Publishing has a long timeline—often 6-18 months or more for a book to fulfill its journey from an idea to a physical volume you can hold, smell, and experience. And personally, most of my work with authors is at the very beginning of that process, in the ideation, planning, and writing stages. Sometimes I edit manuscripts as well, coming in after the manuscript has been written to help bring clarity and structure to the ideas. Which means that it’s usually a long time before I get to see the books I worked on come to life.
That’s why it’s been such a joy to see so many of my clients’ books that I worked on in 2022 and 2023 arriving in the mail this year. Each of these books has a story, not only a story that it tells, but also a story of how it came to exist. I’m always honored that I get to be part of that story.
I also want to share the following books because these authors are just like you. In most cases, they came to me unsure of themselves, wondering if they could truly realize the vision they had in their minds. Throughout the writing process, many of these authors had doubts. They were plagued by imposter syndrome. Life threatened to derail them. So many obstacles seemed to stand in the way.
But they stayed committed to their dream.
They were hungry for it. They woke up at 5am to write. They pushed back deadlines if they needed to. They called in help. They rolled with the rejections and took their fate into their own hands if need be. They navigated a sea of difficult decisions. They learned new skills and pushed themselves in ways they never thought possible.
And now, they’re standing on the other side, holding this beautiful work of art that they created and wondering: Will anyone else see all of the incredible work I did? Will it have the impact I hope it does? Will the vision that I’ve seen in my mind for years come to reality? Close to the arrival point myself, I now see that you stand on the shores of authorhood full of fear and trembling. There is immense pride. And there is also deep wondering.
So here’s what I’ll say to you, dear aspiring author. This is your chance to help out other authors. Buy their books. Leave reviews. Write to the authors—I promise, they would LOVE to hear from you. Let them know that you see the good work they’ve done. Do for them what you hope others will do for you.
Because these authors are the future you!
Calm in the Chaos: Ancient Stoic Wisdom for Successful School Leadership by Daniel Bauer (with me!)
You should read this book if… you’re an educator, business leader, or other community leader who deals with people who drive you crazy. If you encounter ethical quandaries or tests of character on a regular basis, this is the book you need to keep you sane and steady.
Unstoppable Brain: The New Neuroscience That Frees Us From Failure, Eases Our Stress, and Creates Lasting Change by Kyra Bobinet
You should read this book if… you see destructive or disappointing patterns in your life, and you think, “Why does this keep happening to me?!” This book will help you understand the neuroscience behind habit-building and motivation so that you can finally achieve breakthrough in the areas of life where you’ve felt stuck.
Reinvented: My Journey of Addiction and Redemption by Mike Cinelli
You should read this book if… you have struggled with an addiction of any kind, and/or if you know what it’s like to grieve a parent. If you’re looking for an incredible story of resilience and hope, please pick up this book. You’ll read it in a day and walk away changed forever.
Hurt and Healed by the Church: Redemption and Reconstruction After Spiritual Abuse by Ryan George
You should read this book if… you’ve experienced spiritual abuse in the church, and/or if you’re totally disenchanted with church but still want to hold onto your faith. For Ryan, the tension between church and faith came to a head when he learned that his own father, a pastor in the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist church, was a serial sex abuser. Ryan had to struggle through what felt like the falling apart of everything he had known about the church—and found healing and hope again in Jesus himself.
Live Slowly: A Gentle Invitation to Exhale by Jodi Grubbs
You should read this book if… you desperately need a beach vacation (like me!). Jodi was raised on the peaceful island of Bonaire, but moved to the U.S. and got caught up in hustle culture, working herself into burnout and exhaustion. She’s slowly recovered by returning to the rhythms of her childhood, and she teaches us all to live more intentionally even in the midst of the busyness and chaos around us. (Note: This is the book I’m taking with me on vacation this weekend!)
Courage, Clarity, & Confidence: Redefine Success and the Way You Work by Gala Jackson
You should read this book if… you’re a woman and you want to show up in your career as your boldest, most authentic self. If work has been feeling stale or disconnected from the things that make life meaningful, then you’ll love Gala’s empowering and warm coaching style in this book.
