What if we read the Bible with an activated imagination? Through a narrative retelling of the Exodus story, Kelley Nikondeha emphasizes notes of the story not usually stressed as she focuses on key women in the tale. Kelley integrates liberation stories of gutsy women activists such as Mahalia Jackson, Emma Gonzalez, Ahed Tamini, Dolores Huerta, Emilie Schindler, Rosa Parks, and many other justice-seeking women.
Kelley artfully threads her own unique story as an adopted daughter born to a Mexican mother, a mother to two children by adoption, and her intercultural marriage to a man from Burundi. Kelley is a talented writer and intelligent Bible scholar, so readers who appreciate great literature will admire her expertise in storytelling. Of the many women mentioned in the book, I found Kelley’s personal story as compelling as the other women she profiles. More than anything, Defiant is first and foremost a celebration of women.
As a former teacher myself, this book would provide excellent topics to discuss in a classroom since students could learn about various women in history who have made an impact through activism. Along with this, people of faith would benefit from reading a book using the Bible as a springboard to discuss personal responsibility as a catalyst for social change. Rather than divorcing social activism and religious faith, this book reflects the value of living out faith in practical ways in society.
While some conservative critics may consider the book to be “extra biblical,” or too heavy on creative storytelling, followers of Jesus often need a fresh look at Scripture to resuscitate familiar Bible characters to life. In the case of Defiant, I had never heard of many of the women Kelley focused on, though I’ve read Exodus many times. Growing up in patriarchal church structures, male pastors rarely preached about women. But as dissection specimens are injected with blue or pink dye, Kelley’s retelling illuminated the hidden women of Exodus, while causing the more-often celebrated men to fade into the background. As a woman used to hearing from and about men, Defiant was extremely refreshing.
Defiant is creative, smart, and liberating. Not only will you glean new knowledge of old truths as you read, you will be swept away in the story and the power that storytelling can achieve in the world.
[In the style of Verlyn Klinkenborg, one of my favorite authors on writing. I wrote this after writing and publishing my first book so I wouldn’t forget–just in case a next book wants to be written.]
1. Your book proposal is the blueprint of your book, but it will change.
2. Save at least 15 percent of your advance to use for marketing your book later.
3. Your final draft should bear little resemblance to your first draft. Tell (lie to) yourself: “It’s okay to write terribly. No one ever has to read this.”
4. You’ll be tempted to quote people smarter and more eloquent than you. Don’t let this become a crutch. Say it your way (and ignore all The Voices telling you why you can’t or shouldn’t do this work).
5. When you revise, print out your pages and mark them up. Highlight your verbs and nouns—are they vibrant, active, and concrete?
6. Schedule days (and maybe even weeks) to rest and let your manuscript sit, like dough rising.
7. Carve out space for solitude and listening. Go on long walks, runs, or bike rides alone. Pay attention.
8. Build up a support network years before you publish.
10. Print out your entire manuscript and bind it like a book. Do this after every major revision. Read your entire manuscript aloud several times over many months.
11. Use scissors to revise. Sometimes cutting, rearranging, and retyping the entire thing will help smooth out the wrinkles in your transitions.
12. Spend 80 percent of your social media real estate promoting others, 20 percent promoting yourself.
13. Save the stories you cut to use for articles and essays later.
14. Don’t apologize for writing, selling, or marketing your book. If you’re not excited about it, no one else will be.
15. Figure out how to use Scrivener. It will save you tons of time in the end.
16. Social media is not writing.
17. Platform building is not writing.
18. Reading books about writing is not writing.
19. Fans aren’t doing you a favor by buying your book. You did them a favor by writing it.
Ok folks, I have books for you. Add these to your Goodreads “want to read” list, pre-order on Amazon (this guarantees the lowest price), request from your local library, or call in to your indie bookstores to pre-order. I’m drooling over these gorgeous covers. Most of these books are nonfiction and all are by women writers. I can’t wait.
Please share this post so we can spread the word about these! If you’re an author and need some help in launching a book, you can check out some ideas I’ve collected here. Authors appreciate readers pre-ordering, writing reviews, and sharing about books on social media and with friends in real life. Every bit helps.
I’ll continue being an irresponsible reader (according to my husband who reads one book at a time) and will likely read many of these at once. Which ones look good to you? I already bought the book of poetry as I compiled this list. Happy reading!
