To be honest, there were moments I wondered if I’d ever reach the end—but then, one day, I checked off the very last box on my illustration list. After a big push in late July and early August, the artwork was complete—finished a couple of months ahead of schedule. Looking at the calendar—and factoring in time for proofing, printing, and delivery—I realized the books might be ready by Thanksgiving, just in time to be shared as Christmas gifts.
The next step was to send out a pre-order form to gauge how many books I should print. I didn’t want stacks of unsold copies gathering dust in a closet, but I also wanted to be sure there were enough for everyone—with a few extras, just in case. I expected around 75 orders and was quietly hoping to reach 100. By the time the deadline arrived, 180 books had been ordered—and even more requests trickled in afterward.
After placing the last illustrations into the layout, revising the text, and making a few final tweaks, I ran the book through several proofing sessions to catch lingering typos and punctuation slips. At last, I uploaded the file to the printer’s website, checked every specification, and pressed SUBMIT. A wave of relief hit me—it finally sank in that this monster of a project was complete. Less than 48 hours later, the printer confirmed everything looked great, and the book had officially moved into production. Delivery was set for just three weeks away…
The waiting was the hardest part—time seems to crawl when you’re impatient for something to arrive. Then, a day ahead of schedule, Henry erupted in barks at the door: the books were here! I lugged the fifteen heavy boxes inside, my emotions growing with each step. When I finally opened one and pulled out a copy, all I could say was wow. It was perfect. I had done it. The Great Apple Caper was no longer just a dream—it was real.
The next step was to sign the books and sort them into boxes based on where they needed to be dropped off. I even designed a playful little bookmark to include as a giveaway. A few generous friends from the island offered to host a book launch for those who would be around when I came for the delivery. The signing and packing process turned out to be more tedious than I’d imagined—but also deeply fulfilling. As I write this, I’m nearly ready to seal the boxes, load them into the truck, ferry them across BC to Victoria, and bring them by water taxi to Sidney Island.
To all my supporters: thank you. Your books are on their way!
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