Welcome to the 2026 Autumn Inaugural Tuesday Debut!
And Happy Autumn!
In honor of the first day of autumn, and because sometimes you just feel like making up something ridiculous, I decided I’d write a new theme song for Tuesday Debut.
Of course I decided this at 11:52 PM when this post had to be up in 9 minutes and I should really have been getting my much-needed beauty rest, so it is not the most polished theme song ever created, especially because I had to cram in a few extra syllables to give Tuesday Debut its due, but hear me out.
Do you know the Brady Bunch theme song?
Perfect! Use that tune.
And cut me some slack on words like “editor” and “manuscript” that simply weren’t meant to fit into this meter and for which there were no good synonyms without being saying “story” 100 times 😂 Also, ignore the extra syllables jammed in with Tueday Debut (it was really very important to squeeze “world-renowned in there even though it doesn’t fit so just sing it fast 😂)
Ok, ready?
All together now. . . (including you there in the back – I want to hear everyone singing!)
Here’s the story of a gifted writer
who was dreaming of a publication deal.
She watched webinars,
attended workshops,
approached her work with zeal.
Here’s the story of a Big 5 editor
who was searching for a fresh exciting book.
She read manuscript
after manuscript,
but none had what it took.
Till the one day when the editor’s socks got knocked off
and a publication offer soon ensued
for the story that the writer worked so hard on.
Now she’s featured on the word-renowned Tuesday Debut!
A dream come true! A dream come true!
Now she’s featured on the world-renowned Tuesday Debut!
Kind of sums it all up, does it not? 😂
Feel free to suggest better lines – I’m sure you’re more awake and cognitively functional that I was when I cooked up that little ditty!
Now let’s give out the goodies.
The winner of last week’s Tuesday Debut giveaway of a 30-minute Zoom Ask Me Anything with an individual or their critique group (the AMA does not include manuscript critiques) offered by Karen Gebbia, author of WAITING FOR ICED TEA, is. . .
KATHRYN LEROY!!!
Congratulations, Kathryn! I’m sure you’ll enjoy asking Karen anything that’s on your mind (and/or your critique group’s mind!) Please email me at your earliest convenience so I can put you in touch with Karen to receive your prize!
AND we have a new giveaway: Today’s debut-ess, Laura De La Cruz, is kindly offering winner’s choice of a copy of the LOWRIDER FOR SALE or a Zoom AMA! All you need to do to qualify to be in the running to be the randomly selected winner is leave a comment on today’s post by Monday September 28th at 3 PM Eastern!
And now, let’s sing one more rousing chorus of our new theme song and welcome today’s dream-come-true debut-ess, Laura De La Cruz!!!
Title: LOWRIDER FOR SALE
Author: Laura De La Cruz
Illustrator: Vanessa Morales
Publishing House: Disney-Hyperion
Date of Publication: September 8, 2026
Fiction or Nonfiction: Fiction
age range of your book: 3-8
ISBN#: 978-1368108355
Gabi, Papi, and Abuelo Chucho’s lowrider, Pico Nights, is more than a car to them—it’s a family scrapbook on wheels, a treasure trove of memories. But when Papi places a FOR SALE! sign on its windshield, Gabi becomes determined to save their beloved car for fear of losing all of their precious memories forever.
SUSANNA: Welcome, Laura! Thank you so much for joining us today! We are very excited to hear all about your journey to publication with this amazing and gorgous book! Where did the idea for this book come from?
LAURA: The idea for this book came to me after reading YARD SALE by Eve Bunting and Lauren Castillo. There was something heart-wrenching about that story. In the book, the family has a yard sale because they are moving into a small apartment and can’t take all of their possessions with them. The main character, Callie, struggles to understand what is happening as she watches strangers buy the things that have been part of her family’s life.
That got me thinking about all the items I’ve kept throughout my life and the memories and meaning attached to them. I also started to wonder, what I would have done at eight years old if someone had asked me to give up something that held so many precious memories. Looking back, I realize that the idea grew from a question and a feeling rather than a fully formed story. I think that’s something that can be helpful for new writers to remember. Sometimes an idea begins with a feeling, a memory, or even a simple “what if” question. For me, following that question into my own memories helped me discover the story I wanted to tell.
SUSANNA: How long did it take you to write this book?
