• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Janice Beetle Books

Writing, editing, book development, and publishing help

  • Home
  • About
    • My Books
    • Clients’ Books
    • Privacy Policy
  • Services
    • Creative Writing Review/Coaching
    • Book Development /Writing
      • Book Development Sampler
    • Book Editing
    • Copy Editing
    • Book Design
    • Publishing Guidance
  • Blog
  • Poem Pods
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Order My Book
You are here: Home / All / Willful Evolution has Gone to Print

Willful Evolution has Gone to Print

March 16, 2021 by Janice Beetle 4 Comments

I am excited to say that I made the last five tweaks to Willful Evolution today and instructed Off the Common Books in Amherst, Massachusetts to print a first batch for me. Copies should be hot off the press next week sometime. Stay tuned.

While the editing process took roughly a year, I’m proud of the work and the changes I have made that enhance the story. I’m also excited to get the book out there, yet I feel vulnerable, too. 

I stand in faith, though. It’s my story, and I’m sticking to it! I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone once again.

When I was holding a printer proof in my hand yesterday, I was marveling at how the compact package held the highlights of the past 10 years of my life. There it is, right there—ten years of working hard to get from grief to great.

In 2010, I was laid off from my full-time job as a communications specialist in a hospital while I was on a family medical leave, taking care of my late husband, Ed, in his last days. He’d been diagnosed with lung cancer four months earlier.

I heard my boss tell me my position had been eliminated as I stood on my front steps; Ed lay in a hospital bed in my living room just inside the door. He died four days later. I had no income. No partner, and two teenaged children to raise. 

I told the story of that devastating loss in my first memoir, Divine Renovations, which was published in 2011. My new book, Willful Evolution, is a sequel to the first book, and it is poignant, inspiring, and at turns, downright funny. The book shows how I reinvented myself. How I got from there to here.

Willful Evolution begins a few months after Ed passed away; I’m on a walk with my grandson Eli. The story ends in this COVID-19 era.

When you read Willful Evolution, you will hear stories of my travels to far-away places. You’ll see me rent a cockroach-infested car in Majuro in the Marshall Islands, watch a volcano erupt in Hawaii, and play cards and curse with family in Florida.

I did a lot of online dating in the past decade, too, and readers will have a chance to meet some of the wacky men I met, like Sam, who told me on a first date that his ex-wife got so fat he didn’t want to have sex with her anymore. So attractive, right?

Yoga and other challenges and adventure also helped me gain physical, and then emotional strength, along with my ridiculous competitive nature.

My book is about wrestling fear, building relationships, and finally growing up—in my mid-fifties. Think Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert because the book touches on travel and love.

Think Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle because I write about empowerment and metamorphosis. I show it more than tell it.

Think Daring Greatly by Brené Brown because so many of the moves I made involved daring, pushing myself to do things that frightened me. 

My book is as motivating, amusing, and powerful as these works. 

Willful Evolution will make you laugh and empower your soul. I hope it will make people feel both at home in who they are and inspired to take on some new challenge or change.

My hope is that people who read my book will find new strength in their own lives, take risks, set new goals, and reinvent themselves.

I’ll let you know when the book is in my Shop, and I’ll be sending updates about a live reading I hope to be able to hold in the spring, as well as a virtual reading.

Be strong everyone! 

← Previous Post
Next Post →

Filed Under: All, Books Tagged With: memoir, new book, new release, Willful Evolution, writing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathleen Moore Lutz says

    March 17, 2021 at 12:29 pm

    This is wonderful, Janice! I cannot wait to read it. I can’t even imagine what you went through… the depths of your sorrow and despair, and worry as a single mom. Look how far you’ve come! It’s incredible. I will be ordering a copy (would love to get a signed copy, if that is an option!).

    Reply
    • Janice Beetle says

      March 17, 2021 at 12:42 pm

      You are strong and resilient to, my friend. And I thank you for being an early reader!

      Reply
    • Janice Beetle says

      March 17, 2021 at 12:43 pm

      Thank you, Kathy! This book is more light-hearted than the first one, Divine Renovations. The sorrow and despair are captured in that one. The upward haul is in this new title. Thank you!! Absolutely, I will sign your book. I appreciate your interest in reading it!

      Reply
  2. Charlene Moses says

    March 17, 2021 at 12:35 pm

    How exciting, I can’t wait for the book to actually come out. You inspire me every day. You are a very strong and spiritual person, and your perserverance is incredible.

    I wish you the best and great success.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe

Please enter your email address to receive blog posts by email.

Categories

Recent Posts

  • A Q & A with Gerry Hass
  • Larceny in the Aisles is Hot Off the Press!
  • Ten Tips for the Travel Writer-Wannabe

Archives

  • April 2023
  • October 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • November 2012

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

© 2023 Janice Beetle Books · Privacy Policy
Content by Janice Beetle Books · Site by Turn Signal Media