As predicted, it wasn’t my final manuscript.

Since June, I have provided two more rounds of edits to the team. They are working on the latest revisions, and I should have the (dare I say it?) final proof soon!

At the beginning of September, I received an email from my Publishing Services Associate (PSA). Attached, were both the hardcover and softcover proofs of my book. The butterflies were doing what they do best as I clicked open the first attachment. My book had a cover, and a price, and an ISBN number. The pinch confirmed it — real life.

Next came the proof of the inside copy. Seeing the 2-page layout design just increased my anticipation for the final publication. It looked more like a book and less like a Google doc. Wanting to visualize exactly what it would look like once I held it in my hands, I zoomed in to the exact print size and “flipped” through the pages. Y’all, this book is near and dear to my heart and I cannot wait to share it! Who’s excited? Are you excited? I’m excited!

Chris and I spent the next few weeks reading through it with a fine-toothed comb in hand. I was harder on that thing than my high school lit teacher would have been (although there are definitely some “to be” verbs). I compiled my list of edits and sent it off to my PSA.

I also sent her a list of questions about specifics of the layout and available fonts.

Thankfully, she affirmed all of my wonderings and even said I was able to write my own chapter titles in my handwriting! The personal touches have been some of the most fun to incorporate!

We have made it this far. The book I started (slowly) in 2013 is on the brink of publication. It seems surreal. Again, a pinch is likely the only thing that will make this feel like a reality. The publishing team is making the necessary corrections and the proof will pop into my inbox imminently.

Thanks for being on this journey with me. If you are interested in being part of the launch team, which means you would help with some word-of-mouth/social media support, send me an email at mccallamber2@gmail.com with the subject “Launch Team!”. I’ll send you an email back from the official email address of the book (psst…that means you’ll learn the title!).

It had been 7 months since I had first reached out to a literary agent to share my heart-filled pages with them. Week after week I sent a few more proposals out into the interwebs without as much as one “Thanks, but no thanks” no-reply email. It was a daunting task: trying to find agents that seemed to share my beliefs and goals for my writing, not to mention ones that were accepting unsolicited proposals for memoirs. I combed through lists of agencies, and then researched what the agencies valued and which agents were employed there. The other issue was that apparently many wordsmiths had dusted off their keyboards during quarantine hoping to be the next best thing. This left agents with an abundance of proposals and little room for first-time authors with no social media following.

Despite the silence, I kept searching for agents and agencies who may be willing to take a risk on me. I stumbled upon West Bow Press, which is a self-publishing subsidiary of Zondervan (a huge name in Christian publishing). That stumble led to a great unearthing of treasure. It almost seemed too good to be true!

The night before my birthday, as Chris and I were driving to a weekend lake stay, I heard one amazing thing after another from the West Bow consultant on the other end of the phone. Frank asked me several questions about my book as well as my reasons and goals for publishing. He suggested a package that contained a long list of resources and opportunities. Resources and opportunities that usually only came with a traditional publishing contract. This was a happy medium between going the self-publishing-via-Amazon route (which wouldn’t garner much credibility — anyone can publish that way), and waiting an indeterminable amount of time to find an agent. Yes, I would have to front the money, but I would have the knowledge of many industry-experts guiding me through the intimidating journey.

Tears welled as I hung up the phone and looked at Chris.

“What an answer to prayer!” I would be working with a Christian company that would support my dream of glorifying God with this story.

Frank sent over the contract, and after reviewing it and checking in with some close contacts who know the industry, I decided to sign with them!

The Following Week

Hit send.

After years of writing, editing, praying, and heart pouring, the last thing I had to do was hit send.

I reread my manuscript for what must have been the hundredth time, and reassured myself that it wasn’t final yet. I could (and would) still make changes. Thankfully, I had received help from family, a few friends, my doctor, and a professional editor (who is now a dear friend). Although I knew the perfection might not be there, the heart certainly was.

