Here’s a few photos from Saturday’s event (photos by David Wm. Loveland Jr.)

Don’t worry if you missed the storm — I’ll be at many WI (and OH) libraries in the next few months.

Menasha Public, Menasha, WI – June 18

Clinton Public, Clinton, WI – June 19

Wright Public Library,  and 3 other OH Public Libraries – July 8 – 9

St. Francis Public, St. Francis, WI – July 16 – a.m.

Wauwatosa Public, Wauwatosa, WI – July 16 p.m.

Cudahy Public, Cudahy, WI – July 18

Oak Creek Public, Oak Creek, WI – July 24

Beloit Public, Beloit, WI – Aug. 7

Eager Free, Evansville, WI – Aug. 21

It’s been a strange-wonderful-painful-joyous-underwhelming-overwhelming journey so far. And the book isn’t out for four (or three) more days.

Yesterday, I sat down with one of my favorite local newspaper reporters (Anna Marie Lux of the Janesville Gazette) to talk about what it’s like to finally have a book about to launch. We talked about so much – but mainly – it turns out – about my rabid love of books and reading. She asked me about my mom – the person who read to me every single day – and about growing up – and how I read to my brothers – and how I was so lucky to live in a community with an amazing library (and even luckier to have a mom who took me there every week).

We talked about the people who helped set me on the path – Cathy Norris, Children’s Librarian Extraordinaire, Beth Murray, one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met, Kathy Kennedy-Tapp, writer, mentor, friend — too many people to even list. I was overwhelmed with the memories.

We talked about what’s next: BIG RIG (Feb. 4, 2014) and If You Were a Dog (fall 2014). Which, when I said it aloud, was also a bit overwhelming to think about … (look – there’s the cover for BIG RIG – doesn’t Frankie look excited to start the journey with me?)

MORE RANDOM THOUGHTS: As we live our lives so many people direct us in small and big ways. Sometimes we notice – like being invited to become a storyteller at the library – and sometimes we don’t notice – like being read to every single day, seeing my family read, and visiting the library weekly – but it all adds up, doesn’t it? Makes us who we are – the good and the bad.

Having a book published – a real live book – has been a goal of mine for so many years. And now look. In four (three?) days I will see that dream become a reality. Does this mean I need a new dream? Do I dare start to think of what’s next? Or will I be/should I be satisfied with this accomplishment? I am making myself STOP and recognize this moment. For me, it’s a big one. I don’t want to miss it.

What’s next? I haven’t a clue. I can tell you that I can’t stop writing picture books in my head. I have no idea if these words will eventually make it into real, live books. But, I hope that they do.  I can tell you that I’m filled with pride when I open Boom! Boom! Boom! – I see who I was when I wrote it, I feel the same emotions I felt when I had the words just the way I wanted them and thought, “this one gets to go in search of an audience.” I will tell you it’s crazy-weird to see those words in book form. And even crazier that Anna Maria wondered, “Will you be a rich woman now?” Ha. Clearly, she hasn’t talked to too many picture book writers! Grin. I am not in this for the riches – and I don’t know any writer who is … it’s just who we are – right?

And now Boom! Boom! Boom! is ready to find homes with kids and parents who I hope will read it, enjoy it, and not ‘accidentally’ drop it behind the bookcase (not that I ever did that with any book that my kids loved…).

So, while I obsess with what this means in my life – you go and work on your own dreams. It’s a beautiful day here in Wisconsin and I have storytime in a little while at the library. Storytime day is my favorite day.

I’ll check back in with you next week and let you know how it’s going. I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and into something different in three (or maybe four) days.