Excited

         Finally sent some picture inspiration to Haley Jula for our next joint venture. After looking over the story board and the pictures, she has a plan! If all goes well, we hope to publish that book between September and October.

     I've also sketched out a few more backgrounds for the other story I'm working on. Of course, I still have more backgrounds to do, but I'm getting things done and that feels great! Hopefully this week my girls can start on their contributions.

    I know my art isn't perfect and many times I have doubted my attempts, for fear that others won't like them. Yesterday, though, a question entered my heart that I do not ask myself enough. Do I like it? If the answer is yes, which it was, then I really should stop worrying. So, I am trying. Trying to remember that more than anyone else, I make these stories for my kids and the grandchildren I assume I'll have some day. The fact is, my kids like them and so do I and that really is good enough.

Progress

Since my last post, I have been able to sketch out backgrounds for 7 scenes. I'm leaning towards painting them. I still have plenty of other scenes to sketch out, but I'm excited for what I've already done. Some are ready for my girls to add their touches too and then they should be on their way to being finished. I'm hoping for a March/April release date.

I'm also in the works, once again, with illustrator Haley Jula on a second book. I wrote this one over 5 years ago and look forward to seeing it completed. I'll update as we make progress.

A New Year, A New Book

   Last time I wrote, I said I had a book I was hoping to get going on. However, reality struck as I entered my 6th postpartum journey. Now that the new year is upon us, and with some prayer, I've decided to work on a different book. A story I wrote back in 2012 about my 4th blessing.

   Yesterday, I revised it. I'm considering brushing it up a little more, but Blessing #2 said she liked the revision and felt it needed no changes. Time will tell.

    I also made a mock up story board. It isn't very detailed. I don't need it to be, with the imagination I've been blessed with. It was mainly to see 1) How many pages I might have. 2) How I want the pictures and pages laid out. 3) To give me a bit more inspiration and motivation.

     Today, I started my illustrating. I've only taken 1art class in the past couple of decades. It never dealt with drawing, that I can remember. So, I'm not the most confident artist. At the same time, I figure, maybe that is a good thing, not having preconceived ideas about how things "have" to be done. This will truly be my own inspired artwork. Currently, I'm sketching out backgrounds with a pencil. I'm not sure what medium; paint, colored pencil, pastels, etc.. I will use for coloring it all in. I also don't know how I will get it onto my computer, when I'm finished, to load it up for publishing. I'll cross that bridge when the time comes.

     I have considered allowing my daughters to co-illustrate with me. For one thing, they are pretty good artists, even according to other people. They each have a unique style, compared to one another. They are also trying to figure out what they can do to earn money. Being the supportive mother that I am and believing that they have many wonderful talents that they can utilize right now to do so, I figured, why not. Hopefully, the end result will be their boosted confidence and courage to step forth and do what they love, because they already can.