The Story behind Our Written Lives

When I was 10 years old, I remember standing at our farmhouse sink washing dishes by hand when a thought unexpectedly entered my mind:

“You should write a book someday.”

I immediately dismissed the thought. Writing a book felt far too difficult, far too unrealistic, and far too big for me. But years later, the idea resurfaced.

At 19 years old, while attending Bible college, one of my instructors encouraged me to consider a career in writing. Once again, I felt completely unqualified. I prayed about it, but I struggled to understand how someone like me could ever become a writer.

Over time, I learned something important: God truly does qualify the called.

A few years later, I found myself writing for a college newspaper while attending a secular university. After graduation, I became a full-time newspaper reporter. Without realizing it, God had already begun preparing me for the work He had placed on my heart years earlier.

In 2009, I experienced a very clear call from God to write and publish for the Kingdom. I felt deeply burdened to help tell stories that revealed how God still moves in the lives of ordinary people today. At the time, I was working full time and beginning my Master’s degree. I had no idea how I would eventually write books or help publish them, but I continued moving forward one step at a time.

Then, in 2011, I met Angel Cortello.

Angel had an incredible testimony of deliverance, but she needed someone to help her tell the story. After receiving multiple confirmations that this was the project I was supposed to work on, we began writing Angel: The True Story of an Undeserved Chance.

Eleven months later, we held the finished book in our hands, and Our Written Lives, LLC was officially born.

What began as one book slowly became a much larger calling.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with independent authors from many different backgrounds and experiences. Some have written memoirs. Some have written devotionals, children’s books, educational resources, or stories of overcoming incredible hardship. Many of these authors carried stories they had wanted to tell for years but did not know where to begin.

That experience has taught me something powerful:

Many people carry unwritten stories.

Some people believe their stories are too small. Others fear vulnerability, rejection, or criticism. Some simply feel overwhelmed by the publishing process. But I believe stories matter because people matter.

Writing is deeply personal. Sometimes it is also deeply healing.

For me personally, writing has often helped me process life experiences, gain perspective, ask difficult questions, and move forward with greater clarity and hope. It is part of the reason I have become so passionate not only about publishing books, but also about encouraging others in their own writing journeys.

Today, my work focuses heavily on developing writing programs, editing and publishing books for independent authors, and mentoring future writers and publishers. One of the projects closest to my heart right now is the upcoming Write to Heal course, which explores the connection between storytelling, reflection, faith, and healing.

As I look back over my life, I can clearly see God’s hand guiding each step long before I understood where the journey was leading.

The little girl standing at the farmhouse sink had no idea what God would eventually do with one simple thought: “You should write a book someday.”

But sometimes the smallest moments quietly shape the entire direction of our lives.