I think I originally started researching for this book in 2019 when I lived in the San Francisco area. I have a friend who was a photographer for Lowrider Magazine, so I asked him all kinds of questions about lowriders: How do lowrider owners name their cars, and why is that important? I asked him about hydraulics, and we reminisced about cruising Whittier Blvd. back in the day. I also read everything I could about lowriders—online articles, magazines, books, and websites—anything that would help me learn more about the culture.
Then, in June of that same year, my family and I moved to the Austin, Texas area. That’s when I discovered the Writing Barn, and in 2020, I took an online picture book workshop taught by Rob Sanders. By that time, I had a very rough draft of the story, and Rob, along with a few of my classmates, critiqued it. Their feedback helped me see what was working, what needed more development, and where I needed to dig deeper into the story.
SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?
I made several revisions to this story, so many that I’m almost embarrassed to say. 😊 It looks like I have about twenty-two different versions of LOWRIDER FOR SALE on my computer! I was determined to get this story published, so I thought I needed to revise my manuscript according to all the feedback I received. Unfortunately, I eventually got to the point where I didn’t even recognize my own story. I had to go back and analyze earlier versions in order to rein it back in.
It’s hard when you receive so many great critiques. I definitely got lots of eyes on this story. I had critique partners look at it, paid for professional critiques, and took part in webinars that included critique opportunities. One of those was through the Manuscript Academy, where I had the opportunity to submit my manuscript to Kaitlyn Sanchez. Kaitlyn then offered me my very first exclusive revise and resubmit! Unfortunately, that opportunity didn’t materialize, but I suppose it was not meant to be.
Eventually, LOWRIDER FOR SALE helped me find my agent, Leah Pierre. She was the last person to offer feedback on the manuscript. Once I had made those revisions, the manuscript went out on submission. One thing I learned through this process is that feedback is incredibly valuable, but you don’t have to incorporate every suggestion you receive. As writers, we have to learn to listen to feedback while also trusting our own instincts and remembering the heart of the story we set out to tell. After all, we know our story best.
Eddie – Laura’s work buddy 😊
SUSANNA: When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
I don’t think there was one moment when I knew with absolute certainty that LOWRIDER FOR SALE was ready. Instead, there were a few moments that gave me the confidence that I was getting close. In 2021, when I applied for a scholarship through the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, I submitted LOWRIDER FOR SALE and won! This was the first time I really started to think the manuscript might be ready. Then, in July 2022, I sent LOWRIDER FOR SALE out for a paid critique. This time, something happened that had never happened before. The reviewer emailed me afterward and offered to critique another one of my stories because she felt LOWRIDER FOR SALE was already “really strong.” That’s when I started to believe the manuscript was ready. Then is September 2022, I used LOWRIDER FOR SALE to query agents and it ultimately helped me find my agent, Leah Pierre. Leah suggested a few minor changes, and after I made them, we began submitting the manuscript the following month.
Laura’s workspace
SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?
Before I had an agent, I sent my manuscript out to a few publishers that were accepting unsolicited manuscripts. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out. I signed with my agent on September 22, 2022. Leah began submitting LOWRIDER FOR SALE on October 13, 2022, and sent it to eleven editors. We received an R&R (revise and resubmit) during that first round, but the editor was asking for significant changes. It would have essentially become a brand-new story, so we decided not to pursue that revision and continued on to round two. That’s when LOWRIDER FOR SALE was ultimately picked up.
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”?
Round two went out on February 22, 2023, and was sent to thirteen editors. On March 13th, we received a very nice email from Regan Winter, an editor at Disney-Hyperion, letting us know that she loved the story and was going to share it with her team. She then sent another email letting us know that they loved it too and that the manuscript was now going to acquisitions. Just ten days later, on March 23, 2023, we had an offer! From the time we submitted round two to receiving an offer, it was just 29 days.
SUSANNA: So great! 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 😊)
We did have a call! But we received an email first with the offer. We then had the call on March 27, 2023, and Regan expressed how excited she was about the manuscript. I was stunned. I can’t even remember what I did! I’m sure my hubby and I opened a bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate. My birthday is March 29th, so it was one of the best birthday presents I’ve ever received!
SUSANNA: How long was it between getting your offer and getting your contract to sign?
We received the offer email on March 23, 2023. Once we received the contract, my agent negotiated the deal and even got me a bigger advance! It took about six months from receiving the offer to signing the contract. By September 12, 2023, the contract was officially signed.
