I'm Writing Another Book!

But I need your help!

People talk about writing a book like having a baby, especially in the female writing world.  Announcing the book is like announcing the pregnancy. You wait until all the documents are signed and the risks of losing the contract are past to announce. Then you go through the gestation process, where you wonder if you have it in you to keep going. You’re tired. Your brain is tired. Then you have to go through labor—which is all hands on deck to launch the book. You sleep less than normal. The work load increases as you talk about the book, interview about the book, travel for the book, and write more about the book. You need an entire team to bring the book into the reading world.

And then it’s out there. You want to collapse, but you still have work to do. Those first six weeks after the book comes out are crucial for its survival. The work keeps going as the book gains its own traction (or doesn’t and fades to the background like the majority of books). But just because the book is launched doesn’t mean you are done.

After the book releases, people inevitably begin asking you when you’re going to write another one. Thinking about another book project in the middle of launching one is like asking a new mom if she’s ready for another one while she’s still on maternity leave. But it’s been a while since I wrote a trade book….

I’ve mentioned before in this space that I’m working on a project I was excited to share about. Consider this my book baby announcement! (Watch the video announcement here!) I signed a contract with B&H in early January and have been slowly plugging along in the early weeks and months of gestation. I suppose it was safe to tell you about it a few weeks ago, but I never go around to it.

Nearly 6 years ago I led a women’s bible study through the gospel of John that spanned two semesters. I’ve always been drawn to the Old Testament, but in studying John that year with those women, I grew to love the gospels too. My love for the Old Testament made the study of John, and the other gospels, a much richer experience. For years I’ve wanted to write a trade book on John, but couldn’t think of an angle. A few years ago I started plugging along at a proposal on what a book could become. I met with some people about it, talked to my agent about it, and then never did anything with it because I didn’t have the time to devote to it. I came back to it every once and a while, but it just never materialized. Until it did!

John’s main goal in the gospel is belief. He even wrote it into his purpose statement in John 20:31. He wants us to take everything he’s written about Jesus and believe that he is who he says he is. He wants us to find him worthy of our belief, even when everything else feels unbelievable—whether it’s our own sinfulness, circumstances, people, or suffering—he can be trusted, even when nothing else can.

But I need your help! One of the ways our belief is fueled is through the stories of God sustaining others. I’d love to hear from you (or anyone you might know) who has a story of Christ being someone you can believe in, even when everything else is unbelievable. Simply fill out this form and I’ll be in touch to talk more!

I’d love to tell stories in the book of God’s faithfulness to sustain his people on this road of belief. I can’t wait to share the book with you!