David Ramos's Blog, page 17

2016 Report: Books Sold, Lessons Learned, Future Projects

Despite all the negative media, 2016 was a fantastic year for many people. Me included! I married my best-friend, graduated from seminary, and began to seriously concentrate on my writing. While I am still very much as the beginning stages of my journey, I know that I have grown by leaps and bounds this year.

Writing and teaching is my calling. I’m convinced of that. I feel most alive when I am doing those activities, and numerous people this year have reached out to tell me how God has used my work to help them. This is what I want to do with my life: help people reach a deeper knowledge and love for God through learning and loving Scripture.

One thing I haven’t talked about much on here is my entrepreneurial spirit. I want to write and teach full time. I honestly believe that is what God has called me to do, and that is the goal I am working towards through every book I write, church I speak at, and sacrifice I make. 2017 represents a host of opportunities. It will be the first year I have not been in school in my entire life. It’s the first year I will be invited to parties as Mr. and Mrs. Ramos. And it’s the first year I get to devote as much of myself as possible to pursuing the purpose God has for me.

I want to ask for two things. First, that you would pray for me (write it down so you’ll remember!). Pray that I would seek God first, that I would work as though I am working for the One True King, and that God would open the right doors. Second, join me on this journey. Whether that means joining the email list below, liking my Facebook page, or following some of the new projects. I want to share this adventure with others, to show fellow believers what a purpose-pursuit actually looks like, and why living anything less than your calling is just not an option.

 

Below are three sections. First, I will go into a little detail about how many books I sold in 2016. Second, I want to share some lessons I learned – mainly related to being an authors. Third, I want to share the inkling of a few projects I want to pursue this year. 

Books Sold

I started publishing back in 2013 (seems like a lifetime ago). I had a series of devotionals along with a few other random works, mostly business and lifestyle related. I didn’t really know what I was doing, and the books didn’t quite “feel” like me. I decided to take them down and rethink what I wanted to put out into the world.

In 2015, as I entered my final stages of seminary, I found that thing: the Old Testament. I wanted to communicate it better. I wanted Christians to not be afraid of it, to not avoid it simply because it was big and confusing. So I dove in and what came out was what I consider my first “real” book: Climbing with Abraham. Since then, I’ve published a total of 12 books: 6 devotional, 6 standalone, plus a boxset. I am immensely proud of these and they have been very positively received (even if they haven’t flown off the shelves).

I started tracking my book statistics in October of 2015. Every month I calculate total number of free downloads, paid downloads, and print sales. These numbers come from reports from Amazon, Smashwords (which distributes to all other major retailers), and Createspace (for print books). I struggled with whether or not to share these actual numbers, but I think it’s important for others to see. Afterwards, I’ll explain them a little.

 

2015 TotalsDigital Free: 611Digital Paid: 47Print Paid: 56

 

2016 TotalsDigital Free: 56085Digital Paid: 670Print Paid: 345

 

This year I focused on getting my books into the hands of as many readers as possible – mainly through free downloads. I am amazed by that number. However, I am hopeful that over time many of those free downloads will translate into more paid ones.  

Lessons Learned The kind of books you write, not just how good they are, matters.

One lesson I had to learn the hard way is that devotionals, no matter how good they are, do not provide the income of other genres. As I said above, I have over 12 books now, but I am making what other authors make with only 2 or 3 books.

My goal this year is to be more strategic about what kinds of books I write. I want to teach the things God has put on my heart, but I want to do so in a way that reaches as many people as possible while also getting me closer to doing this full time.

 Relationships are the foundation of success.

I have had the privilege of meeting some amazing authors this year. Many of them are Christians, and because of that, we are able to share insights, encouragement, as well as help one another.

On top of relationships with other authors, the connections I have with other pastors, friends, and my wife are invaluable. I am constantly being encouraged and directed by their wisdom. Do yourself a favor, and seek out Godly relationships because life is only a shell of what could be without them.

 Entrepreneurs need to diversify their income.

I love to write, but I will be stretching myself in new ways this year. In order to reach the financial level that would enable me to do this full time, I would need to sell at least 30,000 books a year. While this is completely within the realm of possibility, there are other avenues which could be more fruitful.

Ecclesiastes 11:2 says, “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.”

I plan for writing to be only one of several “ventures” I pursue. There is wisdom in developing multiple streams of income. That way, no matter what strange changes or storms come – I will still be able to provide for my family and serve God as He calls me. 

Future Projects

 

Testament Heroes Podcast

The first project that you should look out for is a new podcast I will be creating. If you have ever wanted an audio version of my devotionals, you’re in luck. In 2017, I will be bringing the 6 books of the Testament Heroes series to a daily podcast. I am still working out all the technical aspects, but I expect the project to launch sometimes around February.

