I Wrote a Book!

If you haven’t heard… I wrote a book!!! A children’s book, at that. It has been in the works for over a year now. I actually wrote it last July, and as fall came around, I found myself researching and learning about different publishing options and how to get a book out into the world. I ended up choosing a publisher I discovered through someone from my hometown church who had also published a children’s book. I reached out, we had a phone call, and honestly, the rest is history.

The publisher and I dove into the finer details– the process, the timeline, and of course, the price. It was certainly an investment to bring this book to life, but God made a way. I felt so strongly that this message was important, something God had placed on my heart. I never imagined I’d write and publish a book, especially a children’s book, but I was reminded of how much I’ve always loved stories and reading. That love goes all the way back to sixth-grade English class with Mrs. Schmidt. Then in seventh grade, my teacher, Mrs. West, had us write our own books for an assignment. We wrote the stories, picked out the pictures, and she turned each one into an actual book. I still have mine somewhere. That little assignment planted a seed in my heart that I never knew would grow the way it has, but with God’s provision, it did.

This process has stretched me both professionally and personally, and it continues to do so, as I continue to market and share the book. It’s been a complete learning experience: from editing to envisioning the illustrations to reviewing the illustrator’s sketches, making tweaks, and even fine-tuning details such as text placement. I was a little detail-oriented (okay… maybe a lot), and some might say “picky,” but I believe God gave me the ability to notice things on a deeper level, details others might not even think twice about. I’m proud of the book, the journey, and all the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Now, I’m learning to step into boldness and confidence. I’ve struggled with releasing the book into the world, especially with things like Amazon’s print-on-demand system adding extra blank pages to the back (which is just part of their printing process) and then the publisher’s printer stapling the book instead of binding it, and I have quite a few copies of those... Those small things started to affect me more than I expected. For a while, that really discouraged me and made me hesitant to share. But I’ve come to realize it doesn’t take away from the heart of the message or the purpose behind the story. My perfectionistic tendencies are still there, but I’m learning to quiet them. This was my first time doing something like this, and I’m still learning! 

It’s truly wild how many little details go into creating a book. More than anything, I wanted the girls who would hold this book in their hands to feel the love and intention behind every page.

I never want to come across as “sales-y,” but I genuinely believe this book has the potential to impact lives, not because of me, but because of God and His glory. If you know someone with a daughter between the ages of 7–12, I would be so grateful if you shared this book with them. And if your church, your child’s school, or another group hosts authors or guest speakers, I’d love to be considered and connected!

This book holds so much of my heart. It’s inspired by a few of my own experiences as a little girl, and it’s truly something I would want my own daughter to know. But I also believe this story has something for moms, too. As you read it with your daughter or with any little girl in your life, I hope you’re reminded of your own worth, and that you, too, are seen, loved, and known by God. Sometimes, the words we speak over daughters and the younger generation are the same words we still need to hear ourselves.

Emersyn Chooses Kind Thoughts and God’s Truth is something I’m incredibly proud of, and I’m so grateful God called me to write it. I pray that whoever reads it will see themselves through God’s eyes, choose kinder thoughts about themselves, and stand firmly in God’s truth.

Purchase the book here.