Introducing TERESA RODRIGUES, Our AUGUST Guest Guru!
- rateyourstoryweb
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Exciting News! Up to four (4) 2026 Rate Your Story Members will have the opportunity to submit and get feedback and a rating from Teresa this month. Members can request this perk from Judy, Admin Assistant and In-box Coordinator Extraordinaire (RateYourStory@gmail.com). If there are spots available and your manuscript seems like a good fit, you will receive the benefit.
Q: What did you love about being a child?
A: Looking back on my childhood now, I loved how carefree it was (although I didn’t realize it at the time, lol).
Q: What brought you to children’s books?
A: I loved reading as a child. For me, stories were filled with magic and wonder and transported me to other worlds. When I became a mom, I wanted to share those feelings and love of reading with my daughters. I guess that’s what reignited my love for children’s books.
Q: What do you love about children’s books?
A: There’s so much to love about children’s books! I love how they create connections between people, both kids and adults. I love how they allow readers to explore new places or ideas and help foster empathy and understanding. I love how they celebrate curiosity and imagination and explore big, and sometimes difficult subjects. I love how children’s books do SO much, in so few words.
Q: Share a little bit about your most recently published book.
A: WHERE THEY GATHER is a lyrical story that spans more than a century and tells the story of a resilient Black family through the lens of a pecan tree growing alongside each new generation, mirroring the strength and celebration of the family through changing seasons and time. It is inspired by my family and the pecan tree we often gathered under in my grandmother’s yard in Alabama.
Q: Share your upcoming book and how you drew upon your interests or experience to research / write it.
A: As I mentioned, WHERE THEY GATHER is inspired by my family and the various gatherings we held under my grandma’s pecan tree. It was deeply emotional to write, as I searched through my grandmother’s old photos, and had to research and tap into the struggles my family faced during the civil unrest that occurred in Alabama.
Q: What do you love about the genre of books you write in (please be specific)?
A: I write both picture books and young adult novels. As I mentioned earlier, I love how picture books do so much in so few words. It’s equal parts fun and challenging. As for YA, I love the depth and emotional honesty of the genre. It often explores complex themes and makes readers feel like they’re not alone.
Q: What does a story need to make it a favorite for you?
A: I’m a sucker for stories with voice and heart.
Q: Share a story that you love and why.
A: I TALK LIKE A RIVER, written by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith is one of my all-time favorite books. Everything about it is gorgeous – the beautiful, lyrical language, the stunning watercolors, the voice and the emotion behind it. It’s one of those books that I can read over and over, and cry each time.
Q: What is a common issue you see in the manuscripts you critique?
A: A common issue I see is a tendency to tell rather than show. As writers, we're often reminded to “show, not tell,” but telling isn’t necessarily wrong. You just have to find the right balance, which can be tricky at times. It’s something I continue to work on in my own writing, too.
Q: Please share a Submission Tip with our Members.
A: Make sure you read an agent or editor’s submission guideline before submitting! Also, be sure to research them to make sure they’re a good fit for your manuscript. If your MC is a talking dog and an agent/editor is not into anthropomorphic characters, don’t waste your time submitting to them.
Q: Please share a Revision Tip for our Members.
A: Don’t rush a revision. Sometimes you need to sit with the feedback a bit, and that’s okay.
Q: Name subjects you would like to read about.
A: Hmmm…I’m not sure. I’d love to read anything that excites or interests me, or perhaps a new spin on a well-covered topic.
Q: Name subjects you would not like to read about.
A: There are no topics that are necessarily off-limits for me. That said, if there’s a well-covered topic, like say, a hair book, and yours isn’t different to what’s already out there, it might make me pause.
Q: Share something you wish we had asked you about but didn’t!
A: Hmmm…I wish you would’ve asked me how long it took to get published. Some people think it’s quick and easy to get published, which may be the case for some, but it wasn’t for me. I’ve been on this journey for quite some time. I was taking classes, attending conferences and workshops, and participating in various critique groups for over twelve years before my first manuscript sold. After it sold, I had to wait almost three years before it was published. This industry definitely requires lots of hard work and patience!
Q: Share a fun fact about YOU!
A: Not everyone would consider this fun, but I’ve managed to keep a daily Peloton workout streak going for over 6 years (I’m a bit obsessed, lol)!
BIO: Teresa Rodrigues (she/her) is a histologist-turned-kidlit writer.She grew up on Merritt Island, FL, where she spent much of her time reading and pouring her emotions into poems. Now, she
spends her days in sunny South Florida, pouring her emotions into books. When she isn't writing, you can find her sending numerous social media posts to her daughters (much to their dismay), and enjoying life as an empty-nester with her husband.
Born in Italy to an African American father and Canadian mother, Teresa
often explores themes of family and identity in her stories. She describes
her writing style as versatile, having written picture books and young
adult novels that range from heartfelt and serious to laugh-out-loud
humorous.
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