back at work

Yes, I know it’s not really summer. But close enough, right? I missed writing here most of the spring because of this little one. Thea is now almost three months old, much to my amazement. And I’m now back at work on a part time basis — meaning while baby sleeps or nurses. (Did you know you can work with both hands while breastfeeding?) Eventually, I’ll be back full time over the summer. I have to be, since I’ve a September 15th book deadline for The Book of Goddesses.

Simply put, Thea is adorable. But I’m sure every new parent feels this way. She now smiles and laughs, as well as “answers” me with cute little sounds that mimic language, if I ask her a question. She also plays with toys, and has a favorite stuffed animal, Monsieur Chien; Monsieur Chien was purchased for her during our last trip to Paris, when I was seven months pregnant.

Thea regularly breaks my heart in a good way. This, combined with extreme sleep deprivation, has put me into this strangely transcendental state of timelessness. These days are very sweet to me, and I want to drink Thea in as much as possible. She won’t always be such a tiny baby — though I do look forward to her sleeping through the night soon.

But we now return to our regularly schedule programming.

Did you check out here? Here? Here? And, finally, here?

Yes, The Lover’s Path exists!

I just received my first bound copy of the novel from the printer the other day. While it wasn’t the final — this one was just to make certain the binding and pagination was correct before they start the print run — it was close enough to feel “real.” It was so exciting to pull out the little letters and other elements which are part of the book. (For those of you who may not remember, my novel is similar to Griffin and Sabine, in that there are interactive graphic elements scattered throughout the book.) Abrams has done a stunning job on the production!

At this stage of book creation, things are gearing up toward the promotional end. I’ve already spoken to the publicist at Abrams, who will be working up a plan to promote The Lover’s Path and its various components. There’s more to write regarding this, as well as other developments. After ten years of labor, it’s strange to be on the other side where my work is out in the world.

As a side note, Book Expo America is this week, and it’s in New York City. I’m planning on attending, though I don’t have a signing this year. It’s good just to go and get a sense of publishing trends, say hello to friends who I don’t see otherwise.

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art and words update

I’ve finally managed to update Art and Words — my first update since well before baby arrived. There are now links to all of the Lover’s Path publications, which are being brought out by Harry N. Abrams Books this fall. And they’re now all available for preorder upon Amazon.com! I’m also offering free autographed book plates for the first one hundred preorders of my novel — click here to learn more.

I feel as though I’ve been teasing you for some time with tantalizing (I hope!) hints of what The Lover’s Path, my illustrated novel, is about. In the past, I’ve mentioned that my literary agent has described it as a cross between Griffin and Sabine and Memoirs of a Geisha, set in the Italian Renaissance.

Better still, here’s the “official” flap copy from the book itself:

“To truly love another, you must follow the lover’s path wherever it may take you . . .

“Filamena Ziani is the much younger sister of the most famous courtesan in sixteenth-century Venice, Tullia Ziani. Orphaned as an infant, Filamena has come of age bent like a branch to her sister’s will, sheltered and lonely in the elegant but stifling confines of their palazzo by the sea. Then a dark-haired stranger offers a gift that will change the course of her life forever: a single ripe plum, and an invitation to walk along the lover’s path, wherever it may lead.

“The Lover’s Path, a moving tale of forbidden love, is a feminist epic told in multiple layers. Through a novel combination of Filamena’s narrative, famous allegorical love stories from history and mythology, sumptuously ornate illustrations, and “actual” letters to and from Filamena that must be opened to be read, Filomena’s path is beautifully described and, finally, stunningly revealed.

“Praised by The New York Times Book Review for her “quality of myth and magic,” Waldherr brings to life a remarkable period in Venetian history. Her glorious celebration of romance, the feminine spirit, and the power of love to transform will inspire and move readers everywhere.”

Nice job, huh? This is why I <heart> Abrams Books.

I’ll be adding more website content about my novel — background information, art, book chapter, and more — to Loverspath.com this fall, after I meet my deadline for the reissue of The Book of Goddesses. (More about this below!) I think I’ll also be doing some book signings over the holiday season, some of which will include tarot readings from chez moi.

Other news: Now that I’m back in the studio, I’m gearing up to produce more Lover’s Path Tarot limited editions. (If you’re one of the tolerant souls who e-mailed me during my maternity leave regarding availability, I appreciate your patience!) I’ll be sending out e-mailed notifications to everyone asap. And here’s the latest: They are available again, but only for those who order by June 17th; these orders will be shipped the last week in June. However, the limited editions will be available again in October 2005.

There are multiple reasons for this decision. The limited editions are a lot of work for me, and, starting immediately, I need to be focusing on my September 15, 2005 book deadline for The Book of Goddesses. Between now and then, I have a lot of work for the book — about fifty illustrations and new text entries. I also have a new baby. All of this has led me to my reluctant decision to wait to produce more Lover’s Path limited editions until after my book is safely delivered to my publisher.

At the same time, I would hate to disappoint so many people who have waited so long for the Lover’s Path Tarot limited edition to be available again. Hence, the short window for ordering it.

I hope this makes sense! If you are unable to order the Lover’s Path limited edition right now, you can e-mail me to be notified when they’re available gain this fall.

In my next update, I’ll let you know about the happenings at Book Expo America this year. No Bill Clinton speeches this year — but I did get to meet Babar and Queen Celeste.

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