Oh, friend. I will never ever forget that time you called me (a phone call!) on the day your book released (!!!) and encouraged ME for 30 minutes about my books and books sales and shared your disappointments and told me some of these same stories. You are such a GIFT (and such a gifted writer) and it is wildly unfair that your awesomeness and book sales don’t match. I want them to so badly. And I BELIEVE IT WILL HAPPEN. Keep going, friend. Love you so much. ❤️❤️❤️
Wow…you know, I often open emails from people I subscribe to with the thought, “I really don’t have time to read the whole thing, but I should at least open it and see what’s in there.” And usually I do only read the first few lines, then go on to whatever else is on my plate at the time. And—confession—I often have that same thought when I’m opening your emails, too.
BUT I almost never close out yours until I’ve finished reading the post. Because you are just such a good writer. Truly, a really good writer; you engage me and pull me in and make me feel and think and smile. I don’t know why I hadn’t bought your book until now…I guess what they say is true about marketing—a person has to be exposed to something many, many times before they decide to buy it. It’s not that I didn’t want your book, it’s just that there are always so many other things pressing in on me and my wallet!
So, for me, there were 2 takeaways from this post:
1. I need to buy your book, Kindle and Audio versions (done and done!)
2. I need to remember your and Maya’s words, too (as a struggling artist who just put out her first collection, mostly to the sound of crickets, lol).
So thank you, thank you, thank you. For sharing your gift and for lifting me up. I pray that your feet can stay rooted in the love of God so when these storms of self-doubt come, they might bend you, but they won’t break you. (A prayer I ask for myself ALL the time :)
Oh Aiyana, you’re an artist?!!?!!? And you just put out your first collection?!?! Thank you for your kind words and biting my book and all that—but I want yo know everything about your collection. Are there links you can share here?
Aww, thanks, Marcie! 🥰 You can see my work on my website at AiyanaAdamsArt.com or on instagram at @Aiyana_Adams_Art. I had to take the sale page of the website down for now since I’m trying to get the pieces into a local store (no bites yet…), but most of the pieces you can see in the gallery are still available.
(I’m writing down your words from this post: “ I don’t know what may or may not happen to me as a writer. I can’t control that. The only thing I can do is write.” I’m keeping them in my notes app on my phone so I can remind myself when I need to! 💛)
Oh Marcie. How strange and complex all these things are. The thing you have been made to do is also a place of tension. Why are things this way.
You are a gift. Your words here in this post, on Instagram and your beautiful book touch me. I will always read what you write and shout to all who will listen to read them as well. Shine on, Marcie!
Also those words from Maya made me cry. I was imaging you on your walk hearing them and a balm of comfort and care wash over you--it’s so kind and good.
After just sharing your Insta post about TKAM with some friends of mine with the intro that you are my favorite Instagram creator, I read your Substack today and instantly went to buy your book! As a latent creative writer (went into journalism as a profession and ended up writing for trade magazines, which isn’t very creative but sucks out all your creative juices), I resonated so much with your lament about dreams deferred. You are such a talented writer. Don’t give up on yourself! Keep writing—your words are a gift to the world!
I love your book- I laughed and cried and learned and felt like I had gone on a great journey with you. We have not built a kind and gentle world, where voices that speak their authentic truth matter most, but you have cultivated an intentional community where your voice inspires and teaches and challenges us to be our better selves. For that, your voice is priceless, no matter that bottom line of sales. Thank you for sharing the gift of you- and your words- with our world!
This is a really powerful meditation. Got chills to my bones when you talked about dreams showing up unfamiliar or unexpected. What I love about your work is the courage to stay with the feeling and nuance it. Thats why its so damn comforting to commune with the saints through reading and the meeting of minds. But what's missing is the meeting at the same time. Yours is probably the first in a while that I got to communicate with the actual writer! Im forty one now though when I was 17, I wrote my favorite graphic novelists and shared some of my works with them. It was super exciting at the time that some actually wrote handwritten repsonses and shared about their story. Everything you write shows how you are showing up in the world not just for today but timelessly too. Some people I follow are talking about journeying now, and preparation, wilderness, and I too feel it. Your book was for me an exquisite triumph to read. The problem of selling and creating action plans for followers is one that energizes some people. My friend Shelly Shell loves talking to people about that. She always tells me a book opens doors. You can walk into rooms, speak, and sell. I hate that kind of stuff because its a different beast than keeping my ear to my heart and staying with or keeping in step with what I beleive Im supposed to be doing. Watching your journey is really as moving as the valleys you have the courage to consider. Even if sales arent what you want I hope this book opens more doors for you to speak, write, sign, wherever you want it to, or as you say, even in the most unexpected ways. While I am in awe of your memoir, your writings make me realize how much untapped reading I have been away from all these years, and how much I have never read. Its strange how a discipline is required for timeless reading, that is timely for us, that it may comfort us in present and set us up for the future. I was very moved by your writing about this experience and your courage to face this valley and stay with the emotion and the rainbow! But I cannot just drop emojis. I know that your book will open doors for you and I truly hope it circles back to more sales and lucrativeness and viability soon! It is a damn good book, and well made, and a great cover, print, and paper quality. You deserve to see your flowers because you certainly gave them. "Everybody Come Alive" need not be a testament to its own neededness by going out of print! Your book is the dopest, bombest, best ever. There are people making a killing on half its value in writing without a worry in the world about timelessness. I was super happy at its publication- you did what many people only dream of in your memoir! I never realized what a grueling process the whole publishing industry is. Much peace and respect to you for maintaining your integrity a d voice through it all. I am someone that has been working for years on telling my story. You did the darn thing AND your still creating and you deserve to see the silver lining, rainbow, and fruit in wherever this publishing process is taking you! Thank you for being so heartfelt and candid, that is why many of us turn to communing with writers because there is a powerful affinity, affirmation, seeing and being seen. This community you have created here is something else too. You even shouted us out in your book! That was amazing!
