Book Deal Signed! Nothing can go wrong … Right? Right??

Actually... the real adventure’s just getting started!

Aug 28, 2025

Continuing from the previous story...

Getting a book deal is an incredible feeling - equal parts excitement, gratitude, and NEXT STEP “okay wow, time to get to work!”

I’d heard editor changes happen sometimes… but it hits very differently when you’re the one in it. Total panic mode: activated. 😅

How long will it take to find someone new?
Will they understand my vision?
Will this delay the book?
And—real talk—will they be as nice and encouraging as my last editor?

Now that I’m near the finish line, I’ve learned that every editor brought something new and magical to the project. Each fresh set of eyes made the story stronger in ways I didn’t expect.

Making a graphic novel takes years—and so much can happen along the way. You can’t plan for everything, but having clear milestones, tiny to-do lists, and a steady supply of both emotional support snacks and actual snacks definitely helps when the map decides to reroute itself. 🧡

🎉 I’m so excited to share that the official page for Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven is up and running! I’ll be adding updates as I reveal more about the book, and my wonderful readers here on Substack will get the first peek at all the new stories. I can’t wait to share this journey with you!

Monkey King: Uproar In Heaven

I’ve been gathering my graphic novel thoughts, tips, and behind-the-scenes stories into a graphic novel collection here on Substack. 💬 What do you most want to see from this behind-the-scenes series? Early thumbnails? Writing thoughts? Hit reply and tell me — I’d love to hear from you!

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While I was deep in the world of my graphic novel, it was tough to step outside of it—I couldn’t really dive into other people’s stories without feeling pulled away from my own. But now that the final art is officially turned in (yay!), I finally get to catch up on all the amazing books I’ve been missing.