September, 2010

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Self-publishing makes me excited. And tired.

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Wednesday was stressful. At 11:30pm, I finally sat down and checked my email. Right there, in my inbox, were two unbelievable emails.

Email #1 :: My manuscript, back from the editor, with 170 pages splattered with minor fixes, grammatical errors, and some new ideas to think about.

Email #2 :: Two options of the book cover from my graphic designer.

Good gracious. All I could think was, “I should be jumping-out-of-my-skin excited. But I’m so tired. But this is a big moment. But I’m sleepy. Do I need to record this moment? Or can I just close my eyes?” It was a confusing conversation [that completely happened in my mind].

But I did think, “I can’t believe this is really happening.” In a good way.

Let me back up and tell you how this whole thing started….

So like I mentioned last week, I wrote a book, got picked up by an agent, pitched the book, no one wanted it, and then splitsville from my agent.

Over the summer, I began to dream. God started something with this book in 2006. I dreamed of finishing what God had started [with Him, of course. I hope.]

I looked around. A friend from church is a graphic designer. Hmmm…. another friend used to be an editor at Thomas Nelson. Hmmm….. wait.

Y’all know I’m a people person. And you know I love my Nash-people.

And suddenly it looked like my people were going to help make this dream a reality. [At this point, about a month ago, I kinda freaked out with excitement.]

Then I wrote up a business proposal and made my math-wiz friend Wes crunch the numbers and emailed my parents.

I think the email said this:

“Hey guys. Y’all are great. Look at this business plan for self-publishing my book. We could totally be business partners. You in?“

[It wasn't that informal. Also, I don't start emails to my parents by saying, "hey guys."]

So we shopped around, looking at lots of different self-publishing houses, and we decided on Westbow Press. [I'm gonna tell you why next week. Hold on to your horses, future authors.]

We hired the editor. We hired a graphic designer. We called Westbow Press, talked through which plan we wanted, and signed up.

And then suddenly I blinked and it was Wednesday night and I had an edited manuscript and two absolutely gorgie-poo cover choices and an advocate at Westbow Press emailing me and saying, “hey Annie, what can I do to help you?”

Right? Crazy.

So this train is moving ahead. My next step is going through the edits then sending it back to the editor for a final look over. I have to pick a book cover and collect endorsements. And then the goal is to turn everything in by October 15.

Phew.

In the next few weeks, I’ll tell you why I picked Westbow [if you want to hear more about them, click the button in the sidebar], how the editing process works, and how the first few weeks of working with Westbow folks has been.

[preview: 95% awesome, 3% scary, 2% confusing.]

Also- I can totes answer any questions. I know that many of you are considering this or just want to hear something I’m not thinking to say. So ask away, askers. This is our journey together- I want you to feel like you are seeing the map.

Like Boots and Dora. We are Boots and Dora.

[you're welcome.]

Posted in Westbow Press | 19 Responses »
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Smile, Wednesday. (9.29.10)

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

Sadie at Traveler's Rest

Nerd talk.

Camp Glisson waterfall

Tiny Tom and Tall Tom. I have 2 daddies?

Stop in the name of love, Carys.

Posted in Smile, Wednesday | 1 Response »

GIVR // TAKR

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

GIVR

I think this may be one of the coolest websites to come across my internet. My friend Roxy is one of the top dawgs at GIVR and rightly so. She’s a giver. She’s smart and innovative and I think it says something pretty massive about a person’s character when they spend their smarts on encouraging others to be generous.

The GIVR website isn’t massively difficult to understand. They aren’t asking for money. They aren’t asking for you to sell something for them. They are just asking you, and me, to be nice. To give. To live generously.

To quote the website:

We believe that change starts with our generation. We pledge to take action and live generously by:

* Giving more this year than I gave last year

* Finding new ways to give and help others

* Encouraging others to give through my actions and attitude

Cool, right? All they are saying is BE NICE and LIVE GENEROUSLY. So, enjoy playing around the site and sign up to be a GIVR.

Websites like this, movements that are started by smart people, these are the kinds of things that make me look forward to the future of the world.

TAKR

It’s only right if I ask you to give I also give you permission to take.

