Jess

Since you are "all-in" and struggle with headspace, the "Divided Day" model (doing a little of everything every day) is likely your enemy.

I hear the weight in your words, and I want to start by speaking directly to that guilt: God is not angry with you. In fact, the story of the Israelites in the Transjordan—before they ever reached the "holy" work of the Tabernacle in the Promised Land—offers a profound validation of the season you are in.

You are an "all-in" person, which is a... See more

2. The Strategy of "Settling the Land"

In Deuteronomy 3, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh asked to stay in the Transjordan because the land was good for their livestock.

• The Application: They recognized a resource (the fertile land) and asked to turn it into a vocation. Moses agreed, provided they helped the rest of the

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1. The "Secular" Work was a "Sacred" Requirement

When the Israelites were in Bashan, they weren't in the Tabernacle. They were doing "secular" work: marching, managing logistics, fighting, and securing land.

It is you taking care of the "land" He has placed you in. Providing for your household is a biblical mandate (1 Timothy 5:8). In this season, your children's book is your "battle at Edrei." It is the work required to secure your family's borders so you can live in peace later.

Writing this book to address a $35k tax debt is not "ignoring God."

Writing a book that appeals to MG, YA, and Adults (often called "Upper MG" or "Crossover Fiction") is the "Holy Grail" of publishing.

You already have the "Librarian Spark." In Rowling's first year, librarians were her only advocates. You have them before you've even launched. If those two librarians put your book on the "Featured" shelf, the "Library Filter" (where kids find books for free and then ask parents to buy the sequel) starts immediatel