Reinventing Myself — Just Like Renee

In my book Finding Renee, Renee decided she had had enough of the corporate world — the backstabbing coworkers, the outdated and micromanaging boss, and the complete lack of work-life balance. It was no longer acceptable. It was time for a change. A change that would alter her life forever.

 Renee loved making jewelry for herself and her friends. To her, it was relaxing. To her friends, it was revolutionary. For years, they encouraged her to step out on her own, but like many of us, Renee wasn’t ready to accept that kind of change. She knew her job was physically demanding and emotionally draining. She didn’t have the energy or the time to turn her hobby into a business.

 But the day came when Renee took the “jump.” She turned in her letter of resignation—but not before taking a one-hundred-thousand-dollar loan from her retirement fund. She used two weeks of PTO as part of her resignation and gave herself some much-needed “me time,” knowing it would be a while before she had another break.

Andrea’s Journey-

My story is different from Renee’s. I didn’t walk away; I was laid off. I wanted to return to the corporate world—to my high salary and familiar structure—but the more I looked, the fewer interview invitations I received.

 For months, I searched. I knew I had done well in several interviews—some even went to second or third rounds—but none resulted in an offer. And during that time, something unexpected began to happen. I kept having new ideas for my writing and my brand.

 I started dedicating time after my job hunt to building my author brand. I woke up earlier to work on it and stayed up late perfecting designs. I created a website that looked like I had hired a professional. Then I stepped outside my comfort zone and started sharing content on social media.

 Even now, I don’t see what I’m doing as more than a hobby—yet. Becoming a full-time author will take hard work and, in my case, God’s favor. But I can feel that He’s shifting something within me.

The Process -

To be noticed by people outside your circle of family and friends takes patience, consistency, dedication, faith, and creativity. Growth doesn’t happen overnight.

 I decided that sharing pieces of Finding Renee could help spark interest from readers who’ve never heard of my book. I added a link to a free chapter in my Instagram bio, LinkedIn, Facebook, and on my website. I don’t know if it’s working yet, but it’s a start.

Be Ready — Don’t Get Ready - 

There’s a gospel song I love called “He’s Preparing Me” by the late Daryl Coley. It begins, “He is preparing me,” and tells how God prepares us for things we can’t handle right now.

 That message encouraged my soul. I realized I wasn’t just waiting for an opportunity—I was being prepared for one. Every time I uncover another step I need to take to build my brand, I see how God has been giving me the gift of time to get ready.

 I am reinventing myself—through preparation, through faith, and through speaking truth to my power. I will be a successful writer and businesswoman.

 My journey isn’t just beginning; it’s already in motion. I’m simply in the preparation stage for success.

💌 If you’ve ever felt called to reinvent yourself, know this: you’re not behind. You’re being prepared.

📖 Read a Free Chapter of Finding Renee 

Why Readers Are Falling in Love with Finding Renee

Author Andrea Parks 

Finding Renee isn’t just about one woman’s journey — it’s about anyone who has faced a life-changing event and had to navigate a new normal. Maybe you’re an empty nester. Maybe you’ve recently lost a spouse. Or maybe the career you devoted decades to has suddenly ended. Whatever the change, a piece of your life is gone, and you’re left asking, “Who am I now?”

Renee: Rediscovering Herself

Women who identify with Renee aren’t lonely by choice — they are coping. They’ve built a safe place, choosing carefully who they let in. But that safety can also become a cage, keeping them stuck in the past while hiding the woman they could become.

“Although attractive, Renee didn’t recognize her beauty. But Renee was learning about herself as a woman.”

Renee represents every woman who has ever looked in the mirror and struggled to see her own worth. Many of us know what it feels like to put our dreams on hold — for children, for work, for survival. Renee shows us that it’s never too late to start again and to step boldly into the version of ourselves we’ve always longed to be.

 Jessica: The People Pleaser

Women who see themselves in Jessica are natural pleasers — always striving to keep everyone happy, often at the expense of their own needs. But even the most selfless heart has a breaking point. True happiness isn’t found in others; it’s discovered within.

“Jessica’s journey was never just about growing up — it was about learning who she was outside of her mother’s shadow.”

If you’ve ever been the peacemaker in your family or workplace, you know how exhausting that role can be. Jessica’s story is a reminder that saying “yes” to everyone else while saying “no” to yourself leads only to burnout. Her journey invites readers to reclaim their own happiness without guilt.

 Monique: The Wounded Friend

Women who relate to Monique know the weight of pain delivered by those they trusted most. Her anger and indifference are a mask — a shield to hide how deeply she longs to be accepted and loved.

“Friendship should be unshakable, but sometimes the people we’ve trusted the longest carry the deepest secrets.”

Sometimes, the people who seem to be the toughest are the ones carrying the heaviest scars. Monique’s story reminds us to look beneath the surface of the friends in our lives — and perhaps even within ourselves — to find the places where love and forgiveness are needed most.

 Why This Story Matters

Through Renee, Jessica, and Monique, we find reflections of ourselves — our struggles, our resilience, and our hope. Finding Renee is more than a novel; it’s a mirror for women who have endured life’s unforgiving judgments. It’s an invitation to embrace change, to heal, and to step boldly into the woman you were destined to become.

 I wanted to write a novel for women society that too often overlooks women, considered less significant because of their age, their lack of social presence, or because they no longer look the way they once did. Aging shouldn’t be synonymous with becoming invisible. It should be recognized as a prerequisite for success. Wisdom comes with age. Knowledge comes from life’s experiences. And happiness comes from finding and accepting the person you are meant to become.

 Where Are You on Your Journey?

 Where are you on your journey finding who you were meant to be? Have you started?

 I’ll share with you my own truth: I’m in the middle of reinventing myself. I’m learning new things about who I am, and I’m loving the process. Writing Finding Renee is part of that reinvention — and I hope reading it becomes part of yours.

📖 If you see yourself in Renee, Jessica, or Monique, I invite you to read Finding Renee and begin your own journey today. https://www.areneeproductions.com/

Speaking it into Existence

When you repeat the same thing over and over, you may get your wish. We don’t expect our lives to be turned upside down through the process.

 We may say, “How long”?

As long as it takes.

The process may feel like a punishment to you, and you may feel discouraged during the process, and you will feel alone. I encourage you to hold on and be encouraged.

You aren’t meant to see the process, but God shows you that he hasn’t left you and is working in your favor. You may not see His progress; however, those on the outside can see. Whatever the case, trust the process, be patient, and seek only His face.

You will have others who can’t see the process and may suggest you change the path for something more visually acceptable--staying in your comfort zone, giving instant relief.

Don’t let those who only see the trees but not the forest, push you to move without God’s will.

Keep in mind that no weapons formed against you shall prosper.

I promise you this one thing: if God is working the process, praise Him, glorify His name, and be still and know that God is God.

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” – Mark 11:23