Doing Things I Don't Know How to Do

Photo by Barry Troutman

Photo by Barry Troutman

---

It started last Thanksgiving when I began an art quilt requiring skills beyond mine. The square I'd cut for the background had been sitting on the table for days, eyeing me warily, while I stalked the perfect image in my mind as if I were a predator after its prey. Finally there was nothing else to do but pick up a pair of scissors. I didn't think about it, just let my hands do their bravest work, and I watched as the picture I'd imagined began to appear. Since that November afternoon I've done many things I didn't know how to do: prepared a manuscript for publication, collaborated with designer Debi Bodett to create this website and marketing materials for my book, leapt into social media, learned a million things about the publishing industry, rebirthed my life in ways I couldn't have seen nine months ago. Oh, and that quilt is nearly finished.