Linda A. Janssen is a dynamic women I respect as a writer. Linda has many ongoing projects the latest being Turning Points, launched this week, which she writes about below. Having read the book and already written one review I can recommend it as an inspiring book for anyone.

So, without further ado and a huge drumroll, please welcome Linda Janssen to Wordgeyser

Facing Fears

by Linda A. Janssen

Thanks so much to Wordgeyser for hosting this stop on my ‘virtual book tour’. I’m visiting  a dozen great blogs to share a little about the writing journey that has led to the publication of my first book.

It’s hard to believe that the day has come and gone, but the book I contributed to, Turning Points: 25 Inspiring Stories From Women Entrepreneurs Who Have Turned Their Careers and Their Lives Around, has launched.

It’s an uplifting collection of personal essays in which women from all around the world, living different lives and working in various fields, reach a pivotal moment or series of events that triggers the realization that life as they know it simply must change. Each woman shares her journey, what her personal turning point was, how she responded, what resources helped her institute change(s), and ultimately the lessons learned along the way.

Kate Cobb, a women’s business and executive coach (www.movingforwardyourway.com) and Brit now living in France, is our courageous editor. Our fearless publisher is the savvy Jo Parfitt (www.joparfitt.com) who runs Summertime Publishing.

I must confess that I continue to find the whole episode an interesting mixture of overwhelming, exhausting, humbling and just plain fun! The response has been amazing, with great support from so many.

At the head of the line has been my dear friend and wonderful writer Wordgeyser. I’m not surprised as she’s always been a fabulous source of support, inspiration and writing camaraderie. So when I started planning this blog tour, I knew exactly what I wanted to write here. In fact, she touched on it herself in this recent post Silver Linings: Two Sides to Every Coin 

Writing about the mixture of fear and excitement that goes along with becoming involved in something new and big and different, Wordgeyser wrote these sage words about why we decide to swallow our hesitations and jump in:

‘Because being brave enough to put yourelf out there, accepting you might fail and still doing it, takes far more guts than doing nothing at all. Trying something new, stretching yourself and failing is of more value than not trying at all.’

These words speak volumes to me. So much so that they are written on a little yellow Post-It note stuck to my laptop, there to inspire and encourage me each time I touch the keyboard.

I love writing. It gives me great pleasure. It drives me to destraction, yet I am driven to write.

But I’ll be completely candid: sometimes putting my thoughts, feelings and emotions on the written page is scary. It’s opening myself up to inspection, review and criticism. I have no idea if others will find something in my writing that they value, whether the words will resonate, or if anyone will even care. I certainly wrestled with these demons and more as I wrote my chapter for Turning Points.

Writers are similar in this regard. When it comes to baring our souls, Wordgeyser and I are kindred spirits. How do I know?

Because this is the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that was already sticking to my laptop when I read Wordgeyser’s post on fear:

‘You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.’

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If you’d like to find out more about our book, please take a look at the website         www.theturningpointsbook.com, or follow along on Facebook’s The Turning Points Book page or on Twitter @Turning_Points. A portion of all sales will benefit www.seedsfordevelopment.org.