Go away, I have a book deadline

Sling your hook. Skedaddle.

Dear reader,

I am writing from my studio, wrapped up in my smelly old dressing gown. I have my belt tied around my middle holding in the layers of thermals and woolly jumpers. I get freezing when I work long hours. It’s sunny outside but I have the blinds down so that I can see the rough drawings through the thick watercolour paper on my light box. The birds are singing but I have big spongy-block-out-the-world earphones on so that I’m not tempted to venture outside by happy bird sounds.

I am writing and illustrating a new picture book and the publisher have been very patiently waiting for me to finish. They know how busy I am with all the exciting Good Ship stuff and the usual life stuff. Luckily they are not loading on the pressure. But now there is a print deadline looming and I feel the urge to give that one final push to get the book-baby out!

Big squishy earphones, artwork happening and lightbox in the dark.

OMG! It’s gonna be a beautiful baby. I think. You can lose perspective when you are hibernating with a project. That’s why I take myself for lots of long walks with Peggy. When I get home I can see the edits I need to make.

Rejected drawings and bags of drawings for the recycling bin.

Here is just one of the piles of rejected work. And one of the bags for the recycling bin. They are not rejected by the publisher, they don’t even see this stuff. They are rejected by me.

Anyway, I hope the world is still running along OK without me. I’ll emerge into the light with a big bushy beard and weirdly pale skin very soon.

Take care,

Helenx

P.S. The Good Ship Picture Book Course doors are open now 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 If you sign up today you will be an early bird and get an invite to a special VIP Zoom call with the Captains. Doors are open until Friday (or when we reach a capacity).