Book Chaos Update

Welcome to the inside of my head ~ Please keep your hands inside the ride!

Well hello.
  Yes, I am alive.
  Yes, I still have a book.
  Yes, it has been quiet since February 18th. (🐿️This blog was supposed to be posted days ago!)

In my defense, I’ve been busy doing things like:

• Wrestling file sizes. (🐿️Wrestling is what her grandsons like, and if she learns from them, she’s sure to win.)
• Learning that “final draft” is an optimistic phrase. (Also, I think it’s a bully.)
• Discovering that behind‑the‑scenes chaos does not knock before entering.

Talking to myself in a closet (aka the recording booth, but let’s not judge).

In my last post, I confidently said the illustrations were complete.
And they were.

What I did not know at the time was that “complete” sometimes means:
“Congratulations! You’ve unlocked the next level of unexpected illustration development.” 🎮

Behind‑the‑scenes rudely butted in.
  Uninvited.
  Shoes on the carpet.

There were lessons. (And tears. A lot of tears.)
There was frustration and possibly a little cussing.
There was a moment when I stared at my screen and considered a career in animal farming. (Since my friend Sara enjoys them so much.)

But here’s the headline:

The illustrations are uploaded.
The book is complete.
It has been APPROVED.

Pause for dramatic slow clapping. 👏
  Although; I personally enjoyed sipping a margarita at dinner. Thanks, Chris!

Three Days Later…

You know that SpongeBob meme?
“Three minutes later…” (🐿️Admit it, you heard the SpongeBob narrator in your head just now.)
Except for me it’s more like:
“Three days later…”

Because yes, I told myself I was uploading last Saturday. 🤦‍♀️
And then I discovered one page printed with black ink instead of green.

Was it dramatic?
  No.
Was it annoying?
  Absolutely.

Quick fix. (I refuse to admit that was not the only correction needed.)
Corrected.
Re‑uploaded.

Now we’re uploading again.
And this time?

Approved!

(Picture me with a margarita. Alright… it was two. 🤫)

The Quiet Plot Twist

Here’s something I didn’t expect:

The excitement?
It’s been mostly me.

Me being excited.
Me fixing things.
Me re‑checking things.
Me triple‑checking things. (🐿️because her hyper-focus took over)

I’ve had encouragement along the way, which matters more than I can say.

So a huge THANK YOU to those who have done so!

A one‑woman production featuring caffeine, chocolate, and stubbornness.
(Would this be an “over and beyond” moment?… reference previous posts)

Let’s Talk About Social Media (Because Apparently That’s a Thing)

I now fully understand why people hire social media managers.
(🐿️Not sure why she’s worried, she has us!)

Because apparently you’re supposed to:

• Post consistently
• Engage daily
• Make reels
• Edit reels
• Use trending audio
• Reply thoughtfully
• Post stories
• Go live
• Be authentic
• But also strategic
• But also polished
• But also vulnerable
• But also not weird 

All while finishing a children’s book and maintaining emotional stability.
(🐿️Stability? Here??)

The algorithm and I have not been in a committed relationship lately.
(Do NOT ask my daughters about my social media algorithm either 🤦‍♀️)

Facebook? I waved, we’re familiar.
Instagram? I blinked at it. (Thankfully my friend Angie has offered to help if need be)
YouTube? I am comfortable, but still learning.

Because when I had to choose between:

📕 Finishing the book
or
💻 Posting three times a week to prove I exist

The book won.
Every time.

They say you’re “supposed” to post consistently.
They also say you’re “supposed” to drink enough water and get eight hours of sleep.
We see how that’s going.

Now that the book is complete

Ohhh, now we can play.
(🐿️Although when the weather gets nice, you’ll probably find her and her grandsons at Lori’s ~ Lori and Lilly have all the little friends and fun. Or with Michelle and her grandsons at Worlds of Fun, because the squirrel‑controlled roller coaster in her head clearly isn’t chaotic enough!)

Now I can create a schedule.
Now I can show up consistently.
Now I can experiment… let’s be honest 🤣 it’s going to be baby steps.

Previously on ‘Deal or No Deal: Author/Illustrator Edition

Also…can we talk about the launch thing?

You know that game show where they open the suitcases one at a time and everyone holds their breath?

That is what this next phase needs to be.

Open.
One.
Suitcase.
At.
A.
Time.

Do not let me peek ahead.
Do not let me open five cases at once.
Do not let me jump to:

  What about the next book?
  What about marketing?
  What about thumbnails?
  What about world domination?”

Nooo.

One suitcase.
(🐿️ We vote tree. Suitcases don’t match our style.)

Alright then, because if I don’t stay in the tree I’m in, the squirrels in my head will absolutely leap to the next one.

Yes. The squirrels.
The same ones from a YouTube story on our channel… and the ones who will not stop commenting in this blog.

They mean well.
They’re creative.
They have big ideas and snacks ~ let’s not forget their yummy snacks.
They occasionally knock over the schedule and run off with it.

But they are also the reason the stories exist, along with the 🐒monkeys… oops, I mean grandsons. 😉

So we’re going to let them help.
We’re just not letting them chew through the schedule.

This will NOT be a perfectly smooth transition.
  There will be enthusiasm.
  There will be trial and error.
  There may be posts at slightly questionable hours.
(🐿️Because she seems to be part vampire. Also, check out Author Cynthia Leitich Smith’s vampire stories.)

If things seem a little all over the place?
  It’s not poor planning.
  It’s squirrels.
  And how my brain works.

The Messy Middle Truth

Sometimes the messy part isn’t loud.
Sometimes it’s quiet determination. (🐿️She’s leaving out stubbornness)
Sometimes it’s building something while other parts of life take a back seat. (🐿️ Possibly a backseat at a car show… also a story on YouTube titled More Than What You See. We love a good crossover.)

Sometimes it’s correcting ink colors.
(Look at that ~ ink, as in tattoos… also part of the story above on YouTube! 🐿️And she doesn’t think she could be a saleswoman)

Re‑uploading files.
Waiting for approval.
And doing it anyway.

Will it be polished?
(🐿️As polished as the vintage re‑purposed silverware in her little shop!)
Eventually.

Will it be consistent?
(Is this where I consider being a comedian instead? Because I don’t think I’ve ever been consistent)
More than before.

Will it be entertaining?
(🐿️Have you not already been entertained by us squirrels that keep commenting in the parentheses?)
Absolutely.

Because now that the book is finished, I have room to show up again.
(And breathe. It’s been awhile since that has been regular.)

Messy.
Learning.
Occasionally chaotic.
(🐿️ Who is she trying to kid… it’s always chaotic ~ second‑guessing, hyper‑focused, and full of brain freezes. And not the ice cream kind.)

Still building.

And if you’re still here ~ through the quiet, the chaos, the squirrels, and the closet recordings ~ just know…

I’m really glad you are. 💛