Debbie Rigaud
New York Times Best Selling Author
Welcome! Thanks for visiting my corner of the interwebs. Learn more about me, my writing style and my influences.
More about my magical books
TRULY MADLY ROYALLY may have been viewed as my debut, but it's more like my second act in publishing, after a "soft launch." My first published work was a novella in the anthology HALLWAY DIARIES (Kimani Tru), followed by my standalone YA, PERFECT SHOT, from the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies series.
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The Meghan-Markle-inspired YA romantic comedy TRULY MADLY ROYALLY (Scholastic/Point), released 2018 and is a Junior Library Guild Selection.
HOPE: PROJECT MIDDLE SCHOOL (Scholastic), my illustrated chapter book debut co-written with actor/activist Alyssa Milano, became an instant New York Times Bestseller.
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SIMONE BREAKS ALL THE RULES, my first non-IP YA rom-com received glowing reviews and has been selected as an Ohio Choose To Read Book.
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My new YA, a magical realism novel titled A GIRL'S GUIDE TO LOVE & MAGIC received a starred review from Kirkus, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, and was cited on New York Public Library's and Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2022 lists.
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BEST WISHES: THE SISTER SWITCH lands me back in the amazing world of Middle Grade lit, and this time I get to collaborate with my friend—celebrated, bestselling MG author Sarah Mlynowski!
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My debut picture book, a tale about a particularly persnickety picky eater, is titled SEBASTIAN, THE LITTLEST FOOD CRITIC and releases in 2024 under Nancy Paulsen Books/PenguinRandomHouse.
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Not bad for a bridge-and-tunnel Jersey kid from around-the-way. ;-)
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My
Influences
I come from a strong oral storytelling tradition. My grandmother Lamercie Joseph especially, was known for constructing vivid, hilarious tales. Her saucy stories were peppered with wit, and humorous observations of the motivations behind everyday human behavior. This influence is reflected throughout my writing.