After three months of trial, error, unexpected lessons, and more than a little imposter syndrome, I have officially completed my first three books—and launched my website.
The funny part is that none of this began with a detailed business plan. It started with a simple question from my husband and an ADHD hyper-fixation that took on a life of its own.
One night, my husband, who is an artist, asked me to look into what it would take to publish a journal or coloring book on Amazon. Naturally, I accepted the assignment. We are both creatives, just with different mediums. Look at me using the word mediums—I learned that from him!
He is an artist-artist. Yes, I said it twice on purpose. He draws with pencils and pens, and digitally, paints, and he does tattoos. I, on the other hand, create through photography, film, storytelling, and social media.
For more than ten years, I have had some form of a blog, vlog, or creative platform. In 2015, I started a blog documenting the season of life I was in at the time. I had just loc’d my hair and was preparing to move to Texas. I shared parts of my journey and promoted myself a little, but not nearly as much as I could have. I also started my Youtube journey but that good ol enemy imposter syndrome I never posted my oldest videos.
Over the years, I learned that sometimes strangers will support you from the very beginning and cheer you all the way to the top, while some of the people who know you personally may barely notice what you are building. That realization can be painful, but it can also teach you to keep creating because you believe in the purpose—not because you are waiting for applause.
When my husband asked me to research publishing a book, my ADHD quickly took over. One night, while he was taking a nap, my hyper-fixation kicked into full gear.
I thought, I want to create something too.
But what?
The Idea
That question led me back to what I jokingly call my “grippy sock vacation.”
During my mental health inpatient stay, many of the activities that helped fill our days included coloring pages, word searches, crossword puzzles, journaling prompts, and similar exercises. They were not simply there to keep us entertained. They were also used to educate us, ground us, redirect our thoughts, and help calm us during moments when our minds felt like our own worst enemies.
That experience stayed with me.
Growing up, my parents always had stories about me giving to others or trying to help someone in need. Helping people is where my heart feels most alive. So, I began thinking about how I could help others using my own life experiences combined with the tools I've learned and the creativity i've been blessed with.
Most importantly, I wanted everything to be rooted in the Word of God.
That is how these books were born.
I created them to help people pause when fear, anxiety, or doubt begins to creep in. Instead of becoming consumed by those thoughts, they can take a moment to breathe, sit with God, and replace fear with His truth.
Throughout my mental health journey, I have learned so much about the brain, our thoughts, and the power of repetition. The thoughts we repeatedly entertain can influence our emotions, habits, and the way we see ourselves. Through neuroplasticity, the brain can form new pathways as we practice healthier patterns of thinking and responding. However scripture has been teaching us the importance of renewing our minds all along.
With this first collection of books, I wanted to create resources that could help others—and even myself—confront fear, anxiety, and doubt with the Word of God. Our minds can become daily battlegrounds, but we do not have to fight with fear alone. We can challenge the lies of the enemy with God’s truth.
Through coloring, word searches, crossword puzzles, writing prompts, prayer, and reflection, readers can slow down and spend creative, intentional time with God. These books are not about pretending that difficult thoughts never come. They are about learning what to do when they arrive.
Thought by thought, we can begin replacing fear with faith, anxiety with peace, and doubt with truth.
Why I’m Sharing This
I would be lying if I said I was not nervous about releasing my website and these books.
Honestly, I am freaking out a little.
But at some point, I have to choose what is in my heart and stop allowing fear to hold me back. After creating three books about choosing faith over fear, how hypocritical would I be if I refused to take that step myself?
My heart’s desire is to leave the kind of impact my granny—my father’s mother—left on others. She loved people, encouraged them, and gave whenever she could. She led with the Word of God, even when that Word came with one of her signature whoopings or a much-needed talking-to.
I want to encourage others in that same spirit.
I especially want to encourage people in the Lord because, although life has certainly been life-ing, God has continued to be God-ing.
He has remained faithful through every hard season, every anxious thought, every moment of uncertainty, and every time I questioned whether I was capable of doing what He placed on my heart.
So, here I am—releasing the website, sharing the books, and choosing faith even while fear is still trying to speak.
I hope everyone who visits this website or opens one of these books feels welcomed, encouraged, and reminded that they are not alone. Each page was created with intention, prayer, vulnerability, and love.
These books—and this entire journey—have truly been a labor of love.
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