A Few Details About “The Book”

I wrote here for a week.

Yesterday I shared my secret –  I’ve been writing a book.  There were a few questions asked that I thought I’d answer here.

First – what is the book about?

The book is about How Today’s Woman Walks with God (that is not the title – just the description).  Here’s a more technical description:

 Living well in this modern world is a challenge.  The pace of life, along with the new front porch of social media, has changed the landscape of our lives.  Women have been told for far too long that being on the go and accumulating more things will make their lives full.  As a result, we grasp for the wrong things in life and come up empty.

God created us to walk with him; to know him and to be loved by him.  He is our living well and when we drink from the water he continually provides, it will change us, making us more like Jesus.  Our marriages, our parenting, and our homemaking will be transformed as we apply the truths of scripture in our roles as wives, moms and friends.

In the book, I share a lot of personal stories that I have not shared on this blog – stories from my childhood, college, about my mom, and the younger years of marriage.

When does the book release?

I’m thrilled to be working with the largest Christian publishing company in the world – Thomas Nelson!  I just finished my manuscript (I gave myself an early deadline because I wanted to be done before the homeschooling year began) but it isn’t due until September 30th.  A few editors will wrangle with the manuscript before it goes to print. So it won’t be out in stores until the middle to late 2013.

Where did you find time to write a book?

My mom with the kids at a hotel!

 This is where my amazing parents come into the picture.  They have been AWESOME!!! They kicked off the summer by taking the kids for a WEEK on a road trip while I went on a business trip to Williamsburg, VA with my husband.  While my husband did business – I hid in the room and wrote my heart out at the table you see in the first picture above.  Several chapters were completed that week.  Following that week of writing, my parents took the children several more times overnight and to the zoo, museum, and park.

Helping Keith out at en event in Williamsburg while dreaming of chapter 5 lol!

My husband Keith has also taken the kids multiple times out for ice cream and errands and miniature golfing and all sorts of activites to give me a quiet house – 3 cheers for super daddy!  I also write every Saturday morning at Panera Bread from 6:30am to 9:30am while my husband gives the kids breakfast.

Also, I had help here on the blog – did you notice?  My sister Jennifer did the 6 week summer series on books for children and Janelle as always (bless her heart!) gave me a Friday recipe.  These chicks freed me up to write the book rather than blog posts!!!

So it’s a mix of my family and friends who sacrificed this summer so I could write and to them I’m forever grateful.

How did this all come about?

My agent Esther!

To make a long story short – remember the reality show debacle? Well that caused me to consult with a dear friend Karen Ehman who introduced me to her agent Esther.  From there other unbelievable things happened like Ann Voskamp introducing me to her acquisitions editor and other open doors that confirmed to me I should walk through.

At the end of the day though, this is really not about me.  This is about God doing his thing…and I just happen to be the vessel.

You are his vessel too – and if you are struggling as you wait for God’s plan for you to unfold – this song is for you.  You are beautiful.

 You Are Beautiful – by Mercy Me

You’re beautiful
You are made for so much more than all of this
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His
You’re beautiful

Walk with the King,

39 Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing the details. I look forward to reading your book next year. Hey, I want it autographed. I’m gonna have to take a road trip someday and make a stop in Ohio 🙂

  2. Your blog has been such a big help in my journey as a wife ( of 4 years ). I cannot wait to read you book, it sounds like something I have been searching for ! I will praying for God to continue to open doors for your book !! Blessings Courtney !

  3. Love how that ‘reality show debacle’ was such a struggle of what you were supposed to do, when this is what you were supposed to do through that experience!!! Love how God leads us, HE is in control, ever orchestrating our paths!!! Congrats

  4. Courtney, I’m so thankful for the way you always point us back to Christ, and his sovereignty! And yes, how often are we anxious to see our own stories unfold, wishing that God would make it as plain to us as He did to another…and yet, in his wisdom and timing, I’m reminded of Aslan’s words: “Child,” said the Voice, “I am telling you your story, not hers. I tell no one any story but his own.” Praise the Lord, each of our stories is still unfolding; he is not through with any of us yet! 🙂

  5. God is amazing, Courtney. You are so blessed to have such a support system to write this summer. I really look forward to your book. Wow, can’t believe you kept this a secret so long. Blessings, Shonda

  6. Can’t wait to get the book! If you do a book signing anywhere near to where you live, I’ll BE there to get a signed copy 🙂

  7. I love how an invite to a reality show ended up in an amazing book deal. I guess sometimes one door opening just leads to a hallway where the next open door is awaiting you. I have been following your blog for a few years now and can’t wait to read the book when it comes out! We all benefit from you opening yourself up for God’s use.

