The book is almost ready!

Some of you may know that one of my personal goals this year was to write a knitting-related book. While much of it has been floating around in my head for the past few years, I finally started committing the words to paper (so to speak) last year. After an extended absence to attend to a family crisis, I started again a month or so ago. I actually found that finishing the book has been an important part in the healing process for me. To my surprise, it was much easier to write when I came back to it. I think the pain, introspection, and insights that came during the course of the crisis have made the book better. At least I hope that's the case. So even though I'd hoped to be in print before now, I'm confident that things are unfolding as they should and that when the book is ready, that will be just the "right time" for it to be published.

In addition to finishing the text, I spent about a month agonizing over the front cover. I had no idea how much thought/care goes into choosing the right "face" to put on your heart before you put it out there for the world to see. Since it's a knitting-related book, I knew I needed yarn that would make a "statement", but I had no idea what texture or color(s) to use. I visited several shops, but had not idea what I was looking for so it was impossible to ask for help. I just decided that I'd know it when I saw it.

I found it 2 weeks ago and after nearly fainting from the price, I knew that I had to have it. It was absolutely perfect! Then, to confirm that I was on the right track about the cover and some other personal decisions I've made recently, I had a very synchronistic experience. Three days after getting the yarn, I decided to look at the label to see who the manufacturer was. I hadn't even thought to look at the label before then because I didn't want to be reminded of how much I'd spent for the yarn (LOL). I really did laugh out loud when I realized that the yarn was hand-dyed by a company I'd never heard of in St. Petersburg FL. Trust me when I tell you that of all the cities in the world for that yarn to come from, the fact that it came from St. Pete was truly a confirmation for me. (More on that later).

My next bit of stress was figuring out how to capture this gorgeous yarn on the book cover. I posted a request for a local photographer on guru.com, but realized that I'd spent so much for the yarn that I'd blown my photography budget. So I took the digital camera outside and started to play around. It took a few attempts, but I finally came up with something I'm truly happy with. I'm not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but I must admit that it was a wonderfully cool to create the cover art myself.

Tomorrow is my self-imposed deadline for my final draft of the manuscript. Then it's off to 2 friends for proofing/editing and another for a blurb for the back cover. Once I get everybody's comments back and make the final edits, I'll be good to go!

Check back soon and I'll let you know how you can get your very own copy! :)