Fall is here, too soon.



With it comes a crush of activity followed by aching waits. I've been doing my best to keep on top of everything - meeting deadlines, making quick decisions, fixing problems and tying up loose ends. It's been hard just to keep my house livably clean. I haven't taken the time lately to maintain a good state of mind by getting out during these last few days of beautiful weather, but the garden continues to produce, the chickens to crap and eat, the apples to fall uneaten off the tree.

I've been juggling a few things - trying to meet the requirements of one publisher for my existing book while producing sample pages and character designs for another publisher's potential upcoming project. It's been mostly frustrating and unpleasant. The stakes for my first book seem so high to me, and while I know I tend to overthink things that are Important with a capital I, it's hard to just "wing it" when it's the COVER. But lately I've been feeling very on-my-own, working in an echo chamber where the only things I'm left with are my own thoughts and decisions, bouncing back at me endlessly. I just hope that by going with my gut I'll be making the right choices. I've had mixed experiences in the past doing this - sometimes it's right on, and other times I do something just to have ANYTHING done and the result is something I look at with distaste for the rest of my life. God, I don't want that to happen with my book!

In any case, those leaves above are a design element in my wraparound cover. I like them. Once again the image I'm working on corresponds to the environment outside, even though I've had this plan for the cover for years. We'll see. Send me some good vibes, please... I need them these days.