The Both-And Emotions of a Book Release
The Both-And Emotions of a Book Release
We Shall All Be Changed: How Facing Death with Loved Ones Transforms Us is now available wherever books are sold!
Here are a few words I jotted down on book release day (Tuesday), before I ran out of steam to send them to you then:
“There is no shortage of things I want to think about today, say today, feel today. But there is a shortage of time and energy, it seems, and never quite enough to do it all.
So what matters most? What do I want to tell you about in this moment?
What seemed to matter most earlier in the day was faithfully carrying the marketing mantel this week. That means spending more time in the internet than I would otherwise like to (but telling you anyway that there is a great buy-one-get-one deal for the book on Amazon right now).
But what ends up mattering is not getting the word out but beginning to receive the words back. Hearing from readers and friends who have lived stories similar to my own—stories of cancer and sickness, of loss and loving to the very end—and are now drinking in the book I wrote for them.
I wrote the book I needed at a time when it didn’t exist, and I am so grateful that it exists today for those who might need it now.
I could have used this book—about what it’s like to walk with someone through her final years and days and hours, about how God shows up in the most surprising ways and places—when I was wondering what could still hold my hope. I could have used this book before I was in the thick of the sort of suffering that death ushers in. I could have used this book as a lamp to light the way a few steps ahead of me, granting me a vision for God’s nearness in the valley. And perhaps you could use it too.
This note from my acquisitions editor has been particularly dear to me. By God’s providence and the publishing process, she had read most of the book by the time she was called to walk with a family member through her final days, and she felt more prepared, more equipped for the good work she and her husband were able to do in that season. What a gift.
On the other hand, today was a pretty regular Tuesday too. I didn’t get ready until about lunchtime, which is I dare say not unusual for me. I have a head cold. The dog lost her lunch on the carpet just as I was sitting down to eat mine. We had a little medical emergency with a child that, let’s just say, all’s well that ends well. I could feel the thorns in my flesh keeping me humble, keeping me rooted and dependent, unable to fly off into some sort of book launch euphoria (that I am not convinced actually exists).
But my limitations also are helping me sit and watch and receive this day and this week.
The phone call from a pastor-friend who’s walked so much of this journey with my sister and me, praying with me to close the day. What a gift to remember, with hands open on my lap, that all is from him and through him and to him. What a gift to be still and know that he alone is God.
I do not need to carry the marketing mantle on my own. I do not need to shout from street corners. I can continue in quiet faithfulness to steward the story he’s given me. And sometimes that means running a kid to the hospital instead of firing off a book launch newsletter. Sometimes that means going to bed instead of sending one more email. Sometimes trust looks a little like sabbath rest, like saying, “Well, I guess that’s enough for now.”
Late Tuesday night, after I’d written and then given up on sending these words, I got a text from a friend with a screenshot of We Shall All Be Changed ranked #1 in one of its New Release categories. I looked and found that it was ranked #1 in TWO of its New Release categories (“Christian death and grief” and “aging parents”) and that it got one of those shiny little labels across the top saying as much.
I was convinced this would not happen after checking a couple times earlier in the day and seeing that the other books released the same day were from authors with far bigger followings, etc. And yet, there it was. It felt like a little glimpse of the one behind the scenes, of how worthy he is of the trust I was so hesitant to give him. I let the celebration of it surge through me, willing myself to remember the good.
Writing this book, reliving this book, talking about this book has not been easy. But it has been deeply satisfying. And that? That’s enough too.
If you want to help get this book to more people, here are some ways you can do that:
Order the book. If you haven’t already, or if you have and think it would be good to have a copy or two handy for when the need arises, Amazon and Target have buy-one-get-one-half-off deals running on the book right now. You can also get a great price directly from Moody Publishers. If you are involved with a church or group that might be interested in the book, there is a 40% discount at Moody for orders of 12 or more.
Share the book. Buy a copy for a friend. Share about it online. (You can just repost one of the many things I’ve shared on Instagram or Facebook. Presto!) Text or tell a friend, “This seems like a book you could use right now.”
Write a Review! Once you’ve read the book, you can write a review on Amazon, GoodReads and on some other retailers that will help other readers find the book. These reviews also help tremendously with how the book is ranked on Amazon’s website. If it ranks high enough in certain categories, Amazon will help advertise it to potential readers. Reviews are huge! As a thank you, here is a bookmark you can download and print to take notes for a review while you’re reading We Shall All Be Changed.
Ask your library to carry the book. If you’re not sure how to do this, I have more information on my website about it (scroll down). You can also ask your local bookstore to carry the book. Often they have an online form you can fill out to request they carry it in stock.
I did not know before now how busy a book launch season can be for an author, at least if she has a good marketing team at her publisher. Mine is keeping me running, which is great.
I did my first live radio interview today with the national show Chris Fabry Live! You can listen to the recording here.
I am grateful I had my audiobook closet set up still so I could use “the fancy mic.” I have two live radio shows and a podcast I’m doing on Friday and then several more over the next few weeks. On Friday (which is also my birthday!) you can hear me in the Indianapolis area on Mornings with Kelli & Steve at 7:30 EST and at 8:30 CST on Mornings with Seth & Deb in the Quad Cities, IL, area.
I also have an excerpt (check out the gorgeous amaryllis shot) that ran on Common Good mag’s website this week.
The biggest highlight of the week was celebrating my book launch with my church family on Sunday. I hope to share some short videos from that soon, or maybe I’ll just hoard them for posterity. It was a little like a wedding in that I grabbed a fistful of cake and a book cookie and that was it until the event was over. So many dear friends to thank and take in. What a blast to be in-person, handing this book to people, seeing and feeling the many, many ways God brings beauty from ashes.
If you’re in Wichita, KS, mark your calendar for a book launch event at Eastminster on Saturday, Feb. 24. There are details on the church website and you can RSVP here.
If your church, grief group or book club is interested in considering this book, I’d be glad to talk about ways to support that, whether with an event, discount deals or free resources. Just send me a note.
The cold medicine is kicking in. The moon has gone to bed, and so must I. It’s enough for now.
Carried along,
Whitney