Friday, January 3, 2014

Morale Mishap

In my excitement, I made a morale mishap yesterday.  I began Google searching and reading forums and blogs by other children's book authors.  I was amazed to read that many of them sounded cynical, skeptical and otherwise, discouraging.

One post listed the statistics of manuscripts submitted to manuscripts that develop into published books.  Other posts detailed the meager amount of money you'll make if you are published.  The general vibe was, "Why bother?".  I was down in the dumps last night and didn't work on my illustrations and contemplated making an entire pan of brownies instead.

This morning, with the light of a new day, I am prepared to answer that question of "Why bother?".  People should bother all their life to do what they are meant to do.  Dreams rarely 'come true' without effort and persistence on the part of the dreamer.  At the end of the day, dogged determination and belief in yourself matters a whole lot.  So in the words of my old friend, Madeline, "Poo, poo!" on all you who have been published and yet do not see joy in your accomplishment, profession or calling.

One day I hope to be among you, but I hope never to be so negative like those authors I heard from yesterday.  Dream always, love forever and never, never give up!

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Welcome to 2014

I suspect that a lot of blogs have been started between January 1 and now.  The same goes for the purchase of gym memberships, diet books and matching exercise outfits.  We are people eager to seize the opportunity for newness and hope to stick with things longer than the year before.

Since I was a small child, my mind has been boiling over with stories and characters and pictures of what could be.  For the first time in these years I feel the closest to my dream of completing - and liking - one of my books.  This blog will be aimed at following my progress in writing, illustrating and submitting my children's picture book to agents and publishers.

No matter what I job I have held or where I have traveled to, the pull within me has remained.  Inside I am in love with children's books, and whether I embrace the fact or not, my mind is always thinking of them.  I'm the closest I have ever been to doing what I'm meant to, this year maybe I'll reach out and take it for my own.