When I signed my contract with Landon Hail Press back in December I knew in that moment everything would change. For years I had a dream of publishing a book but every time I attempted to take the next steps I was faced with challenges that ultimately held me back.
On August 8th 2024, my dads birthday I launched my Substack. I started pouring my heart out, drafting up stories from my past along with entries giving insight and a glance at life currently. As I wrote and received feedback it was clear that my messages were being heard, my writing was being read, and the impact it was having pushed me to keep going.
As I added entries week by week the constant thought of writing a book weighed heavy, I would go to bed dreaming about the cover and name of my book, the impact it would have, and how freeing it would feel to get my story out of my head and into the hands of others - it became undeniable that this was the next step and on December 22nd, 2024 I took a leap of faith and signed my contract - It was official, I was going to become a published Author.
The writing process didn’t start immediately, by choice. I knew I had a busy couple months ahead of me and wanted to ensure timing was right. With my contract came incredible guidance and coaching and I wanted to ensure I was ready, we decided that I would officially kick off the process in June, the 11th specifically which also happened to be my mothers birthday.
From the moment I signed my contract I knew that my substack would change, I spent countless nights thinking about how I would write my book but also share entries here. Truthfully the pressure began to impact me, I would open my substack and draw a complete blank “I can’t write about that, it’s going in the book”, I’d stare at the screen until finally I would close my computer.
I made the decision to pause my substack. I took the time needed to focus on how I wanted the next phase of my life to look. I finally completed some certifications I had been procrastinating on, I leaned into deeper efforts of healing, and accepted that when the time was right I would resurface on this platform.
For weeks now I’ve known the time was right. As I start to piece together my manuscript the constant pull to relaunch my substack has been undeniable. Writing my book has been no easy task, it’s come with many challenges and emotions that I’ve wanted to share but rather I chose to scribble them in my journal. But that all changes today.
Layers & Lessons was always meant to be a place to share stories and chapters of my life and the lessons i’ve learned along the way. To my core I knew that sharing bits and pieces of my life could help ignite inspiration for change in others but with the book being written I felt so unsure about how to do both.
Overtime it came to me, as the outline and purpose of my book changed the realizations and alignment became clear. As a subscriber here’s what you can expect moving forward..
In the next 6 months I will be sharing book updates. You’ll get an inside look at the writing process, behind the scenes interviews, and be the first to know whats coming. As a subscriber you’ll also get previews of chapters and the stories that will only ever be written in the book. You’ll be the first to know launch dates, get a sneak peek at the cover, feedback from my editor, publisher, and beta readers, and get inside offers that my social media followers will never see.
As I write my book I realize there are many layers to me that won’t make the manuscript, if I were to write the entirety of my story, my life, and the countless lessons I’ve learned it wouldn’t be one book I’m publishing, it would be numerous. With that, leaves this space, my substack, a trusted platform to share with my loyal subscribers.
You can expect moment by moment updates, not just with the book but in my life. Things are forever changing, and despite all the years of therapy, healing, and growing, i’m still learning as I go, I’m still faced with challenges and struggles many that you’ll soon read here.
This relaunch is coming at a different time in my life, though I’m a firm believer in just ripping the bandaid off and doing things scared, things shifted since I originally launched Layers & Lessons, but this time it feels aligned, this time I know the direction it’s going, and to my core I know this will be a magical place.
I’ll be transparent, while you may be reading this as a subscriber or just someone that clicked the link, there won’t be many entries available in the future to ‘free subscribers’. Though this platform wasn’t initially about creating another source of income, I had to look at the bigger picture. Loyalty in my following has forever meant the world to me, people who have invested in me whether it’s been in programs I’ve previously created, my coaching, or my writing I’m forever grateful. For years I struggled with imposter syndrome, but now more than ever I am aware of the knowledge, value, and impact I have on others, so with that I’ve added a small fee for people to access the majority of the content that will be shared here.
While all my subscribers mean the world to me, those that are willing to invest the $11 a month, thank you, it’s you that is helping this massive dream come into fruition, it’s you that continues to push me to do more, share more, and be able to impact more people. I will also share this in advance, once the book is published, the continuation and extended version will ONLY be shared here; however the price will change, but those that show support now will be locked into that price forever. So thank you..
More to come.. Let’s write.
Huge shout out to my publisher, Samantha Joy, my writing coach Raina O’Dell, and my kids for keeping me inspired and writing.
-A
I can’t wait to read the book🫶🏻