What a Year and Mumbles on Writing a Book

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a special thanks to all my friends for keeping me going this year. It's been a crazy year.... it amazes me how many people keep making beautiful books. An anxious beginning of the year waiting for proofs of my Lampshade Lady Book. The proof arrived at my house one cold winter day, I was giving a workshop and had to run home to let the dogs out for a pee and there the Fed Ex box sat by the door. I beamed with joy as I headed back to the workshop with book in hand. The proof was a great help to me to get the idea of how the book would look, but with no color it was still hard to get the feel for the beauty of Ryan and George's beautiful images.

I have learned more about publishing in a tight economy than I probably should write here.... how many assistant editors did I have... 3, how many editors did I have...2, my marketing person left the week before the book was released... so, guess I wasn't the only one left high and dry. But then there were all the great people along the way, fantastic book designers, a super publicist and her assistant that always emailed very promptly and efficiently and I only wish I had her longer....

Being a first time author is such a funny place to be. Will people buy my book I worked so hard on? I had so many questions... Oh the confidence fluctuated by the hour. Up and down, up and down.... by the hour. An unanswered email... something in my little world was unheard of until this year. If it doesn't want to be answered it won't be.... hummm. okay, it did harden me up a little. Confidence is a funny thing; as an artist I did develop a certain amount crust in art school. I think back to the first day of drawing class with Frank Hewitt at UVM; we had to put up our work for the class and for Frank to critique, yikes that was pretty scary. Oh, do I remember that. Or putting work out at the first craft show- what will the public think??? It is putting yourself out to the world. And your first book has a similar feeling; will they like it? It is lampshades after all....I would wonder will Interior Designers respect my work?? would bloggers write about it?? I did get called a plump brunet... yes, only in LA... true I am a plump brunet.... too funny that they would write it. Duncan said what do you expect Mom, it's LA.. so, that was a first. And my bud Nelson said, that's what you get when you play with the big boys and wrote a very funny poem. (thanks Nelson).

One of the best parts of the year was my book release party here at the shop. I was the caterer, the tent company, the chef, the wine shopper, etc. A big job but I must say an awesome party. Carson and his band played, Bob handled the bar, 4 kd tents popped up on the shop lawn, the humid rain held off till the last guest left. I felt so honored to have so many wonderful, colorful friends. It must have been the hottest day of the summer; I was dripping wet setting up the food, bar, tents, etc. heading for a quick cold shower to take a little red out of my face and a deep breath walking back to the start of the party. It was to be a special night; so hard to be the one in the center, but by the time it started I was able to enjoy the moment.

The tight economy has actually helped the craft businesses, craft books, and how-to books. I found customers still wanted to spend money and wanted something special not the run of the mill mall items. It has been a busy year. And yes, I got through my first book signing/talk... nervous nelly.... but with sage words of advice from 6th grade Eadon, "Judy you'll love it once you get up there, you won't want to get down." Thank goodness for his young words. I kept them in my mind as I rambled on.

And trying to describe making a lampshade on Martha radio with Betsy and Kim... that's sort of hard to do, especially at 8 am. It was fun and went by way too fast. Always a first and there were many this year. But at 50 it is a good time to break out of the comfort zone of life. Guess menopause is good for something- what the hell, right??? Yup!

On to a new year. I've gotten a second wind and off and running with new marketing ideas for 2010. Workshops at Lake's Lampshades, a speaking event at The Equinox Hotel for the WBON... a Workshop in Nantucket at The Nantucket Historical Society, a few book signings and demos, back to Brimfield in May for selling and hopefully buying treasures.

thanks for a great year,
judy