Day #3 of Countdown Week!!

The first thing those who have gift copies of "Seeking" do, is look through each of the pages with the color photos. I have been with friends and smile to see this happening. 

I was adamant about having color photos in hopes they would be a first spark of hope that the world is still full of color, and our personal world - though dimmed with challenges - will have a return to vibrancy. There is hope to climb out of a black and white focused time. As real as working through challenges is, turning toward the light of God's care is the best direction to choose.

All my photos are ones I have taken, but not all were taken during the writing of the book. I reached back into my archives of photos and found ones that were a perfect match with a devotional text message. Other writings required I take a new a photo. There are a few devotionals that were written because I saw an image, and it became the impetus for the text message.

The photo that images the cover design, as mentioned before, was taken when I was in Israel in 1979. As I look through my book, it has the added advantage of being a photo chronicle of many treasured times that have come into my life from that 1979 year onward. 

There is a section in the back of the book where each photo is given credit, location, and year it was taken so you can travel through my treasured times with a bit of a bonus look. 

Here are a few photos that are a part of the book. I will put their devotional's title with them and a quote from the text.  Enjoy! 

How Am I Dressing These Days?

 "Help me remember you are leading me toward being dressed in your splendor. Amen"

Shadows

"Faith. Shadows. Both are gifts from God. Both are places where He dwells and invites me to enter in and share the security of a safe space with him"

Emmaus Eyes

"Christ endured brokenness so I can now walk with him. This reality truly gets my eyes opened. All else can fall into place, in his appointed time, as we walk together on the road that leads Home."

Serving the Lord with Gladness

Prayer: Lord, help me continue to make a joyful noise, praising you. Your faithfulness is known, received, cherished, and everlasting. Amen.

Day # 2 of Countdown Week!!

It all started in 2008. I had been invited to join the staff of volunteer devotional writers for Rest Ministries. This Christian online ministry offers resources for those living with chronic pain/illnesses. Now . . . nine years later. . . !!

Here (in photos) are behind the scenes fun from 2010. I had the opportunity to stay at a B&B away from home for 4 days. It was during this time I got the idea of how I’d do my four Introduction sections in the book. All it took was a bouquet of daffodils to spark my imagination. You’ll have a look at the printed book page that evolved from those 2010 moments.

Along the nine years, I created 3-ring notebook binders of the manuscript to give to those who said they would endorse the book. You’ll see that assembly line scattered all over my rug - but also a glimpse of other photos in the book (if you look closely)! 

Next - Day #3 Countdown Week - more behind the scenes scoops! 

Countdown to Book Launch Day - February 12, 2017

For those of you not on Facebook, I am posting here on my blog the same images and text that will be there as we countdown to the launch and wide-distribution of Seeking the Light of God's Comforter--When Challenges Dim Our View. Thanks for joining in as we head to celebration! 

Thank you to Shelby Bryant for putting the lettering onto my photo image! 

Welcome!!

Thanks for joining in as we celebrate the countdown to my devotional book's launch date which is close at hand! Each day I'll be posting a few facts - some fun and others practical - to help us get to Feb. 12. Then we can fling confetti into the air and praise God for his faithfulness in what has been a "long journey".  xo Lynn

Getting Closer to "Book Launch Day"!!

The Launch date for my book, is drawing nigh! 

 My CPA is giving me a "launch party" at a club where he and his family are members. It is on the water looking toward the city of Seattle! I have been busy doing the decor for the party - the fun part. 

The date is Sunday, February 12, 2017. 

We decided this to be the official launch date when the book will go wide distribution.

I am readying a FB author page for the week before the 12th to have those interested count down with me. I am readying an author page on Amazon although directing people away from Amazon for purchase other than the E-Book version. 

Amazon inflated my retail fee for the soft cover version by $17.00 and my hard cover version by $24.00 and giving me a profit of $0.59 whatever the print version.  Yikes!  I put the soft cover version online so people would know there IS a print version.

 I will be directing people to my publisher's website where the fees reflect what is true! 

Soft cover: $30.00 (the printer gets $21.00 of this fee)

Hard cover: $35.00 (the printer gets $26.00 of this fee)

E-Book: $9.99 (also this same fee on Amazon)

Here is a rundown of the 8.5 x 11 book's contents (also reflected in the E-Book version): 

60 devotional texts, each accompanied by a full page color photo that images the message in the text;

Book Resource section with over 100 titles!

