Ruby & Rufus is finished.  I’m very pleased with the illustrations.  My book designer did a fantastic job with the front cover.   She created the front cover from five (5) separate pieces of art and a layout that I had done.  She made some brilliant decisions—the biggest one was to reverse the layout I had submitted.  Perfect solution!

I am now halfway finished with the illustrations for Pearl!  My goal is to have Pearl wrapped up and delivered to Boston by the end of the month.   Then, while the momentum is still going, I’ll go right onto to finish Pearl’s Lost Pearls.  That leaves only Gus & The Hatchlings to finish and I will be caught up with outstanding book contracts!

My reward to myself after I finish these last three picture books in the Gossie & Friends series is to finish writing the first draft of THE DARK SECRET OF WYTHE’S END.  A novel that I’ve been working on for a couple  years now (but put on hold so that I could concentrate on the finishing the picture books that I owed).

I’ve written eighteen chapters so far and anticipate the book will have around 30-35 chapters.  I’m obsessed with the two families in the story.

Wythe’s End (the rambling family estate) is a character in the story as much as the family members.

This will be a productive  year!