And by “take” I probably more mean “purchase.”

It’s Tuesday. New records come out on Tuesday. And this week, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

I have, for the last two days, had Bebo Norman’s new album Ocean on major repeat. Like, totes maj repeat.

On the porch. In the car. When I run. When I work.

I’ve been a long time fan of Beebs, but I’m telling you. This album is so so beautiful and real. You won’t be mad at all that you own it. You’ll be glad. There are some strong worship-like songs, but there are also just some good ole singer-songwriter stuff. It’s a good ‘un.

So.

You should be a TAKR and get this album.

That’s all I’ve got for today. Any other music you know of coming out today that we should all grab? Share away, my friend.

Y’all have a happy Tuesday.

Posted in Sounds good to me. | 4 Responses »
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When I talk about dating.

Monday, September 27th, 2010

A few of you who commented and emailed last week when I wrote about speaking at a college retreat about dating asked to hear what I decided to say.

In fact, some even asked for video footage, to which I immediately thought Nope Nope NOPE… because I talked about some stuff with those girls that isn’t blog friendly. Things that my readers under 17 don’t need to know from me, but stuff that college girls are dealing with, struggling with.

Let me be as blunt as I can be and say that SIN DOESN’T CARE IF YOU ARE A BOY OR A GIRL. So. Some sins that are deemed “guy sins” heap shame on the girls who struggle. And visa-versa.

So we talked about it. But I’m not going to blog specifically about that. But if you’re wondering how honest I got, I GOTZ REAL HONEST.

Ahem.

And now I will blog about the other things we discussed.

I spent a long time not talking about boys. Because if I have learned anything in 30 years of being a single Christian girl, I have learned that the relationship that needs the most focus is your relationship with the Father. No one will love you perfectly, everyone will fail you, but God is so faithful. So we talked about building a life around your dreams and His plans.

I talked about the importance of being healthy- mentally, spiritually, and physically. We discussed how it is not as important to be a certain size or shape, but what matters is that you are caring for the gifts God has given you, and that includes your bod.

And then I told them to trust God.

Then we talked about dudes. Because dudes are awesome and cute.

I shared many of your comments and thoughts, I shared some encouraging and heartbreaking stories from your emails [no names were used, I promise], and I told them to only date boys who share their faith. I told them to say YES when a good guy asks them out [even if they aren't immediately in love] and I told the boys to get some courage and do some asking out. I told them to be honest and be careful. I talked about mistakes I’ve made and the hard parts of being me. I also told them about friendships with boys and how to handle that particular maze, by way of “I fail at this… like… still.”

And we talked about sex and other things that are not appropriate for the blog. [I mean, the blog is only 4 years old. Earmuffs, blog. Earmuffs.]

Overall, it was a super fun weekend. The students were rad and we played some hilarious games that I won’t soon forget. I loved getting to see my friends David and Jane Scott, the directors of KSU Wesley, and the token single dude James Michael Smith [to balance my token single self].

So all in all, it was a win.

Also, here are some books that I told the girls about. You may not agree with everything in every one of these, but these are some of my favs:

Passion and Purity by Elizabeth Elliot  [The cover is hideous. Don't judge the book by it.]

Path of Loneliness by Elizabeth Elliot  [You'll cry. But it'll feel good.]

Get Married: What Women Can Do to Help It Happen by Candice Watters [Can't hurt to try. :) ]

The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie OMartian  [Ain't nothin' wrong with praying.]

Anticipatience by Sharon Virkler  [Um. So good. Like, really.]

Revelations of a Single Woman by Connally Gilliam  [My very fav. I want to be friends with her real bad. LOVE LOVE LOVE this book.]

So there’s the recap. Oh, and I got to spend time at Camp Glisson, which is one of my favorite spots in the great state of Georgia. I sat at the waterfall for about 30 minutes and just sat. It was sweet. Many-a-youth-group memory are housed there, so something in me was quite refreshed by the experience.

Thanks again, KSU Wesley! Y’all are awesome.

———-

Just a little teaser– Tomorrow we’re talking about GIVR. Preview and then we can discuss.