This list will be updated periodically throughout the year. Enjoy! If you’d like more book recommendations, please sign up for my monthly-ish newsletter!
This post includes Amazon affiliate links. But when possible, I recommend supporting your local indie bookstore! 🙂
Although it can be difficult to pinpoint my exact “moment of salvation” on a timeline, if I go by that day as a ten-year-old when I knelt by my bed, asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins, and offered my life to God, I’d say I’ve been a Christian for thirty years now.
But just as you often hear of martial problems popping up around the twenty, thirty, or forty-year marks, the past couple years of walking with Jesus have been the hardest—mainly because he’s been the most silent. (Or perhaps because I’ve been the most distracted.) But I’ve also felt distant from God as I’ve ogled the shenanigans of the Western Christian church in the news more often than I’ve sat at the feet of Jesus. I’ve been ashamed to be a Christian because the church often looks so different from the Jesus I thought I knew.
So when I picked up Liz Ditty’s book, I’m embarrassed to confess that I didn’t have any expectations of meeting God within the pages. I should have known that with a book called God’s Many Voices: Learning to Listen, Expectant to Hear, God just might have something to say.
I read almost the entire book in one sitting this past weekend during a getaway with my husband. Like the nerds we are, we sat reading for hours in the loft at my parents’ house in the Rocky Mountains, keeping an eye out for the herd of elk wintering at their home in Grand Lake, Colorado. I kept giving my husband the side-eye, wondering if he saw the occasional tear fall or if he was getting annoyed by my furious underlining or vocal responses of “yes” and “hm” as I read.
Even though I think Liz and I are about the same age, as I read, I felt like the author was a trusted older sister sharing her life with me and giving me a peek behind the veil to learn from her relationship with God. Through wise, open, and honest personal stories, Liz neatly unzipped the truths of the Bible in ways I hadn’t considered before. She made me envious of her relationship with Jesus in the best sense of the word—she made me yearn for that kind of relationship myself.
After finishing the book, I feel inspired to spend time with God again on a daily basis. And I want to talk about God again in community with my husband, children, and friends. Liz discusses Bible reading, prayer, and listening in such a compelling way that it made me want to wake up early and begin seeking God like I have in the past. Her writing is clear, beautiful, and winsome, but she also manages to offer plenty of practical tips and ideas for pursuing and listening for the voice of God in our daily lives.
If you are in a wilderness season, a silent stretch, or have hit an apathetic patch in your relationship with God, this book may be just what you need to remind you of the joy, peace, and delight that comes from a thriving relationship with God. As a spiritual guide, mentor, and teacher, Liz will lead you straight to Jesus himself and remind you how to commune with him again.
***
I finally bought this book when I noticed it was super cheap on Amazon--$7.58 down from $16.99! I noticed she also has an audio book. If I were you, I’d pick up several copies of God’s Many Voices to give as Christmas gifts! (And if you do buy it, would you be willing to leave an honest review on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon? This helps authors more than you know!)
When I launched my book, my platform was small: I had about five hundred followers on each social media platform, including my email list. I needed help.
My launch team spread the word about my book to their virtual and real life friends and churches. They asked their libraries and local independent bookstores to order my book. They pre-ordered, did giveaways of my book on their blogs (I offered twenty-five of my author copies to them for this purpose), and they recommended me to podcasts.
But more than all that, they rallied around me and reminded me I was not alone in launching my book into the world. They gave me confidence, encouragement, and believed my book would and could make a difference in neighborhoods and communities. They were my people.
This was not the only thing I did to launch my book (you can see the rest of my book launch plan here), but I do think the team was an essential component during the weeks leading up to my book release and after.
I have only launched one book into the world (so far), but I’ve been a member of at least a dozen teams. Here is everything I know about launch teams to get you started on this new endeavor. Best of luck!
Launch Team Tips:
Ask an enthusiastic friend to help you lead it. My friend Annie Rim did this for me and was amazing. Some people, like Anna LeBaron and Amy Oden, do this for pay. If you can, find a friend who is savvy on social media and not afraid to lead a group, and ask them to spearhead your group for you. This way it doesn’t feel so smarmy and like you as the author is constantly asking people to share about you.
Begin early. I started my team eight weeks before my book launched. I was afraid my group would lose momentum, but since I only had digital copies available, it took awhile to work out some of the kinks in downloading my book. And by the time my book released, they had plastered it all over social media for weeks and weeks.
