Moving on from the novel, I am now deciding and completing the chapter headings and cover illustrations. Word to the wise, writing at this point is becoming a doddle compared to the host of other elements, most of which are beyond my control.

​Regards illustrations, I need a drawing for each chapter heading. I have divided these up into scenes of Thanet, animals and characters. The scenes from Thanet I have completed. The animals, a couple of very good photographers have offered images, though I have yet to hear back from them regards these. It is the characters which I'm struggling with. My previous illustrator has other commitments and is not in a position to assist with this publication. My drawing skills are at most at primary school level and that might be a slur on some primary children. I need 6 drawings as follows below.

PRIORITY cover drawing
Ramsgate harbour with Tenamunday, Onk & Harty
I’ve got a lovely photo of Ramsgate Harbour for the cover, but need Onk, probably sitting down on the wall. This time he’s dressed in a tunic and trousers, no hat or shoes. Harty will be a green light. Maybe a tiny grey cat by Onk's legs, (Tenamunday). I can sent you a draft of the photo cover to sort out the relationship to the photo

A Hedgerow Imp female
The size of a stag beetle, typical imp looking, no wings. Lives in hedgerows normally but this one in the Neath. Long story, need to read the book, but background not needed, just a really cute imp, no wings.

A goblin’s hand on a stone dwarf’s shoulder
Back of a dwarf, arm of a goblin nothing else needed.

Cages of fairies and elves hanging from the shop ceiling.
Fairies and elves in birds cages hanging from a shop ceiling.

A row of rat motorbikes
Your choice

An underground lava river 
An underground cavern with a lava river running through it. The source of the flow is from half way up a wall on the right hand side and disappears down the left side.

My pot of money sent aside for this - who I'm I kidding - I just take money from my wages and suck in my belt, it not going to be the thing that attracts illustrators. I can manage £25 per drawing. Maybe seeing their work published might me a draw, they will recevie an acknowledgement in the book. Below are previous images of Onk to inspire, but none of the other characters have been seen before so they'll be new to this book. 
​I need to make it clear. The images once paid for will belong to me and the book. Though you are naturally free to reproduce your own work however you wish afterwards. 

​You are also welcome to refine, add and embellish the character of Onk, who is now 12 years older than these original drawings. I look forward to hearing from someone who is up to the challenge. Feel free to ask questions and comments here.

I haven't been here for a while. Lots going on, in addition to the novel, including waiting for the go-ahead to Charter the Thanet Soroptimist International club in September. 

Back to the book now. Proof editing all finished thanks to Karen. Doing final read through on Read Aloud, as mentioned earlier. Still finding errors and amending chunky sentences as I go. Also extending the length of the story too as a result. Currently at 299 pages and 92,500+ words. Not sure what the final tally will be, but its already 5,000 words longer than WOTW. I've reached page 158 so far, I didn't realised what slow going this would be, having to read and re-read each sentence.

​Next will be the illustrations. Haven't heard back from the photographers who offered, or my book cover designer Pegu either. If I need to find new people it's going to cause stress over getting it out for October. Regards the launch, I've approached Waterstones again as its a follow-up novel, and met with favourable comments, so I'll wait and see on that.

​I'm still getting comments to do a follow-up to Aqua and though I've completed a third of it, 52,000 words, I'm not in the right place in my head to complete it. I'd like to complete my paranormal novel What If, next. It's been hard finding the time and sitting here night after night till 1 am sometimes is draining. I didn't realise how long it would be. On average  it takes 3-4 hrs to do 10 pages. The other night I did 3 pages in 2 hours!

​Sadly, my son's Christmas advert didn't accomplish much in the way of sales, so I won't be letting him spend two weeks wages on that again, no matter how sweet it was of him.  Will fund the publication somehow.