Posted in I heart books. | 12 Responses »
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#topsecretbookstuff…. REVEALED!

Friday, September 24th, 2010

I’m going to try not to capitalize this entire post because I honestly am excited enough to JUMP OUT OF MY SKIN.

Ok, breathe.

A little background.

Many of you know that I moved to Nashville to pursue writing. [If you weren't around for this time, I'm gonna link to those posts so you can catch up.... if you wanna.]

I wrote a book. Many of you prayed it into being. Honestly. Believe me- I haven’t forgotten those of you who prayed. And I finished that book on an unseasonably warm day in January 2009.

And then I sent it to my agent. And waited. And waited. And to make a long story short- after a year of trying to get published in the traditional way, it never got picked up. By anyone. So she and I parted ways in April 2010. It just wasn’t working. I didn’t have a book deal, she didn’t make any money, and I was over the process.

I don’t know why it didn’t work for me. I don’t have an answer. It just didn’t. For some of my friends [like the most excellent Anne Jackson], traditional publishing is awesome and works beautifully.

For me, it didn’t work. It has made me doubt, retreat, and re-evaluate whether or not this was a good plan. I questioned more than my skill- I questioned my own heart.

But, here’s the truth.

I adore the book. I feel like it is a story I want to tell. I feel like God wants to use this book for His glory. It was so much work, so much of my heart, and such a massive part of where I want my life to go.

So. [insert drum roll here if you are into that kind of thing......]

I’m taking the non-traditional [but up-and-coming route] of self-publishing.

[Here's the PERFECT explanation of self-publishing from Thomas Nelson's CEO Michael Hyatt. Read it. Please.]

What does that mean? That means that my parents and I have partnered with Westbow Press and we will be publishing the book ourselves.

Do I hear some squealing?!? Is it you or just me?!? I’m hoping both. Because what that means is that within a few months, you will be able to HOLD MY BOOK IN YOUR HANDS.

[Yep, I hear the squealing now.]

I know you have tons of questions. That’s great. I’m going to answer them all.

And here’s the cool thing. I’m gonna blog about it.

I love you guys. Like so so much. And you have been a major part of the book writing process. It only feels right to include you on every step of the book publishing process.

So from now on, I will blog weekly[ish] about the path of self-publishing. I want you to hear the ins and outs, the easy and hard, the stressful and scary and awesome parts of self-publishing with Westbow Press.

Maybe you have considered publishing a book yourself or maybe you just love me or maybe you’ll just find it interesting to watch the process. Whatever the reason, I’m gonna tell you about it.

I’ll tell you why I decided to try this, why I picked Westbow Press, why this is the right time, why my parents jumped on board, why I’m willing to tell you the process even though I could fail miserably.

I’ll tell you all of it.

Because the book is just a part of the story. A good part.

But this. This right here? The process?

It’s the real story.

Welcome to the real story.

Posted in Westbow Press | 30 Responses »
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Dating tips.

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

Not for me, you sillies.

This weekend, I will be joining some friends and leading a relationships retreat for a college campus ministry.

I am excited. And a bit nervous. But mainly excited. 70/30 split? Nah, 80/20. Totes 80/20.

Talking to the girls is gonna be awesome. You know I dig standing in front of a group of girls and talking about boys, dating, life. I mean, not that I’m an expert [insert single-at-30 joke here], but I am pretty good at telling other girls what to do.

Just ask my sisters.

And I’m actually super excited about talking about singleness in college, about how to really LIVE, about how to make life choices when you are single. I mean, pretty much, I’m gonna talk about Scotland.

God’s timing is awesome. And hilarious. And weird. [Let's be honest.]

But there is a point, later in Saturday, where I talk with the college boys. And, to quote the director of the ministry, I have to tell the boyz “5 things we wish the opposite sex knew”.

And to be honest, I need some help. I mean, I wish boys knew to tell me I look good in workout clothes. I wish boys knew that eating sushi is super attractive [to girls in Nashville at least]. I wish college boys would have known that dating can be easy and low stress and fun instead of so stinkin’ serious. I wish boys in college knew that when you take me on a drive through the country listening to really good music and the windows are down and the sun is shining on my face, I’m pretty sure we are in love and going to get married really soon.