Focus on Goodreads. Encourage your team to share their reviews on Goodreads as soon as they complete the book. This makes it very easy for them to copy and paste the reviews on Amazon on launch day.
Create forms for people to sign up for your launch team using Google Forms. It’s free and easy. Don’t forget to collect email addresses and add them to your mailing list (you can upload them from the spreadsheet you generate from your google form).
Do weekly Facebook Lives. Even if you hate yourself on video (which is ME–I loathe myself on video), do a weekly Facebook live. These weekly FB lives were always a technological disaster for me, but I think they helped me and my launch team to bond over the weeks. I usually asked them if they had questions ahead of time, but also had a mini-agenda.
Find fans, not other writer friends. I recruited my launch team from Instagram, Facebook, the writing groups I’m a part of, other Facebook groups (i.e. Sorta Awesome hangout), Twitter, and my email list. I didn’t require them to purchase the book or have a certain number of followers. Anyone could join. I had 206 sign up and about 160 ended up joining the Facebook group.
Think about doing a pre-order bonus. I did this, but I’m still not sure how effective it was. I figured it couldn’t hurt! I also added these emails to my newsletter list, so it helped my list to grow.
Offer the launch team tasks via email AND Facebook. I emailed my group every Monday with some specific tasks (below). Annie shared them in the Facebook group.
Make sharing easy for your team. Provide images, memes, and lots of photos of your book for them to share. These can also be stored in the “files” or “photos” section of your FB group.
Be sure to foster community within your group. I asked my group to share about themselves and their businesses, books, blogs, podcasts, or artwork as well. And be engaged–reply to your launch team when they ask you questions! Facebook favors engagement.
Have your group follow your book’s hashtag. This seemed to be the most useful on Instagram, but if they followed the #InvitedBook hashtag, then it was easy for them to like and comment on one another’s posts about the book.
Launch Team Checklist
This is a list we shared with my launch team and kept it handy in the “files” section. I also emailed it out and posted it within the Facebook group.
DOWNLOAD: Download/read the book
JOIN: Join the Facebook group and introduce yourself! (Set notifications to “all posts” and check out the “files” section for lots of useful info.)
PRE-ORDER: Pre-order the book. Here are some reasons why:
Pre-orders help with Amazon algorithms and will put the book in front of more eyes in the days to come.
Pre-ordering a book locks you into the lowest price (you won’t be charged until the book actually ships).
Pre-orders ensure that Amazon will have enough books in stock after the book releases.
Pre-orders convince bookstores that enough people are interested in the book to make it worth their while to purchase it.
You will be eligible for some bonuses only available to those who pre-order the book.
If you’re a blogger, consider using the pre-order as a giveaway on your blog or on social media to grow your email list or blog subscribers. For the rest of you, you’ll have a copy to share with your friends, family, or church who might be interested in discussing the book. Leslie won’t be offended if you want to give away her book;-) Here’s a useful article that explains more about why pre-orders are important.
4. SPREAD THE WORD: Share about the pre-order bonuses wherever you are active on social media. Be sure to tag Leslie and use the #InvitedBook hashtag any time you share about the book. If you’ve already started reading and are enjoying the book, then tell your followers that (if you say you like a book, people WILL buy it!)
5. GOODREADS: Log in to Goodreads (or open a free account) and mark the book as “want to read” or “currently reading” (small box below the image of the book). Goodreads has over 65,000,000 members. It’s the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations (so it’s a big deal to have some reviews on there!). Go ahead and writer your review as soon as you finish reading the book (see #12 for more on that)!
6. SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow the author on all social media channels, then “follow” the hashtag #Book on any social media where you hang out (especially Instagram). (add links to social media)
7. READ: Aim to finish reading by ____ if you can so we can start discussing in the FB group!
8. SHARE: Highlight parts of the book you like as you read and share short quotes on social media. Tag the author on social media and use the book’s hashtag. When you see posts related to this hashtag in the future, like, comment, and share them. Check to see if she’s posted anything related to Invited and “like” and share those posts! Feel free to make your own memes at Canva or use some provided in the file on the Facebook page. You can also find premade tweets in both of those places. If you are a blogger, consider writing a review of the book on your site, or sharing one of the posts or interviews in the “files” section of the FB group (coming soon!)
