Welcome to Tuesday Debut, Everyone!

We’re going to start today with a message from Management. 😊

It came to the attention of the people in charge around here, amongst all the lovely comments you left on my sad contest announcement last week, that at least one person still wants to challenge herself to write a Halloweensie story.

So I gave her a prompt 🎃 Because if even one person wants one, it’s the least I can do!

And then I thought, maybe there might be some other folks out there who would like a prompt as well, so I will post the one I gave her here for anyone who else would like it 🏴‍☠️

And then I thought, (look at the kind of trouble that happens when I start thinking!) maybe you guys would like a space to entertain yourselves, even though I can’t actually run the contest this year, so if you all would like, I will post a Halloweensie post on October 30th and anyone who wants can post their entry and you can all comment on each other’s like you always do – just for fun, even if there’s no judging. Who knows what amazing stories might come out of it? Especially with all of you helping each other and cheering each other on?!

Since I thought I was going to run Halloweensie, I didn’t schedule any Tuesday Debuts or Perfect Picture Book Fridays for a couple weeks at the beginning of November, so there is space there for you all to have some fun if you’d like to 😊

So let me know if you want me to do that!

Meanwhile, here’s the prompt for anyone who wants to challenge themselves to a story 😊:

Write a 100-word Halloween story for kids (ages 12 and under) that uses the words HAYRIDE, PARADE, and ZOMBIE. Words can be used in any form – noun, verb, adjective etc. hayrides, paraded, zombified etc.

Have fun, and if anyone gets an agent or sells a manuscript based on this prompt, please let me know! 😊 😊 😊

Now, let’s get to the goodies: Jan Schwaid’s giveaway from last week! Jan kindly offered winner’s choice of a signed copy of THE SHABBAT FLOOD: A TEXAS_SIZED TALL TALE (with stickers!) OR a PB manuscript critique (up to 1000 words, non-rhyming).

And the winner is. . .

elyset20b30543f68a!!!

Congratulations, Elyse! What a great winner’s choice! How to decide? Please email me at your earliest convenience so I can get your prize to you!

And now, we have a new giveaway for this week! Mary Zychowicz is offering a signed copy of her book, LITTLE BUDDY, to one lucky randomly selected winner who leaves a comment on today’s post by Monday October 19th at 3PM Eastern!

So now, without further delay, it is my pleasure to introduce you to the lovely and talented Mary Zychowicz, sharing her journey to publication with LITTLE BUDDY!

Title: Little Buddy
Author: Mary Zychowicz
Illustrator: Aline Cardoso Macedo E Silva
Publishing House: Lawley Publishing
Date of Publication: August 2026
Fiction or Nonfiction: Fiction
ISBN: 979-8892661355
age range of your book: 4-8

Little Buddy, a beloved and useful tractor works hard with Farmer Art through the seasons. But one snowy winter day, when no one comes to start Little Buddy’s engine, despair sets in and he wonders if he will ever be useful again.

SUSANNA: Welcome, Mary! Thank you so much for coming to visit with us today. We can’t wait to hear all about your journey to publication with LITTLE BUDDY! Where did the idea for this book come from?

MARY: My inspiration for this story was based on a real experience. My father was a lifelong farmer. In the summers my cousins would often come and stay at our farm. My dad always loved having them around. When my father passed away several years ago, his tractor sat in the shed and fell into disrepair. We had someone come out a couple of times to fix it but the repair never lasted. Finally, one of my cousins who used to come to the farm asked if he could buy the tractor. He planned on getting it in working order again. One day before my cousin took it I was driving past the shed and saw the little run-down tractor and thought about how it was about to get a makeover and the story began.

SUSANNA: Oh, that is so sweet. I’m already totally on board to hear how that little tractor was rescued from despair! How long did it take you to write this book?

MARY: The initial manuscript, because, it is near and dear to my heart, came together in one sitting. I wrote my first draft of the story in 2021 and finally submitted it in fall of 2024

SUSANNA: Did you go through many revisions?

MARY: I can’t remember exactly how many revisions it went through but there were several. Initially I shared the first draft with an SCBWI shoptalk group I was attending. It was a rather large group and the feedback was overwhelming. Shortly after that three of the people from that group and I formed a formal critique group and met regularly. That’s when I began revising and sharing with my amazing critique partners. Their feedback was so helpful in making the story what it is. I’m fortunate to have insightful critique partners who I respect. Much of their advice was about cutting text and setting the scene to capture the feeling I was striving for. I know for some writers, being told to cut text is an ‘ouch!’, but I have become open to it and found that my writing has become more concise, flowing better in the read aloud. I would take each critique partner’s advice and try it out in the manuscript. I could tell when their suggestions worked and made my writing stronger and when the suggestions didn’t align with my vision and made changes accordingly.