Too specific? Maybe.

So, obviously. I need better tips.

Help?

If you could tell Christian college dudes one thing about dating, what would it be?

If you could tell Christian college girls one thing about dating, what would it be?

Bring it. Bring your wisdom, bring your jokes, bring your knowledge. Bring your A game. Just give me a large smattering of tips. That way, we can all influence their dating futures together.

It’s safer that way.

#sharetheblame

Hey- by the way. If you work with a campus ministry or a youth group and you are looking for a female speaker, email me. annieblogs [at] gmail [dot] com. Let’s chat.

Posted in Ze Bloggy Goodness | 26 Responses »
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Well. Prepare yourself. For laughs.

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

Because this is the funniest moment of your day.

ALL THE LIVE LONG YESTERDAY I had “I come to you with expectations, Baton Rouge…” running through my head.

That junk is funny.

Dave and Andrew will be out and about for the next few weeks and there will be a special handshake for any AnnieBlogs readers out there. So make sure you walk up and say “I’m an AnnieBlogs reader- shake my hand!”

You won’t regret it.

[Or maybe you will. I can't make any promises. But you'll laugh- that's for sure.]

Also, Andrew’s new record comes out today and listen. You WILL regret missing out on this. It’s called She Remains the Same and I have rarely enjoyed an album this much this quickly. His CD release party on Sunday was a blast and Andrew live is as good as the album. I promise.

And please watch this video again. Even if you don’t live anywhere near Baton Rouge. Because this humor is inspiring.

[Inspiring? Too strong? Nope. I meant it.]

Posted in Sounds good to me., video blogs | 8 Responses »
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Daddy.

Monday, September 20th, 2010

Yesterday was my Dad’s 60th birthday.

And listen. You don’t even want to get me started on my Dad. He’s just the greatest. Dad has done an amazing job of loving our family. I’m going to do the best I can to tell you about him, but the truth is that there are a few topics that leave me speechless and my awesome parents are one of those topics.

I tried to tell you about him at Father’s Day, but that was a weak showing as well.

So here are few pictures from the spring. I think it’s pretty obvious what’s happening in this first one. Daddy said something funny, Tatum (on the right) doesn’t know what to do with us, Mom is laughing, Sally is out of control, and I’m looking right at Dad.

Or how about this one. Yep, looking at my Dad again.

I mean, seriously. Is this funny to anyone else? Talk about a child who wants some attention and approval. Sheesh. :)

It just happens. He’s the greatest.

Our family has had some times. And by “times,” I mean “hard times” and “heartbreak” and “lack of sleep.” And somehow, because Dad has led us well, trusted God, and prayed for us, we’ve made it through. And I think we will continue to make it through.

Here’s a fun fact- my grandmother was born in 1920, my dad in 1950, and myself in 1980. So it has always been easy for me to keep up with their ages. And as of yesterday, I’ve been my Dad’s daughter for half of his life.

That’s the best half, if you ask me. Mom is his better half, I am the better half of his life. Tatum is the better almost half and Sally is the better half minus 8 years.

I get to head to Marietta Saturday for Dad’s birthday party, gather with our family and his friends, and I’m sure Dad will make lots of jokes [cause he's REALLY funny] and have tons of food and do his best to make sure everyone in the room has a good time. I. Can’t. Wait.

Happy birthday, Daddy. Thanks so so much for everything- for how you love and how you lead and how you teach and how you make it easy to be me. Thanks for being the most upstanding man I have ever known. Thanks for being a leader for our immediate and extended families. I pray that God continues to be your strength, your wisdom, and your hope.

Here’s to another 60 years. Please?

—–

PS- My Dad really loves my sisters as well. But, since this is my blog, I get to put pics of me and Daddy. Sorry seesters.

PPS- Another favorite dad of mine turned 60 last week, too! Happy birthday, Mr. Bill [better known around these parts as Shelby's grandpa]. I guess if I’m an honorary aunt, that makes me Bill Boatman’s honorary daughter. And if you ask me, that is a WIN. Much love to you, Bill and Kacky!

