Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Connecting the Dots

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who learn to make connections and those who just can't seem to connect the dots.

When I was a kid, I used to love doing dot-to-dot pictures. (OK, I still really like them, but don't tell anybody.) I wasn't a great artist, so I loved to watch the picture emerge as I made each new connection. Though I'm still not a great artist, I have learned to make the creative mental leaps that take you from one idea to the next until, once you connect the dots, you have a much bigger picture than you ever could have imagined.

Maybe it's a function of maturity. Perhaps as my eyesight worsens, my cognitive vision has improved. I find I can't sleep at night because my brain is so busy skipping around, trying to connect the dots that will bring my life into focus. It's a big job.

Along the way, I am completing a few smaller pictures that will make up the pages of my dot-to-dot life story. Right now, for example, I've almost completed of a wonderful project that I've been working on for well over a year. And because I am just this much of a geek, I've created my own little dot-to-dot infographic just for you. (Be forewarned, I told you I'm not a great artist.)

If you connected the dots, you'll see that we are almost there—so close we can see that hardcover copy of our very own picture book sitting on the bookshelf (in alphabetical order by author—thanks, Mom), ready to be read by children and teachers and animal lovers alike. 

That green dot there near the bottom … the one with the big yellow arrow pointing to it that says "We are here" … that may be the most important dot along the way. That's the Kickstarter dot. That's the place where you get to preorder copies of the book (and coloring book, and poster, and canvas print, and book bag, if you like). That's the dot that will make all the other dots before it count. That's the dot that will help draw the completed picture of the Animal Store Alphabet Book. I hope you'll support us by preordering your copy today. Just click here. And thank you.