It’s still Monday somewhere right?  Because this whole “trying to get everything done before you go on a long ass trip” thing is maddening.  I am desperately trying not to get distracted (example: watching all two seasons of Insecure in one week).  But of course I am.  Always.  There is no other way.

So I thought I’d share some more distractions.  There are more than a few illustrators out there that I adore and who’s Instagram feeds I probably pay a little too much attention to. But really, their honesty, drive and inspiration are generally the things that keep me afloat.  It also turns out that all their wisdom are being turned into tiny compact readable things this fall.  Of course I’m buying multiples of all of them (because sharing is caring).

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Adam J Kurtz isn’t an illustrator (it’s technically calligraphy I guess). But I almost consider him to be one because his dance with words is just so perfect.  He’s not even 30 yet and Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives is his third publication.  The name says it all.  It falls into my own mantras and the person I hope I’m trying to be.  But he makes it so much more amusing.  You can basically hear his voice (Instastories!!!!) through ever single word.  Furthermore: at under $10, it’s much cheaper than therapy.

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Lisa Congdon is probably the oldest and most established of the illustrators I follow.  So naturally she’d write a book about getting older.  My appreciation knows no bounds for this as I just read this article and it’s freaking me out about the impending middle years.  And at this point, I am going to take all the advice I can get.  I can’t wait to see all the beautiful things her hands have made inside.

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This one isn’t out yet.  In fact, illustrator Leah Reena Goren literally just announced it.  But I’m really excited about it because it’s probably the book I need right about now.  It’s not coming out until May 2018, but in the meantime, check out Ladies Drawing Night and Besties.