Where it all began

It started on the 18th of October, 2024. Well, I have had this thought, cross my mind multiples times before this day. But I never felt this strongly about it.

At first when it came to heart. I was like – Can I do this? I already have a lot on my proverbial plate. 🤔

Well the more I thought about it and allowed it settle in, the more I saw the possibility of it. I had people I could engage with. All this while, God has been building me a community of people that would play some key roles in achieving this.

A big shout out to Deandra Hurst. She was of great help with this book – proofreading it with me, and holding me accountable to deadlines. She was also the first to ask me if I was going to self-publish or not, when I started sharing more about the book and that I wanted to publish it.

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Building Accountability Structures

I knew that I needed people or someone at least to hold me accountable to this new challenge I was embarking on.

Why you ask?

Here it is – although I am a person that likes to try out new things, sometimes I have my head telling me why it’s better to take the easy route.

So getting this in place was of great help in this journey to self-publishing.

Onto the next phase….. 👇

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Defining and Exploring Tools and Platforms

At first, I intended to have a test run on two of the platforms that came to mind. These two options were written down on my list as well, after I decided to publish this book.

The reason I defined this early enough was because having this information would help me have an idea of what to expect. Also, enable me research more on these two platforms.

And being able to do this would overall help me make the best decision, to ascertain if these platforms were right for me or not.

I also explored other tools for the Virtual Launch event such as Streamyard and YouTube live. Well, in order not to skip the steps, I’d be sharing more on the launch event as you continue reading. 😉

Onto the next phase….. 👇

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Identifying your community

Just when it started feeling like what was I getting myself into, the Lord opened my eyes to see the community He had been building around me all these while.

Valuable relationships that will be pivotal to making this project and vision, a reality.

But does it stop at identifying and being aware of the people you are surrounded with?

No! Being sensitive to knowing who is (or the people) needed in every aspect, and at every phase in this journey, is of utmost importance.

I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit – that He guides you each step, in this process you are embarking on. Leading you to the right; needed and His prepared individuals for you.

Onto the next phase….. 👇

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Don’t be afraid to sail into the Unknown

When ABBA (God) gave me the instruction to self publish at first I thought I had it covered. Fast forward to when I started researching about what it entailed. Panic mode started beckoning. The more I sailed into this new and unfamiliar path, the more I realized I was in for an interesting journey. Filled with lots of question marks too. Makes it fun right? 😅 (I’m being all positive with you right now) 😁

I had lots of sticky notes. I had lots of reminders set. I also had my hubby as a human reminder for a few of them. Bless his heart. 🙂

From having back and forth chats with the designer for the cover, to getting my ISBN sorted. The ISBN started easy peasy until I got stuck – Bless the life of some online platforms. 😂

I was about to give up on the online registration and in its stead, get a friend of mine to help out with it “offline” 😁 (going to the physical location). But then my persistence paid off. Another email to the site’s support team sorted the issue out. 🙌🏼

From sorting this out, to setting up my profile and accounts on the platforms I will use as the marketplace. Well mid-way in this journey, I further narrowed it down and decided to go with Selar. And then possibly at some point later on, engage with Amazon.

By the way, I was forced to narrow it down to just Selar. 🫣

I was enthusiastic about using Amazon until my account had an issue. Even after calling the support team, they resolved it 50%. Like who does that? 😁

Then I just left it out.

Well in one of my solitude moments, ABBA led me back to it – to try it out again. He also gave me a resolve. I wonder why I never thought of this. 🙂

Well that’s why we need the Lord in our plans and Journey! He is the master planner after-all. 😊🙌🏼

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Taking a Pause, to Reflect

On this day (15th of January, 2025) I am reflecting on this interesting and intriguing, yet stretching journey. I am most grateful that every time I think God’s instructions to me is bigger or “phew!, can’t I just take the easy way out”, 😁 I realize upon walking down the path He has set before me, and trusting Him while at it, that He had it all figured out before I ever began trailing the path. 🙌🏼

Has God set a plan in your heart? He has it figured out – For you, already. 💡

The only thing He requires of you is to Trust Him.

