Diary of a New Author.

A New Beginning?

January 2010.  Last Meeting With The Publishers!

It is very hard finding the words to describe how I feel this morning. I am preparing for a trip to meet with my publishers. This will be the final meeting before my book  goes to print and then becomes available later this year. All the writing, all the paintings,everything is in place and now is the last chance to make any changes.

I have read  the text over and over. I have considered each painting and what it is trying to convey to the reader.

I am ready.

It has been such an incredible journey from simply dreaming about writing and actually making the jump from artist to author. I have been blessed with a fantastic publisher who has given me so much encouragement while the project has been on going. Their professional experience has made this even more of a terrific experience. One I will never forget.

Over the years many students and artist colleagues have begged me to write and share my passion for watercolour and spontaneous technique. More recently my workshops and demonstrations have led to even more requests for a book from artists all over the world.

And here I sit typing about a meeting which holds the key to any changes to be discussed before my work  becomes public.Out of my hands and into yours.

The feeling is  really hard to describe. Excitement doesn't cover it, emotional comes close and surprisingly there are nerves too. Very unexpectedly. So many people have high expectations of me and I am begiinning to worry I may be letting  everyone down if this isn't how they imagined it to be!

" Please share how you paint faces.....please make sure there is a flower painting in it, please make sure you have landscapes covered.......please have animals..........."

With so many requests and only so many pages how was I to keep everyone happy? But I have tried. I have covered as much as I can in a way I hope will be easy to digest and follow in a way to encourage readers to see as I do enjoying the joyous freedom in my brushstrokes.

It is time to turn off my computer and  pack.

I hesitate as a thought occurs to me.

Holding my first proof in my hands this morning I know the next time I see my book it will be the real thing. The copy  that you will see on sale.

I have to let go of  what has become so precious to me over the last year and share it with the world.

What a feeling. For some reason I feel very small knowing how many wonderful artists are already published and "out there". Maybe that is the most down to earth feeling to consider but I feel as though I am leaping into a future that is a foreign country to me....a new adventure where I will meet many new friends along the way.

Artist to author?  It is time to make the leap...............

Wish me luck!

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A Special Day as an Author.

Yesterday a large brown envelope arrived in the post. I knew the minute I read the name of my publisher what the content could be. Holding this  in my hands was a moment I will never forget.

Over the last  year I have been writing and painting for my first book on watercolour which will be available later this year. During this time I have communicated regularly with my publisher and discussed the various stages of putting my ideas  in print for the very first time. It has been such an incredible experience.

The cover of any book is  very important as it is the first image readers and public will see. The decision of which painting to have here has been thought over and considered very carefully.  I paint so many subjects that there was a huge variety to choose from to place  here. My work appeals to a wide audience and my workshops are attended by artists of all age groups,art levels and also by male and females. My favourite  area to work in is colour and light.

I needed an image that showed all of this.

I have been asked to write on painting portraits, animal lovers want me to write about painting pets or wildlife. Floral artists want a book on flowers.And yet when I paint landscapes I recieve so many comments asking me for more.

This made the decision of what to have on the cover even more difficult.

I thought about my exhibitions and how successful they have been for  a clue as to which painting could be the most exciting  to feature on the cover.

Galleries carry a wide range of my favourite subjects. Over the last twelve months I have sold each and every one so there has not been an indication of which is my best or most popular. All of my subjects seem to sell well.

Finally a decision was made and I was about to see in print the cover of my book for the very first time.

I felt nervous and excited.Would I like it or change my mind. More importantly would others like it.

I felt emotional.

I had put off opening the  envelope for as long as possible. Now was the moment to see how my book was going to appear  when it is published later this year.

My hands were probably shaking as I gently opened what was probably the most special of envelopes I have ever recieved in my life.

I now have the cover in my hands.

I know what my book looks like.

This morning I looked again  to see if this was all a dream. I am waiting to wake up.

I like my cover.....I so hope you do too as I will be sharing it on my blog as soon as it has gone to print and is ready to be launched publically.

And I think there should be a virtual party when this happens connecting with all my friends from all over the world.

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