9. REQUEST: Did you know you can ask your local library, church library, and independent bookstores to order books? You can! 😉
10. ORDER: Call or visit your local bookstore or church library and ask them to order the book. Be sure to have the full book title and ISBN # in front of you (Invited: The Power of Hospitality in an Age of Loneliness by Leslie Verner ISBN# 978-1513804330). For your library, all you need to do is fill out an online form and they’ll likely be able to order the book!
11. RECOMMEND: Can you think of any podcasts, newspapers, blogs, church groups, conferences, or other speaking venues you could recommend this book to? Here is the link to Leslie’s speaking page on her website.
12. REVIEW ON GOODREADS AS SOON AS YOU FINISH READING THE BOOK: Here’s how: Log in to Goodreads or start your own free account. Go to Invited in Goodreads. Once you’ve finished the book and are ready to write your review, mark Invited “Read” by using the green pull-down arrow underneath the book cover photo. Select the number of stars. When you do that, Goodreads will open up a popup box where you can write your review. (Pro Tip: write this review in Word or notes and you can use the same one on Amazon, your blog, or on social media later on!)
13. REVIEW ON AMAZON ON _____ : Set a timer on your phone or calendar so you will remember to post. We’re shooting for fifty reviews (there are 200 people in this launch team, so we think this is a realistic goal!). When you write, use the author’s last name or “the author,” not “my college roommate” or “my best friend” 😉 You can copy and paste the same review you used on Goodreads or on your blog. This is a helpful article about writing Amazon reviews.
14. TELL: Tell your friends about the book—word of mouth is still the best way to share about books!
Thank you so much for your help! We’re so grateful for your enthusiasm and support.
Additional Resources:
How to Create a Launch Team (Ep. 157) Create If Writing Podcast. I like how the host of this podcasts advocates for doing two kinds of teams–an ARC team and a launch team. In my writer groups, I asked if anyone would like a copy of my book for review. My publisher allowed me to buy ARCS of my book, so I offered these to my writer friends who I knew couldn’t commit to my launch team.
In August of 2019 I published my first book, called Invited: The Power of Hospitality in an Age of Loneliness, with a small, but professional publisher. They were able to get my book in a few magazine ads and sent it in to be reviewed by Publisher’s Weekly and some other well-known publications, which was a huge help. But other than that, I’ve had to do much of the marketing on my own.
I have a tiny platform, but I’ve been able to sell books despite not having a ton of followers. I’ve participated in over a dozen launch teams myself, read books, and binge-listened to hundreds of hours of podcasts relating to book marketing. To save you some time, here is what I’ve learned about launching a book into the world:
Pre-Launch Ideas
RECRUIT A LAUNCH TEAM: Check out this separate post about leading a launch team.
PUBLISH ARTICLES: Pre-write articles and submit to online publications or arrange to guest post on friends’ blogs. Time them so they will be published around the time of your book launch. I was able to use some parts of my book that I cut out during revisions. Sometimes it helps to offer a copy of your book as a giveaway.
SET UP SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: Because I still have little kids at home, I can’t travel too far from home (not to mention the financial implications of doing that). Because of this, I contacted all the MOPS groups in my area since I could put my kids in childcare for free, get paid (in some cases), share my message, and sell my book afterward. I ordered a free Square so I could take credit cards. Even though they charge 2.7%, it’s worked really well so far! Venmo is also a good option because they don’t charge a fee for using it. I also bought these clipboards to pass around with email sign-ups and these book stands to display my book when I sell it after events.
Think about places your readers hang out–do you need to speak at churches, conferences, retreats, or community venues? Be creative and make a list of all the places you could speak. I also plan to set up a few speaking engagements at our public library. To prepare to speak, I read the book Resonate and Talk Like TED as a crash course.
BUILD YOUR EMAIL LIST: If there’s anything I’ve heard repeatedly over the last few years of learning about marketing, it’s this: “Build your email list first and focus less on all your other social media.” You can’t control the algorithms of Facebook or Instagram, but if you have an email list, it’s all in your control (now controlling whether your emails actually get opened or not is another story…).
There are many ways to do this, but a few are:
1. Have a lead magnet (on my site, I now offer chapter one of my book, but before I came out with a book I offered a list of hospitality resources).
2. Have people enter giveaways on other social media by signing up for your newsletter. (Also, give away something people actually WANT.)
3. Have a squeeze page on your site (a page where they have to enter their email to continue on your site–I don’t have this yet.)
