Michelle Rayburn

Oh, and bonus info: Did you know that if you’re published in a compilation like Chicken Soup for the Soul you can also add that to your Author Central?

If you’re an author, have you set up and maximized your Author Central? Even if you published traditionally, you can claim your books. I walked through some tips in my latest video tutorial on Indie Author Blueprint.

indieauthorblueprint.substack.com/p/amazon-aut...

SATIRE - regrettable. TikTok video by Red Said

Someone thought it would be funny to create a “satirical” piece, lying about getting paid to attend a Hands Off protest. Not funny at all. Now she regrets it. This isn’t the time to chase clicks. It’s a time to speak truth to a crowd that is hungry for lies.

www.tiktok.com/t/ZTj1QMHAG/

Oh, I see. If you have money nothing matters? Our borders are for sale? What about just plain compassion for the millions of people who keep our economy running with their low-income work? Those who pay taxes and will never reap SS benefits, but who sought safety and asylum on our shores.

Thinking of publishing a book on your own? I've been there! #authorcommunity indieauthorblueprint.substack.com

I've been so afraid of curating an echo chamber on other social profiles that I've not unfriended people who regularly post falsehoods and refuse reasonable discussions. But loving and connecting with people who disagree vs. people who outright deny the truth and gaslight others are not the same.

What the data says about U.S. foreign aid The $71.9 billion in foreign aid that the government spent in fiscal year 2023 works out to 1.2% of that year’s total federal spending.

What percentage of the Federal budget goes to foreign aid? Make a guess. Then survey the people around you. You can see how close you are in this article.

www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...

Relation-Tips for Your Midlife Classic Marriage I dug into the archives to find an early episode from 2018 to see if I still agreed with myself. My midlife retrospective.

I decided to revisit some audio recordings from the Midlife Repurposed podcast when my husband and I celebrated 28 years of marriage. Fast forward seven years, and we've been married for 35 years! Join me as I reflect on what I shared back then and see how my views have evolved over time.

He Doesn’t Buy Me Gifts Anymore And I'm perfectly fine with that.

We don't buy gifts for each other for Valentine's Day or other occasions. And I'm really okay with that.

#ValentinesDay
#marriage
#classicmarriage

Elevate and Refine Your Book Back Cover Blurb This is prime marketing real estate. Don't sell it short!

The little blurb on the back of your book has a big job to do. It’s what convinces readers to pick it up, flip through, and, hopefully, buy it. The back cover of a book is NOT a letter to the reader with a “why I wrote this book” note. It’s marketing copy. #indieauthors #indiepublishing #writers

Thank you! I haven't read that one, but it's an honor to be compared with one of the greats.

He sent out a survey today and didn't bother to spell the name of the country of Colombia correctly (not to mention quoting the Daily Wire with false information).

Nothing to Say Lament is holy work too, so I’m just going to sit here in this space for a bit.

If you’ve felt stuck, weighed down, or at odds with something you used to feel at home in, you’re not alone. Lament is holy work too, so I’m just going to sit here in this space for a bit. Join me? #deconstruction
michellerayburn.substack.com/p/nothing-to...

Thank you! A little gift God gave.

I live in a home that used to be a little country church with an attached parsonage. We call the old sanctuary part "the chapel." Your photos remind me of my house.

One Delivery Gone Wrong, Another Perfectly Right A Christmas Reflection

I got FedUp about delivery mistakes, became a customer service representative and logistics coordinator for a nationwide delivery company—just for a day—and found a spiritual lesson in it all. I'm weird like that.

As a woman only 2 years younger than Pamela Anderson, I'm kind of mesmerized by her juxtaposition of preciousness and audacity. It's sad she wasn't expected to enjoy books or thinking or deep and thoughtful films—she was objectified in unfair ways. #midlife
www.criterion.com/shop/collect...?

Jennifer published her book with a self-publishing company that made big promises but didn’t deliver. For book two, we rebranded and gave book one a refreshed cover. It's never too late to try a new cover for your indie book! #indieauthors
indieauthorblueprint.substack.com/p/book-cover...

If your Bible study group needs a new book to start off the new year, I'd be honored to have you consider one of these! www.michellerayburn.com/remade

Hygge: Cultivating Connection, Comfort, and Joy Practical ways to bring peace and warmth into everyday moments

I just want pillows, fuzzy blankets, peaceful lights, and a cup of mocha. And I long for deep connections with people that are rooted in love and absent of assumptions and shoulds and political tones. Just loving connections and appreciation for how our humanness ties us together. #hygge

#introduction
I strive to embrace the beautiful chaos of everyday life and am determined to repurpose every last thing—from broken yard sale treasures to life’s challenges. I'm an #author and #podcaster who works in the publishing space (editor, cover designer, etc.). #midlife #writer

Your turn! ⬇️

Small Towns Have a Harmony All Their Own Reflections of the music of neighborly stories and the history of togetherness.

A small town is like a song everyone knows by heart—familiar, catchy, and shared by generations. Those who grew up there can sing every word without thinking, each note carrying memories of laughter, struggles, and traditions passed down over time.

What do you love about your small community?

Book Cover Makeover: Part 1–Nonfiction I asked for special permission from two clients to show how their covers got an update.

You’ve done it—you’ve published your book, poured your heart into the story, and eagerly waited to see it come to life on the shelves. But as soon as the first copies arrived, you realized the cover was completely off.

There's still hope! #indieauthors #writingcommunity