Dear speakGreen book friends and supporters!

I hope this email finds you very well!

For weeks I have wanted to write to you and
I’m really sorry that I haven’t until now.
The main reason I repeatedly postponed writing to you is that,
until the very last moment, I kept my hopes high that
the speakGreen book could be published before Christmas and the end of the year.
Some days ago it became crystal clear that the publishing date will be 2021.

You can imagine how I felt during the first days when realizing this.
Since the Publishizer campaign to which you all have contributed so generously
came to an end

.:  I wrote the last chapter and sent the final version to the editor;

.:  she emailed me her comments and suggestions, and
    integrating them took a lot more time and mental capacities
    than I had expected (those of you who are authors too might relate even more);

.:  in the meanwhile my wonderful graphic designer kept on developing
    new illustrations (we stopped counting them a while ago) and
    we met on a weekly basis to speed up the whole process;

.:  once I had integrated all edits into the final version of the text,
    we started bringing the illustrations and the text together.

We are still at this stage of the process and what has prolonged it
are the details of the details and the corresponding feedback loops.
Do you know the 20-80 Principle? Saying that with 20% of your efforts
you can reach 80% or your outcomes?
And for the remaining 20% outcomes, you need another 80% of your time.
Yes, this one.

So despite running after myself and working towards the finalization of the book,
the moment came where I had to admit that it would be better to give up the idea of the 2020 publishing date and give the book development more time.

I feel a bit hesitant to announce another publishing date.
However, my birthday is on March 25 and if I do not publish it earlier,
this would be the ideal day.

What I can already say is that waiting for the book is worth it.
Once you see the illustrations and the text and
how well they communicate the speakGreen messages,
you will remember these lines.

Until then I continue working on it and I promise to inform you
more regularly in the future until it is published.
In the next email to you, I will share with you the cover design.
Exciting times!

I wish you and your beloved ones a warm advent season,
blessed and happy holidays (see more wishes on the card enclosed), and
a great start to another extraordinary year beyond imagination!

Claudia