Matthew, I have said it always and I hope it never comes off as flip but I simply adore you. I just always feel your heartbeat through every word of your comments. I cherish them. Thank you. I would think that you read all the time because you write as if you do. You have a way with words and today, your words have been so uplifting. Thank you.
You are one of my favorite writers on Substack (and instagram) I bought your book immediately but haven’t read it yet . I look forward to it! I loved your bookstore descriptions here and your vulnerability. I’m a little mad that most of your IG followers did not purchase the book. I will also look for Li Young Li’s memoir! A great poet! Glad you are in this creative world!
Thank you so much Kate. You made me blush a little 🥰. I hope you do buy the Li Young Li's memoir. It's stunning!!!! If you do, let me know and we can chat about it.
Your writing is magical. Full stop. I'm just so thankful you've shared your gift with us. Although I'm not a voracious reader, I know your book will be one that I'll go back and read a second time. Thank you thank you thank you for blessing the world with the beauty of your words.
I want you to know that I get a few email subscriptions and yours is the only one I make sure to read each one all the way through, because I’ve learned it will always be worth it. And I don’t know why I didn’t realize you have a book out, but, I immediately bought the ebook because your writing… it’s nourishment. I’m SO excited to read it. Thank you for putting your words out into the world.
Oh, friend. I will never ever forget that time you called me (a phone call!) on the day your book released (!!!) and encouraged ME for 30 minutes about my books and books sales and shared your disappointments and told me some of these same stories. You are such a GIFT (and such a gifted writer) and it is wildly unfair that your awesomeness and book sales don’t match. I want them to so badly. And I BELIEVE IT WILL HAPPEN. Keep going, friend. Love you so much. ❤️❤️❤️
Oh my gosh!!! I feel the same about you and your writing friend 🥹
Marla, share the links to your books here too. Let’s make this a support thread!!!!
You’re amazing. Here’s a link to my first book, unbelieve: https://amzn.to/3RU41I2
Wow…you know, I often open emails from people I subscribe to with the thought, “I really don’t have time to read the whole thing, but I should at least open it and see what’s in there.” And usually I do only read the first few lines, then go on to whatever else is on my plate at the time. And—confession—I often have that same thought when I’m opening your emails, too.
BUT I almost never close out yours until I’ve finished reading the post. Because you are just such a good writer. Truly, a really good writer; you engage me and pull me in and make me feel and think and smile. I don’t know why I hadn’t bought your book until now…I guess what they say is true about marketing—a person has to be exposed to something many, many times before they decide to buy it. It’s not that I didn’t want your book, it’s just that there are always so many other things pressing in on me and my wallet!
So, for me, there were 2 takeaways from this post:
1. I need to buy your book, Kindle and Audio versions (done and done!)
2. I need to remember your and Maya’s words, too (as a struggling artist who just put out her first collection, mostly to the sound of crickets, lol).
So thank you, thank you, thank you. For sharing your gift and for lifting me up. I pray that your feet can stay rooted in the love of God so when these storms of self-doubt come, they might bend you, but they won’t break you. (A prayer I ask for myself ALL the time :)
Oh Aiyana, you’re an artist?!!?!!? And you just put out your first collection?!?! Thank you for your kind words and biting my book and all that—but I want yo know everything about your collection. Are there links you can share here?
Aww, thanks, Marcie! 🥰 You can see my work on my website at AiyanaAdamsArt.com or on instagram at @Aiyana_Adams_Art. I had to take the sale page of the website down for now since I’m trying to get the pieces into a local store (no bites yet…), but most of the pieces you can see in the gallery are still available.
(I’m writing down your words from this post: “ I don’t know what may or may not happen to me as a writer. I can’t control that. The only thing I can do is write.” I’m keeping them in my notes app on my phone so I can remind myself when I need to! 💛)
Oh Marcie. How strange and complex all these things are. The thing you have been made to do is also a place of tension. Why are things this way.
You are a gift. Your words here in this post, on Instagram and your beautiful book touch me. I will always read what you write and shout to all who will listen to read them as well. Shine on, Marcie!
You've been such a gift to me. Thank you for these words.
Also those words from Maya made me cry. I was imaging you on your walk hearing them and a balm of comfort and care wash over you--it’s so kind and good.
