Here is a picture of me with Hazel, my writing coach. She likes to remind me that Nietzche wrote, “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” To which she adds, “So let’s get going.”

flap

I just finished working on a picture book. Here is what one of my bulletin boards looked like while I was working on it:

bulletinboard

One day while I was working on a table nearby, I looked over and Hazel was collaborating on one of the watercolors near the bottom by licking the paint (it’s watercolor. Water soluble.) from the middle of it. I was able to restore it, but that’s why there is a pile of stuff stacked in front of the paintings — to keep Hazel away. Here is what the bulletin board looks like now that I’ve sent the paintings away:

empty

It gives me mixed feelings.  It feels good to have brought this book to fruition. I will miss all those paintings. And at the same time, I’m excited by some new ideas that are floating into my head, and also itchy to play with some that have been simmering on the back burner.

Relatively soon, I’ll post more about the new picture book. In the meantime, I’m enjoying the feeling of possibilities.