A year ago, I did something I never thought I’d do. I hit ‘publish’ on my first book.
Even saying that now feels surreal. Because if you’d told me back then that I’d actually finish it—let alone print it and sell copies—I’d have laughed and asked if you’d mistaken me for someone who actually knew what they were doing.
And yet, here we are. Rise. Reclaim. Roar! has been out in the world for over a year now. And while I’d love to tell you I became a best-selling author overnight, I didn’t. I think I’ve sold about 50-60 copies. But do you know what? It was never about the numbers. It was always about the impact. And the truth is, writing this book changed me just as much as it’s changed the people who have read it.
The Moment I Almost Didn’t Write It
The idea for Rise. Reclaim. Roar! came from a deeply personal place—born out of grief, reflection, and a desire to help women feel seen. But even as I poured my heart into it, imposter syndrome whispered (or rather, shouted) in my ear:
- Who am I to write a book?
- What if no one buys it?
- What if people think it’s rubbish?
- What if I accidentally use ‘their’ instead of ‘there’ on page 87 and the grammar police come for me?
And honestly, I almost let those thoughts stop me. It felt so uncomfortable telling people, "I’m writing a book." Not because I wasn’t proud of it, but because I worried about what people would think. Was it ‘real’ enough? Would anyone care?
The Thing That Kept Me Going
Every time I doubted myself, I came back to one thing: this book isn’t about me.
It’s about the woman sitting at her kitchen table, feeling lost. The one staring at her reflection, wondering when she stopped recognising herself. The one who needs a nudge (or a shove) to remind her that she’s allowed to take up space.
And funnily enough, the very affirmations and exercises I put in the book were the same ones that kept me pushing forward. Every time I thought about quitting, I’d flip through the pages and remind myself why I started. (Turns out, practicing what you preach actually works.)
What I’ve Learned in the Last Year
If I’ve learned anything in the past 12 months, it’s this:
Confidence isn’t about being fearless. It’s about taking action despite the fear.
I still have moments of doubt. I still second-guess myself. But if I’d let those feelings win, Rise. Reclaim. Roar! would still be sitting in a folder on my laptop instead of in the hands of women who needed it.
And I bet there’s something you’ve been putting off too—something that feels too big, too scary, too ‘who am I to do this?’
So Let This Be Your Sign
You don’t have to be fearless to start. You just have to start.
Because if I can write a book while running a family, starting a brand-new coaching business, and keeping two wildly opinionated daughters (one sassy seven-year-old and one feisty four-year-old) alive, you can absolutely do that thing you’ve been thinking about.
And if you need a little help finding your way back to yourself, well… I know a book that might help. 😉
✨Grab Your Copy of Rise. Reclaim. Roar! Here
And if you love seeing transformation in action, check out Claire’s journey here
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