Thursday, September 24, 2009

The waiting is the hardest part

One thing many people don't realize with publishing is what a long process it is to get a new book in the book stores or libraries. This past year I finished two books that I am now waiting to receive the finished product on. The art for the book "Hot Pursuit" (Kar-Ben Publishing) was completed in February and I am hoping to receive my copies by the end of the year. It is currently waiting to be printed in Minneapolis. I imagine my art is sitting in a drawer in that fair city. My other book "The Can Man" (Lee & Low Books) which I finished in July is in the beginning process of being printed. Hopefully in the next few weeks I will see color proofs of the book show up on my door step. I can hardly wait! I just found out the art is currently at the printers in Hong Kong! This is the first time my art has been sent over seas. It just blows my mind. I even looked at a map to gage the distance across the Pacific Ocean. I love maps. My art is better traveled than me!

This all brings me back to the topic of waiting. I probably have the worst type of personality to be in the book making business. I am so impatient. When I finish the art I have a need for instant gratification. I want to see my art in book form, like, now. Luckily I have other projects to distract me from my impatience, schools to contact, landscapes to paint, a class to prepare for, a little house cleaning? My thoughts though always return to the projects I am waiting on. Until I receive the final package of books in the mail some 6 months or more after mailing the art I can't quite get the project out of my mind. I need the finished product to feel some closure.

Time to get back to work. After painting a couple of landscapes for a show, my Bunker Hill project is calling. Another book I will eventually have to add to my wait list.

3 comments:

  1. Hang in there, Craig. How lucky you are to have something tangible to show for your work even if you have to let it out into the big world before it comes back transformed.

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  2. Just got Hot Pursuit! You did a beautiful job with the illustrations. Thank you for all your hard work.

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  3. Nice to hear from you Stacia! Still waiting for my copies of the book. Can hardly wait! What an inspiring story you both wrote. Such a pleasure working on it. Hope to arrange some events soon to get the word out. We should keep in touch. Would love to hear what events you both have coming up.

    Best,

    Craig

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