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

MARY: I knew it was ready for submission when I read through the last revision and felt the story expressed all the feeling and sentiment of hope I wanted it to.  Also, Michigan SCBWI has a critique carousel each year featuring several agents and editors. In 2022 I submitted the story, which at that time was titled “Little Blue” to an agent on the panel. The critique I received put me over the moon. She loved the story and had few revision suggestions. She invited me to submit to her again through the agency, which I did. Agents generally want to see 2-3 polished manuscripts so I sent two others with this one. While she loved this manuscript, the other two didn’t resonate with her so I didn’t get representation, but she was very encouraging about this story so it confirmed that this story was ready for submission.

Mary’s workspace 😊

SUSANNA: When and how did you submit?

MARY: I am unagented, although I am still seeking an agent, and I have a writing buddy who also is unagented. She had gotten a publishing deal with Lawley Publishing. They are a smaller publishing company that allowed unsolicited submissions and she recommended them so I submitted the manuscript to them. That was my only submission at the time.

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”?

MARY: I submitted in August of 2024 and I got an email from Lawley in November of 2024 informing me that they would like to publish the book and offering me a contract. The signed contract was completed in January of 2025. I think this was a fairly quick response from the publisher from what I understand from other’s experiences.

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

MARY: I knew Lawley was a smaller publisher and since I personally knew two writers who had been published through them I knew what they were offering in terms of advance payment and royalties so I knew what to expect. It’s smaller than the larger publishing houses but that wasn’t a deal breaker for me. The publication timeline seemed pretty standard to me so that was not a surprise, though two years seemed long at the time. I will say, it went quickly and I learned a lot. I received 5 copies of my book but I was also able to order more at a discounted rate to have with me at various events. Lawley also sent Aline and me a monthly toolkit letter which gave suggestions on promoting the book, social media, blogging, and website development. That was very helpful.

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

MARY: The editorial process was pretty smooth. There were a few minor mechanical changes but nothing huge. The editor suggested adding something to the ending to put more closure on the story. It just took one line more which came very easily for me. The biggest change was the title. Up to this point it was LITTLE BLUE because the tractor was, of course a little blue tractor. The agent I had originally submitted to, mentioned that I might want to reconsider the title because of the popular Little Blue Truck series. At that point I was holding tight to my title. But when I went through the editorial process with Lawley they emphasized that this could legally be problematic so I had to re-think this title. At first that was tough for me but then Little Buddy popped into my head and it was perfect! My father actually declared, “Oh Buddy!” over a very simple, silly Christmas gift he received once. It became a tagline in our family! So, that was definitely a sign that LITTLE BUDDY would be the title.

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

MARY: Lawley had asked what my vision of the illustrations was. After I described that, they gave me a list of illustrators with links to their work. I was able to select my top three choices. Aline Cardoso Macedo E Silva was one of the three and was available. I really liked her portfolio. Aline is from Brazil so we first met with the publishers on a Zoom meeting and then communicated via email. I told her my vision and sent her photos of my dad, the tractor and my cousin, which she was open to seeing prior to beginning the illustrations. She was wonderful to work with. She sent me the first sketches all digitally. I liked most of it but asked for her to change the expression on the tractor. She was very flexible and willing to do that. When she came back with her revised sketches she gave me five or six options of the tractor to choose from. I chose the one that most aligned with my vision. Then she came back with the initial black and white drawings and I was happy with them. When I saw the final color sketches I couldn’t have been more pleased. She captured my vision and added so many lovely touches of her own. It was a very pleasant process all the way around. I had very few art notes and as I mentioned, I sent Aline some photos so I didn’t feel the need to use many illustration notes. The only art notes were to indicate something that was implied but not in the text.

was one of the three and was available. I really liked her portfolio. Aline is from Brazil so we first met with the publishers on a Zoom meeting and then communicated via email. I told her my vision and sent her photos of my dad, the tractor and my cousin, which she was open to seeing prior to beginning the illustrations. She was wonderful to work with. She sent me the first sketches all digitally. I liked most of it but asked for her to change the expression on the tractor. She was very flexible and willing to do that. When she came back with her revised sketches she gave me five or six options of the tractor to choose from. I chose the one that most aligned with my vision. Then she came back with the initial black and white drawings and I was happy with them. When I saw the final color sketches I couldn’t have been more pleased. She captured my vision and added so many lovely touches of her own. It was a very pleasant process all the way around. I had very few art notes and as I mentioned, I sent Aline some photos so I didn’t feel the need to use many illustration notes. The only art notes were to indicate something that was implied but not in the text.