Like I said, I have done a lot of pouring of my heart into this book. It is the nitty gritty of all of my 30+ years, and I am finally going to be able to share it with the world. As an artist, I have spent many an hour wondering if people would like my work, if it was good enough to buy, and if it was worth it to keep creating. For the most part, my work has been readily received, although not to any 6-figure success (not that I was looking for that, either). I am grateful that I have not faced ridicule or much negative critique for the pieces of my heart that I’ve shared with the world, but this is a big one.

I finally mustered the courage and hit the button. My manuscript and Submission Information Form (SIF) were now on their way to my check-in coordinator’s inbox. Her response came overnight, and she informed me that the editorial review would take 2-3 weeks.

As I waited, I transferred my cover art ideas from my mind to my iPad. The cover design went through many iterations as I tried to determine all the things. Script font or mixed font for the title? What color background? Should I write my name or type it? I changed my mind more than a few times along the way. I also traveled to the memoir section of my local Barnes and Noble to see what other people’s covers look like. Interesting to say the least - but I didn’t find any that really stuck out to me. I am excited for mine to be on the shelf with the rest of them though!

The next big step: Hear back from the editorial review team.*

Anyone wondering what the title is? If you have any guesses, I’d love to read them in the comments!

*Full disclosure, I am posting this almost 2 months after that phone call with Frank. I have already received my editorial report and will be sharing more soon!*

It is the year 2013. I am sitting in the drudgery that is Chicago traffic on my way home from my teaching job, and I hear God telling me to write my story. Of course, for my introvert-leaning self, my immediate response was, “no thanks!” Although I have always dreamed of writing and publishing a book, it certainly wasn’t going to be an autobiography.

After reflecting on this prompt from the Holy Spirit, I came to understand that it really wasn’t my choice and it really wasn’t my story, but rather an obligation and a story that God was authoring through me. Over the last 8 years, I have learned the importance of sharing our stories so that 1. our relationships with each other can be strengthened and 2. God receives the glory for the work He is doing.

With that context, I revised my initial response and decided to start documenting my complicated and rare health history. It took me years to actually sit down and devote time to this proposed book, and even longer to be willing to ask others to read parts of it. It was a very vulnerable thing for me, and I was scared. The only thing pushing me to do it was the fact that God has done outstanding miracles in my life that I needed to share with the world. I started getting positive feedback and motivating encouragement, so I continued to write.

At this point, I have a complete manuscript and am sending query letters to potential literary agents weekly. The process of writing and editing a manuscript is daunting. The process of getting that manuscript to print is almost crippling. BUT GOD. I know He has been in the writing of this story and sharing it will only bring Him the glory He deserves, and the joy and encouragement to readers that we so desperately need in this world right now.

I thought it might be interesting to some of you to hear about my publishing adventure. If you would like to follow along, you can fill out your name and email address at the bottom of this page, and I will send you emails whenever I have an update.

Announcing my book-writing mission to you is not the only purpose for this post. I want to encourage you to take the time to try something new. It may be something you’ve always wanted to do, or something that just sounds like fun.

Stepping out of our comfort zones can seem difficult and is most certainly, by definition, uncomfortable. Do it anyway. It doesn’t have to be something life-changing. All I am suggesting is to try. According to Brain World magazine, research suggests that “regular experience of novelty is essential to a long, happy life.”

Writing and publishing a book may not be your next attempt at novelty (or maybe it is!), but it has opened my eyes to a whole new world that has always been there. Things that are new to you are cherished, honed, loved, perfected, and practiced daily by others.

Pick a new hobby, read a genre you’ve never read, listen to music you’ve never heard, explore a place you’ve never been.

Whatever you try, know that you’re not alone in your adventure. If you need help or motivation to get started, seek out the community that already exists in that realm of the internet or the local library. Experiencing new things can also be a way to meet new people, develop your brain, and ultimately, lead a happier life.

I would love to hear in the comments about the new thing you want to try!

Here’s to finding your new favorite thing!

Amber