Hiding from the FBI and Other Big News

Hey folks! Are y’all wondering about that headline? I thought you might. I had to drop a little funny for two reasons. First, it’s been so long since I sent out an email I figured you may be indeed thinking I was either hiding from the law or I had fallen off my kayak and become gator bait. Neither is true, as of this writing. However… the FBI thing could be looming. If you’ll allow me to explain, it may also unravel the mystery behind my absence from your inbox!

My new book, Finding Deep and Wide released yesterday, January 28th!

I  posted a little video on social media just now about what it feels like to see your book baby makes it’s way into the world after so much thinking, planning, praying, and bottom in chair hard work. I wish I could put it here, but alas, I can’t make it work and there’s too much to do to slow down and figure it out.  Besides, something tells me y’all will be just fine without seeing those :45 seconds of footage. 🙂

But I digress…Last Saturday I taught the material from the book at the launch in three thirty-minute sessions and then signed books. We had a videographer on site to film the sessions and once they’re edited, the video teachings will be available for churches and small groups who want to go through the material together. You can read that as “much ado” transpired to pull that day off, hence my being MIA around here!

Leading up to to the big day, I would leave messages for my launch team. (That’s the wonderful group of readers who have been helping me spread the book baby news.) Many times I would close a note to them with the words, “Let’s blow it up for Jesus!” Of course, I meant spread the good news, but it finally occurred to me that those words may just be putting me on an FBI list somewhere! Ruh, roh.  That’s a big scary, but it is what it is.

In other news, I must tell you about my reaction to hearing the audio version of Finding Deep and Wide for the first time. Right after the backstory. You knew there would be backstory, right?

So, here’s the thing. When I heard that the audio rights had sold, and I wasn’t going to be able to voice it—which was my stated request—and was kindly turned down, I was nervous. No, scratch that. I was more than nervous. I was sick to my stomach with the thought of who would voice it and how many ways it could go wrong if the right voice talent wasn’t paired with “my baby.” I had to take this concern back and back and back to Father over the past months, with the enemy always whispering that I hadn’t fully surrendered it if it were coming back up. The devil is such a persistent jerk.

I ignored him each time and when I did, I got the peace I needed from the throne. And then, release day…and that audio button was live on Amazon… and I could listen to a sample…Or could I? What if it were horrid? I steeled myself against that and opened it with my hand in the Divine hand…and listened.

I will admit to you that I realize now the best I was hoping for —subconsciously — was to not hate it. (Father already knows, so why not tell you?) I never expected what God was about to do, even after all of those prayers and trips to the throne…

Y’all, I could NOT love the narrator’s voice more. Couldn’t. I couldn’t have done a better job of reading my own work. Seriously!!!! She nailed it. Nailed. It.

Moral of my story? So many, but I will choose this one. God is good and He is having His way with this message. Give that sample a listen when you get a chance and see if I’m not telling you the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Okay, I guess that’s about it. Y’all are officially caught up, and I’m headed to prayer meeting. Take care, y’all!

Hugs,
Shellie