Welcome to Tuesday Debut, everyone!

We have the perfect debut-ess and book with us today to celebrate Neurodiversity Pride Day!

Before we get to it, though, we have 2 giveaway winners to announce!

Last week’s debut-ess, Kathy Raggio, offered to send one English copy and one Spanish version of her book HOME MOVES WITH ME to separate people–2 winners! And the winners are. . .

English Version
Laura Aronberg Roettiger

Spanish Verson
chinghsieh

Congratulations to both of you! Please email me at your earliest convenience so I can get your books to you!

We also have a new giveaway for this week! Today’s debut-ess is offering winner’s choice of a signed copy of Tic-errific Me, (U.S. addresses only, please) OR a picture book manuscript critique!! All you have to do to put yourself in the running to be the randomly selected winner is leave a comment on today’s post by Monday June 22nd at 3 PM Eastern!

And now, it is my pleasure to introduce you to today’s Tuesday Debut, Alicia Meyers, and her book, TIC-ERRIFIC ME!!!

Title: Tic-errific Me
Author: Alicia Meyers
Illustrator: Cait Brennan
Publishing House: Free Spirit Publishing
Date of Publication: June 2, 2026
Fiction or Nonfiction: Nonfiction
ISBN: 979-8885547529
Age range of your book: 5-9

In Tic-errific Me, a young girl explains what it’s like to live with Tourette syndrome. She shares her personal journey, joys, and struggles, while always remembering that her tics only add to what makes her a terrific kid.

Tic-errific Me is part of the new Disability Books for Kids series, which explores visible and invisible disability in the first person, as seen through the eyes of children and written from firsthand experience. This series builds allyship, challenges ableism, and celebrates difference, empowering and educating all readers.

SUSANNA: Welcome, Alicia! We are so thrilled to be getting the opportunity to talk with you about your journey to publication on Neurodiversity Pride Day of all perfect days! Where did the idea for this book come from?

ALICIA: Tic-errific Me has a unique origin story! Back in 2023, I was a showcase finalist in Mindy Alyse Weiss’ PB Party with a rhythmic, fiction picture book about a young child’s day-in-the-life with Tourette syndrome. Free Spirit Publishing liked my entry, but instead of acquiring that story, they told me about a vision they had for a series of nonfiction expository picture books with disability representation written in the first person. As an elementary school teacher and kidlit author living with Tourette syndrome, it was a dream of mine to write about and share my experiences in an affirming and celebratory way with my students and young readers.

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

ALICIA: I wrote Tic-errific Me in only 10 days as my submission “audition” for the envisioned Disability Books for Kids series. Coming toward the end of the deadline, I had to work quickly. I pulled the most informative parts from my fiction manuscript and created this story in nonfiction expository form. I was in the Outer Banks of North Carolina at the beach when I got the news and spent my afternoons under an umbrella with my computer overheating to make sure I got it in on time! I had to call in the troops (all my critique partners) with an S.O.S. to get as many eyes as possible.

SUSANNA: Were there any mentor texts that helped you zero in on the direction you wanted to take your book? 

ALICIA: Early in my planning stage, a few mentor texts helped spark ideas. Specifically, All My Stripes by Shaina Rudolph, I Am Me: A Book of Authenticity by Susan Verde, We’re All Wonders by R. J. Palacio, Uniquely Wired by Julia Cook, My Life with ADHD by Mari Schuh, and ADHD and Me by Chelsea DiCicco.

SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?

ALICIA: I went through three major revisions in 10 days and then the rest of the editing happened with my editors about eight months after the contract was signed. Typically, my other stories go through many more revisions, but with the time crunch I could only do so much!

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

ALICIA: I knew the manuscript was ready to send when it checked off all Free Spirit’s submission guidelines, my critique partners gave me the thumbs up, and when my friends at the beach could listen to the story and have a full understanding of Tourette syndrome with little to no questions.

SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?

ALICIA: At the time, I was un-agented and submitted through Free Spirit’s Submittable link–sent to me in email. Once I had my official offer, I used it and queried agents, letting them know I had an “offer in hand” with a specific sign-by date that was quickly approaching. I found my first agent 24 hours before the deadline and she helped me complete my contract!

SUSANNA: Wow! That was serendipitous! 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”?

ALICIA: On June 1st, only a day or two after submitting it, I got an email that my manuscript was moving forward and was asked to make a few developmental edits. I made the necessary revisions and heard six days later that it was going to Acquisitions!