SUSANNA: Was the contract what you expected in terms of advance, royalty percentage, publication timeline, author copies etc.?
I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I mean, I had never done this before, and when I was writing my stories, I never really put much thought into this part of publishing. All I knew was that, on average, authors received anywhere between $3K and $5K for an advance. I trusted my agent completely, and Leah was amazing. I felt she did a fantastic job negotiating, especially since she got a much bigger advance than I expected! I also got 25 author copies!
SUSANNA: Can you tell us a little about the editorial process?
The editorial process was great! I’m a worrier, and even before this manuscript was sold, I worried. My biggest fear was that I wouldn’t be able to do whatever the editor asked of me. But in the end, it all worked out. I felt that my editor, Regan Winter, had a great vision for the story, and it completely aligned with mine—she understood me. I loved that she was just as excited about this manuscript as I was.
Working with Regan was wonderful. After receiving her initial edits, I didn’t feel like there were any big changes. I think we did about four rounds of edits. There were lines she wanted to take out and things she wanted me to add, but everything was doable. I also loved her editing style. She asked me lots of questions—not only to better understand what I was trying to convey but also to get me thinking. Rather than telling me exactly what to add, she asked questions that made my brain come up with fun ideas.
For example, there’s a line in the beginning of the story that originally read: “Every Fourth of July, they rolled low and slow in the city parade.” Boring, right? Regan highlighted the line and asked, “Is Pico Nights the only lowrider in the parade? Or are they part of a fleet of others?” That made me really think about that scene and how I could better describe what was happening. This line eventually became: Every Fourth of July, they rolled low and slow in the city parade—followed by a sea of shiny rims, white wall tires, and candy coat paint. Regan loved it! She made one small suggestion: “candy-colored paint” instead of “candy coat paint.” Regan didn’t take over the story; she asked the right questions to help me make it better. I feel like we worked very well together.
SUSANNA: Amazing! What was your experience of the illustration process like?
From the very beginning, my editor, Regan, asked me to give her a list of illustrators I could see working on this project. I put together a list, and Regan’s team came up with a list as well. We looked at all the illustrators, and I gave Regan my choices. She then began contacting the illustrators’ agents. Some weren’t available, and the illustrator who was initially selected had to drop out due to illness. Eventually, Vanessa Morales’ agent was contacted, and we were told she was available and excited to work on the project!
The experience was fantastic! Before any illustrations were produced, Regan asked me to send her pictures of different items: lowrider cars, lowrider bikes, my dad, my husband’s uniform, etc. Throughout the project, I felt I was consulted on almost everything. I received emails from Regan about even the smallest details, like, “Does Pico Nights, the lowrider, have a vanity plate? If so, what would it read?” These were the kinds of details that would make the book feel authentic. Regan really wanted this book to reflect lowrider art and culture and include as much detail as possible. I really appreciated that.
I did get to see sketches along the way, and Vanessa’s vision was very much in line with what I had imagined. In fact, she brought so much more to the story than I could have imagined on my own. I didn’t include a lot of art notes with the manuscript because I wanted to give the illustrator room to interpret the story. Even though Vanessa didn’t grow up surrounded by lowrider culture, she did an incredible job of capturing the details, spirit, and feeling that were so important to me.
text copyright Laura De La Cruz 2026, illustration copyright Vanessa Morales 2026, Disney-Hyperion
Eventually, I received proofs and later F&Gs. It was nice to see this book coming together—a dream come true! I could tell that everyone involved had put so much care into creating this book. I later received an eARC and have been sending it out to booksellers, reviewers, bloggers, and podcasters.
In the end, I was so happy and grateful to have been able to work with Vanessa. She did an amazing job. And now I have to share my favorite spread from the book: the sun setting in the beautiful Southern California sky, cruising down a palm tree-lined street with the top down. What could be better than that? Love it!
text copyright Laura De La Cruz 2026, illustration copyright Vanessa Morales 2026, Disney-Hyperion
(Apologies that the image above is so small – that is the original. I tried enlarging it (see below) but it degraded the image quality.)
text copyright Laura De La Cruz 2026, illustration copyright Vanessa Morales 2026, Disney-Hyperion
SUSANNA: Did you get to see advance reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, etc? What was that like?
