This week marked the 2-year anniversary of the release of my story, “Walking My Mother Home,” in Journeys to Mother Love. It passed without any promotional fanfare. Except for one or two friends, I didn’t even mention it in passing. However, as I age, these sorts of milestones seem to carry an emotional marker that internally surfaces and causes me to pause and take note of their significance. So naturally, as a writer, I am writing about it…
Toasting to the release of Journeys to Mother Love, August 2012.
So You Want to Write
I could tell you lots about what I learned in these past two years about publishing, yet I’ve only scratched the surface myself in my knowledge. I know the dos and don’ts and the ins and outs of blogging, social media, etc. However, I don’t read much about it anymore. (Michael Hyatt and Chip MacGregor are two of my favorite publishing bloggers.) Instead I have turned my attention to helping and encouraging others in their writing and blogging quests.
Each published author has a very unique story to tell of how they got their first book published—all fraught with rejection and perseverance, and generally being at the right place at the right time. I’ve written about my journey into publishing on my site in the past. (Check out the “My Writing Journey” category on the right sidebar.) Today I’m sharing with my readers how this journey has affected me and why I continue to pursue my writing and publishing dreams.
In sitting down to write this post, a quote by Louise DeSalvo came to mind, from her book Writing as a Way of Healing: “ …if you want to write you must follow your desire to write…if you want to become a writer, eventually you’ll learn through writing—and only through writing…if you want to write and don’t because you don’t feel worthy enough or able enough, not writing will eventually begin to erase who you are.” I wrote about this quote back when I started writing in a post called, Why I Write.
Why I Write
Back then, I did struggle to feel worthy or able enough to write. I can vividly remember my first Christian writer’s meeting I attended with a good friend who was further into her publishing journey (and is now published). It was a bit intimidating to attend that meeting (3 years ago next month), meet authors, and share the intense call I felt to write. The other pre-published and published authors were very encouraging and helpful. So I just dug right in, starting my blog (also 3 years ago next month), buying writing books, subscribing to writing blogs, and becoming a member of the writer’s association, NCWA.
Now writing is an integral part of my life. I CANNOT NOT WRITE. I consider it my ministry for others (my 12th Step—giving back), but it is also a way I embark on my own self-care. Along the way, my writing has helped to ground me in my faith and to claim my identity as a Child of God. My writing has given me a voice that was long ago minimized and criticized, and it has prevented the ‘erasing’ of who I am.
If you’ve followed me along my blogging journey you may note that there are times when my writing may not seem very inspirational, directly point people to Jesus, or have a purpose other than to document what is on my mind or going on in my life. Regardless, I am a Christian writer—and sometimes it looks like I am a writer who just happens to be a Christian.
After three years, I see most of my life through the lens of a writer; and I love it. It has given me opportunities to regularly write for other venues like my publisher’s site, JourneysToMotherLove.com, and the ministry site where I serve, CelebrateRecoveryOnThePlateau.org. This summer I added guest blogging to the mix for ChristianMommyBlogger.com and UnomaNwankwor.com. (Unoma is the Christian fiction author I met at Pedro’s movie premiere.) I serve as the editor/blog servant for Reclaim Ministries. And finally, my writing also gives me a front row seat to Pedro’s pursuit of his music dreams in the film industry.
So I am continuing to write. I haven’t given up on my dreams of publishing the full-length book, Emerging From the Cocoon (tentative title). At the moment I’m too busy living the sequel (title unknown) and watching as God heals me or others on my path. Most assuredly, the sequel will include my Spanish connection.
Journeys to Mother Love Turns 2
And what about my story, Chapter 8 – Walking My Mother Home, in Journeys to Mother Love? In a nutshell, it remains the foundation of my message, my healing, and why I write. It was my first born baby and my love child.
This second year hasn’t been about marketing and selling it so much as it has been about sharing the story in the right context. And sometimes it was about giving it away to people who made an impact in my life over the years. My story continues to be a vehicle for me to show others the love of our heavenly Father and how when we embrace healing and forgiveness, Jesus turns it into Hope.
Having said that, I’m happy to announce that I will be giving it away in bigger ways very soon. But the details of that announcement will have to wait until another time.
In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a gallery of authors and recovery contacts who recently acquired my book while in LA. My hope is always that my story inspires them as their writing and teaching has inspired me.
Thanks to everyone who has purchased my book, written a review, sent me a personal note, subscribed to my blog, liked my Facebook page, or supported my writing through prayer and other means. It has meant the world to me.
God has turned my healing to hope…just like He will yours.
Making Me Bold 