4. When you speak places, always pass around a sign up sheet (don’t just put it up front–pass it around on a clipboard).
BE A GUEST ON PODCASTS: Try to get on as many podcasts as possible. This is free publicity without leaving your home. Most podcasters are working from inside their closets, so all you need is a computer and some headphones.
Setting up different podcasts has been challenging, but over a year ago, I started following many podcasts on Instagram. If an author with a book similar to mine was on a podcast, I started following that podcast. Now, when the podcast pops up in my feed, I hit the message button on Instagram and ask them if they’d like to have me as a guest on their show. I kind of hate doing this, but the worst that can happen is that they say no. In some cases, they’ve said no, but they’re willing to do a giveaway of my book. This article was helpful as I prepared for interviews: How to Give a Great Radio [or Podcast] Interview by Amy Boucher Pye.
USE YOUR ARCS WISELY: Find out how many advance reader copies (ARCS) your publisher is willing to give you–then ask for more. I mailed ARCS to writer friends, other influencers, or podcasts who wanted to have me as a guest.
I was with a small publisher, so I ended up buying my ARCS for $4.50 each (plus shipping). For this reason, my six-year-old started walking around saying “You have spend money to make money.” When you become an author, you become a small business owner with a product to sell. Often we have to invest before we see any profit.
ORDER ENVELOPES: Buy these envelopes so you’re ready to mail out ARCS and final copies. I probably gave away two hundred hard copies of my book for free. Don’t forget to use media mail! For me, each mailing coast $2.75 per book. Also grab a pack of thank you notes!
LOOK FOR PARTNERSHIPS: Partner with other authors or bloggers and offer them your book as a giveaway on their sites or newsletters. You could also partner with small businesses that might have an interest in your book and be willing to donate items to your followers. Give away other books or products on your blog or social media and ask them to sign up for your newsletter to enter the contest (you’ll continue mentioning your book to your newsletter list …).
GET ON THE PHONE: I know, I hate doing this , too. But it was actually more encouraging than I expected. Ask local bookstores and churches with bookstores in your state to order your book. Many bookstores like promoting local authors. Be sure to stop by and say hi when you’re in their neighborhood. When you call, just say, “Hey! I’m a local author. I wondered if you’d be able to order my book for your store.” They’ll usually connect you with the right person and most will ask you some questions about your book, so be ready with your elevator pitch.
CONSIDER HIRING A PUBLICIST: I did hire a publicist to do a modified campaign for me and we did a mailing to about fifty of her contacts who were mainly in radio. I paid one-fourth of what she usually charges for a full campaign, but she was able to book me a few very high-profile radio shows that were broadcast all over the nation. I put the publicist I hired in touch with my publicist at my publisher so they weren’t contacting the same people. (I was nervous about this, but my publisher didn’t seem to have a problem with me hiring extra help.)
Launch Ideas (Week Of Release)
HOST A LAUNCH PARTY: I did this locally and invited everyone I know. I hired a friend to play his cello, recruited friends to pass out tickets for door prizes, help me sell books, keep an eye on the food table, and make sure the kid area wasn’t in shambles. We had about 60 people and it was a blast. This post by Emily P. Freeman was helpful as I thought through what kind of party I wanted to have (though mine was very different from hers): I Finally Figured Out How to Have a Book Launch Party.
BOOK SIGNINGS: I called or emailed to set up three book signings at local independent bookstores which ranged from hugely successful to utter failure. Check out some great resources about doing signings here: Book Signing Tips for Authors.
One bookstore ordered the book ahead of time and I sold exactly ZERO books. With the other two, we negotiated and they paid me after the books were sold (at one, I got 60 percent of the book–so about $10.00 after paying my publisher $8.50 for it–$1.50 per book. I sold three books. At the other, we split the profit 50/50, so I got to take home $4.00 per book and I sold twenty-two books. Read my post about doing book signings … we don’t do book signings for the money!)
HOST GIVEAWAYS: Give away your book, but also other books or items to your followers. Be helpful to other writers who are also trying to spread the word about their work (maybe try some cross-promotion via social media or newsletter lists.)
STAY VISIBLE: I think it was Emily Freeman who said she likes to keep her book in the top nine images in her Instagram feed. Don’t stop mentioning your book, but don’t mention it all the time, either. Send monthly newsletters with helpful ideas and info for your readers.
KEEP SPEAKING, PITCHING, WRITING: I’m only two months out and I’m already tired. But I’m told the hustle must continue for many more months. (The good news is that my publisher said to keep doing what I’m doing, because it’s working! They sold through most of the first-year projections for my book in the first month.)
