About 18 months ago I set out on the journey to write a book inspired by the movie Frozen. I saw the movie as a beautiful metaphor for my experience with my own struggle to release loving self-expression and I wanted others to have the opportunity to understand the imagery in the film like I did. I started blogging to practice writing, test my ideas, grow my audience and get the courage to share incredibly vulnerable aspects of my heart and experience. Then a year ago I started the actual writing process.

Rosanne Gridley, editor of Unfrozen

I almost immediately knew who I wanted to ask to be my editor. I met Rosanne at a course with Dr. Larry Crabb in Colorado Springs in 2012, before seeing Frozen. She started a Facebook group for our class and over the course of time, we shared many deep and transformational discussions. I recognized Rosanne as a woman of great depth and honor with a heart longing to express the love of God. I also knew she was an excellent editor.

When I sent Rosanne my first draft at the beginning of September, she let me down gently and shared a metaphor. “Writing a book is like having a baby. It takes a lot of time for the message to fully form and be ready for birth.” I wanted so desperately to publish my book before Thanksgiving, 2015. But Rosanne kept encouraging me and coaching me through a long and grueling process of writing and re-writing this year.

She also came up with the title Unfrozen.

One pivotal moment around December stands out in my mind. I sent Rosanne draft number 3 and we talked about my struggle with the structure of the book. I was fighting the idea of completely changing the format from a reflective study about Frozen imagery to telling more of my own story. Then from the other end of the line, my friend said, “God has already written your story and it’s a great story! You just need to get it out on paper.” 

This book truly wouldn’t be what it is today had I rushed the process and not paid attention to the wisdom to press into my own fear and actually tell stories of my life that led me through the incredible transformation of my own frozen heart. From that point I was committed to sharing my story, the story God had already written.

Now, after 12 months of writing and 5 completely re-written drafts, this baby is about ready to be birthed. I can hardly believe it. And just like labor, I know that the next month or so will be an intense ebb and flow of getting the book out to the world.

Designed by Janelle Reed

The Unfrozen Launch Team is closed. We look forward to sharing the book with you very soon!

Thank you for being you. Thank you for reading these posts and for coming with me on this journey of vulnerably bold love that could truly change lives. You are brave and I look forward to getting to know you more as we interact even more in the days to come!

Inviting you to live unfrozen,

Andrea Joy