Photo Credit section sharing the location and year each photo was taken;

Study Guide for Personal Reflection or Group Study, each text having its own follow up questions;

Further book ordering information;

Lynn's Spirited Comfort website address

At this time, the website is not quite ready to launch the same day. There have been delays beyond the control of me or the woman helping me. But it will come along in God's right time! 

It is exciting to bring you this update and I thank each of you for the prayers that have brought this project and me thus far. 

I was able to send out some gift copies of the book earlier than the launch date. 

Here are some bits of encouragement that have come back to me. How strange it feels to get the feedback (and so wonderful) when all the time these have been the hopes I have had for the book's purpose - to encourage those who read it. Now I am hearing it is. Praise God for that! 

1.  Wow!!! How beautiful.

1. The more I use your book the more amazing it becomes.

1. Oh, my! What a stunningly beautiful and tender book! 

1. I don't know how to explain it, but I was moved to tears throughout looking at the book, there is just something so magical and powerful about it.  I think it is just because you poured all of your own time, effort, and heart into it.

1. Lynn's very tender and comforting brand new book deserves to go viral.

1. It is so beautiful and your words and photos inspire and minister to me.

1. I finally began the journey with your book this morning. I'm teary and in awe of what has come up for me as I engaged the first question within the questions for the first devotional. Will come back to "part (b)" tomorrow! “Wow...if this is how engaging with Lynn's book is going to be, I'm even more excited to dive in!”

1. Praising God for birthing this into the world!

1. I think your book is so beautiful and worthwhile. Your style of writing is unique. It’s soft, yet challenging and filled with grace.

1. Your rest in Him propels your message. The photos and writing are powerful, indeed!  Breathtaking and compelling.  

1. Your book has brought comfort to my soul and the beautiful photos have cheered me up. 

1. Your writing is spectacular and I am thrilled to own your book. 

1. I am anxious to pursue copies for my [adult] children and we can discuss your message and encounters with the Holy Spirit in your spiritual writing. I am slowly reading and feel your spirit and deep faith  shared with me on every page of the book. 

1.   . . . just as I was crying out to God for help to stop the pain I was experiencing - one devotional, one prayer, one reflection stopped the pain for the remainder of the day. 

Enjoy some of the preparations for the party decor!!

Each table will have one of these flower bouquets seen here in a heap, about how I felt getting them completed! They will be placed on square mirrors with some pink and silver hearts scattered around and hot pink and hot orange votive candle glass with lit candles shining out their beauty.

My cousin has offered to take photos at the event! 

I have created photo boards that share the journey of my getting some of the photos for the book.

"Travel Accessories" is the first devotional in the book. Below is its photo image. It seemed a given to incorporate this as people come in to the event and get "busy" with some things before they head onward to enjoy the rest of the party time! 

An Early Christmas Present!!

When last I posted, my final approval of the interior of my book had been sent to Amber, my project manager. Then came the wait for the printers to get it and, in turn, print 2 copies ( soft cover, hard cover) with arrival to me being around December 16^th. I was to go through those copies to make sure nothing went awry with the printing and then send my final approval that printing could be done.

This past Monday, December 5th, the books arrived. Even Amber was shocked. She had sent me a note that they were on their way. Submitted for printing on Monday, November 28th, one week later UPS delivered Seeking.

That is better than any arrival by the stork!!

I opened the packages: each print version came in separate ones.

I sat on my couch, the couch where I have done all the work this past year in the publication process - the same couch where I have worked at my computer for the past 6 years that led up to publishing.

I opened and then turned each page in awe of what this has become. Seeing the book on my 13” laptop screen with the adjacent pages of text with their photos looked very ‘small’ but allowed me to review and send correction needs to the publishing team.

 Seeing the real book in its 8.5 x 11 size with full page colored photos took my breath away.

All the work, angst, and wonderings over the many years putting this all together and waiting for God’s right time, melted away. 

This IS the right time. I remain in awe.

I heard from Sherry today. She is now able to continue helping me learn the ins and outs of creating and managing my website. While she has needed time away, I have been writing content to have it ready when the website launches.

With all that is currently needed,  I have set the launch date for the book to be available on Monday, February 13, 2017. The website will launch the same day.

There will be an opportunity to sign up for the website postings before it goes “live”. I will share about that when the time comes. I will also be creating an “author page” on Facebook around mid January with pertinent information and some “previews of coming attractions”!

