Cover, Pause, Uncover, Pause
𓆹 Patiently fruiting, and a first glimpse of my upcoming picture book 𓆸
Life at home continues to be full of dust and renewal, but at last the biggest job — restoring our old pirate-deck floor — has come to an end. We’ve been slowly peeling away the plastic sheets, brushing pine dust from the walls, and putting life back where it belongs, more or less.
It took far longer than expected: the first team we hired rushed their work, so we had to start over. Researching, arranging, quoting, sanding, staining, coating… and always waiting. Because we live in the flat, everything had to be done half at a time, which doubled the effort. Patience has been the theme of this summer — but as with most things, waiting is what leads to good results.
While working and living in this half-finished space, I listened to the audiobook of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. One line made me smile because I am in it — the house was in an appealing, but livable, state of decay. Our flat is an old school conversion, full of quirks and charms, but also in need of constant care. Though other repairs still wait their turn, for now I can finally sit at my desk again, with a floor that feels solid and rejuvenated beneath my feet.
Last week, I wrapped up the final stage of my picture book — all the files are now sent off for printing. Like sanding a floor, the making of Crown Shyness was full of pauses: stopping, looking again, adding a new layer. The cover design especially went through countless versions — from excited, to numb, to rubbish, and back to excited again. I harassed all my friends for opinions, but in the end it came down to me and my editor. After stepping back, pausing, and letting my eyes reset, we finally decided.
And now, after months of talking about this project in fragments, I can finally share the very first proper glimpse with you — here is the cover (with belly band) of my new book, Crown Shyness!
Crown Shyness will be published on 18th September by Linking, the same Taiwanese publisher who brought out the Mandarin edition of The Fisherman and His Soul. The timing feels magical — just two days after my birthday. I don’t know if I’ll hold the book before then, but either way it will be a wonderful gift. This edition will also come with a folded poster, with my author’s note printed on the back.
I learnt so much while preparing the files for hardcover (thank you to my very patient editor!) — from setting up in InDesign to choosing font sizes to making mockups. I’ll share those details once I have the physical copy in hand, so I can photograph all the little decisions. I plan to write a series about the making of this picture book, so if there’s something you’re particularly curious about, feel free to let me know!
Meanwhile, the dry summer stretches on. A few days of short showers at the very end of July tempted me into the forest at the start of August. Within half an hour, my basket was filled with Bay Boletes and Penny Buns. Last year most boletes were ruined by mould and I only found a tiny baby triplet. It reminded me how much paying attention to small things contributes to timing — not unlike waiting for inspiration.
One of the projects I’m quietly tending is an animation. The theme excites me, but the screen format is long and narrow — like a vertical scroll — which makes composition tricky. I’ve been sketching and brainstorming, grateful for the time and space this client has given me — because in my case, inspiration often arrives in the most ordinary moments, and time is the soil it grows from.
Since that haul, it has been too dry for mushrooms, but a generous year for fruit: apples, plums, pears, and berries I can’t even name, hanging from trees and bushes wherever I walk.
At home, my ice plant has been thriving in the heat, ready for crunchy, refreshing salads. It’s a succulent that stores water and salt in the tiny hairs covering its stems and leaves, giving it a faintly salty and sour taste.
Now I’m back at my desk, working on some illustrations for an article about archaeology while also preparing for a holiday. Somehow there are only four months left in the year — it feels as though it’s slipping by faster than usual. I hope you’re finding your own rhythm with the summer (or winter, if you’re elsewhere) — with enough pauses for small things to grow.
好期待新書上市！
哇有書