What did you think of this episode? Have you discovered hidden gifts during times of grieving? Raewyn Elsegood shares her story behind the story and offers tips to help you excel as a writer. Don’t go anywhere. Your Best Writing Life begins right now. Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. It’s great to have you listening in. During this episode, we experience The Story Behind 21 Gifts: A Sacred Dance Through Grief and Healing. Today’s guest, Raewyn Elsegood, is an Australian chaplain, speaker, and award-winning author of 21 Gifts: A Sacred Dance Through Grief and Healing. Drawing on more than 30 years in ministry and a decade of chaplaincy, she equips people to walk compassionately beside those experiencing grief, helping them discover hope, faith, and purpose even in life's deepest losses. Raewyn, welcome to Your Best Writing Life! We all want to know the story behind 21 Gifts – give us some background 1. God wrote a different book than I intended. I thought I was writing and journaling about surviving my daughter's death. Instead, God revealed that He was writing a book about discovering His gifts hidden within grief. The manuscript became as much my healing journey as it did a book for others. 2. Writing became an act of discipleship. Every chapter required me to sit with God before I could write for anyone else. Sometimes writing wasn't about producing words—it was about letting God reshape my heart first. 3. My greatest wound became my greatest ministry. Losing Amy changed every part of my life and transformed my chaplaincy. The book helped me realize that God was inviting me to move from telling my story to equipping others to walk compassionately alongside grieving people. 4. Publication wasn't the finish line. Publishing 21 Gifts opened unexpected doors to media, including teaching at conferences, YouTube, radio, podcasts, speaking engagements, disaster recovery chaplaincy, and a grief support program. The book is becoming the beginning of a much larger ministry. 5. God is still rewriting the author. One conversation with a literary agent after a writers' conference completely changed the direction of my next book. Their feedback helped me realize God wasn't simply calling me to tell my story—He was calling me to teach from my experience as a chaplain. That shift is beautifully shaping my next book project, The Chaplain's Chair. Writer’s tips. 1. Write from transformation, not simply information. Readers remember books that changed the author before they changed the audience. 2. Let God edit you before you edit your manuscript. The deepest writing often comes after we've wrestled honestly with God. Deep conversation---- 3. Don't chase publication—pursue faithfulness. Success isn't measured only by book sales. It's measured by obedience to the message God has entrusted to you. What Listeners Will Gain - Although 21 Gifts was written for grieving people, writers will discover something equally valuable. They'll learn that our deepest pain doesn't disqualify us from writing—it often becomes the place where God develops our most authentic voice. Readers will gain practical, faith-filled tools for navigating grief, while writers will be encouraged to embrace vulnerability, write with courage, trust God's timing, and recognize that every story can become someone else's hope. Ultimately, 21 Gifts reminds us that God rarely wastes our suffering; He often transforms it into the message we're uniquely called to share. Link to Paula Mosher Wallace - Three Stages of Writing Your Pain You can find out more about Raewyn Elsegood below. SOCIAL LINKS: Website - www.raewynelsegood.com Book 21 Gifts: A Sacred Dance Through Grief and Healing Amazon and major online bookstores Instagram - @raewynelsegood YouTube - @ChaplainsGriefInsights Email - raewyn@raewynelsegood.com Visit Your Best Writing Life website. Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing Life Your host - Linda Goldfarb #4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts" #1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers. Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast
