I Can Do Hard Things: A Bravery Journal
I wrote “I Can Do Hard Things: A Bravery Journal” after a particularly difficult time in my life (read the long version below). I discovered my love of art and journaling during that hard time. I realized how healing and powerful those two combined could be to help the journey to recovery.
My hope for the Bravery Journal is that others will be able to work through some hard questions, do some emotional heavy-lifting and have breakthroughs in different areas of their life. I wrote it for people who are thinking about making some changes in life or want to try something new and scary. It can be for young or old. It can be for artists or non-artists. It’s about taking control of fear and beginning a new and exciting journey.
I decided to self-publish the book because I want it to see the light of day. Both my mother-in-law and my father-in-law are incredible authors, and I know how long and agonizingly slow the traditional publishing route is.
Here are the steps I took to publish a book: (Note: It is really a journal of 28 pages filled with my original art. I don’t have pages and pages of text — so that made it easier.)
It’s basically a relationship with three different companies: Blurb Book Printer, BookWright Publishers, and Ingram Distributors
1. Gathered my thoughts and art (6 months)
2. Used the Blurb.com website to download “BookWright” Design and Publishing Tool
3. Used “BookWright” website to create the book http://www.blurb.com/bookwright (6 months)
4. Uploaded the book to Blurb. Made revisions, ordered proofs. (1 month)
5. Printed books and had them sent to me (1 month)
6. Used Blurb’s relationships with Amazon and Ingram to Distribute and Sell (they take orders and print on demand)
7. The rest of the work is marketing, marketing, marketing 🙂
Let me know if you have any questions!
What is the Book about?
People who read this far down the page are all brilliant and good-looking.
Although “I Can Do Hard Things: A Bravery Journal” is my first book, I’m a working artist as my day job. My artwork has been displayed in galleries, publications, literary journals, coffee shops, and office buildings.
I was also a foster mommy for 10 years. My husband and I took in 18 very special children during that time. We specialized in drug-exposed infants. Boy, what a privilege and a challenge! I think those lonely all nighters, pacing the living room with a tiny human who was going through withdrawal birthed something inside me wanting to help more.
Then I started a daycare business in my home. Every morning at 7am, drooly and adorable babies would show up at my door and I was charged with keeping them alive and happy until 5:00pm. Something else was birthed inside of me when I would pull out paints during nap times. That is when I started painting whimsical children.
Fast-forward to 2014. I have two adopted kids (both adults) and a teenager. My adult son completely rocks my world by getting a girlfriend that I have serious reservations about (nobody is good enough for him, frankly). We have one epic, for the record books, knock-down, drag out fight. He moves out never be heard from again (or so I thought). This completely destroys me. I question everything. Myself, my relationships, my hidden agendas, my judgey-ness, my life.
I find myself in my son’s childhood bedroom repainting, ripping out carpeting, and crying my eyes out. The ugly cry kind. How did it come to this? What was my contribution to this mess? Why did it end this way, when it all started out so tenderly beautiful? Ugh.
I decided it was time to do some soul searching. And finally answer the tingling fingers that begged me to paint — but I thought I couldn’t. So, right there in his empty bedroom, I started painting on old muslin that I had stashed up in the attic from my quilting days in the 90’s.
It was like I had been holding my breath my whole life… and when I painted I started breathing again! I grabbed some more fabric from the attic and made myself this painting smock. This is the fabric I used for my daughter’s baby quilt.
I began journaling as well. I asked myself the tough questions. I did some emotional heavy lifting. I cried as I painted. Many of those first paintings in my son’s abandoned bedroom were mixed with my heartbroken mommy tears.
And I discovered, that yes, life is hard. Yes, I made mistakes. Yes, I am an artist. Yes, I can do hard things. Art and Journaling healed me. (along with my faith, my family, and my stubborn will to not let that ugly day define me).
As I emerged on the other side of that dark time, I wanted to remember the struggle and the story. Over a period of 1 year, I gathered up all the tear-baptized paintings, the questions that propelled me back into the light, and “I Can Do Hard Things: A Bravery Journal” was born!
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the age target for this book?
This book is for any age, really. Though I think middle schoolers, teens, college age and mommies are the sweet spot. (I’ve had one guy say it really helped him — so don’t let the sweet little girl paintings stop you).
Is it a Book or a Journal?
Well, it’s only 28 pages long — so more of a journal. It’s a nice size too, like a large Moleskin size. It’s meant to help the reader think through some heavy things. The length of it is not overwhelming. Easy to keep by your night stand and spend a few minutes a day on. It’s filled with prompts to get the reader thinking. There is lots of room to write. It’s also a really cool keepsake and holder of your most precious and vulnerable self.
What’s with all the Little Girls already?
These whimsical little kiddos probably rise up out of my sub-conscience due to the years foster parenting and daycare-ing. I also strongly suspect that my sassy and wounded inner child makes sneaky appearances now and then. I have spent a lot of time with these girls over the past few years. They are my co-workers, my team, my friends.
Who will benefit from this book?
This book will help many types of people. People in healthy relationships and complicated ones. People who desperately need a change and those who are tired of the status quo. I’ve often said that I want to start a support group for wounded moms. Man, being a mom is brutal sometimes. The rejection, the barf clean-up, the ungrateful urchins who steal our youth and then move out. But, I also think this book would help un-wounded moms and women (if there even is such a thing) Also top on my list would be teens with depression, anxiety, or addictions. Teens who want to conquer fear, bullying, or lack of direction.
Whatever happened with your Son?
Thank you for asking! You, my dear, are very sweet. After 7 months, I received a text from him saying, “Can I come home?” It seems we had both survived a storm, looked it in the eye, and learned the lessons that it offered.
How You Can Get Your Own Copy:
The book is done and just needs to be printed. I’d love to get it into the hands of people who would benefit from it. I am selling the book on Amazon.
