One story that Liz Curtis Higgs shared at her presentation the other night was her desire to write a children's book. She already had written non-fiction books (Bad Girls of the Bible) and her publisher told her no. She said that she tried to let it go- but that desire kept coming back. She finally told her publisher that she would pay for the artist herself and buy the first 5,000 copies.
The publisher agreed and Liz paid the artist $12,000 and signed the agreement to buy the first 5,000 copies. When "The Pumpkin Patch Parable" came out- in the first two weeks 50,000 copies were sold! Liz and her husband were stunned! (Her husband had joked with her that they would be eating books for the next several years when he heard the deal Liz had made with her publisher!)
She went on to say that her children's books, including the "Parable of the Sunflower" and others about Easter and Christmas have gone on to sell more than 1.4 million copies. I know the books well, I have read them to my own children!
Liz went on to say that if you believe in something, there may be times that will be tested and you will have to take a risk. In that moment she pitched the deal to her publisher, she had no idea how the book would be received and she took a substantial risk to get the pumpkin book published.
Risk- the possibility of loss or injury. Peril.
After looking up that word in the dictionary I am no closer to being comforted by it- but the word possibility gives me a glimmer of hope. When you take a risk, you have the possibility of losing something or injuring yourself. It's not a done deal.
I just asked my husband what word he thought of when I said "risk". He said, gamble. I think he's on to something there. Liz believed in her story so much that she was willing to gamble her money on it.
Hang with me as I make a connection. Another thing Liz talked about was having your own writing space. I have a writing desk and a chair that sit in our living room. It's not much of a space-but it's mine. We have a mostly unfinished basement and there is a room that I would love to make into my writing room. It has windows and I love where it is. The problem is that it needs walls, a ceiling, doors, carpet, etc. I have gotten to the place where I can visualize it....a nice desk, my pictures and RED memorabilia on the walls, one wall for my character pictures and the map of my kingdoms, french doors, and a small couch. My hubby even gave me electrical boxes and switches for Christmas and I have Home Depot cards to help with a few expenses....
Here's the challenge....my husband lost his job in early January and I stopped talking about the writing room. We are in this place of not knowing what is going to happen with us and if we have to move it would be foolish to finish my writing room only to leave the house. But after listening to Liz I realized that I could take a risk and do it anyway. Or could I? I came home and talked to Rich and told him I really wanted to do this.
Does it make sense? No.
Do we have the money for it? No.
Do I believe it can become a reality? Yes.
Do I take the risk? That's the question isn't it?
I honestly cannot answer it right now. Remember, I am the planner, not the risk taker. Although now that I think about it, I may be more of one than I first thought.
1-Four years ago we said good bye to friends and family and moved 1600 miles away where we knew NO ONE.
2-We did two years of fertility treatments.
3-I interviewed for a job teaching middle school after I had a horrible student teaching experience.
4-I showed up at tryouts for a play at the museum here in town.
5- I decided to teach piano lessons.
Here's how those risks panned out:
1-We have many dear friends here and cannot imagine life without them! We love Southern Indiana and the people here! (accents and all!)
2-Kendall was born in Feb. of 2002.
3-I have taught upper grades for a total of ten years and love teaching! I can't imagine not doing it.
4-I have been in several productions of the Museum Theater Company and have made some great friends!
5-I have taught piano in three different towns and have had well over 100 students.
Hmmm, maybe I am more of a risk taker than I realized.
Now where did I put those Home Depot cards?
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