In the world of business, things change so quickly. It is amazing to see a business expand and gain life all of it's own.
It is so hard to say goodbye, but I must. It has come time for LWPC to move forward without me. With all the rumors and gossip, it's only fair to put everyone's mind at ease. Living Waters is nowhere close to going out of business. We'll be around for the next thirty years if we have anything to say about it. LWPC is not going bankrupt. With any luck, we'll stay debt-free for years to come.
However, I am leaving. The business will be in good hands with Lensey Hayes and the rest of the board. He, Larry, Chris and Kevin will take this business to the next level of excellence and integrity. With the host of experience they all bring to the table, I believe everyone will see a tremendous change immediately.
It was my dream to run this business as a family of authors who all want to succeed together. I've learned, though, that business is business and family is family. It's extremely hard to mix the two of them together. Hard, not impossible. Still, I hope that the authors will continue to fellowship with one another, helping each other selflessly as you all have in the past. If I'm leaving anything behind, I hope it is that nothing is impossible. If you can dream it and plan it, it can work. Never let the old heads in the publishing industry tell you what you cannot do or what is impossible. We've done everything they said we couldn't do. We've gotten the big reviews for some of our authors. We've secured shelf space for many of our books. All it takes is faith! Faith because faith is substance and evidence. What more do we need?
I'll miss you all. Keep writing and keep the faith!
Lacresha Hayes, author of The Rape of Innocence: Taking Captivity Captive and Becoming: My Personal Memoirs
17 comments:
I can't imagine you not being here. Will the business even be the same without you? You have encouraged me to pray, inspired me to keep writing and urged me to better myself. It was you who gave me a chance and helped me each time I called upon you. I wonder if the next person will stay up all night with our books, trying to make deadlines? Will they love us like you did? I trust your judgment and whomever you leave in charge I know I can believe in but it won't be you. God bless and keep you, Lacresha. Godspeed on your journey!
You shouldn't let these rumors discourage you, Lacresha. Everyone who has been with LWPC any length of time knows that it is your heart that makes this company desirable. We will all miss you terribly. And not to worry, as we will all keep your legacy going. We are a family that will stand together through this time of transition.
Goodbye Lacresha. We hate to see you go, but look at it like this; you started a business that will keep going and is able to keep going without you. We ALL love you, dear, and we want what is best for you.
Lacresha, we love and appreciate you. God bless you, girl.
Lacresha,
We've become friends over the last few months. I'll miss you a great deal from the perspective of an author, but I'm glad to be your friend. I just KNOW you will stay in touch with us. I know how badly the lies, the rumors, the malice, the misunderstandings and the broken trust has hurt you, but I believe that God has greater things for you. We'll keep praying for you and loving you. This was temporary pain, but your ways please God and He will reward you greatly!
Bye, sweetheart. God is going to bless you, little lady. Don't worry one lil hair on your pretty lil head.
I think I speak for everyone in saying there'll never be another President like you. Thanks for all the prayers and private time you have taken up with me. Thank you for putting your personal money into my unfinished book. Thank you for loving and believing in us. God bless you!
Jennifer
NO! You can't leave. Why are you leaving? Are you coming back? Will you still own the company or have any say-so in it? When is your last day? I have a million questions.
John W.
Cre,
You've bought this company a long way through prayer alone. You've come a long way yourself. So, whatever you do, I believe God will be with you. People are notorious for trying to destroy what they do not understand, but that shows their ignorance. The fact that so many of your clients are supporting you in the middle of all this shows that you are doing something right. Keep on keeping on.
Lacresha, this is Deb. I hate to see you go, but it will shock me if you stay gone. Girl, you're a workaholic and you absolutely love this business. So, you say you are leaving, but I say you'll be back. ROTFL; you - stay away from Living Waters Publishing Company - NEVER! We are praying for you and Lensey. I can't wait until August when I'll get to come to your women's conference. Love, peace and joy to you, prophetess.
Lacresha, this is Deb. I hate to see you go, but it will shock me if you stay gone. Girl, you're a workaholic and you absolutely love this business. So, you say you are leaving, but I say you'll be back. ROTFL; you - stay away from Living Waters Publishing Company - NEVER! We are praying for you and Lensey. I can't wait until August when I'll get to come to your women's conference. Love, peace and joy to you, prophetess.
Mrs. Hayes,
I'm so sorry to see you going. I'm so happy to have met someone like you. You were able to see my vision and took a chance on a book by a dying woman. The prayers you prayed over my life helped. I'm no longer taking chemo or radiation. I'm writing more and can proudly report that I am about another three weeks from completing my book. I wanted you to be there, to see what I've done. I am crying and sad, and to be honest, I nearly decided not to write. I was disappointed to see you go. I don't agree. I think the better way to handle it is to stand with your head high and proud. I love you like my own daughter and I'm here if you need me like you were there when I needed you!
We love you, honey. We all know that we were blessed to find you. I agree with Katen and wonder if your replacement will really be able to fill your shoes.
Then what do I do with my other 4 books I have to be published if you
aren't there to let me know? You have to write me and fellowship with me again too! :) I missed it
without you! How do I get books to
LW without you? You were my door there and now the door is leaving! I'm glad JESUS is the door to our heaven and HE never moves! :) I do want you to write me ASAP girl! Let me know what to do with these manuscripts; they are piling up on my desktop! Love, Katie
So this is why it has been hard to catch up with you? Well, we'll miss you terribly, both mother and I. You are such a wonderful and patient person. I can't imagine who will replace you.
I hate that you're leaving, but thankfully we'll still be friends. I'll never forget the opportunity you gave me. People often say money talks, but you accepted me without any money or a finished book. You didn't take advantage of my situation. You worked with me when I know I was being a pest. You read my book rather than passing it off to someone else. I don't care what anyone may say about you or this company, I love you from the bottom of my heart!!! You were the heart and soul of this company. I just hope it doesn't lose its soul or sell out and become what you said you'd never let it become: a big, heartless monster that is only concerned with the bottomline.
Lacresha, do you know how many lives you've touched? There were people, like me, who had given up on their dreams of being published. After finding no traditional contracts, and all the subsidies charging an arm and both legs, it was comforting to find someone who says a $100 publication deposit. If that makes you a subsidy in the eyes of people, let them think that. I've made back my money times a few hundred more. You told me not to give up and so now I throw your words back in your face. I'm an older lady, but I learned when I was about your age to never give any advice I couldn't follow. If you let talk discourage you, how will you ever accomplish anything? Somebody is going to always have something to say, dear. You'll never be able to get away from that. NEVER! Don't leave.
Anna James
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