I have exciting news–I wrote and self-published a book! This has been a dream of mine for so long and I am so delighted to finally share my work publicly. This blog has been the stepping stone for learning how to write for a wider audience and to see what kind of writing I am most passionate about. For details related to the book, check out my homepage or the bottom of this post!
To be honest, if you had asked me if I thought I’d be publishing a book this fall prior to September, I would’ve said “I wish, but no”. It would’ve seemed like an impossible idea, considering I’m still in my first quarter of college. But that just goes to show how God works!
This isn’t the type of book I planned to write either. It combines a newfound hobby (digital art) and my desire to encourage others in a short story designed to help readers feel seen and understood.
All the way until I started this blog two years ago, I dreamed of writing fictional young adult novels centered around relationships, adventure, and faith. However, while relaxing to calming music and doodling on my iPad, God sent me inspiration in the form of an orange blob.
Yep, that’s not a typo–an orange blob started it all.
My first drawing featured the orange blob person surrounded by smoke, symbolizing the overwhelming sensation and heaviness life often casts upon us. At first, I considered making this person more realistic, but I realized that anyone can put themselves in the place of this blob, rather than just a person who happens to resemble the appearance of this character. Plus, it didn’t require detailed art, but rather abstract ideas.
After that, I spent several hours drawing whatever came to me. I made a rough outline of what I hoped readers would take away from the story and soon enough, the entire book came together.
What took longer than making the book was figuring out how to publish it–or rather, mustering up the confidence to consider publishing it.
I went back and forth on the idea for a few weeks. Everything seemed so complicated and the process wasn’t cheap, though it was cheaper than trying to publish a novel and easier than searching for a publisher.
But once I got the assurance from several trusted loved ones and acted on this new calling, things fell into place. I found a way to make the book slightly cheaper (unfortunately books are costly to manufacture, but I wanted anyone to be able to access my book). One thing all authors need to buy is an ISBN code (an identification barcode), and I found a way to get one for free through the publishing website. These simple signs confirmed that God wants me to do this.
I’m still unsure what God wants to do through this book, but I trust that He will turn my simple words and pictures into something far greater than anything I can imagine.
While the messages of the story are meant to be uplifting and encouraging, I know I couldn’t have written them under happy, easy circumstances. For various reasons, the past several months have been draining and frustrating for me. Often, I even want to give up, though I know that I must keep going in order to fulfill God’s purpose for my life and see what He is doing through all of this.
Though I’m likely the most excited about my book coming out, I hope that this can be a sign for you to keep going too. I believe that God is trying to show both of us that even when things don’t make sense, He will create something beautiful out of our painful, confusing situations.
God wants to use your story. God wants to use you. He can see the incredible potential you have and He made you intentionally to use your gifts for wondrous things.
I know that you [God] can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?
Jeremiah 32:27
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31
If you would like to purchase a copy of my book, check out this link!
https://www.blurb.com/b/10890467-there-is-more-ahead-of-you
Your support and encouragement mean the world to me! Thank you for being here ❤
The Will to Wake Up 