You guys, writing a book is hard work!

I completed the rough draft copy of the Struggle Bus book at the end of January and handed out copies to a few wonderful people. These wonderful people had a couple important jobs after reading my rough draft: 1) be honest with me as to whether or not I should move forward; and, 2) make sure that, if I move forward, nothing I wrote inadvertently brings shame upon my family.

I received a ton of incredibly helpful feedback, made some revisions, and have been encouraged to move forward. As of last week, my rough draft resides with a publishing company for their review. I’m told that I should hear back in the next week or two.

Now, allow me to take a minute to answer a few frequently asked questions:

FAQ

Q: Did you really write an entire book based on your viral Craigslist van post?

A: Yes. Over the course of 9 years, our family of 11 slowly, methodically, and aromatically gave our 2005 Ford van a beat down for the ages. The book is about our adventures doing so. It’s a collection of behind-the-scenes stories about large family life. It’s about our failures and successes. It’s about our marriage. It’s about parenting. It’s about faith. It’s an insider’s look at the Wood family and all of our craziness. I hope it brings a bit of laughter to the world.

Q: How long is it?

A: Currently, it contains 14 chapters and around 45,000 words.

Q: Will there be an audio version?

A: Thanks to feedback from many of you, yes, there will be an audio version. At the moment, I plan on narrating it myself as it seems that most of you audiobook listeners prefer to hear the author’s voice rather than the voice of a separate narrator. Don’t hate me if I opt for a smoother-voiced, more attractively-voiced, or James Earl Jones-ish-voiced narrator though.

Q: What happens if the publisher thinks your book is stupid and rejects you?

A: I’ll be sad. Then, I’ll remember that J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers. That will make me feel better. Then, I’ll realize that I equated my rejection with that of J.K. Rowling–one of the greatest authors of our generation–and I’ll have the following realization: that was a stupid comparison. Then, I’ll be sad again. Then, I’ll seek a lot more feedback. Then, I’ll revise, edit, and self-publish via Amazon.

Q: I’ve always wanted to read a book based on a Craiglist ad for a used van! Will you email me when it’s ready for purchase?

A: Of course! See below…

In all seriousness, thank you for following along on the incredibly random journey of our viral van. It’s been a fun ride thus far. If you haven’t already done so, please add your email to my email list below in order to be notified of future updates.

Thanks!

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