This week was about completing projects that have been in progress for the last few months. Now my focus turns towards feeding my creativity via my Bradbury Reading Program – more on that in a sec.
First, here’s a review, by BonnieReads of the cookbook I illustrated for Chef Kim Mahan titled “Kim Cooks Sue Draws”. The review is here https://bonniereadsandwrites.com/2022/11/05/indie-weekend-kim-cooks-sue-draws-limitededition-cookbook-art-indieart/comment-page-1/#comment-4744


I so appreciate Bonnie for helping get the word out about the cookbook. And a deep heartfelt thank you to all the other people who have shared about it too!

Here’s a video flip-through look at the cookbook Kim Cooks Sue Draws https://youtube.com/shorts/qc-enaNkPqY?feature=share
This week I delivered the finished 3D box I’ve titled “Dogs On The Block” to the Caplan Art Designs Gallery for the upcoming holiday exhibit.



It has come to my attention that I’ve not explicitly shown that in the mornings I use two small books, both referred to as “sketchbooks”, one for writing and thinking in words: my efforts at poetry, stories, and plans about my artist books and art exhibits. The other book is art, drawing and painting focused. From either sketchbook I work on more finished versions of the art, poems and stories. Here’s a few photos of what I mean and there are more details on my email newsletter.


The writing sketchbook has lighter weight pages which are nice to write on with fountain pens and suit light pen drawings. When I want to really explore an image idea I redraw it in my art sketchbook which has thicker paper that can deal with heavy pen drawings or whatever other art materials I want to use. Here’s an example of that. The writing book is on the left, the art book on the right.

Anyway, the little poem book for children that I’ve been working on for Storyberries is finished now, titled Patchwork Poems and will be released as an ebook on Storyberries.com this week on Nov 12!! Because you follow this blog here’s advance access and a full preview of the entire book along with a look at the cover!

There are promotional things still to do about Patchwork Poems but the active creation part is done.
Whenever I’ve finished most of my current art projects to refuel my creativity I turn my attention to what I call my “Bradbury Reading Program For a More Creative Life”. I’ve practiced this program fairly constantly for more than a decade by now and firmly believe it has helped me be as creative and prolific as I am. Here’s the “Bradbury Reading Program” in a nutshell: for the next 1000 days read one poem, one short story and one essay on any topic. Even if I don’t actually manage 1000 consecutive days I aim for as many in a row as possible. If life happens and I miss a day I forgive myself and get back to it asap. Here is a video of Ray Bradbury himself talking about this reading program.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkdkDiuvNrR/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
In the mornings I play in my writing or art sketchbooks in response to whatever is on my mind in the mornings while I’m still in that groggy half asleep state. I am *not* a morning person and this is my superpower: dawdling, doodling and dream-noodling over coffee and breakfast.
The poetry and short stories I read each day are seriously short. Towards evening I randomly pull a book from my shelves, read the poem or story within a few minutes, replace the book on the shelf and go on with making dinner. To show you what I mean… here’s a bookshelf with poetry books on it…

…the book I chose is titled Comic Poems – Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets…

… I open it randomly and read the 4 line poem by Ogden Nash. I replace the book on the shelf and the poem section of today’s Bradbury Reading Program is done.

Now from part of my short story bookshelves…

… I select Tales of the Dervishes by Idries Shah and open it at random…

… to a half page sized story titled The Oath. I read the story and replace the book on my shelf. Now the short story part of the Bradbury Reading Program is done. And possibly dinner is ready too – or will be shortly.

I shared this photo below in my last post but I’m still happily reading these books each day after dinner. The top most book, The Book of Delights by Ross Gay, is a book of short essays that fits with my “Bradbury Reading Program”. The essays generally are two pages long, sometimes a bit shorter or longer. It doesn’t take long to read an essay after dinner prior to clearing the table and doing dishes. I’ve been reading these essays aloud to my wife just so I can keep my voice in practice while I’m basically without hearing aids.
The titles by Salman Rushdie were chosen because I enjoy reading biographies of artists alongside one or more of their creative works. In this way I learn so much about living the creative life. These Rushdie books are what I’m reading each night for about an hour before bedtime. Usually with a mug of hot chocolate.

Details about the books in the above photos are available on my public bookshelves on @bookshop_org – and book sales from this link benefit indiebookstores
https://bookshop.org/shop/clancy
The only book pictured in this post but not listed on my public bookshelves is Comic Poems by the Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets. Sadly it seems well and truly out of print however they offer many other small books with short poems https://knopfdoubleday.com/imprint/everymans-library/
I hope your week is pleasant and full of creativity! See you next Monday.
I actually would have guessed that you were a morning person because you have often mentioned doing some of your short creative exercises over your morning coffee. I understand now that you use your creativity as a way to warm up and get ready to embark on the day. I think that sounds like a lovely way to start the day and proceed from there. I am very much a morning person so I dash around all over the place every morning, trying to get as many chores as possible completed before I leave for work. I then end up having a mid-afternoon energy crash that I have to push through. That is why my art time is blocked in such a way that I do the sketching and inking early in the morning and then I do the painting part in the afternoon when I am feeling sludgy.
We all figure out whatever works best to enable our creativity!! I’m just glad that you too have a sustainable system for your artwork!! That’s what matters the most!! For the record I’ve had times in my life that were as you described “…dash around all over the place every morning…” and that may be part of my current impulse to dawdle in the mornings. I watched my adopted parents morph from early morning up and at ’em folks to, after they retired, stay up till 2 am and sleep till 10 am folks. Seeing them enjoy and revel in changing their schedules was liberating for me. I learned to find and create bio rhythms that worked for the life I wanted …actually I’m still learning that.
That is so interesting about your parents. I very much hope I have the opportunity to experience retirement and find out if my schedule will change.
It was indeed interesting to watch and then experience. You’ll experience it too one day!! Just keep breathing and loving!! 💙💚
Possibly I’ve heard of the Bradbury Reading Program before, but this was a good reminder and very clear explanation. Thanks, Sue! And all your projects look so great; I love the “patchwork” cover.
Lol!!! So glad you like the Patchwork cover!! I just couldn’t resist the visual pun!! 🤣 Likely you have heard of the Bradbury Reading Program it’s fairly well known… and it is oh so useful and fun!! Good to know I explained clearly!! 😊
Now I just have to do it!
You can do it! One short read at a time!
Easier said than done:)
But aren’t most things?? I believe in you!!! 💙💚
I’d not heard of the Ray Bradbury reading program before. I actually found the video of him explaining it inspiring in itself!
Good!!! I was hoping you’d find the video of Bradbury inspiring!!! Happy reading!!
Thank you!