Nurturing Creativity ~ My E-Book is Almost Here!

March 16, 2012

I wrote a little book for you. Next week I will launch that project, my very first e-book, into this world of online publishing. 

Last summer, after our big move from Maine back to Canada, I got down to work with my writing. I needed to get serious about making time for it in my busy days as a mom, homemaker, homeschooler, and adventurer.

Acting on that intention I wrote a post called Stop Waiting For The Stars to Align.

In that post I made a declaration. I was going to stop waiting for all the routines to be in place, for the perfect day to come along when everything lines up just-so and allows me to sit down to write for three hours.

That is not the reality in my life (not last July and not now). And I bet it's not the reality in your's either.

I realized that if I wait for the stars to align to pursue writing I will never be the writer I want to be.

In that post I told you that I was going to delve into this topic and have an honest look at making time for our creative priorities as busy mothers and homemakers (and many of us homeschoolers or moms who work outside the home as well).

But when I started to write that follow-up post much more bubbled to the surface than could be published in a blog post.

I wrote pages of handscribbled notes and kept text files on my computer. I knew it wasn't going to be a blog post but I wasn't sure what it would be. I didn't have the faith in myself to think it could be an actual e-book.  

Over the months since summer I've shared bit and pieces of those ideas at FIMBY and elsewhere. But there was so much more I wanted to say.

We had another move to make and a different project in the works so my ideas sat - still and dormant. Waiting.

In January when we decided to deep six that project these "ideas bigger than a blog post" were ready. I knew what I needed to do.

I needed to write an e-book on nurturing creativity in our lives as busy moms.

gorgeous cover artwork by the talented Erika Hastings

It's a small e-book, but an e-book all the same.

I didn't do it all on my own. I asked a few other moms to join me in sharing wisdom and art from their own creative journeys. And Damien served as technical wizard to move these ideas from my computer to your computer or e-reader.

An e-book. An honest-to-goodness (even available at Amazon!) e-book.

I'm still in a bit of shock. I didn't think I could do this. I'm a busy mom after all! This project was fast and furious (the ideas were ready to be written) and then slow and tedious (that would be the editing and publishing process). And now it's nearly ready for you.

I've seen book publishing compared to birthing a baby. With good reason. The deep breathing, the vulnerability, hitting transition and of course bearing down and pushing. I totally get it now.

What's the book about exactly?

When I officially launch next week I'll tell you all about it but basically I wrote this book to encourage you in making time for creativity in your life as a busy mom.

For moms who are cooking meals and cleaning toilets. Moms who orchestrate family life and chauffeur kids to their activities. Moms who stay at home, work outside the home, work at home. Heck, we all work! Moms who are knee deep in raising babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school aged kids. For moms who do all this (and more) and want to grow creatively also.

For moms who want to bloom. Or as Erika's painting illustrates - moms who want to fly. 

I share the things I've learned in my own life and the wisdom of other creative moms who have full lives caring for their families.

I can't wait to share it with you.

Get ready for it. It's coming.