Debut You is an interview feature on Our Stories Matter blog. Debut authors, who have released or have upcoming releases in 2023, are given five questions to answer about themselves and their book. Currently, the questions are the same for all authors. We hope you enjoy getting to know Alana Tyson and can offer your support. Go here for past Debut You features.
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Describe yourself in five words, then expound on one of them.
Driven, consistent, observant, reliable, and strategic.
I’m expounding on driven. I’ve been pretty determined to follow through on things since I was a child. When I decide to “do” a thing, I push through. Obstacles challenge me to figure out an alternative way rather than stop me. I think my competitive nature helps in that regard. To relate it to the literary space, when I decided to write children’s books, I met more obstacles than I could count, so for me, it became a game of “how can I get around these roadblocks?” I did some unorthodox things early on (nothing crazy…LOL), but I think that’s part of the process. If you’re not doing every possible thing to find a way to succeed, then you’re not doing enough.
Explain your book’s journey—how long did it take—from idea to publication?
The idea for My Red, White, and Blue came to me in 2016 when my oldest son was ten years old. I wanted to buy him a T-shirt with the American flag on it for the 4th of July but was hesitant due to heightened police brutality against unarmed Black males and the sentiment around kneeling. I hated the fact that as a natural-born American, who also worked for the federal government protecting national security, my family and I felt that we couldn’t wear the U.S. flag, even as a consummate patriot. At the time, I was actively seeking a literary agent and placing my focus on another picture book, so I didn’t write it. But the idea wouldn’t go away.
Fast forward three years later, in 2019, while traveling to Tokyo for work (on behalf of the government), I wrote the first draft on that flight. I found an agent who fell in love with it, and after a few revisions, the manuscript was subbed to several large publishers and acquired via auction by Philomel (an imprint of Penguin Random House) in 2020. It went through several more revisions, then to illustration, then a release date was finalized for January 2023. So, a seven-year journey in all. It’s not a sport for the impatient, and no writer will ever claim overnight success.
Belief in oneself is important; besides you, who has been your cheerleader(s) throughout this process?
I’m fortunate to have a family that believes in my craft. My sisters (all four of them) are a huge support. They don’t always know the specifics of what I’m working on, but they understand me and know that I’m a constant doer and I’m actively writing. My husband, however, is my biggest cheerleader because he reads my drafts, gives me story ideas, promotes my endeavors to anyone who will listen, listens to my rants about literary stuff, and understands when I need a hiatus to write or rejuvenate. My sisters support me from afar, but my husband is indeed in the trenches. I like to say my sisters are the fans that show up to the game, but my husband is the cheerleader on the field with pom-poms…LOL.
Understanding your audience is essential. What do you know for sure about the audience you are writing for?
I know for sure that children are much smarter than we (adults) think they are. They want honest stories and can handle difficult topics. I know that children of all colors are perfectly okay reading about children of all colors. As adults, we tend to push our insecurities and biases on our children but leave them to learn naturally, and they will gravitate to stories that are whole, honest, diverse, and maybe even a little fractured. I know that for this book specifically, the audience (parents, educators, and children) of color will feel validated and seen.
Tell us about your book.
My Red, White, and Blue follows a young Black boy as he learns about patriotism in his community. With the help of his grandfather, he learns some lessons about what it means to have your own voice and to choose how he relates to the American flag, which means so many things to so many people. Ultimately, the book aims to help children understand there is no “right” way to relate to the flag but also gives context to help them understand why people have the reactions they do. The book empowers young people of color to feel confident in their choice and voice, whatever that may be.
YOU did it, congratulations! Your story is going to be read by children or teens, educators, parents, librarians, book bloggers, etc. How do you feel, and are there any other projects in the works—that you can discuss?
It feels surreal. I started this journey of writing children’s books in 2015 with little to no understanding of the industry (and a manuscript that received close to 100 rejections). I just kept showing up and gleaning what I could from any and everyone. No feedback, event, or input was too big or too small. There are projects in the works that I can and can’t discuss…LOL. One is the story of the first Black U.S. Navy Seal, Master Chief William Goines, entitled The Longest Swim, which will be published by Lee & Low Books. I’m really excited about that one, which won the 2019 New Voices Award. The pandemic set the time back on its release, but I’m excited, nonetheless. I have another project in the works, also with Philomel, which I can’t discuss much, but just know it’ll be amazing. My writing tends to focus on unsung heroes and topics that are universal.
My Red, White, and Blue
London Ladd | Philomel Books | January 17, 2023 | PB | Amazon | Bookshop
Alana Tyson received her Bachelor of Science degree from Brooklyn College and her Master of Arts degree from the University of Maryland. After working in journalism for a short while, she began a career in national security and pursued a more creative path as a writer. A winner of the Lee & Low New Voices Award, she lives in Washington, D.C., with her family.
Connect with Alana Tyson
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