All the reasons my book ever happened

Kaleidoscopes, cinnamon rolls, and the people who love me.

One year ago today I woke up with a whole kaleidoscope of butterflies in my belly.

My mom came over before work with breakfast sandwiches and cinnamon rolls from the bakery at the bottom of their road. Jack decorated the table and made a card with my favorite meme, and is it embarrassing that I have a favorite meme? Is this how I know I am a Zillennial?

This is, truly, how I spend money.

Anyway, a year ago today Eternity in Our Hearts: How the Wisdom of Ecclesiastes Frees Us to a Richer Reality became a real book that thousands of you now hold in your hands.

Before that it was a file sent to print that AnnaClaire and Charlotte so lovingly designed. Before that it was a manuscript Will and Malory and I had the time of our lives editing. Before that it was a draft I wrote as a candle burned, sipping coffee in the blue armchair that Jack bought me back in college. Before that it was a tiny little pitch I sent in on a "whim" (read: the prompting of the Holy Spirit) one winter day. Before that it was just a dream.

Before that it was the desire to write creatively about faith, reawakened in college by one good professor. Before that it was a little computer my parents bought me the summer I turned ten that I typed stories into for years. Before that it was a kids' study Bible my parents put in my hands with little giraffes on the cover (I loved those giraffes). Before that it was my family and church family telling me over and over how much God loved me. Before that it was Jesus dying for me, the Father pursuing me, and the Holy Spirit dwelling in me. I can trace it all the way back, God's hand laying the pieces like a kaleidoscope of color. Without each step, this book wouldn’t have been.

This kaleidoscope of God's goodness is reflected in the dedication. When deciding who to dedicate my first book to, I chose the people without whom this book wouldn't have happened.

Without Mrs. Hawkins, I wouldn’t have sat in the woods and talked to God and found out that his love is better than life.

Without my parents, I wouldn’t have developed the gifts I have or be this confident in God’s faithfulness.

Without my grandparents and siblings, I wouldn’t be who I am (and I certainly wouldn’t have as much fun)!

Without Professor Rioux, I wouldn’t have had space to write about God in college in ways that helped me write beautifully and creatively about God's ancient and wonderful truth.

Without Jack, I wouldn’t have let myself walk through open doors. I wouldn’t have had the encouragement and support that were so life-giving.

And without God, I wouldn’t have a hope to write about at all. This is all a testimony to his sovereignty—that at the right places and times, he put people and experiences in my path that led me down this road. God knows what he’s up to.

And now a year later, as I sit here in the midst of editing my second book, I'm writing this to you. Thank you for loving Eternity in Our Hearts. Thank you for buying it, reading it, and sharing it. Thank you for being part of this kaleidoscope.

How Eternity in Our Hearts Came to Be: Behind the Scenes

Writing in my blue chair! I wrote almost the entire book here. I’d sit down, pray, light a candle, and type away. I signed the contract in March, wrote through May, and edited into September.

The day I typed the last words. Oscar helped ;-)

The dedication page…

…and the acknowledgements page. So many dear people to thank!

The mood board for the book! AnnaClaire and Charlotte NAILED IT with the design. We wanted the cover and interior to have the same misty, moody, breathtaking, eternal vibes as the book itself. My favorite easter egg here is that the cover is designed after a real place in NH (you can read about it in the first day of the study!) and that my and Allie’s old car made it into the moodboard.

Meeting with Mandy and Elyse to plan the photoshoot!

Elyse at work!

Because this book can be used as a group study, my mom and sister agreed to be in the photoshoot as a mock study group and it was so sweet to have them be part of it. Very kaleidoscope :)

Launch day cinnamon roll. Thanks Mom and Dad :)

Gran, Sarah, and Allie at the book launch party. I love them. Sarah made the cake (blueberry lemon!) and it was DELICIOUS and beautiful!

Thank you all for being part of something beautiful. Here’s to a lifetime of “publish[ing] his glorious deeds among the nations” and “tell[ing] everyone about the amazing things he does” (Psalm 96:3 NLT).

With so much love,

Curious about the content of Eternity in Our Hearts for your fall devotional or Bible study? Click here!