Hello from the snowy east coast!

This is going to be my attempt catch up before I sign off for awhile. As some of you know, things have changed quite a bit here at Adventure Girls Books. I have taken a hiatus from producing Adventure Girl books. We had several losses here in partners and I was unable to continue creating and producing on my own. I wore myself out on the road and tried to keep things going on my own but I have conceded that I just don't want to do it anymore, this way. Take heart, this does not mean that Adventure Girl books are done- just resting. Like me.
I learned a lot. I learned that if you don't listen when your body tells you to slow down, if you don't listen when your creativity slips away, if you don't learn how to say NO, then you will be made to rest one way or another. I had lost the joy. And if you're not happy doing what you're doing you need to clear things out and take a good look around. I am not advocating quitting anything and I have not quit here, just taking some time away to refresh and renew... "reclaim", someone said to me - and I am.
After months of resting and introspection, I slowly began to bloom again.
During the summer I did some paintings as a way to lift some of the emotions I was dealing with. They are now hanging in a coffee shop/gallery in Boston and are on their way to another gallery then on to merchandising, I have my first order for some t-shirts and who knows where this will end up but it makes me laugh to look at them and apparently they make other people laugh as well and the burden gets a little lighter. In a collaborative effort with my father I began doing much looser, funky illustrations which resulted in two new childrens picture books, ( 6 more on the way!). When I went to NY, in a very serendipitous experience I sold these books to Roaring Brook Press. I am thrilled to be working with this fine publishing house and very happy to have found an editor again, the esteemed Neal Porter.
And in honoring things I love and do well, I have returned most happily to working with the Traip Academy Dramatics Arts group, and my friend Nathan DuClos their intrepid director. We just had our first performance of the year, after the holidays we attempt "Festival" in which area schools compete with 40 minute productions, a fascinating and rewarding endeavor. Whether they like it or not, here are the actors I have the pleasure of working with.
As I approach the new year, I take with me all the new friends I have made and all the things I have learned and I know that the rest of my time here is full of possibility. Someone who left my life this year, wished me success "however I defined that" and I realized in a moment what that meant to me. I have loved well, with an open heart and am loved well in return, and that, to me, is success. The fact that I continue to do work that matters, to me and to others, is icing on the cake. And aren't I lucky? I look forward and see the road stretching out before me, taking me to Hawaii, Ireland, France, back to NY and New Orleans and who knows where else this year? I will sign off for now, but know that I am thinking of all of you and know that I will be back, better, wilder, and more full of life - ready for more adventures. Check back with www.adventuregirlbooks.com which I promise to update after the New Year.

Go out there girls and make a joyful noise...

Update: I just found out that I have a 4 book contract with Roaring Brook Press! I am now off to NY again to meet with Scholastic about 2 more books....looks like a lot of new stuff in 2008. Next it will be time to find a new family for Adventure Girls. Yaaay! Stay warm out there. R.