Small Press Launch & Celebration Sale
Small Press Launch & Celebration Sale
Charlotte and Tim Donlon. She’s excited about all of the reasons to celebrate. He’s happy, too, but he can’t help wondering, “more websites and trademarks and business lines, oh my.”
This week we’re celebrating five years of The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other (Broadleaf Books, November 10, 2020), the official publication date for Spiritual Direction for Writers (Eerdmans, September 2, 2026), the launch of our new small press, Thoughtful Books Etc.™, the first two books that will be published by Thoughtful Books Etc.™—The Great Belonging Project AND Take More Retreats: A Solo Guidebook for Writers, Journalers, and Anyone Who Wants to Flourish Anyway™, and our new umbrella for all of Charlotte Donlon’s writing, spiritual direction, and gatherings—Flourish Anyway™.
That’s a lot to celebrate. I hope you join us in supporting the launch of our small press by becoming a Thoughtful Books Etc. Founding Member with our celebration sale pricing available through Friday, November 14, 2025.
Books, workshops, and anthologies for cultivating belonging, creativity, and flourishing—no matter the season.
Discover guidebooks and resources that empower you to reflect and reconnect with what matters most.
Thoughtful Books Etc.™ is a new small press founded by people who believe in the transformative power of stories and practices for living thoughtfully.
We publish books, host workshops and gatherings, and offer resources dedicated to sustainable retreat practices, nurturing belonging, and supporting readers in their efforts to Flourish Anyway™ in all areas of life.
Our projects invite creativity, rest, curiosity, and hope—embracing artful encounters, soul growth, and community in all its forms.
Thoughtful Books Etc.™
Current Book Projects
Take More Retreats: A Solo Retreat Guidebook for Writers, Journalers, and Anyone Who Wants to Flourish Anyway™
A compassionate, practical guide for writers, journalers, and seekers ready to design and take meaningful solo retreats and “flourish anyway.” Ten contributors share real-life wisdom, rhythms, rituals, and prompts to help you connect with your creative soul, even through life’s messy and difficult moments.
The Great Belonging Project
A companion to Charlotte’s first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other, this book provides 30 ways to broaden your belongings. With brief reflective essays, actionable exercises, and Belonging through Art® prompts, it’s your guide for creating more connection to yourself, others, your places, and the divine every day.
Companion Workshops
Workshop: Flourish Anyway™
with Rhythms, Rituals, & Retreats
Learn to integrate sustaining rhythms, rituals, and a regular retreat practice to cultivate ongoing flourishing—perfect for anyone eager to restore and recharge.
Join a focused two-hour experience featuring:
Teaching on Rhythms, Rituals, and Retreat Practices
Guided Journaling and Note-Taking
Contemplative Practices and Creative Exercises
Individual and Community Reflection
Workshop: Flourish Anyway™
with The Great Belonging Project
Discover practices, prompts, and resources for broadening your belongings and decreasing loneliness.
Gather for a two-hour session exploring:
How to Be More Intenional about Belonging in All Areas of Life
The Magical Practice of Layering Encounters and Experiences
Effective Stragegies for Belonging to Yourself, Others, Your Places, and the Divine
Individual and Community Reflection
Become a Thoughtful Books Etc.™ Founders Circle Member
For a limited time, support and celebrate our launch by reserving pre-ordered copies of both new books and both companion workshops for a discounted price of $75 (regular price is $95). Thoughtful Books Etc.™ Founders Circle Members get early access to book excerpts, behind-the-scenes updates, and special acknowledgments while helping seed a press devoted to curiosity, creativity, flourishing, and connection.
Charlotte Donlon is a writer, spiritual director, and gatherer whose work weaves together themes of belonging, art, and soul exploration. With a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and a certificate in spiritual direction, Charlotte guides individuals and communities in fostering sanctuaries of acceptance and connection—her approach warmly welcomes people from all backgrounds, regardless of faith tradition or spiritual inclinations.
She is the author of The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other (Broadleaf Books, 2020) and the forthcoming Spiritual Direction for Writers (Eerdmans, September 2026), as well as the founder of initiatives like Flourish Anyway™, Spiritual Direction for Writers®, Belonging through Art™, and Parenting with Art®.
Inspired by her experiences in both traditional publishing and hands-on creative work, Charlotte launched Thoughtful Books Etc.™ to create a home for special projects that nurture creative flourishing and belonging—without extra gatekeepers—bringing compassionate, practical, and artful resources directly to her main audience.
Sign up for updates, launch announcements, and invitations to workshops and gatherings. Thoughtful Books Etc.™ is building a space for thoughtful readers. Join us as we reimagine what belonging, creativity, and flourishing can look like together.