I love working with clients who inspire me—especially when that client is already a friend. Compelled to Inspire was a joyful collaboration with Jill Felts, founder and CEO of Compelling Creations.
I helped Jill develop her manuscript from interviews, blog posts, and stories—lots of stories. Jill recorded and wrote stories of her journey as an entrepreneur—challenges she has encountered and the people who have encouraged her. I put my radio host skills to work while interviewing Compelling Creations Consultants from around the United States, then pulled out quotes from the transcripts to intersperse in the chapters. We created an outline . . . then changed it . . . then expanded it. Jill and I wrote and sent manuscript drafts back and forth many times. As we neared completion, we fine-tuned the manuscript with the help of editor Nanette Littlestone.
Jill’s jewelry designs have been central in the evolution of Compelling Creations. The impact of any art has two dialogues: the impact creating the art has on the artist and the impact the art has on the audience who views it, or in this case, wears it. In Compelled to Inspire, we highlighted popular pieces of Compelling Creations jewelry—telling the story of Jill’s creative process in designing a particular piece, how customers respond to it, and how customers and Consultants are able to share their faith and stories of their lives as they wear the jewelry. Compelling Creations trademarked tagline is “Wear It and Share It” and that’s exactly what happens.
Compelled to Inspire is filled with Jill’s reflections on universal issues that often hold us back from reaching our greatest potential. Her experiences, and those of her Consultants, guide readers to expand their view of possibilities and embrace strategies for success. This book is designed not only to share Compelling Creations’ history and purpose, but it also uses personal stories to encourage readers to release and renew their minds and spirits daily, to strive for their goals and overcome whatever is holding them back, and to journal their thoughts along the way.
Here is what Jill said about working with me on her book:
“As everyone can see from the wide variety of books Vanessa has brought to fruition, she doesn’t have a set ‘formula’ for layout and design. She REALLY feels what the writer is trying to convey through words and matches that feeling with the visual design for the individual’s book.
“Vanessa is easy to work with, on task and on time. After interviewing all our participating independent sales consultants, she filtered through the long transcripts to find just the right nuggets to include in just the right spots.
“It all made the story flow seamlessly.”
During the course of Jill’s book project, I also had the privilege to assist her husband, David, with the design and formatting of his book Swing Thoughts. Individually Jill, David, and their daughters are amazing, but as a family, they are unstoppable. In her book’s dedication, Jill says her family works well together because “each of us thinks we are the Robin to the other person’s Batman.”
I had the pleasure of interviewing Jill for my radio show Art as Worship in 2012. Here is the archive of that episode where Jill talks about how her art has affected her spiritual evolution and how her spiritual evolution has affected her art. During the interview she said, “Some people write out their prayers and I kind of draw them out.”
Find out more about Compelling Creations, see a catalog of their inspirational jewelry, and purchase your own copy of Compelled to Inspire. www.compelling-creations.com
Contact me to discuss how I can help bring your book from concept to creation. Or, let’s talk about your marketing and graphic needs. Call me at 678-521-8820. Find out more about me by visiting my LinkedIn profile.
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