First Post!

Okay, I get it. I understand why so many people dream of writing a book, but never do. The gap between "I have a great story" and "I have a great book" is where the real work is. It's mostly concrete, not creative in nature, and is the brain bursting, beat your head against a wall until you faint and feel better type of work that leads  us creative, but non-business minded dreamers into giving up on our dream. There's no fun found there, and I LIKE fun. I like to play. In fact, I like writing picture books because they allow me to be as childish as I wish, while completely justifying it under the guise of "author"!

I'll talk a lot about the processes I've had to learn, the worries, the struggles and the triumphs involved in my journey thus far, but first things first...

Oddly enough, I think the biggest hurdle from "story" to "book" doesn't have anything to do with the publishing business. It doesn't even have anything to do with the quality of the story you've written. In all honesty, the biggest publishers put out more garbage than they have a right to. We all know it, and so do they. No, I think the biggest hurdle for the emerging author dreamer is simply the amount of support and encouragement they get at home. After all, the journey from "story" to "book" is going to take time and other resources from the home, and those who live there. It is a dream that impacts everyone in the author's life.

So, this first blog entry is dedicated to my lovely wife who supports, encourages, and even sometimes pushes for me to to follow what she has made "our" dream.