They tell you to persevere. They tell you the process of writing and publishing is not easy. They tell you to have patience. Who are all these "they" people? They are the ones who have travelled the path you are traveling. The reality is that only you can decide how "intense" you want to make your path or the process. For me, writing is a relief. Yes, I want to be publish and anxiously await the debut of my first picture book. It is an exciting time but it did not come easily