Happy New Year!
Last year at this time I told you my goals would be to self-publish two Children’s books in 2021. (See that post here)
One thing I learned in 2021 is if you make a goal be prepared to change it.
My book Beneath the Hood launched in September, which was so exciting and humbling. I am so thankful to all of you who supported me, edited, reviewed, and purchased my book.
Then a month later we celebrated the one-year anniversary of this blog. Fifty-two posts and countless strummed heartstrings and laughs.
It was a rollercoaster year, for certain. (Check out my thoughts on Rollercoasters here LINK)
I’ve learned so much and grown as a writer and as a, dare I say, businesswoman along the way.
The most unnerving and heart wrenching part of this year’s journey has been preparing to release my book An Easter Bunny’s Tale.
In my goals and plans post at the beginning of 2021, Easter Bunny Tale was to be released in the spring 2021. But my illustrator fell through, and I made the decision to postpone the release till 2022. I even announced the title and cover as part of my blog anniversary celebrations, just a couple of months ago.
As we sit with two months till its scheduled release, An Easter Bunny's Tale had to go through some major revisions.
This was the book that I completed in quarantine 2020 and what pushed me to take the leap of faith and move toward self-publishing. I love this story. I have been working on it for ten years now and I am anxious to share it with you.
Due to some advanced reader responses I needed to revamp the story in order to be sensitive to readers who might have missed the gospel message, due to the transformation of a brown bunny to a white bunny.
Making sure the message within this book's pages is clear and powerful for you the reader has been worth the work and process of learning more about how language and images can affect a diverse readership.
I'm excited to share the new cover with you, today.
While the differences on the cover seem minimal, the words inside are quite different. I have had to grieve the loss of the original ideas and images, which I loved so much. And have battled thoughts of failure and self-doubt. But my hope for this book is that the truth of the gospel be presented to children young and old. I've had to remind myself that this book isn't about me it's about Jesus. It's about a simple story with biblical truth, not about what I envision.
So here are my goals for 2022
Goal #1
To launch The Easter Bunny's Tale on March 2nd. YAY!!!!
Goal #2
I also have a goal of four rejection letters.
What?
I know that seems like an odd goal, so let me explain.
J.K. Rowlings’ Harry Potter was rejected twelve times before getting published. We all know how successful that was/is.
Stephen King’s Carrie was rejected 30 times before it was published, which is now a horror classic.
Dr. Suess’ first book was rejected 27 times, along with Agatha Christie, Louisa Mae Alcott, and many other successful authors were rejected before accepted.
But the key to getting something accepted and published is submitting your work and to continue to work on your writing.
A book can’t get published if it is never in the hands of those who might take a chance on it.
So that’s the goal.
Goal #3
Go to Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference.
Think of it this way, if getting together on Sunday and worshiping God is fuel for our faithful souls, then a writer’s conference is the same kind of encouragement and fuel.
It is a great opportunity to meet other writers. To spend focused time on improving in the craft of writing.
An event like this stretches you so much that you have to grow. Like Grandma making you a dress that’s awkwardly too big, so you don’t grow out of it, but into it.
I’m looking forward to going and meeting up with a few writer friends I haven’t seen in a long time.
You can help me get there. Learn more here.
2021 was an amazing year and I can’t wait to share and travel along this adventure with you in 2022!
Happy New Year!!!
What are you planning for 2022?