I had a lovely call at noon today with an illustrator from Italy whose work I stumbled upon by chance. Her portfolio immediately made me smile, and I thought, “Maybe her art could bring that same joy to those who like my stories.” So, I reached out to see if she might be interested in illustrating one of my books—perhaps the story about a dog living on Prince Street in Charlottetown, or the one about a pig on a Hampshire farm. And, as it turns out, she is!

Working with an illustrator of her caliber is certainly an investment. It’s going to be costly, but I feel it’s money well spent. A beautiful illustration has a lasting impact—something a website redesign seldom will. Websites come and go; in ten years, mine will likely be forgotten, along with so much of my past work spanning 25+ years.

I wonder if I should approach these books more thoughtfully, with a bit more patience. Many authors talk about carefully crafting each word, especially in children’s books, while I tend to create at a faster pace, editing only lightly before sending it off. What if, despite the beautiful illustrations, the story itself falls flat?

Some people see writing a book(s) as a one-off project, but I don’t. I want each story, each memorable character, to come to life in print. That sounds like a business, with all that entails. Perhaps it’s best not to overthink it and just dive in with a beginner’s mindset—ready to learn and see what unfolds.