A Great, Big StepSome of you may notice that it’s not Wednesday. Others of you may be stuck somewhere in the untidy folds of time and have forgotten what day it is entirely, so the previous statement is news to you. No matter where you are, or what day you think it is, I’m happy to be together once again. As someone who prides themselves on punctual promises, releasing this a day late brought with it its own set of anxieties, but I was willing to bear the weight of my own arbitrary expectations on account of some very big news. After a year of sending my debut picture book to agents across the country, and occasionally across the sea, I am officially under representation as both an author and illustrator moving forward. As it relates to a career in writing and illustration, this is the step of steps. A direct line to publishers and often the most competitive leg to overcome, with hundreds and thousands of submissions arriving at the same time as your own. It’s been a game of waiting, one of forced patience and quiet, sustained belief. I’ve taken breaks, gained confidence, been rejected a LOT, and even created a bi-weekly newsletter to re-ignite my passion for creativity after months of stalled progress. Yesterday, as I signed my name on the first professional contract of my artistic career, I had no words. I simply knew that 30 year-old me…and 10 year-old me, could not be more proud. As cheesy as it sounds, I owe so much of this moment to my younger self. Someone who was fiercely passionate about anything that made him feel, and struggled endlessly trying to express it. Someone who taught me to find as much beauty in the earth as I do in art, and that a good movie or the perfect song might be able to save the world, or at least a bad day. I owe it to the kid who was bullied. Who picked up the scattered pieces of his comics, only to draw the again, but better. To the kid who was told to pay attention, who had their notebooks taken and returned after class. To the kid who wanted to make others laugh, who walked out of the room when sharing their work, and who never, for one second, felt like they deserved to be in this position. Thank you. I often struggle to celebrate myself, and I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t always know how. Sharing this moment with all of you feels like a great place to start, and furthermore, a direct way to say thank you. The relationship between individual and collective belief is a funny thing. Whether you read my stories in first grade or laughed at a comic last week, it all matters and means more than you could ever know. Though there is work to be done and many things to learn, I am beyond excited. The newsletter will return to it’s regular schedule and I will keep everyone updated on the publishing process for my debut picture book, A Robot Called Rodger, plus all…subsequent...work! For the very first time, please allow me to say, For all professional inquiries, please contact my agent, Andie Smith at Creative Media Agency. For all personal inquires, you know where to find me and I always love hearing from you. Here’s to a future filled with stories. Love to you all. Sincerely, Little and Big Chris
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