Prairie Writer's Day Omen

No posting. No Illustration Friday. No fun. Until after Prairie Writer's day.

Okay, maybe not no fun, but I do feel like I've been chained to my computer, and not because I am in the middle of a great story or revisions.

I haven't digested everything yet. I haven't even gone through my folder. (Ah, those days when I read through the folder when I arrived.) However, I am sensing that there was something special about this year. Maybe it is just wishful thinking or maybe I am always looking to have a supernatural experience, but something definitely weird happened yesterday. Dare I say it? An omen.

I have to say my emotions have been on a bit of a roller coaster lately, and half the day, I was deciding to quit the whole "trying to be published" thing. It would be wonderful to be able to share my writing but trying to sell my work is so unnatural to me, so hard and uncomfortable, that it becomes depressing and interferes with my writing. I don't have time to waste these days, so, though I would love to see something in print, I can't let it consume me. The whole day I was thinking to myself, "Just do your thing. Don't worry about about publishing it." Luckily, I was busy, so mostly I was working in the moment and not fretting.

I arrived home last night to an empty house, exhausted, and waiting for me was a letter from a publisher. I knew it at once because it was my handwriting on the return envelope. Right now, if you are a writer, you may doubt this story, because so few publishers even ask for return envelopes anymore, but you are just going to have to trust me. Anyway, I was a little disbelieving myself, because I couldn't remember the last time I had enclosed a self-addressed envelope. It also meant that it was a rejection.

You might be holding out a hope that I was wrong, at this point. I know I was. However, most of my brain was assuming it was an editor from PWD 2009, who, looking at the calendar, decided to get nagging promises (like to respond to attendees) from last year off their desk (or shelf, or floor).

Alas, I was partially correct. It was a rejection. The strange thing about it was that it was from a submission that I had made well over a year ago, to an editor I'd heard in New York (SCBWI Winter Conference 2008). I had completely given up hope on this one. Decided it was lost in the slush or just not of interest. However, the comment was "not right for our list," rather than "keep your day job" and (I know I am grasping at straws here) the really wonderful thing is that she asked for more work and to write "requested material" on the envelope.

The day it came, the unlikely-hood of ever hearing from this person, the tinge of silver lining on the rejection--it's an omen. I'm sure. Okay, kinda sure. Yeah, maybe she just felt guilty that she hadn't responded in so long, so she's giving me another shot. It did run through my head.

But I prefer to look at it as an omen of hope.

Bruce Goff--My Hero

This picture is a pretty good example of artificial values against nature. About the opposite of architect Bruce Goff.

This is not, therefore, really the best picture to illustrate my love of Bruce Goff's architecture, but I don't make the IF themes, and as I said, I have been a bit preoccupied with PianoForte Chicago's move to our space on Michigan Avenue--you got that shameless plug, right?

Back to Bruce Goff, the children and I saw some drawings by Goff at the Art Institute of Chicago recently in the Modern Wing's architectural gallery. He actually builds the things I dream of. There is a movie about him--ordered it from Netflix and there is even a bed and breakfast in southern Illinois(Goff Castle). How cool. Also on youtube there are a couple of videos of people who actually live in his homes(Marshall LA House, Bavenger House). The Bavenger, especially, looks like a perilous place.

This event is not happening, but I still love the invite design so I'm posting it. The poster is even better (if I do say so myself), but I didn't want anyone to get excited about a concert that won't be happening.

I can't believe my last posting was in May, but then again--yes I can. That huge PIANOS sign on Michigan Ave--that's us!!!! Crazy-busy doesn't begin to describe it. All my creativity has been sucked into getting the show room ready, no drawing, no writing. I really hope that I get at least a portion of my life back. Our children are visiting grandparents right now and everyone is all, "Oooooh, romantic." We are in bed by 8:30. That is, if we leave work by then.

Rapunzel's Lawn Guy

Hopeful

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. I like to always have a drawing to post and there hasn't been much art going on lately. There is something about having a designated mess place to do your scribbling. Lately, all my Perilous Places have been on islands like this. Not sure why. Guess it just adds to life's insurmountable difficulties, and yet the house still finds a way to connect, encourage nature, and have fun.

Illustration Friday: Brave

One would have to be brave to live in any of my perilous places, but this guy is pushing it.

Perilous Sundays

I am not exactly sure how to respond to comments (still figuring the whole blog thing out), so I am responding here: THANK YOU!!!! You all made my day--even the person who didn't have anything nice to say. And to answer a question, yes, the color was photo-shopped in for Muddy. Still working on "propagate" and missed "adrift" altogether.

My last post was on my birthday weekend--it was a lovely weekend but I kind of went into a slump afterwards. I couldn't even look at my blog--that I thought no one was reading. Ha! I will not be so negligent again.

The above is an old drawing I did of a church tower in Zurich, Switzerland. When my husband and I were first married we moved to his home country. For a short time he trained in Zurich and lived in a sort of dormitory of the company he worked for. It was under the roof of their office building in the center of town and I came for the weekends (I don't think I was supposed to be there at all). Zurich is ancient and although this area is no longer residential there are three large churches just a stones throw away. Let me tell you, the Swiss are serious about their bells. This room literally vibrated on Sunday mornings. Not only that, but the churches staggered their ringing so it went on for ever. First, one chimes 6 am--you wake up wondering if the building is on fire. Once you figure out it is bells, you hardly have time to take an aspirin before the next church begins and so on. It would have been lovely if they had been at a bit of a distance, but our window (open, of course, because it was summer and it is very hot under the roof), was eye level with towers (as you can see from the drawing).

IF: Muddy

Rising above the muck. Must get better at that.

Does this make my head look big?

As I have said, I'm kind of confused by the whole follower thing. If you received yesterday's blog, I apologize. I think it was the combined effect of three books at one time. I actually didn't feel better after venting so I have de-blogged. Don't even know if that is allowed but there you go. It is not that I have changed my opinions, I just didn't feel right being so negative. Who am I after all? Blogging makes one feel important and that is a bit dangerous.

That warm feeling is spreading in my chest...

For a couple of days now I have been signing in just to look at my new header and pictures--it starts the day with a happy smile on my face. Yes, I am easily amused. Still trying to figure out the whole "I follow you--You follow me" thing in the blogosphere, so I have been experimenting there as well. I apologize where applicable, if I have not followed "blog etiquette." I am a newbie and am working on it.

Deleting negativity. It is my blog and I will de-blog when necessary.