When I'm not riding horses or helping families bring babies into the world, I'm a writer.  My love of words began back in elementary school when I would fill out my Scholastic book order forms and use my own money to buy all sorts of books.  I remember many days when I doodled cartoon characters and wrote stories on my wide-ruled notebook paper when I was supposed to be doing seatwork instead.

A few years ago, frustrated by the ups-and-downs and inconsistencies of doula work, I cornered a friend who had told me about a college course she took where they wrote a novel.  "It's time," I said.  "Teach me your ways, O Wise One."  And my friend directed me to Chris Baty's "No Plot No Problem" and the idea of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).  

Here we are, three years later, and I've written four full-length Young Adult fiction novels... and, drumroll, please... self-published a children's/middle grade novella titled "Daniel the Draw-er".  

I write under a pen name, S. J. Henderson, not only to put a little distance between my doula world and my writing world, but because there's already an author named Jen Henderson who writes about weather (really?!).  Go figure.

Anyway, Daniel is the story of a nine-year-old boy who discovers a magic pencil in his attic.  Whatever he draws with the pencil comes to life, from rocket cats to pizza-baking robots. It's a witty read for the entire family, with zero potty humor (you're welcome, parents) and zero name-calling.  I've given it a reasonable price so it can be easily shared and gifted.

I'm an independent author and would love your help spreading the word about "Daniel the Draw-er".  Any ideas you might have are greatly appreciated!

My client sent me a text confessing she is scared to leave the hospital and the comfort of having a nurse or lactation consultant one button-press away.  I sent a text back to her to reassure her that we'd help her find support if it was needed.  What I was thinking at that moment was:

"Sometimes the most important thing you can do is take a deep breath, let go of the hands you've been holding, and trust your intuition."

It can apply to so many areas of our lives, can't it?  Along with being terrified of failing, are we also just as scared to succeed?

For me, this is significant because I've buried myself ridiculously deep, 8k-ish words, in my National Novel Writing Month word count deficit.  The words seem to be dammed up today, and I don't know why.  Is it fear?  The complete scariness of letting go of control?  Hushing the overbearing voice of that so-called "perfectionist" streak? 

I need to let go of those things that are holding me back, to trust I can do this because, deep within, I know how to do this... and I want it more than anything.    Just like this new mama, convinced she doesn't have the wisdom she needs to be the mother she was divinely designed to be.  We both need to stop and realize that God has not given us these gifts without the necessary tools to enjoy them.

Breathe in.  Breathe out.