I love this thought so much. ♥️

Beyond writing for publication, this is a deeper reason why getting your words on the page is so important. We are all in the process of something. We all have fractures in our lives that need “kintsugi.”

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold. This illustrates that when something has suffered damage and has a history, it becomes more beautiful.

But this is also a reason why the writing rejections hurt so hard sometimes. It’s not just about a rejection on your book, it can feel like a rejection of you (and those hard seasons that hurt so much). Negative messages can become reinforced if we haven’t built emotional resilience. Or if we haven’t done the hard work of peeling back the layers of our personal stories.

We explored this thought at length in the February 2026 Fireside Chat.

This working out of your pages is a holy work. Keep moving forward. Keep building community because none of us can do this alone.

I’m cheering you on in the muck and the mess. Keep painting those broken shards with gold.

You are important and the things you’re going to discover are desperately needed. With every page, you are lighting a beacon for others — and yourself.

Back when we lived in Colorado, I was a member of the Victorian Society. Of course, attending the Time Traveler’s Ball was the perfect opportunity for me to generate some book- promo buzz.

The video isn’t perfect, but it’s a snapshot of a moment that was. It was a lovely night, and I really loved dancing. I’m the one in the green skirt.

As you think about book promotion, try to find ways to make it fun for yourself.

When promo feels like play (dancing, dressing up, sharing stories), it stops feeling like “work” and starts building genuine connections. Readers sense that joy and want in on it. Start small with one idea that sparks excitement for you personally.

Not everyone is a video person–I get that. Just think about ways you can “kill two birds with one stone.” How can you enrich your life and mention your book? Even if you only have a small group of friends and you celebrate and take pictures, that can be enough.

A candlelight dinner with cupcakes?

A fantasy themed picnic?

A weekly video in your favorite coffee shop?

A tour about town and you show us places that inspired you.

Is there something that you can be doing now to set yourself up for your launch? Be sure that’s it’s fun and tailored to you and your personality. If it drains you, stifles your creativity, or burns you out, it’s not for you.

When we shift our mindset from “selling books and work” to being okay with celebrating our journey, promo can feel a little easier.

Remember: You worked hard to be here, so why not document your hard-earned victory?

If you choose to use your social media to celebrate your books, just think about your accounts as your yard. You get the say about what happens in your yard and no one else’s opinion matters. When you do a post, you’re saying, “I matter and my journey is important.”

Here’s the mindset shift: “I have to sell books” to “I’m celebrating my hard-won story.”

Every time you do a post, video, or whatever, you’re lighting a candle for your people/tribe to find you. And here’s what high-payed consultants say: Don’t expect any results for three months. Just keep doing your thing and don’t be alarmed that you’re not getting a response (more on this insight later).

Y’all know I’m not one of these authors or agents who think you need to be on social media all the time. Our mental health is more important than promotion. You’ve just got to know what season you’re in and then release the pressure… no matter what.

• What’s one promo activity that actually felt like play instead of work for you? (Or one you’re curious to try?)

• How do you know when promo is starting to drain you vs. energize you? What’s your signal to pause and reset?

• If social media is your “yard,” what’s one boundary you’ve set lately to protect your peace while still celebrating your books?

• What’s a small “victory document” moment from your writing life that you’re proud of right now—even if no one else sees it yet?

This is an editor that our agency works with. She’s wonderful!

This contest is for unrepresented, unpublished fiction writers in any genre.

Submit the first 5,000 words of your work in progress for a chance to win the $50,000 grand prize or one of the $5,000 shortlisted awards.

Cost is $20 if you don’t have a ProWritingAid account. Deadline is March 31, 2026.

You can find out more about this contest here:

https://prowritingaid.com/novel-beginnings

Why not throw your hat in the ring? You never know…

Here’s a blast from the past. The year of Within the Veil’s debut, I was invited for this radio interview with Stacey Stone.

Thankfully, I had Stacey’s questions beforehand. You may be amused to know how many times I practiced before the call. I was terrified that I’d say a wrong historical detail or date. However, I think it went as well as it could. 🙂

It was fun to interview Karen Barnett. I first met Karen in 2012 at an ACFW conference in Dallas, TX. It’s been fun watching her career progress. I always enjoy seeing her nerd out about national parks, and seeing that love find its way into her novels. Enjoy!

Such great words here. Accepting ourself (and our work) is often one of the hardest things for us to do.

“Preach the gospel of charity to ourself.” Mic drop. How are you doing with that?

What part of this clip resonates with you?