I think of this entire process as scattering seeds. Some books will languish on shelves, some will take root, and others will multiply. My job is to send more books out into the world, let them do as they will, and allow the wind of the Spirit take care of the rest.
Other Helpful Resources:
Book Launch Show by Tim Grahl and the Novel Marketing Podcast with Thomas Umstattd Jr. and James L. Rubart are podcasts that elaborate on all of the ideas I mentioned above. I binge-listened in the months before my book released.
Your First 1000 Copies by Tim Grahl is a very helpful book that helps frame your book launch as a long-term endeavor.
Remember that if you’re not excited about your book, why should anyone else be? Your book is not YOU, it’s your gift to the world, so it’s worth spreading the word about it!
Statistics tell us that 81 percent of people want to write a book in their lifetime. Since I wrote my own book, many friends in real life have confessed their secret desire to write a book of their own. Other online friends in writing groups ask questions about how to format their book proposals, query agents, or build their platform.
I often get asked the how. “How did this come about? How did you know what to write? How did you actually write it?” But before addressing the how of writing a book, individuals would benefit from musing over the question of why?
Why do you want to write a book–and why now?
When I wrote my book, I was 39 years old and had a one, three, and five-year-old at home. None of my kids were in school. Although my husband takes full responsibility for praying that book into existence, I still wrestle with my choice to write a book during an already full-to-the-brim time of life. Did it pour life into me and my family, or siphon off joy, peace, and family harmony? Why did I need to write it then?
Over the past few years as a blogger, book launch team member, and book reviewer, I’ve read many non-fiction books written by various authors with different publishers. As a writer, editor, and writing teacher, I have two thoughts:
1. Many books would benefit from better editing. While I’ve read some fabulous books, many that I read were too long, too wordy, or not structured well. Publishers are busy and editors have too much on their plate. Editors don’t have time to struggle back and forth with an author to get it just right. If you are writing a book, I recommend setting aside a portion of your advance to hire your own writing coach. The classics became classics because they had outstanding editors (see The Artful Edit).
2. Many people write their books too soon. We are eager to birth our stories into the world, but many of them are born prematurely. We harvest the gardens of our lives long before they have come to full bloom. Patience should be the writer’s greatest virtue. Our stories usually benefit from a longer time in the ground, on the stalk, or growing on the vine.
Last week my kids and I watched the 2016 animated film Leap about an orphan who becomes a ballerina in Paris (love me a good dancing movie). Throughout the film, her mentor asks her, “Why do you dance?” She doesn’t know, doesn’t have a good answer. Until the end. It is only when she internalizes her “why” that her dancing demonstrates the passion, grace, and conviction required to take her from average to extraordinary.
Some writers claim that writing is their calling. I wrestle with the concept of “calling” because I believe we over-spiritualize and amass undue weight to “Our Call.”
Instead of thinking of writing as my calling, I think of it as my compulsion. Writing is this thing I can’t not do. It’s this thing that helps me illuminate what I ultimately believe about myself, God, and the world. It attunes me to wonder in the world and invites mystery into my ordinary days. Writing–in my journal or for an audience–works out the kinks in my psyche and soul in a way just pondering or talking about those things can’t quite do. Writing, for better or for worse, is an addiction. A compulsion. A need.
I recently finished reading the compelling memoir When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon diagnosed with lung cancer who died before completing the manuscript. When he finally resigned from his work at the hospital, he poured all the rest of his creative energy his last year of life into “finally writing that book.” In his final chapter he writes, “Words have a longevity I do not.” We write to immortalize ourselves.
But writing a book costs us. For me, the price of writing this book was:
Less physical time with my kids (which I was fine with, actually–“I have a book to write” feels like a noble excuse for temporary escape. Much better than “I have a blog post to write or novel to read.”)
Fractured and distracted time with my kids and my husband. (Nothing like a surprise invasion of imposter syndrome, comparison, or “But I can’t do this” lament to sideline foreplay.)
Much money spent on babysitters, new headshots, postage for mailing books, writing at a nearby Abbey, paying my own book coach and publicist, writing software, purchasing books for research, paying for my own advance reader copies (ARCs) to distribute to influencers, paying for ads on Instagram, and for my launch party. (My husband calls all this “investment in my career”… most days I agree.)
