It's my birthday so you have to open this

those are the rules!

Hi everyone! It’s my birthday! Astute weekly readers also know that next week on Thursday is my book’s birthday. What a week of celebration!

Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash

Coming up on my book’s anniversary, I’ve set some goals to help celebrate and to continue spreading the word. The goals are big but attainable, and there’s a new one this week. Here’s where we’re at:

✓ 100 ratings/reviews on Amazon (first week’s goal) - WE DID IT! Thank you!

• 2000 followers on Instagram (last week’s goal) - Update: 1,467!

• 1000 subscribers to Substack (this week’s goal!)

• 1200 followers on Facebook (coming soon)

• Social media frenzy on August 9

As you can see, things are moving thanks to you all!

And since it’s my birthday, I’m taking the week off of writing a new piece for you all. Hope that’s okay. Instead, below are my “greatest hits” posts from the last two months.

Could you do me a favor? A birthday gift, if you will? Pick one that you especially resonated with and share it somewhere. Maybe just with a friend through text or email, maybe on a social media feed or group or Discord. Encourage people to subscribe.

As many of us chronically-online people are mourning the demise of Twitter, it’s a reminder that newsletters are so important. I’m able to keep this email list even if the platform goes away or turns evil or whatever. So the best way to keep people connected to my work is here, and the best way to get the word out is with you!

Thanks for everything, as always :)

God sings a love song over you

a sermon on houses and homes, and a few updates!

The poor will always be with you?

Why Spider-Man should go to therapy

Good Soil?