Yes! So far, we’ve received reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, and they’ve both been wonderful. Seeing those reviews for the first time was surreal. After working on this book for so many years, it was incredible to see professional reviewers responding to the story and the work Vanessa and I had put into it. But I have to say, my favorite line comes from the Kirkus review:
“De La Cruz packs a lot of heart and humor into a concise, cheerful tale of familia and cherished memories. Equally enjoyable, Morales’ clean, cool artwork captures the vibrant spirit of Gabi’s Los Angeles neighborhood.”
How amazing is that?! I am truly grateful.
SUSANNA: How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand?
We first received the offer on March 23, 2023, and I received my box of author copies on June 30, 2026. So, it was a little over three years from the offer to having my book in my hands! But I didn’t actually open the box until July 13th. My son helped me create my unboxing video, and he wasn’t able to come to my house to help until July 13th. So that was the day I finally opened the box! By the way, I posted my unboxing video on July 14, 2026.
SUSANNA: What kind of marketing and promotion has your publisher done for this book?
My publisher submitted my book to trade reviewers and other organizations. I think a lot of the publicity and promotion my publisher does happens behind the scenes because I’m not always aware of it until they reach out to see if I’m available for something, like a podcast, a book festival, etc. I know they want this book to do well, probably as much as I do, so I trust they are doing their part to promote and get the book into readers’ hands.
SUSANNA: Describe any marketing/promotion you did for this book.
I’m not the kind of person who likes to sit on their hands and wait. So I didn’t want to sit back and wait to see what my publisher was going to do. Like I mentioned earlier, we all want the book to do well, so I felt I had to get out there and do something.
I’ve reached out to bloggers, podcasters, booksellers, influencers, lowrider organizations, museums, etc.—anyone I thought could help promote the book. I’m also very active on social media, especially Instagram. I’ve created graphics, posts, and videos about the book. I even created an “unboxing” video and used Instagram’s Boost feature to get more exposure. As a bonus, I gained some new followers!
I’ve also created stickers, bookmarks, postcards, and a coloring sheet featuring Pico Nights, the lowrider, which gives the kids the opportunity to design their own lowrider. I’m doing a blog tour with a few podcasts included, as well as bookstore story times here in Texas and in California. I’m also part of a picture book debut co-marketing group.
SUSANNA: How long was it between the time you started writing seriously and the time you sold your first picture book?
I started writing seriously in 2017, and LOWRIDER FOR SALE sold to Disney-Hyperion in 2023. So, it took me about six years from starting my writing journey to selling my debut 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?)
I think the most important thing I’ve learned on my way to publication is that there isn’t one magic trick or shortcut. You have to learn your craft, read, find your community, get feedback, and then learn how to decide which feedback serves your story. I was an elementary school library media technician for eight years, and I raised three children, so I read a tremendous amount of picture books.
Read books on craft. For picture books, read WRITING PICTURE BOOKS by Ann Whitford Paul. This book was vital to me and super helpful. Take webinars and workshops. Many times, these workshops/webinars offer opportunities to submit your work to editors for critique. Join organizations like SCBWI and 12×12 Picture Book Challenge. I also did your program, Susanna. Making Picture Book Magic was a huge part of learning to write picture books. Find critique partners and consider paying for professional critiques.
And one last thing I learned the hard way is that you don’t have to take every piece of feedback you receive. Listen to it, consider it, but ultimately trust your instincts and remember the story you set out to tell.
SUSANNA: That is excellent advice. Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication?
I am so excited for LOWRIDER FOR SALE to finally be released into the world. I can’t wait for kids to read it, and I’m especially excited for children to see themselves reflected in my book.
Thank you so much for featuring me on your blog, Susanna! Also, thank you for everything you do to support writers and picture book creators!
SUSANNA: Thank YOU for taking the time to visit with us and share your knowledge and experience, Laura! We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from you and wish you all the best with this and future titles!
Readers, if you have questions for Laura, 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 28th at 3 PM Eastern puts you in the running to be the randomly selected winner of winner’s choice of a copy of the LOWRIDER FOR SALE or a Zoom AMA!
Author Laura De La Cruz whose favorite writing snack is popcorn 😊
Website: lauraadelacruz.com
Instagram: instagram.com/laura.delacruz.author
Bluesky: vrukaslt.bsky.social
Facebook: facebook.com/laura.delacruz.writer
X: X.com/vrukaslt
You may purchase Laura’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!
Susanna Leonard Hill 