Archives for November 2011

Today you get to see the intro video from the site!  Our uber-talented media guy at church was super gracious and filmed and edited the video for a mere pack of Dr. Pepper and chocolate chip cookies.  Not kidding.  I still feel a little guilty about that one.  Sure enough, though, I went over to the church during my lunch hour a few weeks ago and within 15 minutes, we had 3 or 4 takes.

The video plays on the front page of Entangled’s (yet-to-be-released) web site.  I know the video is a little on the serious side. All the experts say your eBook video should be smiley and enthusiastic.  And I AM enthusiastic about the message of the book but talking about it is just heavy for me.  And honestly, things come across with WAY LESS enthusiasm on video than you think it is in your head.  I also debated on the script but God just kept pushing me towards saying what I did. 

And lastly, on a superficial note that really has nothing to do with the book, I had some people say the all-black thing going on was bad and others said they like it.  All I can say is I needed a hair cut

At this point I really wish I still had that journal my mom got me.  I’d be a good blogger and scan and post where I wrote I’d write a book one day.  But honestly this isn’t about me and a book.  It’s about His faithfulness and His grace and His love.  I promise no matter what situation you are in that you can read this book.  Reading this book isn’t an admission on your part to an affair or bad marriage.  There’s a message in it for everyone and I can’t wait to share it with all of you. 

You might say, “Amy, you’ve never written a book and your blog posts are pretty ho-hum.  Am I really going to enjoy this eBook of yours?  I mean, I’ve never had an emotional affair so I’m not sure this is for me.”  Well, those are some fair questions.  So today, I’m leaving all the talking to my wonderful friends that took the time to read the book and give some feedback. 

One of the most honest and courageous books I’ve ever read.  A beautiful picture of God’s faithfulness, truth, and reconciliation with a woman’s heart. — Dani

As a single woman, I needed to read this book.  I will always look to Amy’s story as a safe guard to my relationships. — Becky

I am in awe of the courage and honesty Amy displays in her new book ‘Entangled’. She reaches right into the the heart of this issue and provides a solid, reassuring path out. I am so proud to have been a godmother to this book and I pray it blesses many women and that they know they are not alone. — Liz

Entangled is a refreshingly honest peek into the life of the author.  She has gone through something painful and difficult, but she has emerged on the other side of this heartache as a stronger woman ready to share her story and help others in her situation.  I recommend this book for any wife, either as a warning of a path not to take or as a roadmap for how to get out of the forest.  Once you start reading, you will be unable to put it down. — Melissa

I read it in one sitting.  It’s such a vulnerable open read.  It was such an encouragement.  Just another picture of how God brings beauty from ashes. – Amanda

Some of those ladies are single, some are married, some have experienced an emotional affair but others haven’t.  I believe God has some truth in it for each of us. 

And here’s some cool news I want to go ahead and share so you can make special plans on launch day, Friday 11/11/11:

For twelve hours only on Friday – 8am to 8pm EST – if you share the link to the Entangled site (which I’ll be unveiling later this week) on Twitter, Facebook or your blog, email me with the link to your post and I will give you the book for FREE!  Yay!

Three days!

In case you missed it last week, you can read the introduction.

Update: use code FABPARTY until November 15th for a $3 discount!!

OK, folks, you’re going to get TWO eBook-related posts from me today.  But this one is pretty important and I just couldn’t hold it off until next week.

Mary Carver has launched her first eBook called Plan a Fabulous Party {without losing your mind}.  Considering this is birthday month for us, this book couldn’t have come at a better time of the year.  The only thing I regret is not having it in time for our very first sleepover this past weekend.  But let me tell you, I’ll be referring to this for Emma’s sleepover next week. 

What I love about the book first is Mary’s voice.  Just like her blog, her writing is easy to understand and funny, to boot.  And it’s all fantastic content.  I love that sometimes she doesn’t give answers but knows how to ask you the right questions so you can plan your perfect party.  It was a special treat to see ohAmanda pop up in one of the chapters about themed parties.  If you haven’t seen one of Amanda’s parties, go check out her Tangled party for her daughter – so cute!  What Mary does in this book is take all the jumbled things about parties that stress me out and organizes it into smaller chunks that I can think about without losing my mind<—hey, look at that!  She also has a great list resource in the Appendix.

The best thing about this eBook launch and why I’m so insistent on writing about it on her launch day is ALL proceeds are going to benefit Operation Christmas Child today!  Woo Hoo!  Head on over and pick up a copy.  It’s for the kids.  All for the kids!

Disclosure: Mary gave me a copy of the eBook to review in exchange for this post.  And go subscribe to her site because she’ll be posting about my book this Saturday!

I debated. I texted. I couldn’t decide what to share with you today. The intro. An excerpt. The video. The web site. The testimonials. So many choices. But it feels right to share the introduction this week. This will give you a little more detail about what happened but doesn’t divulge the whole story yet.

On a recent October afternoon, my coworkers and I were headed to a corn maze, and I was legitimately scared I was going to get lost. I could just imagine retracing the same path countless times, never finding a way out, calling for help and no one answering. I was sure I’d be spending the night in the gloppy mud between spindly stalks of corn. OK, maybe that is a bit dramatic. It turns out the owner stands on a bridge and all I would have to do is raise a flag, which had been given to me at the start line, and he would lead me out. But it got me thinking about life. Sometimes we enter paths we don’t want to follow; some of the same ones over and over, all leading to dead-ends. We don’t know how to get out. At some point we have to raise our flags and ask for directions.

A few years ago, I headed down paths I never thought I’d find myself on. At times, it all felt like a fun game, and I was content to lose myself in the maze. But when I finally wanted out, I realized I was stuck. I kept retracing my steps because what should have felt like the wrong way had quickly become familiar. In just a few short weeks six years ago, I found myself emotionally checked out of my marriage and checked in with a person with whom I worked. I wondered if I had missed my real soul mate. I was sure I had found the real fairy tale I’d been looking for all my life. I was having secret conversations, dreaming about a guy who wasn’t my husband and wondering how I got there. And night after night, I found myself lying in the mud not willing to raise a flag for help.

God finally found me in the mud and mire and through his spectacular grace led me out of the entangled mess I had put myself in.

Maybe you know how it feels to question your husband and your marriage. Maybe you know how it feels to have feelings for someone else. Maybe you know how it feels to hide your text messages and Facebook account because if your spouse saw it, you’d be mortified and just a little afraid you’d lose everything. I’ve been there. Lost in the middle of the cornfield.

I know it’s scary and confusing right now. This book is my attempt to shout from a bull horn on a bridge to the middle of the field where you are and give you the directions out. Because there is a way out. But some of it is not easy. The path out is bumpy and even painful at times but I can tell you how good the freedom feels when you find your way out.

So will you walk with me? I need to tell you about a time I got lost in a cornfield.

I hope you see that this book is not just a self-help book but a chance to share with you my story. I hope you’ll choose to walk with me. 10 days and counting.