Welcome My Newest Addition to the Family!
It's......a...........BOOK!
She’s HERE!! Everyone, I’d like you to meet my newest addition to the family: Boston & Beyond: Discovering Cities, Harbors, and Country Charms! I know, that’s a mouthful, but we thought it was important to honor her heritage. We’re actually already calling her BeeBee for short! I couldn’t be more over the moon for this lovely, healthy, 6x9, 207 page marvel! She arrived in full color, rich, glossy page stock, which I think she gets from my side, LOL! Both mom and book are doing just fine.1
You know, it’s true what they say—bringing something like BeeBee into the world CHANGES you. I pass by the window of my favorite indie bookshop, and now I can’t help but just stand and stare at all the amazing new arrivals. They are all perfect and special in their own way—fiction, non-fiction, graphic novel. Look, I don’t see cover, okay? All are beautiful in the eyes of the Top Five publishing houses.
But the labor. Wow. That is no joke. Truth talk: it was pretty intense. Nothing prepares you for the twenty-plus months or how when it gets to the end you’re pushing, pushing, pushing night after night, through an entire weekend! Things can get scary, too. A few times I thought I might lose her, but it turned out that the back-up file had been misnamed. Close calls that become every mom’s worst nightmare! Fortunately I had an excellent team with a solid plan. They made it feel as easy as producing a pamphlet! This one is so dear, I’m already thinking about trying for the next one. Eeep!
BeeBee is a total champ. Since I unboxed her, she’s already sleeping peacefully through the night on her shelf. It’s as if she were made for it! This such a magical time. She loves it when I turn her pages—that laugh! Is there a sound more heavenly?
We’re settling in, getting to know one another, just enjoying quiet time together. This part already feels like it’s going way too fast. “The Circle Game” takes on a whole other level of significance for me now.
No matter what happens next, I’m already so proud of her. Of course, a mom can dream, right? I’d love to see her get into Harvard University….library. Or make it in the big leagues with a place in Reese’s Book Club. Who knows? Maybe one day she’ll be a Netflix special !!!
The world is your multi-series deal with merchandising options, brave, little one. Don’t let anything hold you back! Reach for the stars! Carpe diem!
But do it fast and start earning royalties. Mommy needs a new camera lens.
XO!
Yes I know the difference between writing and publishing a book and gestating and expelling a 8-pound human from an opening in your body only 13-centimeters wide. I am not demeaning people who give birth or the people who raise/care for said birthed humans or suggesting an equivalency with making art, being an artist. I am, however, putting J.D. Vance on notice that Childfree Lady Creatives with Fur and Art “Babies” are coming for you.
I am dead. My ghost is also dead. 💀
More importantly: Congrats on the new bundle of joy! Get ready for tons of unsolicited advice like “don’t buy a jogger stroller,” and making memories.
Seriously though; this rules, and the book is incredible.
Smart and beautiful like her mama 🤱 Congrats Sheils and to big bro and sis (i.e. your first two published books)!