On the Hero's Journey. Come along, if you wish

  July 24, 2009 – A big weekend for me, a lot of decisions, a lot of opportunities, a lot of change. My children’s book editor sent me out to do some more reading, and I got an armful of Arnold Lobel’s “Frog and Toad” books, which I remember reading to Emma.
  I love reading Lobel and appreciated his gentle, odd and funny characters. An inspiration to me.
At first, I thought writing children’s books might be comparatively simple, as they are small. I am disabused of this idea. They are tough to do well.
   My editor says they are like poems, and I know what she means. They will be a lot of hard, good work, and I am excited about it.
 My other editor, also tough, has returned the novel, which she loves, and wants more work. This is good. Each time the book gets stronger, and it is almost at the point where even I love it. I remember why I backed off of writing fiction. It takes big chunks out of your soul.
 But any good writer, by definition, loves editing. It’s how a book gets better.
  My editor, like me, is mesmerized by the character of Rose.
 ”Rose In A Storm”  is scheduled for publication next Spring or Fall. More good hard work.
  As much as it sometimes scares me, I am lucky to have this kind of work to do.
  Today, some of the sheep are leaving for Vermont. I don’t know about the rest yet, or about the donkeys. As I have written several times, I am seeking clarity and focus, and more and more, I am seeing both – my life, my writing, the photography, the dogs, the children’s books. A lot of good stuff, all requiring a lot of good attention. What is staying no matter what? My love, my dogs, my cats,  a Bedlam Farm, perhaps smaller.
  I am in the process – with Maria – of making some decisions about my life and our lives together. How many animals will stay or go, should we sell the farm, what kind of place will we move to.
  I won’t lie. I do think it is time for a change (surprise!). I was thinking last night – as I lay awake – of Joseph Campbell and his poor hero, stumbling along on the search for growth, self-awareness and meaning. Pain, sorrow, joy, and trouble. He gets lost. Magical helpes appear.
 And if he is lucky, he returns to the world to give rebirth to life.
  I have been on such a journey. People have helped me along the way. I have fallen into dark places and found love, brushed against the notion of God, felt fear, pain,  meaning and joy. Opened up the artistic part of myself. I am still on the road.
  Unlike Campbell’s heroes, a lot of people have been on the journey with me. Some have left, moved along. Some are staying with me. Your choice, of course. You are very welcome. Without a doubt, there is a lot of love passing back and forth between many of us. We are witnesses, connected in this new and strange way to one another.
  Whatever I do, it is not an end, but a beginning, another twist and turn on the road. Come along, if you’d like.