I've never been a particularly patient person. My father used to say, "It's your way or the highway." And, I suppose, he is still correct in his assessment. Whether it was ending relationships, quitting several jobs throughout my working life, moving, or simply wanting to live on my terms, I usually get my way. My way has sometimes been risky and ill-advised. However, this year has shown that, I was likely on the right path all along.
This year, I realized that I'm really and truly a working artist — a professional. Everything I do is related to the arts in some way. Over the last couple years, many things I do in my free time is related to the arts. Sometimes, it means designing (or trial-by-fire-designing-when-I-really-have-no-idea-what-I'm-doing") sets for our local civic theatre. Other times, I actually paint pictures of blues singers. Sometimes, I talk to groups about my career and my process. And, talking to groups of people is something I'm terrified of doing. In this last year, I have found that it's not so hard to talk about things you love — and strangely enough, I know much more than I give myself credit for knowing.
As many of you know from previous posts, I recently started a business partnership with my best friend, Lisa Combs. We had been apart for nearly 20 years—time that only made our friendship stronger. Best Friend Books is to be our "retirement" job. It's the most creatively satisfying work I've ever done. And, much to my surprise, I'm getting better at what I do. This is in large part owed to the brilliant mind and imagination of my business partner. Illustrating and marketing Best Friend Books has not exactly improved my patience. I want our books to be in the hands of every child and adult everywhere and make a million dollars so we can create more great stuff all the time and travel around to talk to people about Best Friend Books, loving-kindness, mindfulness and acceptance. How long could it possibly take?!
Today, we are likely to release our third children's book, "You Can Sit With Me." I think it's our best yet. In fact, I "wasted" nearly the whole morning waiting to get the go-ahead to release this title from CreateSpace. (Createspace is the platform that allows us to self-publish.) I could barely concentrate on anything else, except for compulsively drinking coffee and leaping onto the internet whenever I heard a message notification.
Lisa has passed along two new manuscripts—I did manage to sketch cover ideas for both.
I'm still waiting, impatiently, for a "release" email.
