All These Things That I've Done
+ some news
A few moons back, I shared that my book proposal had been sent out into the world. I slid that info in at the bottom of a longer newsletter post. I said I’d get back to you with an update.
And, so …
Today I’m excited to announce that I’m officially an author with Baker Books!
In October of 2020, I was looking for the writer society passcode. I had applied for a job I really wanted that year. It was down to myself and one other woman out of over 150 applications. Having just been hashtag-church-fired, I thought Wild! Maybe this year won’t be that bad! Alas, I was rejected. It was a hard rejection to take. The other applicant “had more writing experience.” And I thought How in the world do you get writing experience?
As it turns out, you just do it. To get writing experience, you just write.
By October of 2021, I had been throwing thoughts out on the internet for about a year, writing words and wondering if they would resonate with anyone. I also had a whisper of a book idea. It had just enough wind in it to spark a flame. Anytime an idea wafted by my train of thought, one that seemed to serve the book, I plucked it up and scribbled it down. Slowly but surely, I plucked and scribbled for a year.
By October of 2022, I had a bonafide book proposal—40-some-odd pages, carefully combining my years’ worth of notes. It was its own thing, and it was in someone else’s hands. My agent paper-airplaned it to editors that month, and by the end of November 2022, I had a few offers to sift through.
So my 2023 gets to start with a bang! This month, I have officially signed on and partnered with Baker Books. I will also have the tremendous opportunity to work with Stephanie Duncan Smith, the editor helping me to bring this book out into the world. (For you writer-types, Stephanie has a great Substack newsletter on the craft of writing, SLANT LETTER.)
I am immensely grateful both for the opportunity and to those who believed in me and in what I had to offer to the world, but I want to be honest: This was never the path I envisioned for myself. I didn’t want to lose all that my family had lost. The harm still hurts. There is a (very small) part of me who hopes to hear my brothers and former pastors affirm the ways God has gifted me. Despite their absence, though, God drew near. He keeps drawing near, and I sense the resurrection of my story.
You may not be a writer or see yourself as a creative, but I want you to know thriving isn’t a zero-sum game. The mourning may be thick, but you can thrive outside of the places and communities you’ve left. Your value and worth, gifts and goodness, are still your own. I’m in your corner, cheering you in.
Thank you for being present with me in my corner, too.
With you and for you,
Jenai 🌾
Anticipated Questions
Q: What’s the book about?
A: It’s about discovering a good God and his laboring love to bring rest to the weary, hope to the heartsick, and belonging to those who have been othered even in the community of the church.
Q: What’s the title?
A: I’m going to sit on that for a while. Titles are finicky things. I have one I’m holding close, but when it’s ready, I’ll update you.
Q: When does it publish?
A: We’ll have to wait at least until 2024 for you to hold it in your hands. There is no set date.
Q: Has Baker Books published anyone else I might have heard of?
A: Yes! My friend, Sara Billups, has a book (Orphaned Believers) that released this week! And a newer friend, Manda Carpenter, has a book (Soul Care to Save Your Life) that was released last summer!
Q: But I have more questions!
A: Stick around here on my Substack! Subscribe if you’re a new reader. I’ll send more updates your way. (Don’t worry. I don’t spam you, and I only send one newsletter a month.)
If you know of someone who might be interested in this book one day, consider sharing this newsletter with them and asking them to subscribe. Subscribing to my newsletter is a easy way to freely support the work I do!
One more shout out to my friend, Sara Billups! She’s been a precious part of my own writing journey, and I am over-the-moon for her launch this week. I told her I had a fan-girl moment when a copy of Orphaned Believers slid into my mailbox last week.
Also, on my word of the year…
I shared a few weeks back that my word of the year was HESED. It’s a Hebrew word loaded with meaning, but is most closely associated with God’s lovingkindness. (It also makes a big appearance in my forthcoming book.)
I ordered a custom mug from Mud Love last year, and this year, they set me up with a 20% off discount code for you! If you have a word of the year you would like to stick on a mug (or anything else they have), head over to mudlove.com and enter JENAI20 to save some shekels. The code expires on January 31st!
Lastly, for my fellow creative types who may feel stuck …
I wanted to specifically speak to those who have questions on writing or my journey with writing & art. To those who are also trying to figure out the writing thing and want to know what my journey looked like.
The truth is I’ve been flying by the seat of my pants, aiming to be consistent about testing the waters. I don’t have a degree in creative writing, and I came into this knowing zero writers and having zero writing friends.
There are great aids and helps out there as well as a few writing communities you can join. (I recommend checking out The Stories Between Us with my friend Sarah Westfall when it reopens.) You can also connect with others who are writing things you appreciate and see if they want to create a group with you.
But if you have specific questions and would like a fellow creative in your corner, coaching you, can I throw my hat in the ring? I started creative coaching others at the end of last year to create an avenue for people who have writing questions. I receive quite a few writing questions as well as questions on how I got started, and my enneagram 2 heart wants to answer every one, but I needed a way to make it sustainable for me to meet with so many.
Creative coaching is not a regimented how-to program. Instead, I follow your lead, giving you prompts, asking questions, and helping you map out a plan with whatever creative endeavor you’re pursuing.
The first call is free! So, if it sounds up your alley, let me know!
In case you’re new here, you can find me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
If this post was helpful or encouraging, considering tapping the heart 🖤 icon & leaving a comment. Your engagement helps me reach more people who may need a few words of hope. Encourage your friends to subscribe if it might be helpful for them.
You can find past posts from Letters for the Wilderness by visiting jenaiauman.substack.com.
Jenai, what a joy it is to cheer each other on as writers, authors, and people. Thrilled for you and can't wait for this book. Come on, 2024!
Congratulations Jenai! You're doing it! I can't wait to buy your book.
Blessings!