November 2026 Update – What if I actually can do this?
November always feels like a turning point. The days are getting shorter, the first snow is on its way, and year end is around the corner. It’s a good time to reflect on how far you’ve come.
This month, I’m celebrating the publication of my first book! It’s hard to describe the feeling of watching your first book become real. It’s a mix of euphoria, vulnerability, pride and immense gratitude.
I met my co-author, Gordon Holley, at a CPA Nonprofit Conference in early 2020. One of us said, “We should write a book!”
In February 2026, we submitted our manuscript and thought, “Whew, almost done!”
Little did we know… Next came editor feedback, advance reader feedback, proofreading and what felt like a million more decisions.
Now The Deep End is here. Wow, we are officially authors!
I’m so grateful to everyone who cheered us on, especially Cathy Taylor, President and CEO of the Lawson Foundation, who so generously wrote our foreword, the Hesje CPA Knowledge Centre, whose Self-Publishing Grant helped make it possible, and our advance readers and the FriesenPress team.
My husband, Paul, made me a calendar featuring some quotes from the book. One is a line our main character, Alex, writes in her notebook in Chapter 1, as a brand-new executive director completely in over her head:
“What if I actually can do this?”
It brought tears to my eyes. I’m so grateful for Paul’s support through this whole journey, and that one line captures the process perfectly.
If you’re asking this question about your work, here’s what I learned: just start.
Read More Articles
Future-Proofing the Charity Finance Sector
This September, Kathy Arney wrote an article for Hilborn: Charity eNews, an organization that has been keeping nonprofit leaders updated on news, trends, tips and analysis of developments in the fields of fundraising and nonprofit management since 1991. Her article...
Building Bridges
Lessons for the Social Sector from the Freedom Convoy 2022 FundraiserIn January 2022, a convoy of truckers travelled across Canada to protest COVID-19 public health restrictions. The protest fuelled controversy in several ways, including around the Freedom Convoy...
Create a Legacy of Giving
Give the gift of a lifetime by including a charitable donation in your willWho and how you support is up to you. KEA Canada is a trusted third party that can help you identify your priorities and plan your gift giving.Support your favourite cause and your familyMany...