  8. I’m so excited to read this book!
    But as excited as I am, did I miss posts regarding the conclusion of Proverbs 31? I thought you and Angela (and even your sister?) were going to share your reflections on the Proverbs 31 study this week or was that wrapped up as you and Angela did your final posts?
    Loved the Proverbs 31 study, love your blog and am super excited for the book!
    Thanks, Courtney!

  9. Courtney, I am so proud of you and happy for you!! I am so much looking forward to reading your book next year. You are a constant inspiration to me as a wive, mother and Christian woman. Thank you for guiding me on my own journey!

  10. Congratulations Courtney! I am sure it i s a gem and can’t wait to read it. May God bless this endeavour and I know it will yield much fruit and glorify Him!

  11. Simply THANK YOU!!! For posting and sharing this video, my heart was so heavy this morning as I’m still dealing with childhood issues of unworthiness and being unloved and it’s leaking into my marriage. God’s timing is always perfect. God Bless you!! I had never heard this song but will be singing it to myself quite frequently. 🙂

    1. I just had to respond because I, too, have always struggled with feelings of unworthiness and being unloved/unloveable stemming from childhood and leaking into my marriage (and pretty much everything I do). I have no words of wisdom, but I just wanted to say that I am lifting you up because even though I don’t know you, God does, and I pray that He will touch your heart and help you to feel all the love that He has for you, and help you to see that you do matter and you are worth it. Blessings to you.

      1. Thank you Crystal!! Prayers are OH SO needed and ALWAYS welcomed! 🙂 I will also be praying for you and I know first hand how deep these kind of wounds can be and know that only our Almighty God can heal us. God Bless.

  12. Awesome, Courtney!!! And, thanks for the tips on fitting in writing time 🙂 That’s always my struggle because while I can get 20-30 minutes here and there, it’s hard for me to get in the zone and be really productive in that short amount of time…sometimes it takes the first half hour just to really get in the zone.

    Congratulations again!

  13. I cannot wait to read your book! You have been such a blessing in my life! From WLW to GMG! Do I see book tour in your future? If so Texas is awesome and a small town called Waxahachie is the place to be! 🙂 you speaking at our church..that would be amazing!! Blessings to you Courtney!!

    🙂
    Jenny

  14. I can’t wait for you book to come out BUT really want to get it as an ebook-my Only way to turn pages now that I’m disabled. Do you think you can get the book that way & let me know??

  15. I read about you going to ministry school. God has now given you a ministry, to write for the glory of God. He opened doors for you to write, others stepped upped and made that possible. God has placed a gift in you. You are anointed. Your book will have the anointing of the Spirit of God, others will be healed through your words. Bless God for you.

  16. Congrats on your book! You are such an inspiration to all of us. You are a faithful servant. I love your transparency, and heart that follows hard after the Lord. Thank you for all you do for Him, that’s encouraging. I will be praying for you for this whole process.

    God bless you

  17. Hi Courtney, I stumbled across your blog and love it! I am striving to be the Proverbs 31 women, but my start has been very hard 🙁 I feel likeI’m failing. I am 25, married for 6 years to my highschool sweetheart and have a 2 year old daughter. My problem is I was abused as a child. My father was abusive to my mom. Then my mom died and I was raised by my grandmother with no male figure ever in my life. Now that I am a wife and we both work full time, I despise when I have to come home after a long day and work and clean while he relaxes. I have also bought alot of bitterness from my childhood with me, how to I get past this. I want desperatley to always have a smile on my face and enjoy doing the cooking and cleaning.

  18. Oh my goodness, I’m so excited!!! I can’t wait to read your book! Your blog and video advice has helped me to become a better wife and woman–God is using you to reach women who you don’t even know on a daily basis. I’ve been so grateful for this blog, and I’m so looking forward to your book! Yay! This news made my day. Thanks for letting God use you! 🙂

  19. Exciting news, Courtney! But… wait… we have to wait until 2013?! This is torture! Please post an excerpt as soon as you can. I’m dying to read your book. Congrats! You’re an inspiration to aspiring authors like me. 🙂

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