Has it been a year already? 🧁

Happy birthday, book-baby! 🎉

May 15 marked one year since the release of

Empty-Nest Joyride!

And what a ride it has been!

Like birds from a nest, this year has flown! As author Gretchen Rubin says, “the days are long but the years are short.”

Since last May…

With joy, we added another member to our family—our son-in-law Garrett.

In sadness, we lost another—my brother-in-law Mike.

We’ve celebrated holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. Spent time up north at our cabin. Taken mini-trips to Lexington, Grand Rapids, St. Paul, and Madison; and bigger trips to Seattle and Charleston.

We’ve had heavy snows, strong winds, and hailstorms. Dealt with a flat tires, our aging bodies, and family members struggling with depression and anxiety.

On our empty-nest joyride, we’ve experienced the ups and downs of life, reminiscent of the hills and valleys we encounter on our bike rides throughout the Midwest.

My year as a second-time author has also had ups and downs. While my 1st book—Lent Through the Little Things—continues to reach many readers each Lenten season, my latest “book baby” keeps plugging along (much like me pedaling up a long hill). Marketing is not my cup of tea, but with over four million books published annually, it’s the only way to get noticed. Once in a while, my baby needs to make a little noise to get some attention.

Hence, this week’s newsletter. It’s a celebration! (And a shameless plug.)

It’s also the perfect time to thank each of you who have purchased, read, rated, and reviewed Empty-Nest Joyride. This means more to me than I can express. With a 5.0 rating on Amazon and 4.75 on Goodreads, PLUS several kind reviews, I know my words—the vulnerable stories I dared to put out into the world— have made a difference.

And that’s truly all I can ask for.

Please indulge me while I share a few kind words from my readers.

After 26 years of parenting children, Linda Hanstra and her husband were facing the empty nest—or was it the "mighty nest"?

"The saying goes 'birds of a feather flock together,'" she writes. "But can two birds of different feathers build a mighty nest together?"

In this lovely, wisdom-filled book, she shares her own story of how her nest filled up once upon a time and emptied, one by one, as her four children took different paths to college and beyond. Anyone facing the empty-nest years will find Hanstra to be a gentle, winsome guide as they confront changing roles, parenting young adults, and, hopefully, reinventing a marriage and what it means to have a full house of two. Biking enthusiasts will love her stories based on the Hanstras' shared biking hobby.

_{-Lorilee Craker, Mixed Media Editor - The Banner. Author of 16 books, including her most recent: Eat Like a Heroine.}

Empty Nest Joyride is a warm, honest, and hope-filled memoir that beautifully parallels the biking journey with the emotional ride of marriage, parenting, and life after the kids leave home. With humor, vulnerability, and spiritual insight, Linda invites readers to embrace the bumps and find joy and purpose in every season. This is a must-read for anyone navigating the empty nest—or simply looking for encouragement on the trail of life.
_{-Cheryl Balcom, Author: Winds of Grace: A Memoir}

The author took me on a joy-filled yet honest ride through her family experiences with emphasis on keeping a marriage strong especailly in the empty-nest years. Vulnerable stories from her past illustrate her knowledge of and trust in God as the one who keeps us upright when things are in the midst of change or we hit a “bump in the road.” The reflection questions at the end of each chapter are insightful and helpful to a reader in various seasons of life and would enhance a book group study.
_{-Sue Donaldson, Author: Never Alone: Stories of Invitation and Connection}

Once again, it’s graduation season! Will your nest be a little emptier in the fall? Are you nervous? A little misty-eyed? Excited at the thought of a little more freedom?

I’ve been there. In Empty-Nest Joyride I share my stories to ease you through your story—of faith, marriage, family relationships, caregiving, aging, whatever you’re facing—as you discover hope, love, and purpose on the road to contentment!

Do you have a friend or family member who will be emptying their nest? Perhaps there’s a small group of friends or couples from your neighborhood or church that would benefit from reading and discussing life’s next chapter together.

Consider giving the gift of encouragement!

Thanks in advance for your support of an indie author just trying to crest the next hump in the road!

Oh, and one more “pretty please” for ratings and reviews. If you’ve read either of my books (or even just started them), could you let others know what you thought? Ratings and reviews are one of the most influential means for helping others find their next good read! Leaving a rating takes less than 30 seconds. Here are some links to make it easy:

Many thanks for all the ways you’ve come through for me in the past year; for joining me on this Joyride!