All Because of One Short, Simple Text
Ann & Me Having Coffee and Talking Publishing - September 2025
Enjoy these little stories from Behind the Scenes of Journey with a Giant
All Because of One Short, Simple Text
I came home from my first writer’s conference with far more than I expected.
A dear friend had been cheering me on through my early writing—little newsletter articles and the first few chapters of the book I was drafting about walking with spiritual giants. I took it to heart one day when she said, “You have to go to a writer’s conference.”
I went with modest expectations. I was a new writer and figured this would be a good way to get my feet wet. I hoped to learn about the craft of writing and eventually self-publish the book I was working on. (Journey with a Giant)
But God had other plans.
As I shared my idea at the conference, one person after another stopped me mid-sentence. “Oh no, you can’t self-publish this,” they’d say. “This is a great idea—I’ve never heard anything like it. You need to pitch this to publishers.”
One woman even coaxed me into signing up for a “1-on-1” with an editor. (I didn’t even know what that meant at the time—turns out it’s a 15-minute pitch session!)
When I returned home, my head was buzzing with encouragement. I knew I had to keep going—but I also realized something important: I didn’t know how to write a book. I needed help.
So, I texted an author friend, thinking she might mentor me. She texted back almost immediately:
“I’m not a nonfiction writer. You need to contact my friend, Ann Byle. She’ll show you what to do.”
Ann Byle—the woman who had just directed the entire conference. The one on stage. The expert. And me? I was a brand-new writer who barely knew the difference between an essay and a short story. Why would she make time for me?
Still, I tucked the idea away.
A few days later, my husband heard a radio announcement about a book launch happening at our local Christian bookstore. “Let’s go,” he said. When we arrived and the presentation ended, I glanced to the back of the room—and there stood Ann Byle.
My heart raced. I knew this was my moment.
I walked over, introduced myself, and mentioned our mutual friend’s referral. Ann was kind and gracious. “Email me,” she said. “We’ll set up a 15-minute call.”
That 15-minute call turned into over an hour. Ann loved my idea. She was finishing her own book at the time, but she encouraged me to keep writing and email her monthly with updates until she could begin coaching me.
That’s exactly what we did. Month after month, she guided me through the process—one faithful step at a time.
In June, when I told her I was headed to another writing workshop, she insisted I bring a “one-sheet.” I had no idea what that was! She sent me hers, helped me edit mine, and before I knew it, that little one-sheet opened doors I never expected. It was even used as an example for the other attendees.
Next, she told me to write a book proposal. “Now?” I protested. “I’m not even done with the book! Shouldn’t I wait until I finish it first?”
As an experienced writer, she knew that you don’t wait to write your proposal until the book is done, so she held her ground.
“Nope. You need to write it now.”
So, I did. I spent that summer muttering my way through a six-week book proposal class. But she was right—the proposal became a turning point. It positioned me to pitch my book at a writers’ conference later that fall.
She walked me through the ups and downs of publishing.
After several years of coaching calls, conference pitches, and one contract that fell through, I felt a nudge to seek an agent. During our monthly meeting, she coached me on everything I needed to know to pitch to agents. As we hashed things back and forth, I looked across the table at Ann and said,
“You know this book inside and out—and you believe in it as much as I do. You’ve agented before… why don’t YOU agent it?”
She leaned back, thought for a moment, and smiled. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
About a month later, we signed a contract together. We made a list of twenty publishers and sent the proposal to the first five after Labor Day 2023. Within weeks, an enthusiastic response came from a small Christian publishing house called Ink & Willow.
We later discovered it was an imprint of Penguin Random House—one of the largest publishing houses in the world!
When that news came, I knew: there was no one I’d rather have by my side than the woman who had walked with me--from those first timid steps of being a brand new writer with a spark of an idea--to this moment of fulfillment.
All because of one short, simple text.
Invitation to the Journey
This story began with one small text that changed everything. Journey with a Giant invites you to pay attention to the small, holy moments just like that in your own story.
In its pages, you’ll learn how to walk with a spiritual giant from history and let their example lead you further into all that God has for you.
Order your printed copy or audiobook today.
Stay Tuned ...
For the next Behind-the-Scenes story, where I’ll tell you about the first shift I noticed as I walked with Fred—a powerful turning of my heart that has changed my relationships from that day until this one!
It was a little painful, but also beautiful. I'm looking forward to sharing it with you.
If you enjoyed this article, you might also enjoy “Living Psalm 23”.