Interview between Shelley Hitz and MaryAnn Ward about MaryAnn's author journey: she published her first book in 2017 and three more during COVID, then struggled with in-person sales during the pandemic. Through Christian Book Academy (prayer meetings and community), she had a 'God idea' to create a devotional coloring book and a companion journal (titled/marketed as A Name Above All Others), formed strategic partnerships (photographer/promoter), and sold an initial print run of 100 which she immediately doubled due to demand.
Questions this episode answers
2017
Three
A devotional coloring book and a matching journal (referred to as 'A Name Above All Others').
100 (she immediately called her printer to double the order).
Chapters
So Marianne Ward is another one of our Christian Book Academy members. Welcome to the success panel. Why don't you share a little bit about your story of finding Christian Book Academy and what God has done in your life.
Thank you very much, Shelly. I published my first book in 2017 and then published three more during COVID And I got so discouraged because I had. My main way of selling books was in person, and with COVID that wasn't possible. And so I just became so defeated in it. I shouldn't have, but I did. And a couple of Christian Book Academy members.
Kind of almost at the same time gave me links in February to Christian Book Academy. And right away, on the first. Almost the first day we prayed, CJ and Shelly were praying. And I had this book idea come into my head right away, and it was like.
Well, what if? That's kind of my hint, right? When we hit a roadblock, Just, what if we can. We can get over this roadblock? What if with the help of others and the support and prayer of others, we can. What if I can actually learn marketing online? What if? And so that. That what if ignited in me and gave me hope to be able to do this again. Yeah.
Yeah, that's so good. And, you know, there's so much power in prayer. And one of the things that makes Christian Book Academy different is that we do put a focus on the spiritual aspect as well. Right. Seeking first the kingdom of God. And you also mentioned that it was during one of our prayer meetings. So those of you that may not be familiar, every month we have a war room prayer meeting. And C.J. and I pray for you specifically. We lead you through some journaling sometimes and just some different things. And Marianne, you said that in one of those prayer meetings, God gave you an idea for a couple books. Share with us a little bit about that.
So they're called a name above all others. One is a devotional coloring book, and then it has a matching journal to go with it. And I hadn't even planned on the journal, but because of problems with my printer and other things, I had this span of time, and I thought, well, what if? What if I put together a companion? And so that's what I did. And so they're both out now. And another thing that was suggested or encouraged through Christian Book Academy was to create strategic partnerships. And I did that in this book. I have a photographer friend.
Who I asked to do some full color photos for the center to do kind of a feature center portion. And she did. And she has been, like, pushing These books like crazy and just been my biggest cheerleader.
Oh, awesome.
Yeah. It is just really, not only for the books, but just in so many ways. She's been prayer support. Just so many ways that has helped me. Just that one strategic partner. So that was so encouraging, too.
Yeah. And that's, you know, that's your tip of just, you know, being able to reach out sometimes and ask. Right. You know, and forming these strategic partnerships. You never know what God's going to do when you do that. And we have a lot of training on that inside Christian Book Academy. But what I loved is you mentioned to me, you know, you published these two books. They were not on your radar until you were in that prayer meeting. And they combined your love for art and writing. Right. And you. You hadn't done that before, is that correct?
Well, I had done just a little snippet, but I had never done something like this or devotional. I had never considered myself able to do a devotion.
Yeah. And so it's like, it's a. We call it a God idea. You can have a good idea, and you can have a God idea. And these God ideas are often birthed through prayer. And then you mentioned, like, you're already having to increase your initial order, right?
Yeah. I initially ordered 100. I knew that they were sold already, and so I called my printer right away and said, hey, let's double that. Let's get that going.
Yeah. So it's like, you just never know. God gave you the idea. You were obedient. You did it. And now, not only did you sell your first hundred, now you're ordering your next hundred. And we're just so proud of you, so excited for what God is going to do. And I love that whole thought of, like, even God just giving you that idea of marrying your art with your writing and just seeing that burst into the world and people really resonating with that. So thank you so much for sharing, Marianne.