I wrote a book because people told me it was a good idea

In April 2013 I started the process of making a coffee table book. I planned on putting together a collection of quotes and photos. I came up with a rough draft, asked someone to review it, started researching the self-publishing process, then I let it sit. For at least a year. What can I say? A LOT happened during that year, I gave in to fear and wondered if writing a book was really something that I wanted to do. People kept asking me about the book because they were looking forward to reading it. Darn positive peer pressure!

I reopened the rough draft and started making occasional revisions. Then felt the book needed more substance, but didn't want it to be too technical or academic. I decided to make it fun, insightful and informative. A quick tangent: writing a textbook chapter is easier because it involves a set topic, established facts, formatting guidelines, and a deadline for submission. My book became an emotional process and a segue way to a period of self-reflection. I spent a decade at a job and arrived at the realization that it was the only constant in the midst of many life changes during that time period. Needless to say, I had to walk away from the book for a few days sometimes to refocus. Fast forward to December 31, 2016. Who sits in the house on New Year's Eve working on a manuscript, drinking champagne, and listening to loud music? This woman!

Now I'm in the "fun" phase of this project. 2 editors and multiple revisions. Decided on a concept for cover art, then changed my mind. Conducted a survey to determine a book title, then came up with something totally different; I joked with my editor that the title would be "Esker-D wrote this book because everyone asked her to do it". I laughed at the actual page count considering all the time spent working on it. Oh well, room for improvement. Scheduled an appointment with my photographer, and received a crash course in marketing: need a website, consider psychographics, the book can't be the end game....WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO? Just a few quick comments about my branding session: I don't like shopping for clothes and don't wear a lot of makeup (both things that I had to do) but love taking pictures. My session was amazing and ended with an impromptu video to promote the book. 

The book is 98% complete (missing the cover HAHA) and should be available for purchase in a few weeks. The new title is Dirty Sidewalks and Beautiful People. If you're reading this as one of the many people who encouraged me to write this book, you better buy a copy.