I’m excited to share the fantastic news that I will be publishing another book with Herald Press, to be released in 2018!!
This new book comes as the happy result of an article that I wrote last year for When You Work for the Church.
Last August I asked, Is Self-Care Part of Your Paid Employment, and Should It Be?
Four days later I received an email from an editor at Herald Press saying how much she appreciated the article and suggesting that the self-care theme might make a good book to follow up my Sacred Pauses: Spiritual Practices for Personal Renewal (Herald Press, 2013).
Wow! We had talked some months earlier about my writing another book for Herald Press, but I was still finishing a Lenten devotional Bible study guide for another publisher, plus blogging regularly, plus pastoring full-time. Under the circumstances, I could hardly think about another book project.
So I tucked that idea in the back of my mind, and carried on with other things. Every so often, I would think about self-care and mull over the possibilities. I talked with the editors. I started collecting resources on self-care. I wrote a blog post on The Best Articles on Self-Care in the Church. I started jotting down ideas, that turned into a book proposal, that turned into an introduction and sample chapter, that finally turned into a publishing contract!
Now I have a book deadline for February 1, 2018, which simultaneously feels far away and far too soon! Thanks to my congregation, I have a two-month study leave for October and November to work on the book. That’s a wonderful gift and a huge help, but when I look at all of my scattered bits and pieces, I can’t imagine how everything will come together–and yet I know it will.
During the next few months I hope to continue blogging on my current schedule, twice a month here and twice a month on my writing blog–I have lots of ideas, both related and unrelated to self-care. But if an email from me arrives later than usual, or I skip a week, you’ll know why!
In the meantime, I welcome your thoughts, suggestions, and prayers. If you’ve read a great article or book on self-care, listened to a podcast, have a question that you’d like to see addressed, learned something about self-care as you’ve worked for the church and lived your life, or have something else you’d like to share with me, I’d love to hear from you.
Related Links:
I’m pleased to add that my book on self-care has now been published by Herald Press:
Four Gifts: Seeking Self-care for Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength
See also:
Four Gifts Launch Party Photos
