What is EXUDE?

Though I’m still trying to figure out that question myself 🙂 the short answer you’ll most care about is this:

EXUDE is the title of an upcoming book — a book featuring a wide range of illustration and mixed media art in between various rhymes and personal writings.

EXUDE also just happens to be my first book.

“My first book” means pretty much just that; it’s my first book *everything* to be honest. From cover designs and spread layouts to the writings and all the art, it’s my first deep-dive stab at producing and authoring … a true labor of publishing love.

And plus I’m publishing EXUDE under my own, independent brand — SIRENELLA PRESS — so this too is just as exciting.

What is the book about?

From a categorical perspective, here’s what I can say:

EXUDE is a hyper-visual nonfiction book featuring poetry, art, and creative writings. The book’s style is an autobiographical take on life, love, and the tenuous spaces in between.

How far along are you?

Most of the writings are “done,” and I use quotes in saying done because in my experience, I’ve found that writings, much like art, are living, breathing documents that shift and evolve as new inspiration hits.

But for publishing purposes, and at the time of this writing, I’m like:

  • 80% done with the writings
  • 80% done with the art
  • 50% done with the book design
  • 0% done with the cover art

So things are moving and progressing but I still have a ways to go.

When will you be done?

This question has two answers:
the ideal and the real response 🙂

Ideally, I’m trying to have EXUDE available for sale by this Fall, which is a loose answer, I know.

Realistically, it may not be ready until early 2025, I’m not sure.

But given my steadfast progress on EXUDE thus far, its availability for sale at some point between October 2024 and January 2025 #knockonwood seems reasonable.

I’ll share more progress as EXUDE further develops but for the time being, I just want to say that working on this book has been a lifelong goal and dream come true, one I can’t wait to share more on so check back from time to time for updates and visual sneak peeks.

Yours in art and creative expression,