The mental/emotional toll of All The Voices. The result for me was often insomnia, sometimes tears, and the occasional freak out.
Loss of friendships. Every spare moment was spent writing my book. While I used to spend naptimes calling long-distance friends, I now needed to spend that time researching or writing my book. While I used to have time to chat with moms at pre-school pickup-up, I needed to rush home to get to work on a book about making time for people and building community (the irony!).
Before you write that book, count the cost. What’s it worth to you? Could your stories wait?
One friend says she makes decisions based on the criteria: “Does this give life to me and my family or steal life from me and my family?” But is it fair to use the “life-giving/life-stealing criteria” for evaluating the creation of art? Or is the transformation of my readers, their churches, and their neighborhoods worth the temporary strain on my marriage, friendships, and family? (This is where believing in a “Higher Calling” would come in handy. Higher Callings demand personal sacrifice for the greater good of humanity. Do I believe my writing is that far-reaching?)
In Walking on Water, Madeleine L’Engle says that “if the work comes to the artist and says, ‘Here I am, serve me,’ then the job of the artist, great or small, is to serve.”
I don’t write because it brings me or my family greater happiness (though I confess I’ve had moments of exhilaration). I don’t write because it brings me greater peace, joy, or helps me sleep better at night (it doesn’t). And I don’t write because I want to be famous, rich, or accomplished. I write because I must. Not writing is more painful, awkward, and–dare I say–foolish. Not writing feels like disobedience. Not writing would be leaving behind the topo map, compass, and binoculars I’ve been gifted to instead bushwhack through the forest blind.
Until we know why we write, our faulty reasons for writing and wanting to publish a book will lead us astray. (To be fair, sometimes we write to pay the bills … this is not exactly what I’m talking about here. There are usually about three hundred better ways to put groceries in your fridge and gas in your car than becoming a writer.)
Before you pursue that agent, that book proposal, that book deal, I urge you to wrestle with your why. And after that, ask yourself some questions:
Why is now the right time?
Would my stories benefit from a bit more marinating? A bit more time curing and being cultivated in secret? Has my story reached maturation?
Must I write?
As writers, we can google “how” to write a book. We can take classes, read books, join online writing communities, and listen to writers on podcasts. But every writer must work out their own “why.”
Why do you write? And are you meant to write that book now? If your answer is yes, then go in peace and serve the work. It may well be the hardest thing you ever do. (Just don’t say no one warned you.) And don’t be shocked if when it’s turned in, printed, and launching out into the world, instead of relaxing in a kayak on a serene lake or tickling your children under an apple tree, you feel The Tug. And you know. You may just need to do it all over again.
My husband had a difficult time convincing me this book wasn’t actually scary. He read it first, so I kept checking in, “Are you sure this isn’t a horror story?” He assured me it wasn’t. He was right. Mostly. Light from Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker is the perfect level of suspense for a light-weight like me. Thrilling, but not too gory. Scary, but not nightmare-inducing.
Through disarming prose and complex characters, Smucker entertains readers with a thought-provoking, engrossing story. Switching back and forth in time between the young and middle-aged protagonist, Cohen, Smucker guides the reader to explore the problem begging for answers: Who (or what) attacked Cohen’s father while he was at work in the morgue? (And the unspoken question: Did Cohen attempt to murder his own father?)
If you’ve read Smucker’s first young adult novel called The Day the Angels Fell, this book has some of the same shadowy parallels as he explores themes of death, guilt, the parent-child relationship, and the fears we struggle to overcome. While this novel is geared more toward adults, mature teens would also enjoy this story. Light from Distant Stars is the kind of novel that carries you away in the story and you don’t want to stop until you get some answers. The last quarter of the book kept me turning pages late into the night. Throughout the book, I kept asking myself, “Do I believe Cohen?” “What is reality?” and “Do I trust Cohen’s memories?”
And as for my husband’s confidence that this was not a thriller, I have to say I disagree. If it were a film, I’d put it at the Sixth Sense-level of spookiness. But even though the story concluded with plenty of unanswered questions, Light from Distant Stars was an entertaining, nuanced, and a satisfying read. The books that leave unanswered questions are usually the ones that keep us thinking for ourselves long after we’ve finished the book.
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You will be emailed a PDF of “Ideas for Inviting”–a list of nearly 100 ideas for practicing hospitality included in the back of your new Invited book.
For each copy you order, you’ll qualify for another entry to win one of five bundles of either ethical gifts or books related to Invited. (Details below.)
