It’s been a chaotic season to say the least. Aside from the usual madness of holidays and travel, our family has still been going through a season of looking for regular work/income.
But in the midst of all that craziness, there have been so many blessings. One of which has been how much time I have been able to devote to my upcoming launch of my debut poetry collection as the Sparrow flies, the other of which has been my husband project managing me (I desperately need it!) in order for me to get everything done in time—both are gifts that would not have been possible if we were working as much as we wanted to be in this season. A true blessing in disguise.
But even with all the additional time to work on the book and prepare for the launch, there is always MORE to do, and I have been even more blessed by the gift of Sabbath: one day a week in which I do not do my “work” (paid or no), but instead, lean into rest with my God and my family with intentionality.
Having an unsteady income has once again opened my eyes to the gift of Sabbath in a new way—I am being called to lean even further into trust in a season that feels scary and uncertain. And I’m seeing Sabbath as a gateway to gratitude.
When I look around at my home on Sabbath, and I wash up a bit after a meal, I am reminded that we have good food to eat. When we snuggle under the covers for longer than usual in the morning, I thank God for my warm, cozy, bed. When we head to my parent’s house for our house church service and Sunday lunch, I am filled with gratitude for this small, but mighty community, that has bloomed out of the deep suffering of nearly every member.
Sabbath causes us to slow down, to savor, to drink deeply of the cup of life that is currently before us. It asks us to stop our frenetic scrolling, our incessant shopping, and to let the wheels that spin in our working brains all week long, to come slowly to a halt. And in that slowness, we are more able than before to look around and say, “thank you.”
And I want to say THANK YOU to you, Dear Reader. Thank you for being here. Thank you for caring about and sharing these words. Thank you to those of you who have already expressed excitement for my upcoming book—and thank you to those of you that will buy it for yourself, or a loved one.
Being a writer is a strange sort of work—but it works because of you. And can’t believe I get to type this words but—my book is coming out in six weeks.
It’s insane to think that this project that has held so much of my heart and mind for the past few years is almost ready to be sent out into the world—and most importantly, into your hands.
This week my heart has been extra full of gratitude as I’ve been receiving my endorsements from fellow writers and authors who read an advanced copy of the book. Here’s what some of them are saying:
“Grace’s poetry is an invitation as welcoming in form and tone as her warm and abundant kitchen table. Her words meet the lonely, the grieving, the spiritually-doubting with compassion and spaciousness. I cried and breathed deep, reminded by every line that our long nights and weary grocery store strolls, our people-shaped losses and our abundant joys, matter.”
—Sarah Southern, writer of Wild & Waste.
“This collection of poems has gripped my heart and won't let go. Imagine reading the Psalms, in all of their yearning and lament, and then realizing that the writer isn't speaking of Old Testament armed battles, but modern-day trials that speak to the reader's experience in new, powerful ways. This was my experience with as the Sparrow flies. As Kelley cries out to God about the loneliness of friendships lost, the trauma of complications in childbirth, conflict within one's spiritual community, and much more, she gives language to some of life's deepest heartaches in ways that brought tears to my eyes and healing to my heart. Several times, I audibly gasped, in awe of how Kelley seemed to know my innermost thoughts for which I haven't yet found words. This poetry is an essential companion for anyone who grieves, anyone who wrestles with God, anyone whose questions feel unanswered. Kelley sits in that in-between space with the reader, giving voice to our most crushing disappointments and then, ever so gently, opening our eyes to the kind, gentle Savior who has never left our side.”
— Ellie Hunja, author of Blessings, New Mom: A Women's Devotional
I have cried with every kind word shared about my book thus far, and I know these next six weeks will have many more happy tears for me, because I can tell already from these tender endorsements that my book is in fact, doing what I created it to do.
This book is a companion for the darkness of heartbreak—in all its various forms. And as much as I wrote it for myself, I wrote it for you too.
And if you are reading this, I’m wondering; would you like to be apart of my launch team?
For those who don’t know, a launch team helps bring a new book into the world with oomph! They are early readers, day-of-release reviewers, and their sharing of the book around the launch date helps give the book its best start in life, so that other readers who would love it, can find it! Sometimes I jokingly describe launch teams as “book doulas”—they are an integral part of helping the book make the best entrance possible, which in turn, helps the book perform well over the first phase of the launch.
So without further ado—if you have been enjoying my poems these past weeks (or years!) and would like to be apart of my launch team, here is a little bit of what that is going to look like.
Important Dates:
The launch team is scheduled to open 1/23/24 and will CLOSE for new members on 1/27/24. I am planning on running the launch team from right here on Substack, no social media required!
Benefits:
You will receive an early Advanced Reader Ebook version of as the Sparrow flies for FREE.
You will have access to exclusive discussion threads with other readers and myself as you read through the book. (Book Club anyone?)
You will have access to an exclusive interview with my artist friend Bethanie Pack, who created all the original artwork for the book.
You will be invited (but certainly not required) to participated in a four week “Poetry as Therapy” workshop, where you can try writing you own poems, with helpful prompts to get you started, and encouraging notes from me and other readers!
Upon completing your reviews on launch day, you will be entered in a raffle with three chances to win additional paperback copies of as the Sparrow flies, as well as prints of Bethanie Pack’s original artwork! (Each review gets you one entry, so the more places you review the book, the more chances you have to win!)
Requirements:
Provide proof of pre-order purchase of the paperback version. (Pre-orders coming soon!)
Be willing to leave a review on launch day, (February 20th, 2024) and post on your social platforms if you have them.
Show up as your full, kind hearted and respectful self in the comments and discussion threads as we read the book together!
Sound like something you might be interested in? Would you leave a comment below? I’m trying to get a bit of a headcount as I move towards officially opening the launch team in just a couple weeks!
Again, I’m so grateful for you dear readers. Thank you for every like, comment, share, and kind word over the years. I’m so grateful to get to connect with you all over words in this way.
Warmly,
Grace E. Kelley
I would love to help launch this into the world :)
happy to help the launch!