Wendi Writes Too!

Alan's not the only author in the family anymore. That's right - that's my name on the author line of this contract! I'm writing a book!

Not fiction, of course. I have zero skill in that area. Because I work with children's books, people have asked me for years if I plan to write a book. I always reply that I'm a competent writer, not a creative one. Mostly I'm ok with that, though every time my boss complements me on writing a good memo I kind of want to cry a little bit.

So I write a mean memo. Sigh. But those skills also mean I can write nice, clear instructions - and I love that - especially when I'm writing instructions describing how to make something I've designed. I've been doing a lot of freelance design work for Lark Books - with several books featuring my designs coming out this summer. And now I'll be an author and designer! The book will be called Absolutely A-Line and it will come out some time next year. I'll be the author and I'm designing about half the projects in the books. The other half will come from Lark's regular stable of designers - which will be lots of fun to see and work with.

It's all about designing and making clothes for children, using a basic A-line pattern as a jumping-off point. I was very much inspired by books like Sew U and Sew What: Skirts that give a basic pattern and then show how to manipulate that pattern to make the look totally your own. My hope is that people will be inspired and empowered by the book - but that's a long way down the road. First I have lots of sewing to do. And writing. . .