A New Book, A Story Worth Sharing!
Writing Through Grief, Launching With Purpose
Right now, I’m sitting in a local coffee shop not too far from my home, and I have so many emotions running through me.
I can’t believe that the book contract I signed just days after burying my father has somehow become words that found their way onto pages, becoming a book—now with a publication date and a cover.
How did I manage to write through grief for months straight? I still do not know.
Maybe a better way to say it is: I’m thankful to God for the gift of a supportive community and for allowing writing to be a means of healing in my grief.
But now, as I sit here at my laptop, trying to find the right words to introduce my new book cover and share about its upcoming release in September, I find myself at a loss for words.
The world feels heavy.
The social tension.
The lack of togetherness.
The uncertainty hovering over communities seeps into our lives through digital devices, leaving no one truly unscathed.
On top of that, the publishing process itself is full of hoops and hurdles—industry gatekeepers who commodify your brilliance and tell you that you haven’t sold enough, proposals, rejections, writing, more rejection, finally landing a publisher, endless deadlines, vulnerable interrogation through the writing process, questioning whether your stories are good enough, and then the burdensome task of getting the book into the hands of readers so you don’t feel like a failure.
Did I mention that as an author, you must promote the book, ask for endorsements, find someone to write a foreword, and keep your sanity while waiting for it all to come together?
Tasks that will never define nor honor the depth of the writing process!
Writing is a sacred process—an honor that allows you to bear your soul to those who willingly choose to gather around your words. It is an act of vulnerability, truth-telling, and resistance, and no ounce of commodification can ever fully validate or contain that.
This book is about my life story—how I grew up in what many would call a rough part of town, defied the odds, and, by God’s grace, found a way to give my life away to serve others.
It’s about how I dropped out of high school, was headed down the wrong path, and found my way into the church, allowing God to transform my life.
But beyond my journey, this book is about restoration and how poverty and trauma are deeply intertwined, working together long before a child growing up in concrete environments even has the opportunity to dream about higher education.
It explores the intersection of educational injustice, poverty, generational trauma, history, faith, the power of community, and the never-ending prayers of a mother. It holds my pain and trauma, but also my hope and resilience.
I am also incredibly thankful for my friend and brother, a historian and professor,
for graciously writing the foreword for this book.As a former educator and principal who served in one of the poorest school systems in our country, particularly in the Delta, his insights bring a powerful and necessary perspective to this story.
I wrote this for educators working in schools serving impoverished communities, students facing poverty with few role models or examples, advocates, and those who deeply care about education despite the political and social commentary surrounding it.
How You Can Help
I have three asks of you:
If you are a person of faith, pray for the impact of this book. Even if you are not, hope for the best.
Sign up below if you want to join the launch team and read it early:
If you want to wish me well or show support, you can preorder a copy to give away directly from the publisher, IVP, or from Amazon (which, unfortunately, helps with exposure).
I am six months away, and my heart is to build a solid launch team here on this Substack—a team dedicated to educational access and spreading hope to students who need it most.
I am excited that we have already begun this work through Love Beyond Walls. We provide school resources for students and families facing poverty or experiencing homelessness while striving to help their scholars achieve educational progress.
If you believe that education should be accessible to all, no matter what side of town you grow up on, I invite you to join me.
I don’t know how many people will join this launch team in this apathetic climate, but hey, it’s worth a shot.
I can’t believe my fifth traditionally published book is almost here (September 9th). I See You has already been translated into Portuguese and is forthcoming in Korean later this year.
Celebrate with me!
Book Dr. Lester to Speak [HERE]
Listen to the Imgaine Dignity Podcast [HERE]
Explore my co-authored children’s book, Zion Learns to See: Opening Our Eyes to Homelessness—a story that helps children understand the power of service, empathy, and making a difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness.
If you want to explore homelessness in the U.S., please consider reading “I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People.”
Explore my book “When We Stand: The Power of Seeking Justice Together” to learn about the impact of community involvement and collective action on social change.
Discover “All God’s Children: How Confronting Buried History Can Build Racial Solidarity to gain insight into the significance of understanding the historical narratives that shape people and how you might stand in solidarity with your neighbor.
Or, subscribe to the Love Beyond Walls Newsletter—by visiting the site and signing up.
This will be so impactful!
Yes! Yes! Yes! Praising God for you and the bravery of your story. This book will help EVERYBODY! Excited for the world to digest your words & sit with your story.