The launch party for Surviving Chronic Illness: Grace in the Flames went off without a hitch! Last Saturday 8th Feb, 2025, a small gathering of about twenty people met upstairs in an intimate yet open space at Thirroul C3 church. We ate food—including freshly baked lemon-and-lime mini-muffins and chocolate brownies—and then we settled down for some talkage.
My dear friend and writing mentor, Jo-Anne Berthelsen, opened the event with an acknowledgement of country, then enlightened the listeners with the details of our first meeting. I sat listening, somewhat embarrassed at Jo-Anne’s descriptions of my enthusiasm and rapt attention at the writing workshop where we first met!
After waxing lyrical about my new book, Jo-Anne handed the mic to me and I shared about what had motivated me to write Surviving Chronic Illness (lived experience, largely, and a passion for helping others). I followed this with some readings from the book, and then it was time for a little Q&A! I was super impressed by the depth and nuance of every question, and I hope that my brain-fogged answers were somewhat coherent and worthy of the questioners!
Jo-Anne finished things off with a prayer for me and the ministry of the book—then she ambushed me with a special picture she believed God had given her to share publicly on this occasion! The picture was one of beauty, rest and serenity, and it personally meant a lot to me. With that, we awarded the lucky door prize to a very fortunate attendee, and then it was time for sales!
I sold seven books in all, which was wonderful. Even more wonderful was seeing my author friend Jo-Anne, who had brought her books with her, sell more books than me! Better yet was seeing the people I love together in one room, making friends with each other, taking photos, eating the delicious food and sharing stories of illness. It lifted my heart, and I pray it lifted the spirits of those who were present too.
It was a successful book launch. My goal was not about selling books—sales are always a pure bonus—but rather to celebrate the birth of a new book baby with people who care about me and the book, and who helped to bring the book from imagination to publication. It takes a village to write a book.
At the launch party I was able to thank those who beta-read the book, those who formally endorsed it, those who bought a copy (!), those who prayed for me and the book, and those who have shown interest along the way and repeatedly asked me about the book’s progress. Such questions help a writer to stay motivated!
I thank God for the launch, for the ‘liftoff’ of Surviving Chronic Illness, and for his grace which has truly awaited me at every twisted turn along this path of illness. I pray that you too will know this grace, intimately and fully, as you walk your own journey with God.
Surviving Chronic Illness can be purchased directly from my website: https://stephpenny.com.au/product/surviving-chronic-illness-grace-in-the-flames/
It can also be purchased from Koorong: https://koorong.com/product/surviving-chronic-illness-grace-in-the-flames-steph_9780645062724
It is available as an ebook: https://books2read.com/u/bQnor7
And it’s coming soon to IngramSpark, meaning you’ll be able to go to your local library and request a copy. Watch this space for more announcements!