Here are a  couple samples of my art notes:

But summer ended and the children had to leave. Little Buddy had work to do and so did they. (Illo note: going back to school)

The shed was quiet. Little Buddy’s steering wheel was cold and he felt even emptier. Until… (Illo note: the man returns with a toolbox)

Here are a couple of my favorite spreads.

text copyright Mary Zychowicz 2026, illustration copyright Aline Cardoso Macedo E Silva 2026, Lawley Publishing

I love this illustration because it shows the special connection the little boy had with the tractor. I also love all the little details Aline included in the shed.

text copyright Mary Zychowicz 2026, illustration copyright Aline Cardoso Macedo E Silva 2026, Lawley Publishing

I love this spread because I felt it conveyed the sense of joy in the children and in Farmer Art. The feeling I get looking at this scene gives me a sense of nostalgia from those days when my cousins were at our farm. For us kids, it was a fun, carefree time.

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

MARY: My offer was in November of 2024 and I received my first copies in April, 2026.

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

MARY: Lawley posts all their new publications regularly in their Newsletter and on their social media posts so that has been helpful. They have promoted my book on Facebook and Instagram. I repost them to my own social media so the word gets out.

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

MARY: Little Buddy was on the book birthday announcement in our Michigan SCBWI newsletter. I hosted the book launch at my local library on September 12th, which I felt was very successful. My cousin brought the actual Little Buddy tractor there for photo ops with the kiddos. I have done some book-signing events around the state and have more scheduled in the next year, as well as reading at story hours. I had postcards and flyers made to have on hand and to post where I think my potential readers will be. Canva has been a great resource for those designs. It’s worth the time to learn how to use that. They have both free and paid content. I have free printables on the Resource tab on my website as well.

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

MARY: I started writing picture books in 2016 and sold this picture book in 2024. I have taken online classes like your class, Making Picture Book Magic, being a member of the 12 x 12 community, and joining SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). Additionally, I have attended in-person conferences and online webinars and read many craft books on writing for children such as Writing Irresistible Picture Books by Mary Kole and Ann Whitford Paul’s Writing Picture Books. That all helped to shape my writing style. I admit I haven’t been very aggressive in submitting but now that I have a published book I feel more confident in sending out a couple of other manuscripts.

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?)

MARY: It’s tempting to get discouraged after rejection or even a critique that suggests many changes. Don’t give up, persevere, and stay true to your work by only revising or changing things that truly resonate with you. It’s your story and critiques are very helpful but don’t let it alter your vision for the story. That’s how your own voice shines through and makes you distinct. And, just because one agent or publisher may reject your manuscript, remember, there may be another out there who falls in love with it. It’s a very subjective business. Sometimes it’s a matter of finding the agent or editor that is the right fit.  If you don’t yet have an agent, check into some of the smaller publishing houses that allow unsolicited submissions. Don’t give up on your dream!

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

MARY: Take your time with your manuscript, get helpful feedback from critique partners and possibly children’s librarians or teachers.  At some point you will read through your manuscript after your revisions and I believe you’ll know it’s finished and ready. Publishing is generally a slow process, even after the ‘yes’ so be patient with it. When I have found myself feeling discouraged and ready to give up writing I would stop and ask myself if I still love writing. Every time I ask myself that, it’s an emphatic ‘yes!’ so for now I keep going even at the moments when the going gets tough.

SUSANNA: That is very good advice, Mary! Thank you so much for taking the time to join us today. We so appreciate the opportunity to learn from your wisdom and experience! Wishing you all the best of luck with this and future titles!

Readers, if you have questions for Mary, 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 October 19 at 3PM Eastern puts you in the running to be the randomly selected of Mary’s wonderful giveaway of a signed copy of LITTLE BUDDY!

Author Mary Zychowicz

Website: https://www.maryzychowicz.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Writingfortikes/
X (formerly Twitter) : https://x.com/MaryZychowicz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryzychowicz/

You may purchase Mary’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!