When the Story Is Finished, but the Book Is Not

There is a strange moment in the life of a book when the story itself is finished, but the work is not. Words are written. The editing is complete. And yet, the book still feels as though it is becoming—hanging somewhere between private labor and public life.

I find myself in that space now.

The manuscript for The Girl That Carried Home with Her has been edited and shaped, but the story is still being handled with care. I am pasting the text into its final format, thinking through layout and pacing, considering images that honor the time and place the story comes from. I am beginning the process of working with a cover designer—someone who can help translate history, faith, and longing into a single visual moment.

This part of a book is the quiet work that follows the writing.

Considering images that honor the time and place…takes time

Historical fiction requires a particular patience. The story may use imagined scenes and dialogue, but it relies on real lives, actual loss, and genuine hope. This book follows a Polish girl’s journey through war, faith, and a promise of America—drawing from my grandmother’s life and the long arc of immigration that shaped our family. Because of that, I feel a responsibility to move slowly and thoughtfully, even now.

Publishing is not just about releasing a book into the world. It is about making sure the story is ready to be received.

Right now, this book is in that in-between place—no longer just a manuscript, not yet a finished book. It is being held, reviewed, and refined. And while it would be easy to rush toward completion, I am choosing patience. Some stories ask for that.

In the near future, The Girl That Carried Home with Her will be ready to step out of this quiet season and into readers’ hands. Until then, I am grateful for the time to do this part of the work well—to honor the story, the history behind it, and the life of my grandmother, who first carried it forward.

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