Happy Two Years to Yes, Father: A Daughter’s Journey to Forgiveness

I released my book, Yes, Father: A Daughter’s Journey to Forgiveness on July 29, 2022.

I had the launch party at my church and was amazed by the support I received. A lot of people showed up and I sold almost all my author’s copies. We had a Q&A, a giveaway, food, a photo wall, and we prayed over the book and its release into the world. It was a wild night and one of the greatest honors of my life.

A lot happened before that moment. This book is a memoir, the honest story of my relationship with my father and my journey toward forgiving him when I was his caregiver during the last years of his life. I had to live the book first. Then I had to recover from it, process, grow, and reflect. Only then could I even think of sharing my story.

But once I was ready to share it, so many other things had to happen. The first step of that was research. Yes, research into my own life, re-reading my own journals, and talking to family and friends. And that triggered me in quite a few ways. Things I thought I’d dealt with, now had to be revisited. I went back to recovery, processing, growth, and reflection.

I had to have the time to write it. That gift was given to me in 2021. I wrote the book in a span of about six months. It was a process with spreadsheets and the daily grind and the words pouring out in equal parts frustration and joy.

Then came the important question: once you finish a rough draft, what the heck do you do with it? I had all these words, detailing such personal things. And what to do?

To start with, I had a trusted writing friend read them. She had some good feedback for me so I re-wrote sections and added things. It was a whole different book now. Better and more coherent, I think.

But I still needed to decide which route to take the book, so I turned to the pro and con list and eventually landed on a self-publishing route. It felt more doable than trying to seek a traditional publishing contract. I began building up my platform in the meantime, keeping myself and my words out in the world.

I also hired an editor, who gave me even more feedback and helped me develop things I hadn’t seen before. I also had even more people edit the words. I re-wrote again and again.

I needed the book to look appealing, so I hired a designer for the cover, one who would also help me with formatting and marketing. Once I submitted my manuscript, there was no more re-writing, but there were still a lot of decisions to make. A lot of photos to take. A lot of research to do on marketing strategies. And a launch team to assemble, all those beautiful people who were the first believers.

Then it was ready in its digital form which I loved. I ordered a copy and I held it in my hands for the first time. And I cried. It’s a surreal feeling to hold the physical representation of so much work and so much personal vulnerability in your hands. But it was amazing.

And then the book was launched and I did some podcast interviews and spoke at a book club, did a book signing and got to see the book in a physical store and I got to read reviews as people graciously created them and hear from people how my story helped them.

Then it was over. Now it’s two years later. I’m working on a whole new type of book and I’m again in the process of trying to figure out how to get my story to the world.

But this first book will always be near and dear to me, always the first fruits, always the story I shared for others. I wrote it not just for enjoyment but for practical help, for those in the thick of it to realize someone else has been there, and to let people know that forgiveness is possible. I got to see the impact on a personal level. And the best part is that it can still grow.

Now I get to celebrate the two-year anniversary. This book’s birthday got a bit swallowed up last year with my own wedding, but this year, I wanted to write this post, marking this moment in time. Celebrate with me! The book is available on all your major platforms and the link is here for you: https://books2read.com/yesfather

If you haven’t picked up a copy yet or would like to order one for someone you know, please do so. And I’d like to encourage you to leave a review. That’s the best way to help other people find this book.

I know this story was meant to be shared and that there are people out there who haven’t read it, who should. So spread the word and help me celebrate this baby of mine turning two. There’s a lot that goes on behind-the-scenes of a book and I want you with me on the journey.