From My Heart and Hands to Yours

An opportunity to rest in the possibility of joy

I just finished recording the audiobook for Longing for Joy: An Invitation into The Goodness and Beauty of Life. Reading the final version of my book out loud has increased my excitement for you to read, or listen to, it soon.

Now taking center stage: the promotion and marketing of my book. I feel some resistance in myself when it comes to promoting my work: I don’t want to be annoying, ask too much, or exhaust my own limits while offering something in return. However, friends, I believe in this book wholeheartedly. I want it to reach as many hands and hearts as possible. After spending the past decade researching and cultivating joy, I know my book can help people live closer to the possibility of joy.

In today’s world, it truly takes a village to help a book find its way, and I can’t do it without the help of many people. Let me be more vulnerable:

I need your help.

Phew.

That wasn’t as hard to write as I thought.

I need a generous group of people who will:

• Pre-order my book

• Review it on Amazon once it releases

• Share about it by posting a photo while tagging me on social media, or telling a friend about the book

My hope is for 250 people to help.

This is a big goal for me.

I genuinely, truly, really can’t do it without you.

My aim is to reach the not-so elusive minimum target of 100 pre-orders, and then 100 reviews within the first week of the book launch. This way, we can tame the hungry Amazon algorithm—that modern day Leviathan—and give my book the best shot at entering into the world well.

If you can help with these generous and simple things, it would make a huge difference. But if you’re ready for more fun and engagement … I also want to offer you something in return:

The Joy Refuge

As part of my effort to launch my book, I’ve created The Joy Refuge—a 4-week opportunity to learn how to rest in joy as an ever-present possibility. Would you please visit the site to learn more and consider joining?

What’s Next?

Over the next few months, I’ll write some articles related to my book:

• The Backstory: Why did I write this book?

• The Sample: A free chapter from the book

• The Now-story: What does joy look like for me now?

Our podcast will also feature more guests! We’ve already recorded a great episode with Julie Lane-Gay about the difficulty of prayer and the goodness of God. Be sure to check out her new book The Riches of Your Grace, and keep an eye out for this episode next week.

We also have interviews scheduled with:

• Mike Mason, author of The Mystery of Marriage, Champagne for the Soul, and his new book, Same Old Same New. We will talk about joy in the ordinary, an apt topic for Ordinary Matters!

• Whitney Pipkin, author of We Shall All Be Changed. We will talk about the intersection of joy and death.

• Ken Shigematsu, author of God in My Everything and Now I Become Myself. Ken has done great work on shame and the gospel.

• Casey Margarite, author of the children’s book Disruptive Joy. We’re going to explore the relationship between childhood and joy.

… and there are more people in the pipeline, so stay tuned!

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Julia and I are grateful for all of you who read and listen Ordinary Matters. Thank you, thank you, thank you!