I didn’t set out to write a book…
The book is a collection of emails I wrote over about two or three years. Same format every time: story > point > connection.
After a while I realized I was sitting on a treasure chest. I thought, I can repurpose this. So I took inventory, pulled the best ones, and dropped them into a data dump. When I stepped back and looked at it, I could see a narrative hiding in there.
I used Claude to help me sort the emails into themes and structure. Then I spent a lot of time spelunking through the material, tweaking, stripping out anything that only made sense in the original email context. On the other side of all that work was a book.
I decided to finish the project in December. One day it hit me — all I had left to do was submit to Amazon Kindle. So I did. It was approved. A few days later I had an ebook on Amazon.
Then a friend messaged me and said she wasn’t a fan of ebooks but she’d buy a paperback. So I went back to work. Made some adjustments, got everything together, and submitted a paperback version. Shortly before the end of the year, I was holding a paperback book with my name on it.
The Front Porch Where It All Started
My grandfathers in Northern Arkansas taught me a simple truth: stories are the lifeblood of community. They believed that sharing our experiences is how we truly connect with one another.
That lesson is the foundation of my work today. In business, we get caught up in metrics, funnels, and features. We forget that on the other side of the screen is a person waiting to be moved, not just marketed to. The most powerful tool you have isn’t a marketing funnel or a high-priced consultant. It’s your own narrative.
I’ve spent 51 years in the Arkansas hills learning that authenticity isn’t something you manufacture. It’s something you uncover when you stop trying to be perfect and start being human.
Musings from an Arkansas Storyteller isn’t a traditional business book. It’s hard-won wisdom from the front porch — stories about why getting back on track matters more than never falling off, how to build a community that actually feels like one, and why being memorable will always beat being flawless.
In a world full of digital noise and manufactured voices, your story is your secret weapon. Coffee is optional. Connection is guaranteed.
Nobody Asked Me to Write a Book. I Did It Anyway.
I just wanted to publish a book. Honestly, I had no big goals around selling copies or being seen as an expert. I learn by doing, and this was one of the best ways I could learn to publish. Now I feel a lot more confident moving forward with other books.
I doubted whether anyone would buy it. I’ve been pleasantly surprised.
Here’s what I want you to hear: we often wonder if anyone will care about what we think or say. Publishing a book has a way of showing you that people are interested. You may not hit a bestseller list or get rich. But you leave a mark. You help build a legacy. That’s worth the effort.
I also learned that a book doesn’t have to be long. Mine clocks in at 45 pages. In publishing terms, that’s a micro book. That’s fine. The people doing the criticizing are usually the ones who’ve never tried to write one.
Do the work. Make the effort. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment.
Then I Saw Someone Holding It.
Once I started seeing my book in people’s hands, it really hit me — people bought and read my book. At least four people have shared photos of themselves holding it. Every single time, it’s a thrill. I post those pictures on social media and say “I never get tired of seeing this.”
I don’t.
If you grab a copy, take a pic and send it my way or share it on social media. I’ve put four of those photos on the landing page right here on the site.
What People Are Saying
“Musings from an Arkansas Storyteller holds valuable nuggets of goodness I found so relatable — content I can go back to again and again when I need encouragement or a reminder of the simplicity of authenticity. Todd uses storytelling to convey these messages in a way that you absorb them rather than being hit over the head with them. I highly recommend this enjoyable read.” — Debbie Wheeler Wyatt
Why This Matters More Than a Bestseller List
Any time you put real effort into something, you earn a feeling of accomplishment. It’s like working hard all day and then stepping back to look at a fence you built or a yard you mowed and saying — I did that. I contributed.
We underestimate how much people need that feeling. With all the talk about machines replacing jobs, we have to be careful. People need purpose. We can’t take that from them.
I feel pride every time I see someone holding a copy of my book. When they tell me they bought it. When they take the time to leave a kind review.
That matters. It all matters.
Grab Your Copy.
Musings from an Arkansas Storyteller is available on Amazon in eBook and paperback.
No hard sell needed. If it resonates, come pull up a chair.
