This week I talked with Communications professor Dr. Heather Thompson Day about her new book “I'll See You Tomorrow: Building Relational Resilience When You Want to Quit,” co-authored with her husband Mr. Seth Day, to learn about the process of writing a book, what they hope people get from it, and the core ideas they aim to share.
What was your inspiration for writing this book?
I was watching “The Last Dance,” the Michael Jordan documentary series. There's this scene where it's before the Bulls became the Bulls, and they're facing off. They finally make it to the playoffs for the first time; they face off against the Orlando Magic and they lose. That's the end of the season. Everybody has their team talk and they get dismissed, and everybody's about to go home. Michael Jordan's trainer Tim Grover turns to Michael and says, “Hey, Mike, just let me know when I'll see you.” And Michael says, “Well, I'll see you tomorrow.” It was this really beautiful moment in the documentary where you realize the reason Michael Jordan is Michael Jordan is because when everybody else gave up, he always went back to the gym. He didn't see it as a singular game, but a perpetual season you can keep going in. I thought that was a great anthem that we all need in our lives.
What core ideas do you want people to learn from your book?
I have a fear that we are raising an entire generation to have a really good understanding of boundaries and knowing when to leave. But I think we should also raise a generation that knows how to stay. I see this book as including both aspects in that dynamic and conversation. Something else I think is important is recognizing that we are all exhausted for various reasons. It’s not necessarily that you don't want friendships or that you don't value relationships; at the end of the day, we’re just exhausted. I hope what people realize as they read the book is that choosing to embark on a relationship despite being tired from school, tired from work, etc. is the antidote to your tiredness. I have research that backs that up. The very thing you don't want is actually the thing you need to have energy again for your life.
Could you describe the process of writing a book?
For a traditional publisher, you write a proposal which is like a marketing pitch: who this book is for, and why you're writing it. You give a little synopsis about what the book is about and who the target market is. Then you'll do a paragraph for every chapter that you think is going to be in the book and then you'll give a sample chapter one…After that, you get a book deal with a publisher, and then they sit with you with an editorial team that says things like, “We like this, we don't like this, we think the book needs to have these elements. Make sure you add a chapter about this, etc.” Then you start turning in drafts based on those recommendations.
How has your religious background influenced your journey as an author?
I made the decision a long time ago when I was 22 years old when I said, “Lord, if you open up the ability for me to do this, I will always be faithful and honest with people about the experiences that you and I have together.” I write in spiritual formation and spiritual living categories, so much of it is just like my own life experiences, but so much of that has to do with the journey that I've been on with God and how that journey keeps evolving.
What were the advantages of co-authoring the book with your husband?
I think it could be a very dangerous thing if you have different visions. I got really lucky in the sense that my husband and I share a very similar worldview. We have a very similar vision. I think it was really important that he wrote the book with me because we have very different lived experiences. I talk about relationships and friendship from the standpoint of my lived experience, and he talks about relationships and friendship based on the standpoint of his lived experience. I believe it is a massive advantage to have the two different perspectives because some people will relate to me and some people will only relate to him.
What’s the best part about being an author?
For me, it's about encouraging people through written words. The best part for me is when somebody says, “This was encouraging to me,” “This helped me get through my day,” or “This helped me see a perspective of my life differently.” It doesn't have to be in a book. I write a newsletter that I send out every single Friday night for people. That's just as fulfilling for me as writing a book. The point isn't necessarily publishing a book. It's about asking, “Am I able to encourage people, yes or no?” And if that answer is yes, then I'm walking in what I believe to be my God-given purpose and gift.
What is one piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?
You write whether or not you're published. You write whether or not anyone's reading it. You write because you have to; you have to put your thoughts down on paper and stay engaged in that process. I realized that it’s not about getting a book; it's about knowing that I'm being faithful to the gift that God has given me. Let God worry about how that avenue might see fruit and how it may grow, but be faithful, at least to the gift.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.