moving forward....

....My Horse, My Heart is coming to life....

Look at this--it makes my heart skip a beat or two.

It's a BOOK.

How blessed am I to be married to a graphic designer?

Yes, good book design takes time--and it takes even more time when life happens all around you and book design is limited to weekends.

Only laundry is on the 'to-do' list this weekend, so yesterday my husband spent about seven hours doing wonderful design stuff to my book. Today, he will easily spend another seven or eight hours clicking on that mouse, moving stuff around, cropping, sizing and just simply being brilliant. The photos and illustrations could be in the book today. All of them.

That's really kind of awesome. *smile*

Wow!

Check this out:

Do you know what that is? Yup, it's my little book on my husband's computer.

Text is formatted! This is HUGE.

Did I mention THE BEST part of independent publishing? I get to work with the people I love the most...

My husband, Steve, Indesign Wizard, put in many, many hours this weekend working on My Horse, My Heart. He worked with a smile and told me he truly loved my words.

Steve is an honest, good man---so this compliment was sincere. He's not the kind of person who would say it 'just because' I am his wife--he doesn't work that way.

He also gave me some good ol' constructive criticism.

"The placement of your poems gets a little confusing," he told me. " You should think about a better flow."

Honesty. Gotta have it, gotta love it. 

I looked back on the manuscript, and by gaw, he's right.

See? This whole book design thing takes time. And, good book design looks effortless, like dressage. You see the rider just sitting there, seemingly not doing anything. Oh, but the rider is actually working up quite a sweat with every muscle getting in on the action.

Every book had its humble beginnings and a designer that made it breathe.



Thank you, sweetie.

Guess who...

young UC Ringmaster in a field of dandelions, copyright 2013 by Helen Scanlon.

Illustration for The Great Red Horse, go here to follow my second book journey:
http://greatredhorse.blogspot.com/

Onward we go!

I've been quiet on this blog lately. My apologies! But, I do have some pretty good excuses...

My Horse, My Heart is done and is totally immersed in final design. And, I am working away on my second book, The Great Red Horse. (Go here! : http://greatredhorse.blogspot.com/)

Here is an illustration from The Great Red Horse to make up for my silence. I hope you like it.

Now, when should My Horse, My Heart be ready for purchase? Soon, I promise. Not that I want to set a deadline, but I am shooting for spring/summer. Hopefully by May.

Design takes a loooooooong time---there is so much to consider. Pagination, layout, fonts, chapters, spine, front and back covers, photos, illustrations--etc etc etc. But, the book is in VERY capable hands right now, so I am not stressing at all. A worry-free mind is necessary for creativity--so---

I am off to fire up the paintbrushes, thanks for following along!

Merry Christmas!

It's a white Christmas here in Hampton, Connecticut.

Have a very Merry Christmas, everyone. 2013 will be the year I finally become a published author. Thank you for helping me get here.

Many blessings,
Helen

When Words Fail

My memories of Sandy Hook Elementary School include laughter, swings, drawing, singing, and reading. It's where I discovered the magic of words. It's where I discovered that I loved to draw horses.

 It's where I met my first teachers, and they were kind, supportive and helpful. They comforted me when I froze at the sight of a flash card. They encouraged me to draw, draw, draw and even supplied me with all the paper I could ever want.

At Sandy Hook Elementary School, my dreams were never called silly or unattainable. I met a lifelong friend on that playground, and we shared the same birthday.

I never felt scared or judged there. It was a place of fun, discovery and friendship. That school is a part of me, forever.

Sometimes, words can not adequately express the depth of unspeakable grief.

All of my love and prayers to the grieving families. My arms are around all of you.

Galloping along....

The scanner was whirring all weekend...

So that means only one thing: ALL OF THE PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE DONE!

The chapters are formatted (I chose Garamond for my font) and now the layout can begin.

Many, many thanks to my design wizard husband!

The book is taking shape.....

America's Son, copyright 2012 by Helen Scanlon.