Unexpectedly an International #1 Best Selling Author

In February of this year my mentor and friend, Lynnea Brumbaugh, asked if I’d write a chapter in her book.  At first I ignored her request.  Just kind of let it sit there in my inbox, but moved on.  However, a couple weeks later she asked again.  This time I had to respond.  I looked thru the info she sent on the book and responded that I would do it.  Instant regret!  What in the world would I write about?  I’m not a writer; what was I thinking?

I scheduled a call with her to discuss.  We spent about an hour talking thru it and after the call the AI transcript basically provided an outline of my chapter.  I went to work filling in the gaps and expanding on the details.  Soon I forgot that I was “writing a chapter” and was just culling out my experience and feelings.  I was processing things that I hadn’t stepped back to process before.  It was so cathartic!

By the time I finished my 1st draft it was double the word count I’d been charged with.  Ops.  And as I read thru it with the mindset of it being published, I kind of started to panic.  It just felt too vulnerable.  But I sent it off to the writing coach I’d been assigned to for the book.  Maybe she could help me figure out what was important to share and what wasn’t.  And that would also buy me time to figure out just how vulnerable I was willing to be.

A week or so later and the writing coach sent the chapter back to me with all kinds of suggestions.  Some I agreed with and some I didn’t.  But this process helped me figure out what I really wanted to say.  Lynnea was insistent that I needed to share my “mythical descent”, as she called it.  But did I really want the world to know my story?  I needed to take some time and really have clarity on my purpose for writing this chapter.  What was my why?

After much mulling, prayer, and discussions with people I loved/respected, I came to the conclusion that my reason was to help other people that might be in the midst of their own “mythical descents”.  If my words, my vulnerability, could help just one person than it was worth it!  With this new insight I was able to look at my chapter differently.  And while the vulnerability was still scary it felt worth it.

A few weeks of tinkering with it later, I had submitted the final chapter to the editor.  Eek!  Exciting and, yes, still scary.

I woke up early the morning of the book launch with anticipation.  So many feels all mingled together: nervous, excited, worried, proud, self doubt, and the list goes on.  All of the various co-authors that had written chapters in the book hopped on a call 1st thing in the morning.  We were all in this together now!  Two other female business owner co-authors and I decided to do a live on IG discussing the book and our chapters.  In preparation for this I decided to I’d read their chapters.  Their stories were amazing!  Such resilience and brilliance!  I felt honored to be in their company.  The day was filled with social media posts, lives, texts, e-mails, and general busyness.  By the end of the day the book had reached #1 Best Seller on several lists in the US, as well as, Germany and Canada. I was an International #1 Best Selling Author!  What?!?!  How was this possible!?!

But the moment I realized that my chapter had fulfilled it’s purpose and was 100% worth it, was when an acquaintance reached out that my chapter had given her hope in the dark time she was navigating and had reframed how she looked at identity.  I was filled with gratitude that God would use me in this way and thru this book.  If the chapter doesn’t impact a single other person I’ll still be forever grateful that I took the risk!

The book can be purchased here:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F74HS1WS

Or if you’d like to receive a free copy of my chapter please e-mail customerserv@hobbyhorseinc.com with the subject “Flow, Know, Grow Chapter”.