This morning I received a notice that my walking pad, my under-desk treadmill, my precious work companion, had been recalled. This was not a huge surprise. It did seem to be made of twenty rubber bands and a motor that was so loud it sounded like I was under attack, and when it really got going, it smelled like burning rubber bands. Also, sometimes it would just … stop. I thought it was a gentle encouragement to take a break. It was just being my friend! 

Turns out there was a safety recall for, yes, sudden stops, but also “sudden increases in speed” and “fires.” Fires! People have been burned, and someone got a concussion! This thing was not my friend at ALL. Turns out, too, you shouldn’t buy a super-cheap product from Amazon that’s just a random combination of letters. No more FNOYAXLs for me! 

And now I have no walking pad, an item I had become deeply accustomed to. It feels weird to walk while you’re working, at first. Did I fall off it a couple of times when I was lost in an edit? Of course I did. Did I jump off, forget it was on and step back on it, only go “whoooa” and get thrown back like one of the bad guys in Home Alone? You bet your sweet patoot. But I’m used to it now; it feels weird not to be walking while I’m at work. To sit, like a chump. I can’t think like this! I need to be moving, constantly moving! 

I am, of course, also grateful I wasn’t flung from it and/or that it did not burst into flames. I used it for hours every day, which, by all accounts, is so much longer than you’re supposed to use any treadmill, even ones that function as they’re meant to. Every reviewer of these products said they had used their pads for 20 minutes at a time; meanwhile, I had been walking to nowhere for four to five hours a day. Not all at once; I’m not unhinged. Sure, mostly all at once, but I took water and bathroom breaks. Like a hinged person would do.

But anyway here’s some good news 

My picture book debut is officially nine months away! I’m not sure how I will survive the wait but I’m excited to show you the cover and encourage you to pre-order, which you can now do!  

Here’s the jacket copy:

Meet Pablo! Meet Puff!: jump-off-the-page adorable duckling brothers, who like to do everything together.

Pablo loves chocolate chip cookies, dinosaurs, and running fast fast fast! But most of all, he loves his little brother, Puff. A regular day for them is action-packed and energy-filled, until a cartwheel gone wrong leads to a BIG accident. Do they confess? Or hide their mistake?

Huge spoiler, but you’ve probably guessed it: their cartwheels kill a man. 

Anyway I’m so excited for you to see the inside of this thing, which, if you can believe, is even cuter than the outside. Illustrator Samantha Cotterill is a genius. These guys have so much personality I can barely stand it. 

In case you didn’t know, pre-orders are huge for books: they show the publisher that there’s real interest and encourage them to market the book; they show booksellers there’s a reason to feature the book prominently in their stores and online, and etc. etc. Plus it’s like a delightful gift to yourself. It’s nine months away, you won’t even remember you ordered it, and then these goofs will show up on your doorstep! Imagine it! It’s even better than you imagine!