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Art by Brian Simons www.BrianSimons.com
I delighted my husband this week with my statement—over our one-working-burner electric stove—that I would rather have a new gas range than a mule carriage. It would, he concurred, get more use. He, on the same day, delighted me by stating that he would one day like to own a Highland steer. I'd like that, too . . . I love bovines, and dream of owning one. The range may come before the steer, and in a remarkably mature moment I actually find myself hoping it does!

Everything's coming up roses for me lately (and no, I'm not just saying that because a new stove and a someday-future-calf lie in my future). I have received a wholehearted YES! from the artist mentioned in last week's post, and we are well on our way to publishing our collaboration. I'm applying for an ISBN number, looking into filing a copy with the Library of Congress, and crunching numbers for my very kind father/investor, who's helping with the cost of this endeavor. He believes in this. 

I got a bear via email today—a beautiful, vibrant, life-infused watercolor bear, the first of a cast of a dozen-or-so animal characters that populate my story-in-verse. To see these images, these pictures from my mind, brought to the page by a woman I've never met—it's amazing. To think that somewhere in Pontypridd, South Wales there is someone who sees what I've dreamed, whose pictures exactly match those that grew in my brain when I dreamed up this little picture book—it really is something. 

All sorts of good stuff cooking. 

M

Comments

  1. SianAugust 23, 2010 at 11:53 AM

    I can't wait to see the watercolors! and being of Welsh ancestry I'm delighted to hear the artist is in Wales :-) How exciting! Wishing you much success with the book and the bovine :-) I'm a Highland cattle fan, too and see them here in Colorado sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Blue PageAugust 23, 2010 at 1:44 PM

    Looking forward to this, the illustrations on the Alison Fennell Etsy pages are charming - I love the freshness of her water colors and of course your prose and poems Marnie!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bent Barrow FarmAugust 24, 2010 at 5:28 PM

    Sian, check out www.fairyrabbit.om . . . thanks for the encouragement, and Blue Page, thank you too. I'm so glad you like Alison's work, as I do!

    ReplyDelete

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