Posted in Ze Bloggy Goodness | 8 Responses »

I love Scotland in the wintertime.

Friday, September 17th, 2010

[That may not be how the song goes.... just move along.....]

If you would have told me when I was 22 that I would be 30 and single, I wonder what I would have done differently.

Don’t get me wrong- I think God led me and guided me and gave me the most beautiful decade I could have ever wanted.

But. I wonder where my fear held me back. How much more could He have given me if I would have opened my hands to it? I’ll never know.

Let’s be deeply honest: I wonder where my fear of being single forever held me back. I know [like deep in my knower] that there were times that I made choices out of a “what if that keeps me from getting married” mindset.

Here I sit. 30 and single. And I don’t want to be 40 and look back on this decade, whether single or married, and wonder where my fear stopped me from being brave with Jesus.

So. I purchased a plane ticket.

To Scotland.

To finally do something I have wanted to do since I was a 19 year old sophomore at the University of Georgia.

I’ll be living in Scotland… for one month.

From January 17 – February 16, I will be living outside of Edinburgh, still working for Mocha Club, hopefully writing some sort of deeply inspiring words, tapping into my creative well as much as possible, and doing ministry with my friends there. And standing on this rock in St. Andrews just because I can and it reminds me of how near and present our God is.

I do not fear what I will miss being away from Nashville for a month- it happens all the time- boys always head on the road with their bands for more than 4 weeks.

I fear what I would miss if I stay.

I’m not leaving Nashville. How could I? My community here is stuck with me, whether they like it or not. I’m not moving away. I’m just embracing an opportunity to live for a bit in a country that has long held my heart.

Why blog about it now? Because I am about to jump out of my skin with excitement and now that I have purchased my flight, I want to tell my friends in Scotland. This is the easiest way.

I can’t wait to spend this much time with my friends on the other side of the Atlantic. It’ll be hard and weird and different and awesome.

And whatever God has planned, I’m not afraid.

I left fear behind at 29.

It just plain doesn’t fit into my schedule at 30.

Posted in Dreams Coming True, Scotland | 37 Responses »

#thisisawesome & #youguysarefunny

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

For starters, I have gotten around a gazillion emails in the last 24 hours telling me how funny your comments were yesterday when we learned about/talked about hashtags. Well played, my friends. Well played. I should call on your humor more often because you straight up delivered.

I promised a prize. Let me tell you about the prize now.

I recently received this box in the mail, containing a few copies of 180.

What is 180? 180 is a collection of stories from “people who changed their lives by changing their minds,” or so the subtitle says. About a year ago, I was approached by The House Studio to contribute a chapter to this book.

And right up until I wrote Turning in July, this chapter I wrote was the greatest short piece I have ever done. I went through quite a few revisions and when they sent an email enthusiastically accepting the piece, I fist pumped for about twelve minutes. I am so.so.proud of this writing.

My chapter is very different from the other chapters. It was a risk, one of the most serious risks of my writing career, to write what I did. [I mean, most people wrote about things like theology, abortion, and the truth of the Bible. I wrote about fingernail polish.] And it was super scary and super exhilarating and I am proud to hold a book in my hands that has my writing on the inside.

And one of you gets a free copy! Because all the comments were rad, I just randomly picked one. So the winner is LESLIE RUTH!Congrats, Leslie Ruth! I’ll drop one of these puppies in the mail to you early next week. [Sorry- I'm moving tomorrow, so it will have to wait until after.]

Also, I feel the need to go ahead and share that if you love pumpkin spice things, please try the pumpkin hershey kisses. Please. It will bless your autumn and ruin your diet.

For the rest of you non-Leslie Ruths out there, you can purchase 180 from The House Studio. [Only buy it if you want it- don't buy it because you love Annie. I'll give you the chance to buy a book to support Annie, whether you really want it or not, later in 2010.]

So, what I’m saying is this- while this 180 thing is really awesome, it is not the #topsecretbookstuff that I mentioned yesterday. You’re gonna have to wait a bit longer for that. :)

Posted in AnnieWrites, I heart books. | 12 Responses »
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