So there has been pretty much a month of proofs and images going back and forth from the printer’s. I have been wanting to get the images as close as possible to my illustrations – and I thought what was coming to me could be better.

An example is the image below, where the illustration is on the left, but the image on the right seems lacking in fullness and richness of colour in the trees and bushes and mountains, and also lacking in detail, and the snow is not very white! Do you see the difference? So hopefully it is all correct now, and I have approved the printing!!

As you know, the book is at the printer and at this point all is quiet on the external side, the side that you see! But behind the scenes there is much to’ing and fro’ing, as files get sent and proofs get sent back to me. As usual, something does not read well to my eyes, artistically, so then that part has to go back to the drawing board, involving driving and messaging and looking again, maybe the picture has to be rephotographed, then laid out again and re-submitted, all under tight scheduling. I am currently awaiting the second batch of hard proofs. I can’t tell if I am satisfied until I see the picture on paper.

Here is an easy adjustment I made: the cover.

I thought this little re-arrangement was effective.

Wonderful news – the book is at the printer’s and will arrive to Luminescence (me!) on April 5th. I will update my website, so orders can be placed!

Stay tuned, as I can photograph and post updates on the book as soon as proofs arrive.

Look for The Star Children at Otter Books on Baker St. in Nelson. This is wonderful news! It looks easy to find, right!! Little Star Lost will be arriving in April.

Publishing costs, and shipping costs, and every kind of cost has gone up to such an extent (as everything has!), that the new price for these books will be $24, (or maybe $23.95?)

$24 on this website, including shipping.

People are asking me where things are at with Little Star Lost! It is all behind the scenes now. Editing, proofreading and revising! Gathering the very kind endorsements of other authors (I am so grateful!), and having a mockup of the book read to some children, just to gauge age appropriateness! Meanwhile, here is the book, wrapped up like a little seed in this flash drive. And the book has now gone to the lay-out person!

On Thursday all the illustrations and the washes for the text pages and the other bits and pieces are going to the photographer’s. This is the first step to get ready for printing! Next comes the lay-out, then off to the printer’s! This is really exciting!

Below you see some of the last pictures that were not posted, and the stack of 33 paintings. The paintings left out on the table have never been posted – I suppose I wanted to keep something for a surprise!

THIS means the book – everything to do with painting – is COMPLETED! I have been working on the back of the book, the acknowledgement page, title page and dedication. I have not seen this cleaned up painting table for almost 2 years! Quite stained, I see.

Things are moving along, the endorsements also. Things just present themselves!! I should stop working things out with my mind and just surrender!

Next will be to make a mock-up of the book to see how it will actually look, sort of, and to have around for when previews are needed!

I’m looking for suggestions of author/illustrators that might be willing to give Little Star Lost and endorsement (a little sentence on the back of the book.) I am looking for authors that have written beautiful books, and more importantly, that there is a little bit of spiritual content in the book – so it is not dealing only with this physical life. Of course, the author should be well-known, relatively! If anything comes to mind for you, please let me know. Return to Home for comment section. I would love to hear from you!

I have only been able to come up with Barbara Helen Berger, this from my children’s childhood. Seems like Grandfather Twilight is missing from my collection.

So I have asked her!

O happy day and gratitude abounding! The main body of Little Star Lost is done! Many of the illustrations are unpublished – all I can really show right now is the whole book laid out on the dining room table! My camera and camera work does not do it justice, but that’s the best I have at the moment, until the photographer and graphics person lays it all out.

I’m now switching my hat to being the publisher, and I am working on getting endorsements, and finishing the more technical pages – like Dedication and Acknowledgements, etc.