Before I actually started writing, I had this whole writing thing figured out.

First, I decided I wanted to write a book. I thought writing a book was a bit like a marathon. If you train well and decide to do it, then you’ll get through it. For at least a year, I worked at writing so I could say “I wrote a book,” just like you might say “I’ve run a marathon.” It turns out, writing a book so you can say “I wrote a book” usually isn’t enough to fill up two hundred pages (although in some cases, it apparently is.) I got in the habit of reading stuff and thinking, “this book is bad! I could have written this book! So I should write a book!” I don’t think it dawned on me that I shouldn’t want to write a bad book. But I guess since I was still living in the book/marathon analogy, a bad book would be fine. I mean, when you gloat about a marathon at a party, no one needs to know if you finished in three hours or six; it just matters that you did it.

I wrote my first book proposal, which was about evolving childhood faith into something more grown-up and robust. The idea is good (see Rachel Held Evans or Sarah Cunningham), but when I got to the end of writing the book proposal, I still wasn’t even sure what I was trying to say.

After three edits and hundreds of pages, I realized I’d better be durn sure that I have something to say before I try to write a book.

I blogged faithfully and researched diligently, reading Mary DeMuth and Rachelle Gardner and Chip MacGregor’s blogs daily. Then I set a plan into action.

1. I would get published in a print magazine.

2. A feature in a larger magazine.

3. Then I would get an agent.

4. Then a book contract.

5. Heaven on Earth….. 

At each step of the way, I told God, “If you just get me this magazine article, I’ll stop asking if you want me to write and I’ll just do it.” Then again, “If I could just get an article in Kyria, I’ll stop asking and I promise this time I mean it.”

It was nowhere in my plans to move forward without every step in place. I knew for success I needed an agent, an editor, a marketing team, a promotional plan. I needed a roll-out and blog tour and endorsements and maybe a poster with my face on it, or at least a postcard. I needed book signings and pictures of me at book signings holding a pen and smiling next to my poster with my face on it.

I left God a lot of room for input, don’t you think?

So, turns out God sometimes has plans of his own. And he laid a story and a message on my heart. And it became a teaching series. And it became a study. And it helped me get an agent. (It is cool to say, “I need to take this call from my agent.” That hasn’t worn off yet.) And then…

With the help of the EPC (my denomination), and some amazing designers, and even a printing mistake that gave me a ridiculous price, I’m stepping out in faith and putting it out there, with no contract, no traditional publisher. I’m (gasp) self-publishing it, or as I prefer, “releasing it on an independent label.”

I don’t doubt that God will continue this good writing work in me…I’ve learned too much about my sorry self to think He’s through with me yet. Although this version of The Divine Pursuit was not my plan (I don’t have an audio book or a lifesize cutout of me to sit next to at book signings), I know it was God’s plan. The help of so many along the way made it happen, and really, at the end of the day, sharing it with you gives me deep joy.

My administrator is my five year old daughter, who stamped all the packages this morning. My editor was an english professor who just so happened to be in a church group that piloted the material and just so happened to edit the copy as she went along. My designer is someone who just so happened to be part of a team I work with at Gifted for Leadership and the cover design was done for free by my brilliant friendand my headshot was taken, also free, by equally brilliant friend… and then, it was done. And so beautiful, I couldn’t believe we just put it together “ourselves.”

And my marketing team? Well, that’s you, and wherever the Spirit decides to blow this thing.

Was this my plan? No way. But it’s a good one, and it’s a God one. And so I’m along for the ride, and excited to see what happens.

I’d love for you to experience Jonah like I have.

I’d love for you to explore your own divine pursuit.

And I’d love to share in the journey with you.

Please check it out–it’s a free download or you can order the printed copy (it’s really pretty!) and support International Justice Mission.

And the best part? We’ll start a conversation about it,  here on the blog, in a discussion group, and hopefully, if I can get my technology right, even in a live chat on Wednesday nights beginning Sept. 15th.

So check it out, download or order it, and join me this fall for a six-week discussion about your divine pursuit…the story of Jonah and the story God’s writing in your life.