Embodied: join the launch team for This Too Shall Last!
I’m officially inviting you to be on my launch team!
Most of you already know that my new book, This Too Shall Last, is coming out soon (releasing May 12!). What you may not know is that launching a book is a community effort. And, honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you've been reading my writing for more than maybe a day, you have probably heard me talk about how we are part of a shared story of God's love.
This Too Shall Last isn't just my story; it's our story. It's the story of a God who so loved the world he chose to suffer for it. It's the story of his solidarity with every speck of our pain.
So, I want to share about this story together. The application link is at the bottom of this email, but I want to share some things first. ;)
Last year, on the day my husband and I had the dawning realization that we needed to make a monstrously hard decision, I wrote these words (which ended up being my favorite words in all of This Too Shall Last):
“I reject the notion that I am an individual being, built by the bulk of my successes, suffering in the wake of my failures, a tree rooted in determination or withering in its lack. We are not sole trees standing stalwart in an open field, rooted only as deep or wide as our effortful faith will grind into the ground. We are more aspen than oak, reaching skyward in hope, glorious in waving gold, both our beauty and survival formed and sustained in interdependence. A single aspen tree is connected to hundreds or thousands more by a network of roots so deep they can survive wildfires. Stemming from one seedling and held together by shared roots, aspen trees in a grove stand as a single organism. Our glory is derived from one source, our strength from shared roots.
Unlike the aspens in their quiet unity, we forget our shared source, roots, and wholeness. We live like single trees instead of a grove, and we blame each other’s lack of sturdiness when storms tear down our branches. When the soil of one’s life lacks what is needed to strengthen drooping arms so they can lift in faith, we judge instead of fertilize. We forget we are a single organism—one body—and alone we wither. Christians who are suffering need the church’s root system to sustain them, but far too few of us have experienced this. We need the nourishment of our shared roots. My wholeness is inextricably connected to yours. My hope is bound up in yours." (from Ch. 3)
We really are interdependent. But far too few of us live like that's true.
I believe in my bones This Too Shall Last could be a conversation starter—one small offering that might help us hold space for our shared humanity as the Body of Christ. I know this book could be a small impetus that might help us all experience our suffering differently—instead of scorched earth, maybe we can experience suffering as sacred space—together.
My voice won't carry very far on its own. But in chorus with yours, our voices could ring into churches, homes, and hearts all over the world.
Would you raise your voice with mine to tell the good story of God's solidarity with our suffering? Would you join me in sharing so that we can all better remember how interdependent we are?
Will you join me?
Here's how it'll work:
The launch team will help spread the word about #ThisTooShallLast + start conversations both on social media + in person about its message. We'll band together to have frank conversations about stories where suffering lingers. You'll also help the book make its way into the world by reviewing on e-retailer sites (like Amazon, Goodreads, etc).
Launch team members will receive:
a physical advanced reader copy of the book (just like the one below) for the first 150 team members! (So...get on it! I'm thrilled Zondervan is able to give so many of you free copies! Everyone after 150 will get access to a digital advanced copy + those who have preordered with receive a physical copy as well.)
access to a private facebook group where we can talk about the content of the book and share openly + honestly about the suffering in our lives. I'm really excited to get to hang out with you more there!
regular updates via email, including exclusive content, videos, + information about upcoming events, interviews, etc.
As a launch team member, you're agreeing to:
read the book early! (I mean, that's the fun part, right?!)
consider preordering a copy. It really, really helps signal to retailers that this book is going to sell well + that they need to order enough copies to have in stock. It also helps retailers like Amazon show the book to more potential customers who maybe haven't even heard of it yet! It's honestly the #1 thing you can do to support me + the book right now.
submit an honest review of the book during the launch period on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christianbook.com, or Goodreads...or all of them if you want to score bonus points in my heart ;)
participate in the private facebook group (or via email if you're not on Facebook)
spread the word on social media + in-person with friends + family!
I couldn't do this without you, and I wouldn't want to. I wrote this book for you, and I'm thrilled to get to share it with you (+ the world!) so soon. I'd be honored to have you join in.
Click the button below to join!
Thank you for considering being part of this with me! I'm so grateful for each of you.
In the joy of Jesus meeting us in pain,
KJ
P. S. If you have any launch team Qs, feel free to email my launch team leader extraordinaire, Alexis De Weese: alexis@apricotservices.com
P. P. S. With the calamity + chaos of Coronavirus, a few of my dear friends (Lore Wilbert, Meredith McDaniel, + Krispin Mayfield) + I are going to be hosting a livestream conversation about how to cultivate calm + connection during coronavirus this Saturday at 11am EST/ 9 MST/ 8am PST. I'll be sharing the link on my social media when I have it ready! In the meantime, here's a little something I wrote on IG yesterday about choosing interdependence + courage over fear right now. And here's a guided meditation for accessing calm in Christ that I shared on IGTV Sunday. Grace upon grace to you. Please remember, God goes with you, everywhere you go.
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