All good things come to an end…

Time to write some things down, It has been a while already and this post is all about a decision I made over the last weeks. Let me first start by saying how much joy it has brought me to see all of you being so cheerful and happy about my third and upcoming book Memory, which will be here on September 18. I think it is best to start off with saying this, as this post will definitely have something to do with it.

Many of you have pre-ordered the book already of which I feel so blessed and thankful. I once again hope it will deliver on expectations, although it isn’t different from anything I have done so far. So, I think there will be no issues there 🙂 However, this third book is made with a totally different mindset. Many of you who will receive the book and will read some personal words in the preface will realize the way to get this third book out in the world wasn’t really the easiest one. After producing the first two books (actually three, as Crochet Journey was revised under a different publisher), I felt numb and pretty messed up. I am not gonna share details but let’s say that the unconsidered sides of publishing books with other people seem fun – till you realize you’ve made the wrong choice. Although the third book was already spoken of behind the scenes for a long time, I decided to turn it down.

And as I already knew, I wouldn’t settle with it, and started looking for options. Partly because I am a restless mind that always feels the drive to continue on, but also to overgrow the numb feeling it all left behind. I felt like if I could manage to do it all on my own, I would overcome another battle and create a way of writing and publishing books in a way that finally worked. And so the story unfolded… over the last months I took on the job of designing the crochet patterns, writing the stories, being the photographer, exploring the world of digital designing, and of course…printing books. I worked for months on these huge tasks and after a thousand proof prints (at least it feels like a thousand :)) I succeeded in creating Memory. You may understand that this book wasn’t just a proud feeling of getting another part of my legacy out in the world on September 18, for me it is so much more. It is overcoming negative feelings, winning a battle, and being independent. Although Memory is a book that is already full of personal things from me, the way it is made and produced may even make it more special than the first two (or three).

You might ask yourself…why does this post have a title like good things will end? I will give you the answer right now. Although I am very happy with all the growth I have made over these last months – learning new things and being able to produce my own work in an even more professional way, after all these months I also realize it has a cost. Being in the end phase of releasing this third baby of mine, I now realize I used all my energy to get it out there. The moment of promoting and enjoying the achievement still has to start – and yet the level of energy is getting lower by the day. Something I had in mind when I made the choice to take on the task of many different jobs to create a book, only definitely misjudged by myself.

It made me think a lot over the last weeks, and although I already had plans for a fourth book, I made a choice. Memory will be my last book, and for that reason, it will even become more special. Although I already stated that this third book would end my travel stories, I feel it is a full circle and maybe it is also the best closure of a fun chapter in life. So, all good things come to an end and Memory is the third book made by the Guy with the Hook, ending the chapter of books.

Of course, not only the amount of work that it took to create this third book is the reason I made this decision. Physically I also feel things are getting less good. Lately, crocheting delivers more pain and stiffness than it did before and I have to take things slower. My body forces me to slow down – although my mind doesn’t want it or like it. Knitting is even not possible any longer as it really delivers pain, so I want to be cautious about crocheting as it is literally the passion in my life. This has also made me reflect on the path to take for the future. Many new things are still in progress but the road to take is also getting more clear to me.

I will continue creating larger patterns with different chapters and parts in them. Designs will be full of meaning and stories that are evolving in different parts of a pattern. That is the vision I have. It gives me the option to work on designs in parts and take a breath between jobs. And, with this way of working, I can also use my new skills which I learned by creating Memory to turn these patterns into beautiful smaller booklets. Something I also have done in the past as a sort of trial, but now will start doing it more often – besides a digital option as always.

Maybe you might think, why share all this information? Your choice of how you do things is yours and no worries there. Well, I have always been open about how things are going. And with the release of Memory coming closer, people might expect to see me at events, doing a live video, or whatever…. Telling all the above might give a good insight into why I definitely will stand up for my third book, but will also skip some huge public things that I definitely have done over the last years.

Last but not least, this entire post may sound a bit sad, but it is definitely not meant this way. I want to enjoy the release of Memory and feel the joy of getting a hard – but well-earned dream coming alive. So, I do hope all of you want to enjoy this with me. I do hope when the book ends up in your mailbox over the next weeks, it will put a smile on your face. Maybe even feel it is a bit more special as it might be the last book from my side that completes your collection, hopefully.

If you still have no idea how to get the new book or want it, please see the related post about it here. As the book will also be stored by Scheepjes, which is distributor De Bondt B.V., any Scheepjes dealer over the world can stock it or order it for you. So far, it seems not many stores besides these are willing to offer the book, so…if you are dying to get it… I advise you to pre-order from me personally. I will see you on September 18, to celebrate the launch of this third book full of meaning and beautiful stories and patterns.

Thanks for reading and understanding these tough decisions…

Mark