June began with complete silence. My past life had always been filled with pings and notifications for email exchanges, video meetings, and Slack jokes. These days I check my inbox and almost hope for a Nigerian prince to get in touch with me. Almost. I am struggling to adjust.
I finished up Emerson not two months ago, but I already feel like the John Travolta meme—with the haircut to match. I’ve been listening to a lot of Sinéad O’Connor.
Did I panic? Maybe slightly. Would I ever get another project again? Outlook, surprisingly optimistic.
Instead of immediately checking for job postings on Indeed and LinkedIn (which I actually did last year when I finished Adventures in Desolation Sound), I gave myself a small pep talk and put together a plan:
Don’t wallow!
I submitted illustration work for a few things
Golden Pinwheel 2025
Northern Illustration Prize 2025
Crystal Kite Awards, SCBWI 2025
Orange Beak’s Shirley Hughes Sketchbook Award 2025
SCBWI Summer Virtual Conference Portfolio Showcase 2025
I am queasy looking at that list of submissions (and subsequent rejections), but you know what? I captured lightning in a bottle once last year, and the only way I could fail is if I stopped moving all together.
Sadly, as I write this, I have already lost out on the Orange Beak award, but still hang hope on the others. The night is young. I am not a pumpkin yet.
“I’m working on my 🤢 craft”
This feels like such a hoity-toity thing to say and something Inspector Grim would definitely rant about.
I have been studying the craft of picture book writing. Not just reading textbooks, but actively writing drafts and manuscripts. A great many of these attempts are not very good, but with each revision comes a lesson learned.
Emerson is based on non-fiction, and is literally a different beast from what I am venturing to accomplish now. I am excited to explore what other stories I am capable of telling.
This is me during writing workshops with my talented author friends when we get together to review our manuscripts:
Only my childhood pals and the people who have known me before university will truly know how much I love to write. Today, my wispy dreams of being a published author is within grasp. It’s already happened with Emerson, and like an aggressive stray cat, I don’t want to stop until I am A WELCOME AND BELOVED HOUSE FAMILY PET. I JUST WANT TO BE LOVED.
Although I have to admit, the YouTube landscape for videos with complete morons “teaching you how to write” is amazingly abundant and rife. I tread these waters lightly, but still I fall into a patch once in a while. Let’s all be careful out there.
What’s Next?
Well, as the summer begins here, I shall endeavour to be more patient. I need to shake off the sense of urgency that my previous careers have instilled upon me.
I need to understand what it is like to wait and be bored. Not everything is an emergency or a time-limit decision. “Move fast and break things” is thankfully no longer my professional directive.
My sketchbook practice is still humming along. It’s now interspersed with little ideas and drawings for my manuscripts, which has been fun. I continue to explore colours and materials and the world around me.
I Work Out Now
A couple of months ago, I signed up for a fitness class at my local community centre. The key words that stuck out were “low impact” and “easy movement.” It was an hour of pop songs to work out with, and I didn’t need to lie on the floor with my bum in the air or bring any special equipment. Perfect.
Well, quelle surprise, mes copains. About 45 minutes in, I started gasping in the middle of an Adele song. I ended up on the floor anyway. It was embarrassing, but I was more focused on not vomiting in front of everyone to care.
I returned the next week. And the week after that. I really worried that I would give up on the class and stop going, but my personal frustration at my physical limits pushed me to keep at it. I ignored the initial humiliation and turned it into motivation to do my best—even if that doesn’t measure up to other’s just yet.
Looking back, this is the same quirk that has kept me from quitting illustration work. I learned about myself. I am fueled by revenge, not inspiration. How scary.
Thankfully, I’ve survived the last two months and have not yet cried in front of everyone. Despite my lack of coordination, I have enjoyed having something to prepare for every week. I welcome the structure, and it helps me from turning into the sad potato lady watching murder shows all day.
I signed up for the next couple of months, along with another class that offers “mat Pilates.” I do not know what this means, but starting next week, I will be in two fitness classes!
Emerson Awaits
Lastly, I am beginning to prepare for next month’s release of Emerson The Elephant Seal. I do not know how to “hype it” so any suggestions are welcome.
All I know is that Emerson has somehow made it to the Indigo’s Most Anticipated Books List for 2025 and is currently discounted like crazy for pre-orders.
My good friend Pete has also started helping me get the word out. He is a professional marketing expert, and I trust his methods.
Here he is, hard at work to get my name out there on LinkedIn:
And more of his handiwork at his workplace’s Slack channel:
You know, it really is all about good friends and community that matter. Forsake all the money and riches that AI or ChatGPT can offer.
With real friends like Peter, my world is a much more beautiful and truly better place.