A few weeks later, I got additional notes from the acquisitions team. I submitted those revisions on July 28th. On September 5th, I got my deal memo and soon after–my offer letter! I signed the final contract with my agent’s help in October 2023.

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 ☺)

ALICIA: I got my big yes on September 5, 2023, while with my students. I announced the news to my class of first graders, and they all started screaming, jumping, and clapping. It was the best day!

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

ALICIA: It took about six weeks because I was doing most of the contract negotiations myself while querying agents. Free Spirit was super supportive through that process and gave me extra time to iron out details.

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

ALICIA: I had never seen a contract before, so this was ALL new to me! I’m lucky to have many CPs that gave me an overview on industry standard and felt like parts of my contract were on the better side of that, especially as a debut author. It really was a learning process!

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

ALICIA: I didn’t have to make any significant changes; I had done that in between my first submission date and two acquisition meetings with the feedback sent to me. But I did have to make tweaks to align my book with the format of the rest of the Disability Books for Kids series. I had two different editors throughout the process, and both were fantastic and really cared about the project, which meant a lot to me!

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

ALICIA: I got to see each round of sketches and leave my comments on a PDF. My editor was incredible and sent me a detailed email with responses to every single one of my questions/notes! She was the best, aligned with my vision, and I felt like my opinion was valued every step of the way. I included important art notes with my manuscript, but a lot of the illustrations were “ideas” and optional for Cait to illustrate.

text copyright Alicia Meyers 2026, illustration copyright Cait Brennan 2026, Free Spirit Publishing

text copyright Alicia Meyers 2026, illustration copyright Cait Brennan 2026, Free Spirit Publishing

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

ALICIA: I got a review from SLJ (School Library Journal) about a month before the book released and squealed when I read the email. It was unexpected but made my day!

“A useful addition to classrooms, doctor’s offices, and children’s collections.”—School Library Journal

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

ALICIA: About 2.5 years, October 2023 → May 2026 (when I got my first advance copy, a few weeks before my author copies).

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

ALICIA: Free Spirit has been incredible! They have gone above and beyond, had stellar communication, and connected me with opportunities I didn’t even know existed. They have encouraged collaboration between the other authors in the Disability for Kids Series, keeping us all in contact with each other and in the loop. They have helped me connect with nonprofits and associations, booksellers in other states, conferences, guest blogs, and more!

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

ALICIA: I’ve been learning as I go—which has taken more time than the actual marketing! If I could give any piece of advice, it would be to learn how to use Canva, create reels, and build a following far before your launch.

My publisher helped me create stickers, bookmarks, coloring pages, and even a foam board version of my back matter board game, which was incredibly helpful.

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

ALICIA: I started writing seriously during COVID in the summer of 2020 after years of it being a pipe dream. I joined Storyteller Academy and the rest is history! I sold Tic-errific Me in October 2023, so it took a little over 3 years 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?)

ALICIA: Trusted critique partners are gold. Throughout this journey, I have learned that like-minded people you can trust, who know you and your work, are irreplaceable!!

I’ve also learned that being flexible with your stories and being able to revise them into completely different formats, or changing POV’s completely, strengthens your craft every single time.

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

ALICIA: Writing this book was life-altering for me. Years ago, I’d still hid behind my tics and the fact that I lived with TS. I hadn’t yet understood how much it made me who I am and how celebrating it instead of carrying it like a weight could free me. My process of writing about TS, sharing my experiences, speaking up/building a platform, while learning to encourage others–has been a healing adventure I never could have predicted for myself.

Thank you so much for having me, Susanna! I’m a long-time reader and contest participant and am so appreciative of all the work you do for the kidlit community!

SUSANNA: Truly my pleasure, Alicia! Thank YOU so much for taking the time to participate in this series and paying it forward to 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 Alicia, 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 the randomly selected winner of Alicia’s generous giveaway or winner’s choice between a copy of TIC-ERRIFIC ME (US addresses only please) OR a picture book manuscript critique if you leave it by Monday June 22nd at 3 PM Eastern!

Author Alicia Meyers (favorite snack: Mott’s fruit snacks or chips & spicy salsa!)

Alicia’s Social Links	Website: www.byaliciameyers.com
	Instagram: @byaliciameyers
	X: @byaliciameyers
	BlueSky: @byaliciameyers.bsky.social
	LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciameyers/

You may purchase Alicia’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!