Good morning everyone and hope you all had a wonderful weekend! 

I have some very exciting news!! At the end of the day Friday I had the opportunity to hit the APPROVE button, which means edits from the first copy of the printed book have been made and updated! Round 2 here we come. Fingers crossed we worked out the kinks and I can finally order a box of copies to personally send out to you! 

Did you know? To make edits (no matter how big or small) to a book as it goes through the wormhole of publishing can take longer than you might think. So it’s important to keep your eye on the prize and know that your patience will pay off in the end when the product inside your head matches the one on the page. A reminder of the good things in this life take time. 

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When you receive your copy (we are getting closer to that point every day, hooray!) I hope you remember when you look at these what may seem like simple pictures drawn have actually taken me hours and hours of learning, practice, exploration into unknown territory & lots and lots of editing before what you see in your hands today. 

Here’s a little background into the making of My Pet Bug:
I began the illustrating using a pencil on paper and then painting the bug using watercolors. Then pen. I discovered that I couldn’t get the details along with the clarity I wanted and then I had an idea….I had an iPad. I did have a drawing app that I downloaded two years before when I was in the classroom. Could I possibly try that? I didn’t think I could be an illustrator back then. But what about know? I have been teaching drawing classes to children for a little over a year and surely my skills have improved. I can do this! I just need to be patient with myself. Plus it may be cool to learn something new. We are in 2024 now, maybe I could finally test the waters of Art in the Digital Age? 

Oh thank heaven I did. Unless you wouldn’t be reading this email right now because I wouldn’t be here…you know screaming from the rooftops about this really awesome children’s book that just came out! 

It was a learning curve for sure (and once again testing of patience as the program tended to force close in the blink of an eye on me a lot as the amount of illustrations grew), but needless to say one decision that was well worth it as it helped me to bring My Pet Bug to life. 

Take it easy today and remember no matter how long we have been here on this planet, we are learning more every day. Let the art of learning inspire you to do something you always dreamed of. 

>>I can’t wait to get books in your hands to share with the little ones on this planet today. 

Stay buggy & do you,
Abriella