Atomic Habits by James Clear
Atomic Habits is a remarkable success of a book, a New York Times bestseller with over 10 million copies sold, and a perennial mainstay on the Amazon Charts.
James’s story is fascinating, and he shares some in the book. His 3-2-1 newsletter is also immensely popular.
I worked on an early draft of Atomic Habits to help whittle his 120,000+ words to something more digestible. That said, James was already a clear writer (no apologies for puns) who’d put in a decade of writing before this book.
All nonfiction writers, watch this: How to deconstruct bestsellers with James Clear .
The Father Effect John Finch with Blake Atwood
John Finch’s life story is equally tragic and inspiring.
He lost his father to suicide when John was only eleven, then spent his young adult years chasing after an emptiness that could never be filled: a father-shaped hole in his heart.
When he eventually became a father to three daughters, John realized something deep within had to change. Though a businessman by trade, God led him to create the documentary The Father Effect, which eventually led to this book, published by FaithWords.
The Gospel According to Breaking Bad Blake Atwood
The incongruity of the title isn’t lost on me. Breaking Bad is a violent show. There’s cursing and blood and evil.
But when I read this quote from showrunner Vince Gilligan, I considered how this critically acclaimed show might reveal the gospel in contrast: “I want to believe there’s a heaven. But I can’t not believe there’s a hell.”
Consequently, the book takes a thoroughly Christian look at the show, delving into weighty theological issues such as identity, death, justice, power, fate, free will, and the gospel itself.
And yes, this book is for fans as spoilers abound.
Sins of the Five Fathers James H. Drury with Blake Atwood
This description deserves its own lengthy article for its meaning to me.
The short version: James H. Drury is my late uncle, a pastor and author who passed away too soon.
It was my honor and privilege to edit and posthumously release this book on his behalf.
If you like the Longmire series, you should like this book.
And what’s even more bittersweet is that Sins has been well received—and it was the first of a planned series.
Don’t Fear the Reaper: Why Every Author Needs an Editor Blake Atwood
Released in 2015, I wrote this to help my clients and garner new ones. I answer general questions about working with an editor:
- Should I hire an editor?
- How much will editing cost?
- What kind of editor do I need?
But my favorite chapter is the encouraging one: Unveiling Validation’s Hiding Place: How to Defeat Every Writer’s Nightmare.”
The following works are not listed in any particular order. I had the honor and privilege to help each of these authors hone their books before their public debuts, either through developmental editing, copyediting, or co-writing.
And I’m proud to see that so many have been well-reviewed.