 

More Books

I will be publishing less books than I did in 2016, but I cannot tell you how excited I am to get these started! Right now, I have 5 books planned for 2017. The topics were chosen from a survey I sent out to my subscribers. Thank you again if you were a part of it – I think you’ll be very happy with what is in the works.

 

Major project – FaithSpring

After I finish a book, I always feel like there is more to say. In order to craft a book that makes sense, an author has to be very deliberate about what they include and what they leave out. This struggle has been on my heart for a while, and I keep coming back to the idea that if I had more time with the subject – through video lessons, courses, etc. – I would be able to deliver even more value.

FaithSpring will be that avenue in 2017. I don’t know what it will look like right now. But I know it will include some sort of video lessons where I am able to dive even deeper into a subject, and offer you more treasure from Scripture! If you want to know more about this project in particular, then definitely get on the email list below.

 

 

Thank you for reaching the end of this report. I am immensely grateful for last year, and profoundly hopeful for this one. I hope you will join me on this journey. But more importantly, I hope, in some way, this encourages you to pursue your own purpose and calling. There is a reason you are who you are, and enjoy what you enjoy. Our God is a God of purpose, and He is ready to take your life to places you never imagined. May 2017 be the year we answer His call!

9 Things That Helped My Christian Walk in 2016

#1 This video on prayer by John Piper.

Like most Christians, I struggle to make deep prayer a consistent part of my life. This short video always drives me to pray more because it reminds me of how much prayer matters. God is beckoning us to work alongside Him in this world, and one of the most powerful ways we can do this is through prayer.

 

#2 Harold Kushner’s book on Job.

The Book of Job: When Bad Things Happened to a Good Person (Jewish Encounters) - Kushner, Harold S.

This is a book every Christian must read. It’s written by a Jewish rabbi, but his understanding of God’s character and human suffering is absolutely beautiful. His book helped me trust God again after a season of suffering.

 

#3 Jon Jorgenson’s YouTube channel.

Jon is a spoken word artist and YouTuber who I discovered this year. His videos bring in a young audience and offer them Biblical truth as well as an inside look into his newly married life. It’s refreshing to see good influences like his on social media.

 

#4 Skinner’s Book on Acts

Intrusive God, Disruptive Gospel: Encountering the Divine in the Book of Acts - Skinner, Matthew L.

I am mostly an Old Testament guy, but I love all of Scripture. So when this book was recommended by one of my professors, I knew I would learn a lot – but I had no idea it would completely change the way I read Luke’s writings. If you want a deeper look into the Gospels, I highly recommend this read.

 

#5 Marrying my amazing wife.

Now, this is actually #1 on this list but I’ve talked about Brea a lot haha! Marriage teaches you more about God’s love than any theology book could. I’m so grateful for her and so thankful that God brought her into my life.

 

#6 The Gospel Driven Entrepreneur Podcast.

One of my goals within the next 5 years is to be fully self-employed. That’s a big goal in itself, but I also want to make sure I am honoring God in this pursuit. GDE has been an excellent resource for me and other Christian entrepreneurs. The host address both spiritual and practical hurdles, while interviewing people who have successfully made their transition into entrepreneurship.

 

#7 The Bible Project’s video on Job.

Job is one of my favorite books in the Bible. When I heard the TBP was planning on making a full animated video on it, I was both excited and nervous. Job holds such an important message for Christians – I just wanted the video to do the book justice. As always, TBP did an amazing job.

 

#8 Greenwood’s book on Science and the Bible.

Scripture and Cosmology: Reading the Bible Between the Ancient World and Modern Science - Greenwood, Kyle

I love science. I truly hope I get the chance to ride on a space ship before I pass on. But anyone in the Christian community knows that there is tension between religion and science. We believe the Bible because it is God’s Word. So how do we reconcile that with science – which, when it is done right, is just careful observation of God’s creation? Greenwood offers immense help towards bridging the gap.

 

#9 Writing more books.

For me, writing is one of the richest times I get to spend with God. As I’ve said before – sometimes the only way God can get me to listen is to have me to write out the message He needs me to hear. By His grace, I published 5+ books in 2016. Each one taught me more about God and each one has been able to help fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in some way.

 

2016 was an incredible, tumultuous, memorable year. I am grateful for it. Now, I am looking forward to 2017 and will be working hard to make it the best year yet!