Gala was also a guest on the Hungry Authors podcast. Listen to her episode here!
A Day of Hope: How One Day Per Month Can Transform Your Life and Reclaim Forgotten Hope by Kayla Jones
You should read this book if… you feel like Liz Gilbert at the beginning of Eat, Pray, Love. Stuck in your life, knowing SOMETHING has to change—but what?! This book offers a starting point: Just one day each month, completely for you. It sounds almost too simple, but Kayla’s remarkable journey shows how powerful this one change can be.
Communicating Under Fire: The Mindset to Survive Any Crisis and Emerge Stronger by Dallas Lawrence
You should read this book if… you have a reputation to protect. Unfortunately, for leaders, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when you will face a crisis that threatens the reputation and good will you’ve built up. With tons of behind-the-scenes stories from the frontlines of many crises you’ve heard about in the media, crisis communications expert Dallas Lawrence shares the principles and mindsets that have helped celebrities, business leaders, and politicians emerge from these crises not just unscathed, but stronger than ever before.
One Yes at a Time: How Open Adoption Transformed Our Family by Susan Strong
You should read this book if… you have ever considered adoption or fostering. Bringing a child into your home expands your family in ways you may not have realized—especially with that child’s biological family. This is a remarkable story of three families who are bonded by their love for two special girls, and who together have created a life full of love for them and for each other. This book has inspired my vision for how I want my own future family to look!
Grit It Done: A Low-Risk Guide to Entrepreneurial Business Ownership by Reid Tileston
You should read this book if… you hope to own a business someday. If you’re interested in franchises or business acquisitions, then you’ll definitely be interested to hear how Tileston has had incredible success buying and selling businesses you may not have even considered investing in.
Executive Functions for Every Classroom, Grades 3-12: Creating Safe and Predictable Learning Environments by Mitch Weathers
You should read this book if… you’re an educator or parent and you want to help your kid learn necessary life skills like managing their time, organizing their lives, and regulating their emotions. These skills are called executive functions and they’re the things that help us get through life successfully. The problem is—most of us just assume kids will figure them out! Mitch shows us how to teach these skills through explicit modeling and predictable routines.
Glimpses: A Comedy Writer’s Take on Life, Love, and All That Spiritual Stuff by Matt Williams
You should read this book if… you watched Home Improvement in the 90s, and if you ever look at the world and wonder, “How did things get so bad?” Matt is a comedy writer and a Christian who thrived in Hollywood and who shares the “glimpses” of God that he sees even in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations. Fair warning: This book will have you laughing and crying.
Tips & Tidbits
What Makes a Book Interesting?
If you didn’t catch last week’s episode on the Hungry Authors podcast, you’re going to want to tune in to our conversation with Jeff Goins about what makes books interesting. Is it the author’s voice? the ideas? the story? or all of the above?
Preorder the Rise Journal!
Rise: A Journal for Perseverance is a thoughtfully designed journal to help you persevere and come alive to your life after loss or when life seems perpetually difficult. Tapping into both spiritual and therapeutic benefits, this journal will help you rise and reclaim your life. Order it here.
Inspiration for the Book You Want to Write
Ally Fallon is hosting a completely FREE workshop for writers - happening TOMORROW! If you’re not quite sure how to make the book of your dreams come true, then you’re going to want to tune in with Ally at 10a CT on Saturday, May 24. Here’s the link to register.
What’s Bringing Me Joy
I’m in Florida for the long weekend. And now that we’ve vacationed in Destin, I can say we’re real Southerners. :)
Enjoy your Memorial Day!
Ariel
Thanks for the shout out! Thanks even more for helping me make this book so much better than what it was when you found it.
I loved these sentences of your post, specifically:
They were hungry for it. They woke up at 5am to write. They pushed back deadlines if they needed to. They called in help. They rolled with the rejections and took their fate into their own hands if need be. They navigated a sea of difficult decisions. They learned new skills and pushed themselves in ways they never thought possible.
And now, they’re standing on the other side, holding this beautiful work of art that they created and wondering: Will anyone else see all of the incredible work I did? Will it have the impact I hope it does? Will the vision that I’ve seen in my mind for years come to reality?