Happy Birthday to the Resilient Brain!
Wow. It’s hard to believe The Resilient Brain has been out in the world for an entire year.
The night I submitted my book pitch to Wise Ink, I had a vivid dream. In it, I held my book in my hands, and it was opened to the dedication page. (Yes, the dedication that is in The Resilient Brain is exactly what I
”saw” in that dream.)
While I don’t usually put too much stock in dreams as reality, I do believe that one came from my subconscious—a way of encouraging myself. No matter the outcome of my book pitch, I knew my story mattered. The world needed representation of this invisible injury. Whether Wise Ink accepted it or not, I was determined to find a way—or a publisher—to make it happen.
Thankfully, Wise Ink saw the drive and passion behind my idea of The Resilient Brain.
I could share all the exciting news we’ve accomplished this short year or tell you about the award the book just won (which is exciting and important—check out my Instagram for that!). But as I reflect on this past year, what means the most to me are the connections I’ve made and the stories I’ve heard—it doesn’t dawn on me how grateful I am hear how this book has helped those who’ve read it— because I first hand know the late night prayers, the tears, and the scramble trying to make sense of this often, unexpected injury. I’m grateful The Resilient Brain can give those, hope.
I knew ZERO about publishing when I started. I didn’t know what Amazon metadata was, how to market a book, how to create a reel on Instagram, or how to build a website. I had no idea how printing worked or the difference between RGB and CMYK coloring. I mean, I even once had a college professor tell me I needed to work on my semantics in my writing! Woof! (Shout out to great editors and proofreaders!)
But I brought what I did know—my background as an educator, my deep love of children’s books (and a collection that’s probably too big!), and our family’s personal experience—to create something the world so desperately needed. The rest of it? I dove head first into learning from the experts.
Was this experience totally out of my element?
1000%.
Would I do it again?
In a heartbeat.
Every decision and detail of The Resilient Brain was intentional— for the very readers who I knew this book would reach.
The bright colors? To bring light into a journey that can feel very dark.
The layout and font? Designed with those who experience vestibular dysfunction in mind, making it easier to read and follow along.
Accessible versions? Because everyone deserves access, no matter their disability.
P.S. Did you know that The Resilient Brain is fully accessible? Be sure to check out how to access the various options here.
The storyline? I knew I wanted this book to be non-fiction—because, as the saying goes, “If you’ve met one person with a brain injury, you’ve met one person with a brain injury.” I wanted this book to speak to anyone who was navigating this injury, not just one character.
The illustrations? Honor and hold space to our family’s journey through one of the hardest chapters of our lives.
As the incredible Brené Brown once said:
“One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will become someone else’s survival guide.”
That’s exactly what I hope The Resilient Brain can be—for anyone who needs it.
Thank you for all the love and support as we celebrate one year of bringing visibility to this invisible injury, especially to the incredible team behind the scenes to make this dream, a reality.
Cheers to a great year, and many more ahead.
