When Anya Claire was a wee tot, I spent so many sleepless nights up with her because she never slept! I started keeping journals that I would write poetry in or rant about having a super hyper baby. I started taking pictures of her and taping them into my composition books.
Somewhere in one or two of those composition books, I penned “Esmerelda’s Surprise.” She is loosely based on Anya’s face and personality. I find it heartwarming that my blog now looks so much like my journaling did with musings and photographs. Now, I do not even have to buy a lot of tape or go to CVS to have my pictures printed.
Thankfully, the blog also gives me the advantage to share my process without having to leave home to do it. My illustrator and my former student, Wesley, sent me page sketches for pages 1-7 today. Chris, my husband, and I were walking around our pond when Wesley sent the sketches. I opened them while walking with my love, and I felt such happiness and contentment.
I can SEE my work through Wesley’s sketches, and I know the year I stayed home with Anya was beneficial for me as well as for her.
I may have been an insane new mother, but I was also a creative creature moving through a new phase in my life. Thank you so much, Wesley, for giving me hope and inspiration! Here’s to continued progress for my Esmerelda series!
The Aging English Major: Searching for Self throughout Motherhood 