I met Joanne Jamis Cain through Pittsburgh Women’s Mastermind, of which we are both members. She’s a wedding planner who specializes in handling the coordination of weddings exactly as the bride envisions her day. I’ve never been to a wedding handled by Joanne, but I’ve seen images, especially of the lovely barns that she transforms into magical venues for the happy couple, and they are certainly gorgeous.
Joanne is also the author of Ordinary is Extraordinary: Reframing my Life in Purpose and Gratitude, a book for those seeking peace and serenity in their lives. The book description says that “Through her stories of grace, love, and parking spaces, she tells us how reframing our experiences helps us recognize the blessings in our lives. Embracing a life of purpose and gratitude is a game changer.”
In her book, Joanne shares stories from her life that she hopes will inspire the reader to incorporate change in their own life. Parts of the stories share her experience in a twelve-step recovery program for families affected by addiction or alcoholism. By showing others what she does on a regular basis to emphasize the good things in her life, Joanne hopes readers “will incorporate some of that good stuff into their busy lives.”
In high school, Joanne got her first experience with writing as a member of the newspaper staff, though she decided not to make a career of journalism. Then, when she visited Greece eight years ago, she felt drawn to writing a book. “It was a recurring thought when I was on the island of Patmos, but it was years before I actually started on it.”
About four years later, Joanne took the first step. She began writing her blog, Katherine’s Daughter, which gave her a place to write short inspiring stories. “The blog is named after my mother, Katherine, who is a great source of inspiration in my life.” She hoped the blog would help her gain writing experience, as well as an audience for her book.
When I asked Joanne what the most challenging part of writing her book was, she said it was definitely just getting started. “I actually had a manuscript I was working on that was a compilation of my favorite blog posts. But I was dragging through it and was not motivated to finish it.” Two friends motivated her to get the book done, though. Tracy Eisenmann challenged her to finish her book in time for a women’s conference she had planned for April of 2016, and Joanne had a long talk with a blogger friend from Washington State who helped her decide to write 10,000 words in six weeks. Ordinary is Extraordinary was published in March of 2016, so she made her deadline!
Joanne worked with her blogger friend, who acted as her editor, and another member of our Mastermind group, Karen Captline, who created her cover and formatted the book for publication. The finished product was what Joanne enjoyed most about her writing journey—isn’t it just magical to see your book in print? “I love my book and the cover and was thrilled when I first looked at it. And I still am!” She self-published through Amazon’s Create Space.
Because I knew Joanne had a separate business along with her book, I was curious to see if there was a tie between the two, especially because they are so different. I absolutely love that there is actually a relationship. “When I started my events business, I felt it was grace that led me to the decision. Since I was a ‘grace and love’ blogger, it felt natural to name the business after my blog. Katherine’s Daughter Events is the culmination of my desire to have a deeper relationship with God and to be of service.”
Marketing for self-published authors is always tricky, but Joanne had a head start because she was already building her blog with that purpose in mind. “I think what worked best for me was having a loyal following through my blog and Facebook.” Of course, she included a story about her book launch on her blog, but she also shared in on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, and Stumble Upon. Allegheny West Magazine also did a wonderful story about Joanne and her book.
Joanne also donated copies of the book to her local library and talks to groups about her book. She said that she looks for groups to speak with, but some also approach her. Local magazines like we have in the Pittsburgh area, which focus on events and news from a specific township, are also a great way to get the word out about your work.
I asked Joanne what she would tell someone who wants to start writing. She said, “I believe in blogging. I love WordPress and when you utilize the right tags and categories plus have great photography, it is a wonderful way to stretch your writing chops and meet fellow writers. It is also a wonderful way to create a loyal following.”
Joanne plans to write another book this year.
For more information about Joanne and her book or blog, please visit Katherine’s Daughter. Catch up with Joanne on Facebook or Instagram or contact her to learn more. To purchase Ordinary is Extraordinary: Reframing my Life in Purpose and Gratitude, visit Amazon.