I Found a Partner

If you’ve been following along, you know I’ve spent the last several months writing a book. There was a seed of an idea. I planted it and have been watering it, but most of the work has been happening under the surface: outlining, long writing sessions, all-nighters, drafts and revisions, writing workshops, and more. It’s been a very slow and solitary experience.

But that’s about to change.

A few months ago, I submitted a book proposal to B&H Publishing. If you’ve never written a book proposal before, it’s basically writing a book about the book you’re hoping someone will let you write. You explain the idea, the audience, why the book needs to exist, why you should be the one to write it, what other books are like it, how you plan to help people find it, and on and on.

It’s a lot.

But they read it, and eventually I was invited to an interview with their team. (I even took a screenshot of the call, just in case it ended up being historic.)

In that first conversation, I was struck by how genuinely enthusiastic they were about the idea. They understood what I was trying to say, asked great questions, and were incredibly encouraging about the message and its potential.

After that came a few more steps, a few more conversations, and some waiting.

Then, a few weeks ago, I was at a park coaching run club. We had just wrapped up practice when I saw an email come through. Jordann happened to be there with me that day, and when I saw the sender, I ran over to her and said, “Here we go…”

I opened it and started reading it out loud.

They were grateful for my time…

Their team had discussed the book…

They loved the idea…

…and they wanted to work with me!

I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face.

There’s something powerful about carrying an idea around for a long time, believing deeply that there’s something there, and then having someone else look at it and essentially say, we see it too.

And not just anyone.

B&H is the publishing arm of Lifeway. They have spent decades creating books and resources to serve the church and advance the gospel. That alignment matters a lot to me. I didn’t just want someone willing to put my words on paper and sell them. I wanted a partner who understood why I wrote them in the first place.

And partner really is the right word.

It may have started as a solitary experience, but I’m learning that writing a great book is anything but a solo endeavor. I’ve taken this manuscript about as far as I know how to take it on my own. Now I get to put it into the hands of people who do this for a living. They’re going to challenge it, question it, cut things, strengthen things, and help me see things I can’t see anymore.

I’ve heard it said that the difference between a good book and a great book is editing. I don’t know if that’s always true, but I know this book is going to be better because I don’t have to finish it alone.

Something else happened after I got that email.

That evening, I found myself super emotional. I was thinking about all the people who helped me get here. I started reaching out to some of them. Old teachers. Professors. Pastors. People who taught me, encouraged me, challenged me, gave me opportunities, and believed in me long before a publisher ever did.

It felt important to tell them.

There were also people I desperately wanted to call who aren’t here anymore. I found myself imagining what they would say and wishing I could hear their voices respond to the news. I believe they know. I just wish I could hear them say it.

Maybe that’s why this milestone has left me feeling more grateful than accomplished. Getting here has made me incredibly aware that none of us arrives at moments like this alone.

Yes, I found a new partner. But getting here made me deeply aware of just how many partners I’ve had all along.

Teachers saw something in me. Pastors gave me opportunities. Mentors corrected me. Friends encouraged me. My family believed in me. And my wife has been beside me through all of it.

This book will have my name on the cover. But there are a whole lot of fingerprints on the pages.

Now I get to add a few more.

B&H Publishing is going to publish my book.

We’ve just finalized all the details and made it official a couple of days ago. There is a lot of work ahead, and I’m really excited to bring you along as this thing becomes a real book. But today, I’m mostly just grateful.

I found a partner.

Well, another one.