The Cost—and Value—of Writing (Plus a Giveaway for I AM CUBA)

In my most recent newsletter to my website followers, I reflected on how my reading life often splits into two modes: reading for pleasure and reading as research. My shelves are full of books I return to again and again, not just for stories, but for craft, for inspiration, and for the questions they help me answer.

One reader replied and recommended Walking on Alligators, a book of meditations for writers. Naturally, I ordered it right away. Now it sits beside my bed and I read one page in the morning, one at night.

Today’s reading hit me hard. It began:

“Anything of value is going to cost you something. This is a confining and uncomfortable thought.”

It is. Because writing has cost me. Time with friends. Family. Rest. Sometimes certainty. I’ve asked myself if the time I spend writing is time lost or time invested in something greater.

The meditation ended with this:

“Today, I’ll recognize that writing is something of value. It will cost me something."

But what is that something, and what is the value? Is the value that I’m writing something worth reading, makes the world a better place, is it selling?

It left me thinking, maybe the value isn’t always measurable. Sometimes, it’s simply reaching one reader who needed my story. Sometimes, it's the act of choosing to keep telling the truth on the page.

That’s why I’m offering 50 free ebooks of my novel I AM CUBA right now, through a Goodreads Giveaway.

This book cost me something to write. Time, emotional investment, and deep research. But it gave me so much in return. And now, I want to share it with readers who are curious, thoughtful, and open to stories that challenge and connect.

🔹 Enter the giveaway here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
🔹 Add I AM CUBA to your shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Adding it to your 'Want to Read' shelf not only helps others discover the book, but it also tells Goodreads that this is a story that matters to readers like you.

If a story has ever cost you something, but was still worth it, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.