[Photo by Denise Andrade]

I am beginning to feel like my thought process has become a series of play-by-plays with regard to my book. Each day is a tallying of pages, double and triple checking that everything has been saved in a variety of file formats, images printed, edited and set aside for another final round of reviews, talks with my printer about binding details, shipping schedules, press checks, shrink wrapping and the merits of 80lb. text weight versus 100 lb. text weight for the interior pages. So many details to attend to, all in the midst of trying to finish the final pages of the book. My days have become a fierce volley of left brain – right brain activities and I am learning that this is the kind of work environment which suits me best. I like having both and feel very balanced with both, and I am also savoring these last many weeks of being able to work in grubby clothes locked in my studio. Once the books are delivered to my doorstep, those days are over, and the last few months of 2008 will be spent on the road sharing my latest creation with the world, starting at Squam Art Workshops in September, where I hope to see you!!

I have just over 150 completed pages, and my goal is to wrap everything up today. This will give me just under two weeks to put all the pages in order, review one more time, then reprint everything and organize all of my files for the printer. I am much farther along today than I thought I would be, which will enable me to be as brutal as I want to be in terms of dropping pages I don’t feel 100% confident about. As I type this, I already know of two pages I’ll be taking out, which adds two new pages to my to do list today, but that is a gift I will happily take advantage of. The thought of having to keep pages in my book that I feel so-so about simply because I ran out of time makes me cringe. Without realizing it at the beginning of the week, I see now that the greatest benefit of me staying intensely focused on my work this week is that I can slash any page that isn’t making my insides sparkle.

So onward I go, back into my creative cave, to finish up a project I hope you will enjoy.

An update on pre-orders, in case you haven’t heard: I am printing 200 Limited Edition Hardcover versions of Ordinary Sparkling Moments, and there are only about 100 left. Each copy will be signed and numbered, and if you order by Monday you will also receive a free print. Softcover edition pre-orders will begin later this summer, and those editions will be plentiful. Head to my website and click on BOOK to get your pre-order in today!!