Bound Lines and Book Spines

By Kristi Cruise For the past month, I’ve been in a season of nonstop motion. The kind where the days blur and the work keeps pouring out of me in waves—sometimes gentle, sometimes tidal, but always forward. Just when I think this project has reached its highest point, another idea lands, another refinement flows, and suddenly it’s even stronger. It’s humbling, exhilarating, and honestly feels like some of the best work of my life is being born right here, right now. Honestly, it all feels like a dream, like a dejavu, a dream I think I've had before.  I had braced myself for the big meeting to come quickly as was originally. Every ounce of me was prepared to hand it over, ready or not. But life handed me something else today: because of travel schedules, it’s been pushed back two whole weeks! Yea! Two whole weeks for me to breathe and take care of the million and one things I haven't even touched in the last 4 weeks due to this unexpected awesomeness.  I feel… relief. A glor...

Two days ago, I wrote the first draft of a new children’s book. Late last night, after the kids went to bed, I managed to illustrate the entire thing in just three hours. I’m still reeling. I didn't know I had it in me. And it's really good!)  Usually, my stories take months (even years) to unfold. This one came sprinting — as if it already existed and just needed me to catch it. Twelve double spreads, a beginning, middle, and end, all complete in less than a day. I’ve never worked this fast, this free, or this joyfully. This also proves to me one of my favorite quotes, "We can do hard things," meaning we are capable of so much more than we know.   Of course, it’s not finished. The artwork is rough, the characters are only placeholders, and the whole thing will need layers of polish. But the bones are strong. The heartbeat is there. And that’s the part you can’t fake. I can’t share the specifics yet — it’s still too new, too tender, too unprotected. But I’ll say ...