Guess What??

My news, what I'm working on, and what's next!

My First Book Contract!

When I told my friends the news, I started off with “Guess what??” and a round of nervous giggling, which then led to the news having to be restated a few times before they understood what I was talking about. So here it is in plain English…

I signed a book contract with Every Woman a Theologian!!!

What Am I Writing About?

My contract with Every Woman a Theologian is for three middle-grade books about famous women of the Bible. The stories are told via the diaries of secondary characters (think Dear America-style).

And I am so excited to share that the first book tells the Old Testament tale of Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi!

Vintage portraits of Ruth the Moabitess.

Where’s the Project At?

I completed my first draft on March 24th then took a step back (March was busy!) and put plot and character edits on hold until May. My wonderful family beta readers were on the job while I was away from the book, and today (May 1st), I’m diving back into the world of my story.

I’m going to work hard to make this book as beautiful as it can possibly be before sending it to the EWAT editor.

The Rest of the Story

But how did I land a book contract at seventeen years old?

Let’s back up to December 2024. My family was gathered in the living room: Mom and I were sitting by the fire, Dad puttering in the kitchen, siblings scattered on the rug and in the rocking chairs.

With the usual lack of preamble which announces life-changing events, Mom read me a text from Phylicia Masonheimer. In her text, Mrs. Masonheimer said that she had received our annual family Christmas letter and read that I liked to write. (I’d mentioned my word count for 2024.)

The gist of the message was, “Would your daughter like to write some sample chapters which could lead to her being considered for a book project Every Woman a Theologian is working on?”

Needless to say, my answer was yes.

So, over Christmas break, I wrote and edited my sample and submitted it on December 30th, 2024. On January 17th, 2025, I opened up my inbox and found an email from the EWAT creative director. They wanted to contract me!

After further discussion regarding the project (and the fact that I’d be writing three books!), I received and signed my contract on January 27th, 2025

The day my authorial dream became a reality.

Would You Like to Be Involved?

Previously, my book editing strategy was to completely rewrite the book. For this book, I get to learn a whole new set of skills, such as line editing, developmental editing, and actually editing the book without rewriting it.

That said, I’d love your prayers as I learn all these new skills and transform the story from a first draft to the book I’ll get to hold in my hands.

“And Ruth said, ‘Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.’”

Ruth 1:16-17, KJV