.

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

STACY: About ten years. It’s been a long road lol. For writers still waiting for their first sale, hang in there and don’t give up. You got this!

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?)

STACY: Take yourself seriously. Guard your writing time. Find a community who will champion you and your stories. And give back more than you have been given.

SUSANNA: Excellent advice! Thank you so much for joining us today, Stacy, and taking the time to share your knowledge and experience with other writers! We so appreciate the opportunity to learn from you and wish you all the best with this and future titles!

Readers, if you have questions for Stacy, please post them in the comments below and if she has time I’m sure she’ll respond! And remember, your comment below puts you in the running to be one of the randomly selected winners of one of Stacy’s two giveaways this week – a signed copy of STRONGER THAN OR winner’s choice of a picture book manuscript critique OR an AMA Chat – if you leave it by Monday January 26th at 3 PM Eastern!

Authors Stacy Wells and Nikki Grimes

Stacy Wells is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, a children’s librarian and author. She is passionate about meeting kids where they are and is drawn to tell stories that center community and family, with an emphasis on self-discovery and the power of finding your voice. Stacy is the co-author of Stronger Than with legendary Nikki Grimes, illustrated by E.B. Lewis (Heartdrum). She also is the author of the Tana Cooks early chapter book series (Capstone). When not reading or writing (or recommending books), she lives life to the fullest in Texas with her family, which includes a red dog named Blu and two very adorable but very mischievous ferrets. Visit her at stacywellswrites.com.

Stacy’s website: stacywellswrites.com
Nikki’s website: https://nikkigrimes.com

Stacy socials on insta/threads: @stacyvwells
Stacy Bluesky: @stacyvwells.bsky.social
Nikki socials on insta: @poetrynikki

You may purchase Stacy’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!