The Voyage to Her: From Journal Pages to Publication

I didn’t just wake up one day and decide to write a book.

That’s not how this happened.

This isn’t a “suddenly” story—it’s a sown and stretched one. It’s been layered in my life since I was a little girl, writing my thoughts and prayers in the margins of journals. Back then, I didn’t know I was planting seeds. I just knew writing made me feel seen by God.

Fast forward to now—I’m one week away from launching my very first book, Pray Differently, and when I look back over the journey, I’m overwhelmed (in the best way). It has been a lot. But it’s also been beautiful. So I want to share a piece of that story with you—because The Voyage to Her isn’t just about the finished product. It’s about becoming.

It Started with a Word

Years ago, I received a prophetic word from a woman of God. She told me, “You’re going to write a book—not about prayer, but a book of prayers.”

I said, “Wow… okay.”

She had no idea I’d already been journaling prayers for years. It’s always been how I process life, how I connect with God. So no—this wasn’t new. This has always been in me. I’ve won awards for writing. I love a good pen and cream-colored paper. I’ve always written things down. It’s part of my healing. Part of my rhythm.

What I Thought It Would Be…

In the beginning, I assumed this was just a series of blog posts—something simple and faith-based. I had topics in my heart, scriptures I’d study, and reflections I’d write. That was the plan: create faith-forward content, post it, and keep it moving.

But God had more in mind.

As I kept writing, it began to grow. This wasn’t a blog post anymore. This was a book—not just of prayers, but of prayer power.

Title? Cover? Formatting? Whew.

Let me tell you something—creating a book isn’t just writing and uploading. It’s decision after decision after decision. The cover alone had me in a chokehold for a good month and a half. I wanted something that looked feminine and spirit-led, but nothing I found worked. I finally settled on a silhouette design that felt like me. Now, do I wish the background was cream instead of that rich tone? Yes. But I still love it.

Then came the title. For a long time, I wanted to name it Prayer Diary—inspired by The Princess Diaries (don’t judge me, I loved that book!). But one morning, while still half-asleep, the Holy Spirit whispered: Pray Differently. And I knew that was it. That was the name.

When the Money Ran Out

Now let’s talk about the hard part.

At one point, I ran out of money. Completely.

Publishing requires investment—editing, formatting, cover design, printing, everything. And I didn’t have it. On top of that, I lost my job. Yes—while I was working on this book, while under contract to purchase a home, while preparing for my daughter’s middle school graduation (which in the Midwest, is like a mini prom + formal dinner + cap and gown ceremony).

I said to myself, “I don’t have a job. I don’t have any money. So there is no book.”

It felt like everything was on pause. But God.

Just as suddenly as things dried up, He opened doors again. I received a new job offer. And when the funds started flowing again, I went back to work on the book—with urgency. I proofread it three times myself. Then I sent it to a formatter I had connected with at an event. They turned it around in seven days. I was amazed.

Self-Publishing with Strategy

I’m publishing through Lulu Direct, which integrates directly with my website. That means I don’t have to touch or ship anything. It’s a seamless drop-shipping model. If someone orders from my site, they get the book. It’s that simple.

If you’re an aspiring author or entrepreneur, I highly recommend Lulu Direct with either WooCommerce or Wix. I didn’t need to build a new website—just connected it to my blog and boom, it’s in my shop. No extra overhead. No extra tech stress. Just… done.

The Countdown Is Here

Is the book perfect? No. There are a few minor errors that I noticed after proofing, but they’re not deal-breakers. I’m not going to hold up production. Why?

Because I’m proud of this.

Because I’ve labored for this.

Because it’s finally time to release it to the world.

On June 8, Pray Differently will be officially available. It’s not just a devotional. It’s not just a journal. It’s a tool to activate your prayer life. It’s how I pray—and how you can begin praying the Word of God with confidence and clarity.

Final Thoughts

This blog series, The Voyage to Her, is all about sharing the behind-the-scenes truth. The tears, the obedience, the miracles, the detours, the growth. This book is part of my “becoming,” but so is this story.

So whether you’re writing a book, launching a business, or simply trying to stay faithful in this season—you’re not alone. Keep going. Keep trusting. God really does bring it all together in His timing.

Order

Pray Differently

Available June 8, 2025

And come back to the blog—when the Holy Spirit speaks, I write. No set schedule. Just spirit-led encouragement for the journey.