The Brave Art of Motherhood – Interview with Rachel Martin {And a Giveaway}

11

Years ago, I attended a blogging conference and one of the presenters was Rachel Martin. I had followed her blog, Finding Joy, for years. You’ve probably read her posts. She has a beautiful, vulnerable way of writing about motherhood that resonates with many.

With over 275K facebook followers, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I met her in person, but I can tell you firsthand. Rachel is warm and caring. She is a fighter for those who need encouragement and hope. What you see is what you get with her – a rare attribute in this digital world where we can create any persona we want.  

When I heard she wrote a book, I couldn’t wait to hear about it! 

Q: When did you come up with the idea to write your book?

I’ve been writing my website Finding Joy for over ten years and one of the most common questions I would receive was regarding if I had a book. My readers had seen me go through tremendous life challenges – divorce, dealing with finances, starting a successful business – and wanted to learn the steps to finding joy, happiness and purpose again. At a certain point you either look at opportunity and run after it or you ignore it. Clearly, I chose to follow opportunity and from that The Brave Art of Motherhood was born.  

Q: How hard was it to write a book like this and do you have any tips that you could pass on which would make the journey easier for other writers?

Writing a book is exhilarating and challenging, wonderful and crushing, easy and difficult, freeing and painful and in the end one of the most rewarding accomplishments. I would tell other writers to check your ego at the door and to allow others to help, critique and give suggestions. But, despite checking the ego, I would also emphasize to be strong in your convictions, to protect your voice and to keep your writing true to who you are and your audience knows.

Q: Who is your publisher and how did you find them or did you self-publish?

My book is published by Waterbrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House. I self-published the Dear Mom Letters books previous to this, but I didn’t want to pass up on this opportunity.

Q: Is there anything that surprised you about getting your first book published?

That I could, at any time, have 65k words floating around in my head for nine months.

Q: What other books are you working on and when will they be published?

None at the moment. When the opportunity arrives, then just like this time, I’ll decided if it’s time to write again. Being a blogger however means I write all the time so FindingJoy.net will always have new stuff.

Q: What’s one fact about your book that would surprise people?

That it’s not just a motivational story, but also the how to making dramatic life changes.

Q: Finally, what message are you trying to get across with your book?

Your heart matters and it’s easy to forget yourself in the middle of motherhood and think that “I’ll take care of myself” tomorrow. But life is short and there is no greater gift to yourself, your family and your friends when you are brave and fight for your heart, purpose and happiness again.

Q: What advice would you give now to young mothers?

Listen. For far too long I put my heart on hold during motherhood. That’s the other advice I would give my twenty year old self. I’d tell her that she is worth fighting for her heart, her passions, her breath throughout motherhood. Because it is very easy to tell ourselves to wait until the kids are grown. But when we wait, we teach our kids to wait too. So about seven years ago I decided to start fighting for my heart, to fix the areas in my life that were broken and to live a life of purpose and vibrancy.

Rachel would love to send a copy of her new book, The Brave Art of Motherhood, to one of you! 

Just leave a comment below!

Thank you to Rachel Martin for sponsoring this post.

11 COMMENTS

  1. I’m twenty-seven years old with two beautiful, charismatic daughters and beginning my journey into college. I’m an avid reader and writer so I’d love to read her story!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here