Hey friends,
I wanted to drop in with an update that honestly hurts to write.
Atom’s decided to step away from Listen Up, Kid. This project has been a lot. Emotionally, logistically and creatively. And right now, he needs to focus on real-life stuff and making space to breathe and re-centre. I get it. I really do. But it still hit hard.
Reading the submissions and writing these letters takes a toll. So does illustrating them. We’re holding a lot here. Stories buried for years, grief that never got a name, wounds that never properly closed. I know how much it asks from the people reading, and it asks even more from the ones creating it.
This project initially started from grief. From that one locked door I couldn’t open as a child. From finally telling the truth about what I never got, and realising I wasn’t alone in it.
Seven letters in, and I see the impact it’s making. Even when it shows up as defensiveness. Even when someone writes in saying they wanted to submit but realised they hadn’t healed as much as they thought. Even when the thank-you messages don’t come with a like, a comment, or a follow. I appreciate all of it, and every bit of it matters.
So what now?
Honestly, I don’t fully know. I’m taking a short break to sit with this and let myself grieve losing Atom. He’s an amazing partner in this really painful work and I’ll miss creating with him.
If I do continue the letters, I’ll be illustrating them myself — which means the visuals will look completely different from Atom’s. I honestly don’t know how that’s going to be received by all of you. We already have seven letters in one style, and this would be a hard pivot.
As a designer by trade, part of me wonders if I should go back and re-illustrate all seven letters. At least for the print book, so the style feels consistent. Or maybe work with new illustrators and turn it into a rotating collaboration. Either way, it opens a whole new can of logistical worms I’m not ready to eat just yet.
So let’s end with a poll. Let me know if you’d still want Listen Up, Kid to continue — with me (or someone new) illustrating.
Thank you for being here.
I’m just temporarily heartbroken, battling a cold and mild ADHD paralysis, on my birthday week no less. Depending on the poll results, I may be back after a couple of fun side quests, a loose plan for Listen Up, Kid, and hopefully, some restored will to live.
P.S: If anyone would like to collaborate as an illustrator with me, drop me a DM.
With love,
Billie
Update: After sitting in the sadness, mourning more loss, and accidentally finding a spark again, I’ve decided to keep going with the project.
Thank you all for the support, the DMs, the poll votes, and the wild amount of tenderness. You have no idea how much it means to me. Give me a little time to regroup, come up with a plan and I’ll share what’s next soon.
Hi Billie, I’m so sorry that things are turning a little upside down for you.
In my country, there’s a saying that things come “in sevens”. And perhaps, changing the artist every 7 letters and making it to a collaboration of many different artists is something that can turn out well. I imagine it to be a nice thing to hold in my hands in the end, even if that means waiting longer for the final product because finding artists takes time.
I also want you to know that every letter means a lot to me as someone healing from a lot of things. I read them wrapped in a blanket, with some tea, a cookie, and the knowledge that the things that happened to me and continue to eat me up haven’t been my fault, because they seemingly happened to so many others in many different ways.
I can only imagine the heaviness and strain that puts on you and any artist involve—dealing with someone else’s pain in such a respectful and kind way as you and Atom have done.
I wish you all the best, and if there’s anything I can help with, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m not an artist, but maybe there’s other little ways that I can help 💛
If there is anyway I can support you with this I would love to.