Synopsis

OVERVIEW

The WHOand other sources report a sharp increase in anxiety, depression, addiction, and suicide.  Barna research notes a decline in church attendance and increase in "deconstruction," yet religious and inspirational books were the top-selling non-fiction genre in 2022, grossing a compelling $760 MM in sales.

As a time-tested contributor to more than a dozen Guideposts devotionals, a recovery speaker and workshop leader with a growing platform, I seek to respond to this trend with a daily readers in the candid, practical, witty, and insightful style my current followers so value and filling a significant gap.

Having endured my own recent period of spiritual "reconstruction," I feel like I've finally found my voice and would like to leverage my newfound insights to encourage others and grow my truest audience. I would " recovery and Christian faith. 

This book is designed to offer a broad range of Christians and Christian skeptics a more authentic, comforting, and unfiltered alternative to traditional Christian devotionals. Tapping into my own struggles as a passionate longtime, interdenominational Christian, and more than twenty years in Twelve step recovery (22 in Alcoholics Anonymous, 14 in Co-Dependent’s Anonymous), this book will offer hungry readers the relevant, frank, and sometimes witty insights my current Guideposts readers so value. 

Drawn from my own life experiences and societal, historical, and cultural references, this practical, comforting resource will speak to struggling Christians, including people in recovery from trauma, narcissistic abuse, addictions, or church hurt, along with those overwhelmed by global unrest.

This book also offers encouragement and insight to disillusioned Christians and seekers, imparting a sense of authentic faith and God’s grace.

Format: 

365 individual entries of 300 maximum words each, including…

1.      A quote from the Bible, literature, a renowned person.

2.      A brief reflection grounded in a personal anecdote, popular culture, news item, or historical reference relevant to the specific slogan.

3.      “Reflect:” A relevant reference for further study.

4.      “Respond:” A prayer or activity designed to explore and apply insight to daily life.

5.      Subject index for easy reference

Target Audiences:

·       Existing community of Guideposts readers.

·       People in Twelve Step recovery who are also Christians.

·       Survivors of trauma, including dysfunctional families, narcissistic abuse, or church hurt.

·       Struggling Christians of all kinds, hungry for authentic, practical faith.

·       Spiritual seekers who are intellectually oriented skeptics.

NOTE: I also have another 100% completed manuscript, "Slogans & Soundbites" I want to share under separate cover. Both projects are closely related in speaking to the wounded and people in recovery from anyone or anything. "Slogans" is not specifically Christian, but targets a "Higher Power" audience.

Sales arguments

• I'm already a tested, popular contributor to more than a dozen Guideposts daily readers
• Growing Following: >1500 Facebook followers; ±535 on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn; Website traffic increased 140% in January 2024 and 86% last year. • >300 website Blog subscribers
• I'm a compelling speaker who lead Twelve Step workshops, retreats, courses
• Religious and inspiration books were the bestselling nonfiction genre in 2022 ($720 million).
• Popularity of writers like Anne Lamott, Glennon Doyle and others who integrate gritty faith and recovery in their writing.

Similar titles

• The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations for Codependents (Hazelden Meditation Series), Melody Beattie. Like Beattie, I'm a Christian with both AA and CoDA recovery who offers practical wisdom to her audience. My book is similar in that it's a daily reader offering practical wisdom for everyday challenges, but mine is 1)decidedly Christian and 2)targeting a broader audience of struggling people.
• Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women (Hazelden) - Similar to Beattie.
• Meditations for Women Who to Do Much by Anne Wilson Schaef (HarperOne) - My book will also support women, but will cover a larger spectrum of Christian readers who yearn for more authentic faith and gritty honesty.

Audience

Women 25-80 who are Christians struggling with traditional faith and those who are in recovery from dysfunction, addiction, trauma, or toxic religion, plus skeptical spiritual seekers.

Advance praise

• Here is a very limited selection of reader feedback for my existing devotional writings (names provided on request):
• I truly enjoyed your writing in today’s “Mornings with Jesus”. I can always relate to your writings and feel it is written just for me. 
• I love your devotions. Always personal and heartfelt. I know was soon as I start reading it is one of yours before I look who wrote it.
• You touch so many with your open vulnerability that is God in you!! Best of everything from the east side of the state to the west side! 
• I love how real you are and how you share God's wonderful power and care present in your life. He truly loves you and me.
• Just wanted to thank you for all the encouragement I get from reading your “ witness” on my Guide post devotional! You truly are a help in my own struggles! May God bless you for sharing lessons learned through life with the help of Christ! 
•  I just finished reading the October 18th devotion in "Mornings with Jesus" and wanted to let you know that your writings are always a blessing to me. 
• I appreciate that you are "real", honestly sharing some of your struggles instead of putting out an always 'pretty & polished' image and life that I can't relate to.  I struggle too. 
• I admire you.  Period.
• I hope all is going well for you. Todays reading in Mornings with Jesus was one you wrote. I enjoy all the readings, however, yours always reaches me more than the others. I just wanted you to know that and to thank you.