What To Do When You Feel "Off Course" From God's Plan

This October my wife and I had the pleasure of going on our honeymoon in Aruba. For those of you who have never been – Aruba is idyllic, friendly, and nothing short being a little slice of heaven on Earth. Below are a few pictures from our trip.

What I want to share with you today is an idea that climbed into my mind during the trip and hasn’t let go since we’ve been back.

My wife and I were way overdue for a vacation. It had been a crazy last couple of years with family changes, switching jobs multiple times, and finishing our degrees. We prayed and planned as thoroughly as we could and placed the trip in God’s hands. It was rejuvenating: physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. There is something to be said for taking time to really let yourself disconnect from the world and reconnect with just your own thoughts and God’s truths.

During the trip we put on our adventurous hats and tried a few excursions. We saw 130+ feet underneath the ocean inside a submarine. An amazing jeep driver took us through the mountains of Aruba and down to a secluded natural pool. And my wife showed off her snorkeling skills (while also helping me not fail completely at it!). 

However, the idea that stuck with me began before we ever set foot upon that beautiful island. We live in Ohio, which means 9 times out of 10 we need a connecting flight to get to where we want to go. In order to get to Aruba, we had to fly to New York first. And on the way back, we stopped in Atlanta. In order to get to our desired destination we had to go somewhere else first. Somewhere that could be considered “off course” if we didn’t know the stop was necessary.

While this idea with the connecting flights was playing around in my head, a friend sent me a Tedx talk by Victoria Labalme called Risk Forward. The whole idea behind her talk was that you never really know where the journey of life is going to take you. All you can do is take the next step that is right in front of you. Because it could be that place or idea which takes you to the place you actually need to be or the idea you really need to be pursuing. In other words, all of life is a series of connecting flights. The problem is, we only look for non-stop ones.

Our time in Aruba allowed my wife and I to be grateful for so many things that God has done in our lives over the last few years. But it also enabled us to step back and take a serious look at where we are now. There are things we want to see happen, prayers we are hoping God will answer, and challenges we are struggling to overcome. This trip helped us realize that next steps probably aren’t going to be everything we want them to be. But what they will certainly be are connecting flights to options we aren’t even aware of yet.

I don’t know if you are frustrated with the place God has you at now. Maybe you’re exactly where you want to be, maybe not. For those of you who feel like you’re “off course” let me assure you, you’re not. This is the journey that leads to your journey. This is the chapter that leads to the rest of your story. You’re not lost, you’re just in the process of catching your connecting flight.

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. – Psalm 138:8

 

The One Piece Of Advice That Changed The Way I Live

One of my favorite podcasts right now is called Strangers. On this show, the host enters into the lives of completely ordinary people and always finds some extraordinary story to share. The show is an emotional journey week to week, evoking everything from tears to anger to laughter. As a whole, the show is a beautiful reminder that we are all more alike than we are different.

On a special edition episode, the host had listeners share one piece of advice that had a profound impact upon their life. Of the maybe dozen pieces of advice, there was one in particular which stood out. One piece of advice which really hit me in between the eyes, and one I believe you will benefit from as well.

This advice came from a young woman in her early 30s. She was a military wife and because of her husband’s position in the army they had to pick up and move every 12 to 18 months. This woman grew up in a small town. She was used to familiarity and routine. She craved the comfort that can only come from having “deep roots.” Before long, the constant moving caused her to fall into a depression. She felt like her life was always on hold because it was always changing. In her mind, she couldn’t be truly happy until the continual moving ended and she was where she was supposed to be.

During this depression, she met an older woman who had also spent the earlier part of her life jumping from one place to another. They connected over their similar fates and the younger woman began to pour out all of her frustrations and sadness over the situation. The older woman understood her pain, probably better than anyone else ever could. Finally, the younger woman ended with a question, what should I do?

The stranger who had become a friend answered, Bloom where you’re planted.

To bloom where you’re planted means to make the most of where you are right now.

I have always had a difficult time with this concept. When I was in school, I dreamed of being in college and invested all of my time and energy towards getting there. When I was in college, my mind looked forward to life in the real world, and so once again I sacrificed enjoying the present in order to plan the perfect future. Fast forward to today, I am finished with college and seminary, I have a full time job and a beautiful wife, and yet still I find myself struggling to enjoy the present – to make the most of where I am right now – because I have made it a habit of “living” in the future.

I justify it with phrases like I’ll feel better when we’ve hit this milestone, or I’ve crossed off this goal, or I’m making this much money. I tie my happiness to things beyond me. I chain my worth to an ever moving target and am genuinely shocked when I realize that even after achieving one of those goals, I look up only to see that the target has moved once again.

And I don’t believe I’m the only one who feels like this.

