I've been very quiet recently and just wanted to share my story with you from the last few months. Towards the middle part of last year, a seed of an idea grew for a children's book - I noted a sketeton framework for the story and then quickly went on to do the illustrations. As an artist, this is where I wanted to be .........making those ideas in my head come to life! With positive feedback from my lovely friends and family, I started to think about publishers. Having contacted three I then read the small print on their websites, which advised not to bother sending in scripts. I abandoned this avenue. Not wanting to give up, I looked into the self-publishing route which can be an expensive minefield! Determined to carry on, I painting pet-portraits, to try and gather the funds, admittedly quite daunted by the huge sum I thought I needed. In the meantime, a friend gave me a copy of a publishing magazine and from an article I contacted a wonderful publisher who has guided me down the path to having my first book published! Nearly half the first print-run has been sold in a week, I'm delighted - not just to the success so far of the book, but the reason I wrote the book was to donate all my Royalties to "Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity" Kiss it Better, appeal. They love the book, so fingers crossed for a successful venture. I'm know that I'm really only at the beginning although it feels like I have come so far. More details are on my website......thanks for listening everyone. :-) www.kayeparmenter.co.uk