So yes.. we are well in to the New Year already as I write.. still it's a nice title for the first post of the year.
New Year is a time for new beginnings, and good intentions. The 'decs' come down, and with the clearing away of the old year, thoughts turn positively to the coming prospects of the new one.
Yes.. it is a particularly difficult time for all in the world right now, but we can still follow our dreams as far as we may, in fact one could argue, that with the restrictions in the outside world, our focus can turn more inward to ourselves and what changes or improvements we'd like to make.
For me, I guess I'm lucky that my passion is still writing and imagining stories that I would like to tell for children (something you can do at home!) - and seeing my own daughter grow up so quickly, I realise it will not be long before picture books will be behind her.. so I need to work as effectively and with as much passion for the art as ever before, that she might get to enjoy a couple yet!
What is your passion, is there something you've longed to do? It's surprising how even putting a couple of hours a week aside to something regularly can move you towards your goal. I know.. modern life is sooo full.. it's really hard to do this.. but if you can put some time aside, it can work wonders.
Jumbo Giant Sausages was a year and a half in the making (of just that sort of put-aside time), from concept to a book I am really happy with. Having drawn and illustrated this book myself, it was another steep learning curve. It was also a brand new story though, so I was very excited. I am currently working on another which was written at the same time, and I hope that I might shorten the timeline and get closer to a year for completing the book.
So, as you might have heard me say before already, there may not be as much interaction online or on social media for me over the next few months, but there will be updates!
So what's the update, then? So right now, I have just finished the 7th watercolour 'spread' (double page illustration) of the story, which makes the half-way point with seven more to do. It sounds like a lot of work still to do when I type that.. but if I can do one every two or so weeks.. (I'm already onto the plan for the 8th sketch) that would be brilliant.
Please remember to join the mailing list if you haven't already, as there will be other news and opportunities to win books for subscribers.. you will also be first to know about the release date for the new book.
Very best wishes,
Julian