2015 was a big year for Sunnyshore Studio. As the CEO, CFO, COO and PR Director here is my review of the year.
On January 8th my mom, Ann Dorsey, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. This was a game changer for me. My heart opened up to returning to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to mom and dad in their hour of need. I also realized that I needed to pull the trigger on building Sunnyshore Studio, something I had dreamed of for over a decade.
In February, Gary Boring and I visited the historic home and studio of the famous Indiana artist T.C. Steele’s during a break in an elder’s retreat in southern Indiana. This was a great chance to see an example of how one artist’s home and working studio has become a dynamic cultural and artistic destination. I got some great ideas for Sunnyshore Studio.
In March I set up Sunnyshore Studio as a business with a clear mission. The mission of Sunnyshore Studio is to share the beauty of Camano Island with the world. In April, I set up my Business Bank Account and Credit card. And in May, I launched my Word Press Web Site. It has been a lot of fun for me since then to write regular blogs.
In June, I announced that my decade old Children’s Book Project, I Remember Fishing with Dad, was being published by Just Dust Publishers.
In July, I announced to my Redeemer Indianapolis congregation that I had taken a call to pastor a church in Redmond, WA and that our family would be moving to Redmond in August. It was hard to say goodbye to this City in which we had lived for 13 years, and to our friends in Indianapolis who we love deeply.
At the end of August we moved to Redmond, WA, a town my father grew up in. This allowed me to be closer and be more hands-on with the work of developing Sunnyshore Studio.
In September, we worked with Heritage Bank on a mortgage for the Sunnyshore Studio project. At the beginning of October we heard back on the appraisal of our Sunnyshore Studio. We were excited to hear that our mortgage was approved (on certain conditions, including selling our home in Indy). As we waited, I worked on small projects on the property like trimming the hedge.
On October 29th I sent out a facebook post asking friends to help me purchase 200 copies of my book by pre-ordering I Remember Fishing with Dad. By November 2nd 100 books had been pre-ordered. I was blown away by the generosity of my family and friends. I saw the book for the first time at the November 29th Christmas Party at Just Dust Publishers and was thrilled by how great it looked.
On December 1, I Remember Fishing with Dad was released. Mom, Dad and I had a book release party where we mailed almost 200 books. I had a great time at three book signings in December: one at the Snow Goose Bookstore in Stanwood, WA; one at McDonalds Book Exchange in Redmond, WA; and one at the Harrison Center for the Arts, in Indianapolis, IN.
Finally, we are closing the sale on our home in Indianapolis on Monday, December 21st. This allows for us to move forward with the building of Sunnyshore Studio in 2016. I’m looking forward to working with Jim Spane on this.
As I look back on 2015 I have so much to be thankful for. I am amazed that dreams I had about Sunnyshore Studio and I Remember Fishing with Dad are coming true.
I am thankful for my mom and dad, my family and my friends, my beloved church family in Indianapolis and my new church family in Redmond, for the great sales of I Remember Fishing with Dad (400 in the first month after release!) and the exciting future for Sunnyshore Studio.
Most of all, I’m thankful for my LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ, who rescued me, and to whose glory I seek to live my life.
Sola Deo Gloria.