You can't know where life will take you,
but you can commit to a direction.
Wendell Berry
As someone trying to sell a book from a tiny hybrid press, I have felt incredibly uncertain in this phase of the-book-is-out! Now what? Am I doing enough? How will I know? What are my goals? Do I have goals? After the drafting, the revising, the editing, the tearing it apart and putting it back together again, after getting people to read, after the rejections, and more rejections, after the cover design, the layout, the gathering of blurbs, the presales. Afterafterafter. Now what?
Well, it seems like my uncertainty and the goodwill of people have collided and I am, in Berry's words, committing to a direction. And that is to simply go where people will have me. I say this with both gratitude, amazement, and a knowing. When you share the truth of your story, whether facing it head on or telling it slant (thank you, Emily Dickinson, for the choice!) people see the truth, feel it, and will respond, connect, be moved.
Day made. Life made.
You guys....the way the audience responded to me at my first reading! The comments! The texts! The reviews! The Substack newsletter devoted to my book! The share by, gulp, Michael Perry!
I pictured myself as the Little Engine That Could in human form. As a writer who took years to birth this book, I had no way of knowing how it would be received. And slowly, I am starting to learn.
One golden rule in life is to not get attached to outcomes. And so I have shied away from numbers, something I have little control over. But I would be lying to say I am not attached to reading that people are seeing, not just in my story, but in some of the larger ideas I tried to present. I can't control what anyone will take from it, but I am so grateful to those who have been willing to share their thoughts. It reaffirms the direction I have always listed to, the people.
It's against midwestern religion to toot your own horn and so, instead, take a look if you will, at what other people are saying.
From Amazon
Wonderful love story to a family and the place they call home
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2026On Substack
Jena is a mentor, writing coach, friend I met when we were both scholarship winners to a retreat in Vermont that shifted both of our lives. The best part is that shift brought us to each other. You can read more about how we met in her own words.
His book was the first I'd read that combined humor, a healthy dose of affection without too much sentimentality as well as discernment- a keen observer of rural life and its people.
Direct to me
Lisa!!!! I loves your book so much. I really appreciated learning about the struggles and joys of growing up on an Iowa farm. My family is from Iowa and there are no farmers. I grew up in Rochester where farm kids were bussed into town and knew little to nothing about things outside of town. I laughed and actually shed tears while reading. I love the way you spoke on the divide of politics but how a community can still care for one another all the while. I gushed about your book to my friends. Several of them were raised on farms. It sparked conversation we have never had through years of friendship. I am buying them each a copy of your book. I am so happy for you that all your hard work and perseverance has given us all a gift. A gift of knowing you and your family through hard times and good times. Love in all shapes and forms has carried you through and I felt that. Amazing book!
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