The journey continues as do I, as best I can! I am ever grateful to have you walking alongside me.

Merry Christmas to all!

Love, Lynn

image from Pinterest

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving Day - 2016 - November 24

Among many blessings I’d be happy to share with you, on this year’s Thanksgiving Day, I am sharing what follows! 

In the wee hours of Wednesday, November 23, I sent off the FINAL approval of the interior of my manuscript file. “What does that mean?”, you ask. 

It means that after 12 months of hours and hours of advocating for changes needed with front cover design implementation, even more hours advocating for the changes needed in implementing interior graphic designs, and even more hours finding and requesting changes as the result of proofreading and formatting and alignment of texts with photos, and very little time needed to approve the gorgeous back cover and spine for the book that Brittany created - Seeking the Light of God’s Comforter---When Challenges Dim Our View is ready to go to the printer!!!

What next?

In 2-3 weeks, I will get two printed copies of the book and will need to review them to be sure nothing went awry in the printing process.

Technically, the book could then go wide distribution for sale but I am holding off on that until I am sure my website is in shape ( with me in shape to manage it). Currently, that is not the status. Those delays are circumstantial and God will see to that timing coming into the queue.

My hopes, at this time, is all could be ready mid-January but I will wait until I know God has switched the yellow cautionary light to green for “Go”!!

As I thank God for each of you, I also thank you for your prayers and encouragement in what has been a very long journey - yet one that is nearing its intended destination.

Seeking - as we on the publication team have lovingly been calling her - has been ultra-sounded beyond measure and I am more than elated to say, she is looking gorgeous. I can barely wait - but I will have to - for you to meet her!!

My love to all -  Lynn

Image from Pinterest

Book Update: Countdown to Printing - Nearing Publication!!!

It is hard to believe that one year ago I made the appointment for a phone consultation with Redemption Press publisher, Athena Dean Holtz  to talk about the publication of my book, Seeking the Light of God’s Comforter—When Challenges Dim Our View. 

One week later, a terms of contract agreement was sent, some adjustments made, and a publication date of February, 2016 was determined. 

Obviously, God’s timing has reigned regarding that date.

Along this year journey, we all have learned a lot about complexities my book has needed in terms of design implementation, formatting needs, and the essential editing and proofreading. There were also circumstantial delays.

Thank you for your continuing prayers as we are nearing - and I say this cautiously - the finish line.

Overseeing all that follows, has been Amber Payne, Redemption Press’ Senior Project Manager. What a joy it is to work with her! 

From September 27 to October 4, 2016, I had the privilege of working again with Inger Logelin, Redemption Press’ Senior Editor. Last December she was the copyeditor for my manuscript as we stepped more directly into the process of getting Seeking started on her journey. Inger, walked me through some needs for the word-for-word proofreading, some which she did and then turned it over to me. “We” were ruthless about this part of the process as we emailed back and forth and finally declared Seeking ready to send off to the typesetters.

Formatting, which took 3 rounds and went from the end of July until mid September, had already been completed with the typesetters. Their next job was to make the proofreading changes.

Today, October 7, those have been returned to me and I will, without rushing, go through the entire manuscript again checking for any corrections needed from the input Inger and I gave them.

Meantime, Redemption Press’ graphic designer, Brittany Torres, will begin work next week on the spine and back cover design for the book.  I will have input on this but ultimately, it is her design, unlike my cover design and interior graphics which I had submitted to be readied for printing. 

When the current typesetting, spine and back cover design are approved, all goes to the printers. They will send me one copy each of the hard cover and soft cover versions for my approval.  Rarely is there a mishap in printing, but this safeguard is in place.

Simultaneously, there will be a team readying the eBook version. I have yet to “meet” them but what they format will also be sent to me for review and approval. 

Once all these “approvals” are met, 

the book is ready for printing and publication.

I have been working to ready a website, grateful for Sherry Sparks who showed up in my life and is guiding me through this HUGE learning curve. When I feel the website, my managing the website, and an email list of initial subscribers to the website has been established - the book will be ready for wide distribution. Just in time for holiday consideration! 

I’ll be posting here, and elsewhere, the good news. 

Few  will be able to miss it!! 

I’ll not be taking down my blog, but further writing will be via my website once it launches.  Information about the book, purchase options, and some behind the scenes of the journey creating the book will be among the offerings available there. Equally, if not more important, will be reflections the Holy Spirit prompts me to write.

This is one update I am excited to share!!