“When you’re on a journey, and the end keeps getting further and further away, then you realize that the real end is the journey.”
~ Karlfried Graf Durckheim

Several years ago, I wrote my first children`s picture book.  My idea was to have the main character, a panda bear that I named “Yin”, available as a stuffed animal manufactured by Gund, Inc.  The panda was designed with a yellow backpack that would contain the small version of the book.

I knew the illustrator that I wanted and at first she was reluctant, having never done this before.  She is a very close friend and one of the finest and most creative artists that I have ever met.  I knew that she was the one to bring “Yin” to life on the pages of my book.  Patty finally said yes and the journey began.  

It was a magical time as we worked on each of the pages.  My first thought was to have my panda in a natural setting and that worked very well.  Then suddenly, Patty brought in bright colors that turned the book from ordinary into stunning.  We were both beyond excited at the quality of the book we had just created.  “Yin” became truly alive.

Seven months later, the finished copies of the large and small versions of the book arrived at my door on the same day that 3600 pandas also arrived.   My house was filled to the brim and I was overwhelmed with excitement.

I had formed my own publishing company and thought the hardest part of this journey was over because I now had my large book and panda with the small book ready for the market.  Little did I realize then that my journey was just beginning.

That was three years ago and I still feel very much at the beginning of this journey called publishing.   Being new in this field, which is very different than being a psychologist, and in a market that is changing as rapidly as I am learning to maneuver within it, has been an extraordinary ride.   As fast as I find something that works, it seems to become outdated.

I am now realizing that my publishing business is the journey.  It will be forever changing just as life itself always does.  My job is to persevere,  just do the next step, try to find what is working now, and enjoy the ride.


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