I know that my deadline ended almost four months ago but alas I have finished my latest book. Gruff: Rising Sons is complete! Sunday I finished the book that I have been writing for about fifteen months. I guess if writing was my full-time job I could have completed it a lot sooner. I am so happy and relieved to have that story out of my brain and on paper where it belongs. Walking around with an epic tossing and turning in your mind is quite exhausting. My eyes hurt from staring at my computer screen for hours at a time. My fingers are sore from the sporatic tapping of keys. My head will finally have the peace that has eluded it because of the lingering thoughts of unfinished battle scenes and visions of imaginary beasts. Gruff's story is done..for the moment. I can breathe easy for a while.
There is still plenty of work left to do. I still have to edit it and design the cover. Those steps are welcomed changes from the harder task of writing the actual story. I will take a week off from everything involved with this book before I even attempt to do anything else. I have been sick for four weeks. I ended up in the hospital emergency wing this morning because of my prolonged sickness. Don't worry! I'm okay. I just need rest and medication. But I think it's funny that the day after I finished my book I end up in an emergency room with two doctors sticking a probe down my nose and throat! It's not the morning of rewarding jubilation that I had imagined when I went to bed last night. So I will rest this week and take care of my body. I'll leave the editing and cover design for another time. I'm content knowing that Gruff: Rising Sons is done.
Once Gruff: Rising Sons is a nice, polished, published copy, I will fill the rest of the year with drawing, painting, and sculpting. I have just as many pictures raking my brain as I have stories. By the end of 2010 my portfolio should be deep enough for me to begin my new art book. But for just a little while I will give my imagination a well-deserved rest.
