My new book, Carving the Acanthus Leaf, has been available for purchase since November from Lost Art Press (yay!). You can also view my Carving the Acanthus Leaf page on my website to learn more.

I recently made the casual comment “I just finished my first book”. My husband responded “you mean there’s more?” I think the “significant others” of authors deserve a lot of credit. How many late nights of clicking away on a keyboard, obsessive editing, and “I’ll only be a few more minutes” do they put up with? He’s a very patient man and I am so grateful.

I have been thinking about writing another book… I will admit. The process of writing my first book was an awesome experience in many ways. There were many times where I wondered whether I would ever reach the finish line. Then when I reached the end of the journey, I look back and think of all the other possibilities and directions I could wander. How many woodcarving books have not yet been written?

I think (or hope) I have discovered a way to teach that is easy for even the novice woodcarver to understand. And with that discovery, where shall I go next?

The following are standard learning styles:

• Visual (spatial):You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
• Aural (auditory-musical): You prefer using sound and music.
• Verbal (linguistic): You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
• Physical (kinesthetic): You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
• Logical (mathematical): You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
• Social (interpersonal): You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
• Solitary (intrapersonal): You prefer to work alone and use self-study.

In writing this book, I have attempted to make the process of learning woodcarving available to every possible learning style (except for the “social” unless you get together with your neighbors to learn to carve acanthus leaves). In the printed book I have made instruction possible through detailed photos, drawings and written step-by-step instruction. I now also offer instructional videos that show the process of carving each leaf in action (Premium Members of my Online Woodcarving School receive a 15% discount on these video lessons). And if the written instruction along with the video lessons do not offer enough information, I have created resin study casts of my original carved leaves. Each casting of the leaf can be held in your hand to be studied and viewed to learn and understand the details of the physical carved leaf.

So, if you have ever had the desire to carve the classical acanthus leaf, what better time to learn than now?

And now I ask your help to please share the word about my book. Please speak with your local woodcarving club, your woodworking guild, museums, schools or any other group or organization that may be interested in learning about this classical design. Share on your blog, facebook, twitter, instagram, or whatever the latest and greatest social networking app is out there. It is greatly appreciated!

After 3 years, I am excited to announce that I have finally given birth to my first bouncing baby book (not such a baby at over 300 pages) on Carving the Acanthus Leaf. It was an agonizingly long gestation period, but don’t they say you forget about the pain, once the child is born? Odd, but true. The long nights, the focus, the red eyes, the trying to figure out how to describe something in words that is nearly impossible to explain, the edits, the edits of the edits, and then the edits of the edited edits… and then the final edits. Oh… and probably a few more edits after that – I can now sit back and watch as my baby gasps for air and is introduced to the world.

I remember when I first started this book writing process, I asked Roy Underhill if he could share some wisdom and advice on book writing. He explained that “Writing is 10%, and editing is 90%”. I had a difficult time understanding that at the time, but now it all makes sense. That will be the same advice I give to aspiring book writers.

The book is at the printers now and is due out mid to late November. It is now available for pre-order through Lost Art Press. Here is a direct link to the book sales page: Carving the Acanthus Leaf. As a bonus to preordering, you will receive a pdf file of the entire book that you can view immediately.

You can read a recent blog post with all the details by Christopher Schwarz of Lost Art Press. He and his team of editors and designers have been great to work with – and so patient.

Please note: video lessons that go along with the chapters in my book will be available on my website (http://www.marymaycarving.com) once the book is printed in November. These will not be part of my online carving school, but will be available for separate purchase. I’m still working on finishing these up.

And now I will rest… by getting back into my workshop and carve more acanthus leaves!

Thanks for your patience, everyone! It’s an exciting day! It will be even more exciting when I have the printed book in my hand.