Happy Independence Day Everyone,
Today, I’m honoured to be contributing to my friend, Ann Voskamp’s, blog. It brings me so much joy to bring this little piece of writing to you through Ann’s beautiful slice of the internet.
As you pack up the car for a weekend away, or ready the grill for backyard burgers, take a few minutes and read. My prayer is that it touches your soul and encourages you to breathe deeply, even for a few moments.
And welcome all of you new subscribers! I’m so honoured you’ve invited me into your inbox. It’s an honour I don’t take lightly.
Here’s a snippet of the new post, and a link to continue reading.
From Ann:
The everyday road of life is littered with the pains of growing up, loving and failing to love, of peace and discord. What is God saying through all the muck of life? God speaks to us through beauty. But to hear his words, we must slow down and listen with our hearts. I don’t know a better guide for chasing beauty than Timothy Willard. In his counter-cultural book, The Beauty Chasers, he gives us a guidebook for discovering how to see the world with fresh eyes and let beauty guide us in life and our relationship with God. It’s a grace to welcome Tim to the farm’s table today …
I stood on a lone outcropping of rocks weeping. It was the kind of cry that comes unannounced. The kind that sweeps through you like the rain I was watching sweep through the valley.
Sheep wandered around the rocks and ate in the quiet drizzle. Below, Lake Windermere gathered the rain and the dying light of day. It was a magical lake where Wordsworth, Coleridge, Ruskin, and Beatrix Potter all wandered.
“Tim, why don’t you come up to the hotel. Bring your family. I’ve a room you can use, no charge.”
The invitation—a blessing from a friend of a friend. I’d never met him. But he knew my family was still adjusting to life in England. And it was Thanksgiving. So, I accepted.
How You Can Help Spread the Word about The Beauty Chasers?
We are still in the throes of a national road trip book tour as well as other activities aimed at getting the word out about my new book, The Beauty Chasers.
Many have asked me, “So, what can I do to help you get the word out?”
There are several ways, but I’ll just give you one today as we head into our little national holiday. (Happy 4th! Woohoo!)
Here it is: book reviews on Amazon.
I can’t tell you how important these are to the efforts of authors.
Just like pre-order sales, reviews affect Amazon’s algorithm
Reviews drive traffic to your book—they push books into people’s views
Reviews act as a kind of social proof—they give a book credibility
So, what can you do?
Well, I humbly ask that if you have purchased the book (thank you!) and have read it (again, thank you!) that you’d consider leaving an honest review. You guys are my email family, and I wouldn’t even have a book without you.
So, thank you in advance for sticking with me and helping me make The Beauty Chasers launch special!
If you are new to the email family, welcome! Please don’t feel any obligation here at all. You’re new! So, poke around the content and see what you think! If you like what you read, and want to throw your support in the ring, then of course I am forever grateful!
If you have purchased The Beauty Chasers you still have time to claim your free gift. For a limited time, you can receive my course, “The Ways of Wonder: 5 Practical Secrets to Help You Stay Hopeful, Grateful & Soulful.”
The first session is up now. Look for session two to drop at the end of next week, and the rest of the sessions throughout July.
Have a great holiday weekend! See you next week with another tour update!
Cheers,
Tim