My first book Sober Cycle - Pedaling Through Recovery One Day at a Time will be released by New Hope Publishing on April 20, 2021. You can view it here on Amazon.
Writing and Publishing a book has been a bit daunting,
to say the least. I thought I would share with you what's been happening in the process that started about five years ago.
I've been feeling all the feels on this journey.
You could start each paragraph with this sentence; I'm feeling kind of....
Scared. Or maybe I should say stripped! Ok, scared because I am stripping. I said to a friend recently "I feel like I’m playing a game of strip poker and every day I have to take off another piece of clothing.” I am long past the safety of a belt, headband, or sock. We are down to the bare necessities! Please don’t attempt to conjure up a visual-believe me I’ve seen it and just, "no.” But this is how I feel! This book is the heart and soul of my secrets. The secrets I carried for years and now they are on Amazon. Go ahead, wrap your mind around that! So yes, I am naked and afraid.
Overwhelmed. I had no idea whatsoever that these last few months would bury in me work I had no concept of! I thought writing the book and meeting and making the deadline was where the overwhelm would show up! Nope. There is a lot that goes into a book release that I was clueless about. Thankful that God reminds me often that I am not being buried, I am being planted.
Bewildered. Why am I perplexed over my feelings about writing it? I was so confident when I hit “send” on March 31, 2020. Now when I read it, I am filled with doubt at times. I have to remind myself often that as long as it ends up in the right hands at the right time, it is written just as it should be.
Encouraged. By God in my quiet time, and I have these cheerleaders, you know who you are. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Relieved. That the big day is almost here and it's in God's hands where it goes from here. It is my prayer that I can continue writing and walk alongside others in this journey of addiction and recovery. That this book will increase my people from a crowd of those who have been brave enough to reach out to a full-blown mob. Together we are stronger and that could not be more pertinent than in recovery.
Confused. I am constantly in a state of disorderliness. My surroundings often match my brain. I am all over the place! My brain is often stuck in pandemonium as I try to prioritize the next steps. By this I mean, what does God want me to be doing? I should do A, B, & C, these things that involve writing and self-discipline. Instead find myself doing X, Y, and Z, things like folding laundry, organizing my sock drawer, and emptying the dishwasher. Taking the easier route of activities where no brain is needed. There isn’t anything wrong with doing these tasks, but if I am using them to distract me from a purpose God has put on my heart, that's not being obedient.
Yielded. Yielding means to relinquish. I do that every day. What I wrote here about being confused is usually followed by a moment of pause to prioritize and leave something for tomorrow. I’ve learned to let things go, including negative comments about my book and why I am doing this. I know, God knows. End of discussion.
Convicted. I have been ordered to do this book thing. Since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to write a book. God gave me this topic that I am very knowledgeable about. Alcoholism and Addiction. Throw in what God can do when you go on a crazy cross country bike ride to sober up, and you have a book. I could not ignore this topic. It’s too good.
Loved. Feeling the Love in this process these last few years. From God as he helped me write it. It’s all Him. Then there’s this guy I married who has loved me through this like no other. I am so grateful for the times I could cry on his shoulder, vent about the process, and celebrate the wins with him. And again, the cheerleaders. The best a girl could ever ask for.
Empowered. Now here I am, ready to launch a book and I am a girl on fire. Call me Katniss! I accept the challenge to be a voice for women seeking all things faith-based recovery!
In the next week, I will be passing along more information on how you can be a part of the Sober Cycle launch. I'm figuring it out as I go but thank goodness I am not doing this alone. God has placed many knowledgeable people around me. I trust and follow, the words in this book may be my story but it is God who wrote my story, and yours.
Blessings,
PS Did you catch the play on words in this post? Those are the names of the chapters in the book. Can't wait for you to read it!