At 7:09pm on Monday, August 10th, I submitted close to 300 image files to my publisher. There are only 20 projects in the book, so only a fraction of the photos will make the cut, but I like to err on the side of ridiculously excessive. For all intents and purposes, the hardest parts of book #2 are done done done! From this point forward, it’s mostly about refining, tweaking and updating. I’ll do a final review of the book in its prettily designed and formatted state in September and/or October (?? it’s still a little unclear), and then it’s off to the printer! I signed the contract in early June of 2014, so I’ve been working on this project for a while…the release date is currently set for April of 2016, which means the whole process will end up taking nearly two years. Whew.
I made udon noodles for dinner on Monday evening, read an extra chapter to K (we’re reading this book
What you see above is our in-progress shot lists as I spent three intense days with my friends George and Rachel finishing up all the photos (we’ve had several other photo shoots together). We taped the shot lists and my sketches to the wall, which made it feel really real for some reason. I got to play Art Director, and that was a heady and nerve-wracking experience. I want to record details about the photo shoots because they were incredible (large swaths of fabric were dyed! we constructed a teepee on the fly!) — but first, I’m going to go rest up and let my brain decompress. Some reality TV might be in order. Or maybe a rom-com, beachy novel. Whatever it is, it will require zero concentration!
P.S. I’m loving all the childhood outfits from the giveaway question!
Congratulations! It sounds like the worst is over! It was a massive project and I can’t wait to see it.
Thank you Max! I’m a little shell shocked that I’m pretty much done. I do have some illustrations that need updating, but compared to everything else, we’re talking small potatoes…
You did it!!! Yay!!!
Yay yay yay!! I feel like a piece of udon noodle…
I love your updates on the book writing process! Congratulations!
So glad you like the updates, Deliphine! They’re actually very helpful for me. I’m so glad that I recorded everything that happened with Little Kunoichi in timeline format in one of my posts, and I’m planning on doing that for this book as well!
Wow…what an accomplishment!! Congrats, I can’t wait to see the book!
Thanks so much, Kelly! I can’t wait to see how it all comes together — the design is in the art director’s hands, though it sounds like I get to revise if I feel very strongly about certain aspects. 🙂
You are amazing! You are my current inspiration for go-getter, do-all-the-things, with-flair, woman!
Aw, thank you Sophie! The only flair I’m feeling right now is how I’m rocking my pajamas because I am zonked!! And you are always my inspiration — 2016 is all about sewing more clothes for myself!!
So, so excited to see this book come to life! Congrats on making it through the busiest part of it and I sincerely hope your plans of relaxing are restorative and wonderful!
Thank you! All I want to do is sleep, Lucinda! Now that the birthday party is over, I can feel my body slithering into a boneless, weird state. I’m looking forward to taking it easy for the rest of summer, then I’m off to the races again!