It’s Out!

August 21st, 2013

The Trouble With Ralph, by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, illustrated by Linda Bartosik, is now available for your reading pleasure as an e-book on Amazon.

If anyone had ever told me that someday I’d have a book I illustrated on Amazon, I never would have believed it. After 8 months of not only artwork, but taking courses on e-publishing, learning to use photoshop, connecting with and learning from other illustrators, and battling the “I don’t think I can do this fear”, it’s done. Really done. Back about March I had my doubts I’d ever see this day. I had no art training beyond high school and didn’t even know the first thing about illustrating a book, much less formatting and publishing one. I never even considered it. It wasn’t anywhere on my radar until Diana asked me to do it for her. And just like that I accepted. And here I sit with a whole new set of computer and art skills, in awe that the book is out.

For two years I was banging furiously on a door that wouldn’t open. I got so tired I just sat down on the step and waited. Then, without any effort at all a new, completely unrelated, door opened. If you’re up against something that just won’t happen, stop. Sit down on the step and wait. Relax and surrender. You can’t force your way down a road you were never meant to travel. Sometimes, with blinders on, we pursue until we wear ourselves out. This past two and half years I have learned a great deal about silence and stillness. Having this project so outside of my comfort zone taught me to be still and let God lead. Every time I froze in doubt and had to leave the art table, I just returned to stillness. God opened the door and beckoned me to enter. He was teaching me to give Him the fear – He wanted me to get out of the boat and walk on water. I’ve learned that people who follow their passions don’t sit in the boat. People who accomplish great things spend a great deal of time outside their comfort zone. That’s where the best part of life is lived.

Almost to the the minute this project was done, I was approached by two more authors to illustrate two more books. If I do these jobs, I will certainly be entering them with not only a whole new skill set and confidence level, but with a new respect for listening when God is speaking.

And so, as my author Diana says, “Ralph lives again”, who knew a goat could teach me so much, and…today I have not only written, but published.
PS – Hurry to Amazon and for the bargain price of $2.99, and grab a copy of The Trouble With Ralph to read to your favorite child today!