Are you someone who is always looking forward to what’s next at the cost of enjoying what’s right in front of you? Have you put your happiness or self-worth on hold until you reach that thing you’ve been working towards for so long?

I want to share the same advice that older woman shared above: bloom where you’re planted.

I think the best example of this in Scripture is the character Joseph. Joseph literally had a God-given dream. He knew he was meant for great things. He believed his life had purpose and value and yet he could have never guessed the wild path it would take.

Joseph went from almost being killed by his brothers to working as a slave. From there his situation only got worse as he was falsely accused and thrown in jail – not for a few days – but for years. Joseph had every right to “live” in the future. He could have complained over the horrific cards he had been dealt and grew bitter as he waited for God to show up and miraculously change his situation.

But he didn’t. Instead, Joseph chose to bloom where he was planted. As a slave, he became the most trustworthy servant in the house. As a prisoner, he became the most respectful and reliable inmate. Finally, as the right hand man to the Pharaoh he did not use his new found power to seek revenge, but instead became the best adviser he could be and a beacon of forgiveness to his family.

I wonder if Joseph ever would have gotten to where he was supposed to be if he hadn’t bloomed in all those places along the way.

I wonder if we can truly fulfill the call God has placed on our lives if we are not making the most of where we are right now.

I think the answer is no. More than that, I think it may be impossible to get there if we neglect the here and now. So bloom. Live as though you are exactly where you need to be, working the job you need to do, loving the people in your path. Because in reality there is no perfect then, only a beautiful now.

 

Fall 2016 Updates: New Book Covers, A Wedding, and More

2016 has been an amazing year. God has blessed me with so many good things and I just wanted to take a few minutes to acknowledge them, to say thank you, and to share with you all what is to come.

 

New Books

Between the fall of 2015 and the fall of 2016, I had the opportunity to write and release 5 books. It has always been a dream of mine to become a writer, but now that dream feels real. For the first time in my life it feels like I am using my gift in a way that is truly reaching people and changing lives.

Most of these books have been part of the Testament Heroes series. These are short devotionals based around the lives of Old Testament characters. On paper, I have at least 14 of these books planned. The goal is to out at least 1 more before the end of this year (on a very influential woman from the Bible). And then release 3-4 more in 2017. So far the response has been great. Readers are loving the series, and almost everyone has said they learned something new about each character (which was one of my goals!).

Some of you have noticed that these books recently underwent a major makeover. If you haven’t seen the new look, here are the first three books in the series both in their old and new covers.

I wanted to make these books not only informative, but also attractive. I don’t want there to be any hindrances for keeping readers from diving deeper into God’s Word. These new covers have opened up a lot of new opportunities (such as a Bookbub promotion). But mostly, I am grateful that more Christians are going to experience the beauty of God’s Word through my work.

 

New Season in Life

I’ve had on my bio for over a year now that I was engaged to be married to Brea Ramos. Well, the day finally came on September 4, 2016. It was an amazing day. I was overwhelmed by the support and love we felt in that room (so yes, I teared up a few times). My wife is an incredible, beautiful gift from God and I hope to honor her as best I can.

Here are a few sneak peek pictures from our day.

I don’t think I’ll be writing any marriage books soon, but maybe in a few years – after I have a few lessons under my belt – I can share those all with you.

PS: If you’re married, I’d love to hear any advice on how to make your first year of marriage a great one! Just leave me a note in the comments below.

 

 New Book Coming Soon

With the wedding, craziness at work, and a host of other semi-major life events I’ve fallen way behind in my writing schedule. More than that, writing is also part of my devotional time so I have struggled to connect with God, even in the midst of so many amazing things happening.

Thankfully, this week I’ve been able to get back into a rhythm and the new book should be out by the end of October. This is one I’ve wanted to put out since day one, but I knew I needed to develop my own skills as a writer and as a student of the Bible before I could.

There’s no official cover yet, but I can give you all a preview of the title!

I am very proud of how this book is turning out. It’s written for people who struggle with making the Bible a part of their daily lives. In it, I pour out tons of tips and insights I have gathered over the years from people much wiser than myself. The Bible Habit acts as a sort of guide that first walks you through different habits or strategies you could implement to make your time in the Word more effective, and second offers you a plan on how to put all the parts together in a way that suits you best. I’ve improved my own devotional and study time just in the few weeks I have spent writing the book, so I cannot wait to share it with you!

 

Windup

If you’re still here, thank you for reading my fall updates! I’m excited to see what God will do with my writing and in my marriage over the next year. This life is absolutely a gift. Let us be thankful for it.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. – Psalm 136:1