Winners will be notified by August 20th.
*only U.S. residents and Canadians are eligible for the giveaways, but you can live anywhere to receive “Ideas for Inviting.”
Pre-ordering a book on Amazon locks you in to the lowest price PLUS you’ll receive your book the day it releases, on August 13th.
Don’t forget to snap a pic of your new book and put it on social media (tag @leslie_verner on Twitter and @scraping_raisins on Instagram and use the hashtag #InvitedBook), and review it on Amazon when you get a chance!
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I am honored to be partnering with some fabulous ethical gift companies (described below) who have donated items to give away for these pre-order bonuses.
BUNDLES:
Gift Bundle #1
Wristlet from Imagine Goods
Table runner from Dignify
Earrings from Grain of Rice Project
A pound of coffee home-roasted by Adam Verner
Shoe bag from The White Peacock
Mug from Papillion Marketplace
Extending the Table cookbook (I’ve used this for twenty years and this is a NEW edition!)
I’m Honored to Partner with These 8 Ethical Gift Companies:
I hope you take the time read some of the stories behind these inspiring companies (I’m usually in tears each year as I research them for my Christmas ethical gift list). Be sure to keep these companies in mind when you do your Christmas shopping this year!
Dignify helps women experience and share hospitality with their one-of-a-kind kantha blankets, sustainably made with dignity by vulnerable populations of women in Bangladesh.
Dignify donated table runners to the Invited pre-order bonus gift!
Grain of Rice Project empowers Kenyans living in the Kibera slum by helping them become self-sufficient through employment, education, and skills training.
Grain of Rice Project donated several gorgeous pieces of jewelry for the Invited pre-order bonus gift!
Papillon Marketplace provides jobs for Haitians and trains individuals to use metal, cardboard, aluminum, dirt, and paper to create jewelry and other products.
Papillon Marketplace donated mugs and a tote to these pre-order bonuses!
Sari Bari partners with women who have chosen to empower themselves by exiting the sex trade in India by providing jobs to create beautiful products using vintage saris from Kolkata’s largest red light district.
Sari Bari donated these napkins as well as a table runner for our pre-order bonuses!
Surprised by Paradox: The Promise of And in an Either-Or World is an invitation to probe into the mysteries of faith in Jesus. If you’re looking for an ambitious book written by a wise woman, this book is for you. Michel’s writing is sharp, intelligent, and sincere. She doesn’t pull punches, but she does offer plenty of glimpses into her own humanity and struggles. Within her biblical exegesis, Michel quotes from theologians, philosophers, and historians such as Willard, Tertullian, Spurgeon, Tozer, Rutledge, Bonhoeffer, Chesterton, Athanasius, and Wright. Far from fluffy, this book is engaging, intellectual, and meaty. Michel gives literary legs to abstract ideas.
Divided into four major sections–incarnation, kingdom, grace, and lament–with questions for discussion and reflection at the end of each section, Michel confronts a quandary in each chapter that people often pose in the Christian faith. She considers questions such as: Should we live for heaven or live for earth? Should we be sacrificing more or enjoying more? How should Christians engage with politics? How is grace different from leniency? What’s the role of lament in the life of the Christian? What about suffering? In the introduction Michel says, “This is a book about faith in its lived-in condition—as it abides complexity rather than resists it.” The promise of “And” in an “Either-Or World.”
Michel is candid about her sexual struggles as a teenager and the tragic death of her brother. She also confronts many questions about politics, race, and some of the other divides that plague our churches. Michel acknowledges the elephant(s) in the room and urges us to describe our view. Surprised by Paradox invites us back into conversations with one another. Michel is a high-stakes writer who bravely peels back the curtains we use to guard ourselves and seems to say, “I’ll go first.”
This was the first book I read by Jen Pollock Michel. It’s hard to believe she has written three books in five years, because this one is so chockful of golden nuggets, I wonder how she had so many left over after writing the last two books. My one regret in reading is that I read it too swiftly. This book is best savored, sifted, and ruminated upon. It would make a fabulous book to discuss with a spouse, friend, or small group.
Michel ends her epilogue with an invitation to wonder. She writes, “let us have certainty when it’s available, let us have humility when it’s not.” This statement is the crux of her entire book, an invitation to ask the hard questions and welcome wonder and mystery to fill in the cracks when we can’t arrive at easy answers.
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