Momspirational Life

On May 22, I clicked the “Publish” button for my very first book, She Reached Anyway.

It was one of the most exciting, humbling, and nerve-wracking moments of my life. Months of writing, editing, formatting, proofreading, and praying had all led to that single click.

I thought publishing a book would feel like crossing the finish line. Instead, I learned it was the starting line.

Over the past several weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on this journey. I’ve learned lessons that go far beyond writing and publishing. They’ve reminded me of how God often works in our lives.

God Uses Small Beginnings

Although She Reached Anyway is my first published book, it isn’t the first time I shared the words God had placed on my heart. Long before there was a manuscript, there were blog posts.

For years, blogging gave me a place to write through what God was teaching me, encourage others, and slowly discover my voice as a writer. At the time, I wasn’t thinking about becoming an author. I was simply being faithful with what was in front of me. I envisioned myself as a blogger more than a book author at that time.

Looking back now, I realize that those blog posts weren’t just words on a screen. They were preparation. Sowing seeds, if you will. Every post taught me something. How to communicate more clearly. How to organize my thoughts. How to write honestly. How to trust God with the message He had given me.

Sometimes we underestimate the season we’re in because it doesn’t seem significant. However, God has a way of using small beginnings to prepare us for what comes next.

You’ll Never Feel 100% Ready

I had to learn to stop chasing perfection and trust that I had given the book my best. Actually, that is one thing that I have allowed the Holy Spirit to work on (definitely a work in progress) is when I overthink. Even after publishing, I still found tiny things I wished I could tweak. A word here. A sentence there. That’s simply part of being a writer.

I’ve learned that perfection isn’t what readers remember. They remember authenticity. There were words or phrases I wanted to change, but the nudge of the Holy Spirit showed me that I needed to leave it be.

Publishing Is Only the Beginning

Before publishing, I thought the hard part was writing the book. Now, I know that publishing opens the door to an entirely new learning experience. I’ve learned about Kindle formatting, book categories, pricing, author copies, keywords, marketing, and the many behind-the-scenes details that most readers never see. It’s been both challenging and exciting because every step has taught me something new. It is definitely a trial-and-error process for me.

Faithfulness Opens Unexpected Doors

One thing I didn’t expect was how this journey would continue to grow.

Since publishing, She Reached Anyway has become available as a Kindle eBook and has also been translated into Spanish.

I don’t speak Spanish fluently. While I can understand some of it through reading and conversation, my decision to translate the book wasn’t about becoming bilingual. It was about making the message accessible to readers who are more comfortable reading in Spanish.

As a deaf woman, I understand what it’s like to have something stand between you and understanding a message. Closed captioning has made an incredible difference in my own life. I still remember rewatching shows from my childhood with captions on and realizing I was understanding parts of them for the very first time. It wasn’t because the shows had changed. It was because I finally had access to the words in a way I could fully understand.

While closed captioning and translating a book into another language aren’t the same thing, they share a common purpose: removing barriers so someone can connect with the message.

That realization gave me a different perspective on translating She Reached Anyway. If a reader picks up the Spanish edition and is able to understand God’s grace more clearly because it is written in the language they’re most comfortable with, then every step of that process was worth it.

That experience reminded me that when we faithfully offer God what He’s given us, He often opens doors we never planned for ourselves.

Success Looks Different Than I Expected

It’s easy to measure success by numbers.

Sales.
Reviews.
Rankings.

Those things certainly have their place, and every review or encouraging message from a reader is deeply appreciated.

However, over these past several weeks, God has reminded me to ask a different question.

Did someone encounter hope?
Did someone come away with a deeper understanding of His grace?
If the answer is yes, then this journey has already been worthwhile.

God Is Writing More Than Just a Book

Perhaps the greatest lesson I’ve learned is that this journey has never really been about publishing. It’s been about obedience.

Writing the blog.
Writing the manuscript.
Clicking “Publish.”
Continuing to learn.
Continuing to write.

Each step has required trusting God before knowing what would come next. When I look back, I can see His fingerprints in places I never noticed at the time. What once felt like ordinary moments have become part of a much bigger story.

Maybe that’s how God often works. He doesn’t usually reveal every chapter at once. He simply asks us to be faithful with the page we’re writing today.

Looking Ahead

I still consider myself a new author. I’m still learning. I’m still making mistakes. I’m still discovering what this journey looks like. However, if these past several weeks have taught me anything, it’s this:

Never underestimate small beginnings.

The quiet seasons. The unseen work. The ordinary acts of faithfulness. God has a beautiful way of using them to prepare us for things we never imagined. Whether She Reached Anyway reaches ten readers or ten thousand, my prayer remains the same as it was before I ever clicked “Publish”:

That every person who reads it will be reminded that God’s grace reaches farther than fear, failure, shame, or regret. And when God chooses to write another chapter after this one, I’ll trust Him with that page, too.

With love,
Tabitha