After just sharing your Insta post about TKAM with some friends of mine with the intro that you are my favorite Instagram creator, I read your Substack today and instantly went to buy your book! As a latent creative writer (went into journalism as a profession and ended up writing for trade magazines, which isn’t very creative but sucks out all your creative juices), I resonated so much with your lament about dreams deferred. You are such a talented writer. Don’t give up on yourself! Keep writing—your words are a gift to the world!
Oh Marilyn, I lament for your dreams as well!!!! And thank you for buying my book. I won't give up.
I love your book- I laughed and cried and learned and felt like I had gone on a great journey with you. We have not built a kind and gentle world, where voices that speak their authentic truth matter most, but you have cultivated an intentional community where your voice inspires and teaches and challenges us to be our better selves. For that, your voice is priceless, no matter that bottom line of sales. Thank you for sharing the gift of you- and your words- with our world!
How beautiful, Francesaa. Yes...an intentional community is right here. I can always use a reminder of that to thank you.
😭🙏🔥❤️
This is a really powerful meditation. Got chills to my bones when you talked about dreams showing up unfamiliar or unexpected. What I love about your work is the courage to stay with the feeling and nuance it. Thats why its so damn comforting to commune with the saints through reading and the meeting of minds. But what's missing is the meeting at the same time. Yours is probably the first in a while that I got to communicate with the actual writer! Im forty one now though when I was 17, I wrote my favorite graphic novelists and shared some of my works with them. It was super exciting at the time that some actually wrote handwritten repsonses and shared about their story. Everything you write shows how you are showing up in the world not just for today but timelessly too. Some people I follow are talking about journeying now, and preparation, wilderness, and I too feel it. Your book was for me an exquisite triumph to read. The problem of selling and creating action plans for followers is one that energizes some people. My friend Shelly Shell loves talking to people about that. She always tells me a book opens doors. You can walk into rooms, speak, and sell. I hate that kind of stuff because its a different beast than keeping my ear to my heart and staying with or keeping in step with what I beleive Im supposed to be doing. Watching your journey is really as moving as the valleys you have the courage to consider. Even if sales arent what you want I hope this book opens more doors for you to speak, write, sign, wherever you want it to, or as you say, even in the most unexpected ways. While I am in awe of your memoir, your writings make me realize how much untapped reading I have been away from all these years, and how much I have never read. Its strange how a discipline is required for timeless reading, that is timely for us, that it may comfort us in present and set us up for the future. I was very moved by your writing about this experience and your courage to face this valley and stay with the emotion and the rainbow! But I cannot just drop emojis. I know that your book will open doors for you and I truly hope it circles back to more sales and lucrativeness and viability soon! It is a damn good book, and well made, and a great cover, print, and paper quality. You deserve to see your flowers because you certainly gave them. "Everybody Come Alive" need not be a testament to its own neededness by going out of print! Your book is the dopest, bombest, best ever. There are people making a killing on half its value in writing without a worry in the world about timelessness. I was super happy at its publication- you did what many people only dream of in your memoir! I never realized what a grueling process the whole publishing industry is. Much peace and respect to you for maintaining your integrity a d voice through it all. I am someone that has been working for years on telling my story. You did the darn thing AND your still creating and you deserve to see the silver lining, rainbow, and fruit in wherever this publishing process is taking you! Thank you for being so heartfelt and candid, that is why many of us turn to communing with writers because there is a powerful affinity, affirmation, seeing and being seen. This community you have created here is something else too. You even shouted us out in your book! That was amazing!
Matthew, I have said it always and I hope it never comes off as flip but I simply adore you. I just always feel your heartbeat through every word of your comments. I cherish them. Thank you. I would think that you read all the time because you write as if you do. You have a way with words and today, your words have been so uplifting. Thank you.
You are one of my favorite writers on Substack (and instagram) I bought your book immediately but haven’t read it yet . I look forward to it! I loved your bookstore descriptions here and your vulnerability. I’m a little mad that most of your IG followers did not purchase the book. I will also look for Li Young Li’s memoir! A great poet! Glad you are in this creative world!
Thank you so much Kate. You made me blush a little 🥰. I hope you do buy the Li Young Li's memoir. It's stunning!!!! If you do, let me know and we can chat about it.
Dear Marcie,
Sending you so many hugs as you walk through the rain in pursuit of your rainbow. Love you, friend!🤗🥰
Awww…. thank you friend 🙏🏾
My copy of Li Young Li’s memoir arrived yesterday. ☺️
Your writing is magical. Full stop. I'm just so thankful you've shared your gift with us. Although I'm not a voracious reader, I know your book will be one that I'll go back and read a second time. Thank you thank you thank you for blessing the world with the beauty of your words.
Thank you so much Kim. I so appreciate you.
I want you to know that I get a few email subscriptions and yours is the only one I make sure to read each one all the way through, because I’ve learned it will always be worth it. And I don’t know why I didn’t realize you have a book out, but, I immediately bought the ebook because your writing… it’s nourishment. I’m SO excited to read it. Thank you for putting your words out into the world.