There isn’t much to report on the traditional publishing front yet. Still waiting, still wondering, still occasionally checking my email with perhaps a little too much optimism.

But that doesn’t mean the book has been sitting untouched.

I’ve decided that, whether traditional publishing eventually works out or not, I want to make this book the absolute best little book I can. So lately I’ve been spending my time editing, working on the illustrations, and taking courses on chapter book formatting and self-publishing. There is apparently a lot to learn about making a chapter book look like a real chapter book, and I’m determined to learn it. Chapter headings? Scene breask? Wow.

At this point, I’m also seriously considering self-publishing it down the road. The more I think about it, the more excited I get about having a little bit of control over the whole thing.

I’m even dreaming up some fun ideas for a preorder, like signed copies, a little bookmark featuring one of my illustrations, or some stickers to tuck into the packages.

My girls have a fall break coming up, and I’ve already decided that I’m going to use as much of that week as I can for book work. I’m hoping for lots of editing, drawing, formatting, and generally making this thing look and feel like the book I’ve had in my head for so long.

So, no exciting publishing announcement yet.

But the book is still happening.