Onto the next phase….. 👇

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A fruitful Launch

This sub-title is an inspiration from my dear hubby. 😁

He graceful made me a barbecue fish and put on the fish platter a variety of fruits, and said to me after the virtual launch event I had: “This is for you, for a fruitful launch”

And well those words stuck with me and the food too. 😁 Bless His heart!

The backstory to the launch event:

At first when I had the nudge to have a launch event. I thought well it’s not a bad idea. Fast forward to the days preceding when the book formats will be released on the platforms I published them on – Selar and Amazon (all Amazon marketplaces), I began panicking a bit.

I was used to sitting in front of a camera to record the videos for my YouTube channel. But organizing and executing a virtual event? “Okay Lord!” 😁

I come off as an extrovert for many reasons but well beneath that, is an introverted Mercy which shows up unapologetically. 😁

Knowing this gave me some scare – Can I really pull this off?

So when I knew that this was what ABBA will have me do. I began researching and started writing down the tips I needed to use, to make it engaging. From teaser questions, to having an interactive challenge for viewers. To the social media posts that I had to craft to pre-announce and announce the event. To crafting and sending the invite messages.

The night I was sending personal invites I told myself – Dear Mercy, you sure know a lot of people! 🤣

When I was initially collating the list of names I wanted to send these messages to, I didn’t realize this, until I started sending it out.

Thankfully, I got it done. Phew! 😁🙌🏼

What next?

Two days before the event, I started feeling overly nervous. It felt like all the calm I had was gradually and “supposedly” flying out of the window.

Note that I said “supposedly” because well that’s what the devil – the master of all panics, wanted me to believe. But addressing this nervousness with the words God had given me for the book and every stage of it – pre and post launch boosted my faith. And yes, praying in the Spirit as well helped a whole lot. The blessing of being a child of God. 🙂

On the graceful day of the event – 7th of February, 2025, which interestingly the date (not the year) was also when I said “yes” to my now husband’s proposal for us to be in a relationship. And the rest is history. You know the rest. 😁

Well I didn’t note this uniqueness about the date until the day I was typing this out. 😊

So yes, few minutes before the time of the event, my planned timing started flipping out of control. I was running late for the event. I was about spinning into panic mode, but thanks to my hubby for helping out with everything else. And keeping my active toddler engaged while the virtual event started.

My dear YouTube platform also acted up.

But despite the glitch from YouTube, I was no longer panicking, instead I kept declaring this: “Lord this will work. Thank you Lord for the success of this event.”

After some minutes, YouTube came alive people! Hallelujah! 😁🙌🏼

The event was engaging, fun, enlightening and yes powerful. I had received a couple of feedback from people who joined the live event, or watched the replay. I am just so thankful to ABBA for it all. 🙌🏼

God is my source of all things and I am just a vessel. One He gracefully used and keeps using to His glory. 🙌🏼

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My Final words to New Authors and Writers embarking on the path of Self-publishing

To every new author reading this, the journey to publishing or launching your first book or any other book (this is my 2nd book) comes with its stretch and new learnings. I encourage you to embrace the new learnings. Also, it will stretch you.

Phew! There are a lot of things that happened behind the scenes (most I already shared), and concerns that came up along the way. And how God guided me to resolve each and every one of it.

If you have read this, up till this point, then you already would have seen a recurrent factor in my journey to self-publishing.

And that factor is God!

He kept me through the glitches and stretch. And He knew the right strategies to get me through it all.

Even at the post-launch phase, I realized an error. And while my natural self that loves perfection 😂 would have panicked and flipped. Trust me, overthinking is a bad habit of mine that God is steady working with me on. 🤦‍♀️

Instead He gave me this deep sense of calm in the face of it, when I allowed Him to take this load of concern. And teach me what He needed me to do to move forward from this concern.

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Overall, it’s been an adventurous journey. And yes God taught me several new lessons through this journey of self-publishing my 2nd book.

I have seen these lessons come in handy for the next writing projects He is leading me to do at this time. And I believe it will be helpful at future times as well.

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If reading this blog has been helpful and a blessing to you. Let me know in the comment section.

Also, if you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment on this blog.

You can also send me an email via this address: hccounselswithmercy@gmail.com

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How lovely it is, to be guided by the Lord in everything. ✨

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Here is the link to the Virtual Book Launch Event I had: 👇👇

❤️ & 💡