There are seasons when polished answers don’t help. What people really need is honesty. Presence. And the reminder that faith can still exist alongside grief. Beauty for Ashes is a multi-volume anthology created for those moments.

This project brings together a collective of authors who have walked through loss, grief, disappointment, and long rebuilding seasons. Not to offer quick fixes, but to share what it actually looked like to keep going, to wrestle with faith, and to slowly find hope again in real life. We believe the culture is hungry for honest faith stories. Not perfect ones. Not tied-up-with-a-bow testimonies. But stories that meet people where they are and remind them they’re not alone. By pre-ordering this book, you’re helping bring these stories into the world, and becoming part of a community that believes there is hope after loss.

Why This Matters:

The phrase Beauty for Ashes comes from Isaiah 61, where God speaks of giving “beauty for ashes” to those who have mourned. It’s a promise of restoration, but not one that ignores the ashes along the way. Many faith stories skip the middle. The grief. The questions. The long, quiet rebuilding doesn’t look like a miracle yet. This anthology exists for that space. Beauty for Ashes is a multi-volume collection of real stories from people who have experienced loss and refused to pretend it didn’t change them. Each contributor writes honestly about what they’ve walked through and how faith, community, and hope slowly took shape again. This book doesn’t just offer polished answers, it offers hope and understanding inside of your mess.

Who this is for:

This book may be for you if you’ve experienced loss and are still finding your way forward. It may also be for someone you love, a friend, family member, or neighbor who needs something gentle, honest, and rooted in hope. Some readers will see their own story reflected in these pages. Others will recognize the story of someone close to them. Either way, Beauty for Ashes is meant to remind readers that they’re not alone, and that restoration doesn’t require pretending everything is fine.

Our Team:

Beauty for Ashes is being carried by a team that blends experience, care, and follow-through.

Jesse Rivas, founder of Above The Sun, serves as an author mentor, developmental editor, and publishing coach. He’s helped guide hundreds of authors from early ideas all the way to finished books, and brings both structure and steady leadership to the project.

Sally Webb, founder of Inspiring Perspectives, is both a coach and a relationship expert. She brings a pastoral heart to the process, helping create a space where stories are not just written, but truly supported and shepherded with care.

And then there’s the contributors themselves:
Brian C., Deborah R., Elisheba H., Hannah P., Janine C., Jesse R., Kerri W., Kristin G., Laurie M., Linda H., Lisa J., Mary H., Omosola, Rhonda S., Rosemary C., Sally W., Sharon H., Stacey W., Sue W., Susan B., Tina M., Xavier L.

These writers aren’t just sharing what happened to them, they’re sharing what might help you breathe again, believe again, and find language for your own story. You’ll meet them here:

Click here to see the full interviews

Thank You Gifts:

To thank you for supporting the Beauty for Ashes project, our contributors have graciously come together to offer a variety of gifts, experiences, and resources as a way of giving back to the community, helping bring these stories into the world. A gift of any level will include your name listed in the acknowledgments, a thank-you post on social media, and behind-the-scenes project updates via our newsletter.

Digital Copies ($9+)
Help bring these stories of healing, hope, and restoration into the world. You will receive:
- Digital ebooks of all current and future Beauty for Ashes volumes

Superfan Bundle ($57+)
For readers who want the physical books and a deeper collection of contributor gifts. You will get all previous gifts plus:
- Physical paperbacks of both current Beauty for Ashes volumes and the third volume when it comes out
- Contributor Digital Bundle (A curated collection of digital gifts by contributors)

Insider Circle ($97+)
Step behind the scenes and connect more personally with the contributors and the creative process. You will get all previous gifts plus.
- Premium offerings from various contributors (Offerings may include workshops, courses, teachings, and other premium offerings)
- Access to Above The Sun Insiders Community.
- Behind-the-scenes updates on the progress of Volume Three

Project Timeline & Funding Goals

Beauty for Ashes is a collaborative anthology journey focused on helping powerful stories of healing, restoration, and hope reach the world through professional editing, publishing, mentorship, and launch support. Below is an overview of our current timeline and funding goals as we move toward the September book launch.

Phase 1: Professional Editing & Production ($5,000) — Completed

Phase One helped us professionally edit and prepare the first two volumes for publication, including developmental editing, line editing, proofreading, and early publishing preparation.

Phase 2: Publishing, Marketing & Fulfillment ($5,000) — Completed

Phase Two brought the first two volumes through publication and launch, including cover design, formatting, printing, author copies, supporter fulfillment, shipping, marketing, and outreach.

Phase 3: Volume Three & Beyond ($5,000+) — In Progress

Every dollar raised now will help us develop Volume Three and future Beauty for Ashes projects, supporting new contributors, editing, publishing, production, marketing, and getting these stories into the hands of more readers.

Risks and challenges

Publishing always includes variables: editing timelines, production schedules, and printing logistics. We’ve built realistic buffers into the schedule and will communicate openly if adjustments are needed. Our priority is quality, care, and delivery, and we’ll keep backers informed every step of the way.

Refunds and cancellations

Because Givebutter contributions are processed immediately at the time of support, backers who wish to request a cancellation or refund will need to contact us directly at team@abovethesun.org.

Refund requests made shortly after a contribution is submitted may be eligible for a full or partial refund depending on processing status and whether fulfillment or digital delivery has already begun. Please note that portions of each contribution are used for platform, payment processing, and transaction fees, which may not always be recoverable. Because of this, some refunds may be issued as partial refunds rather than full reimbursement amounts. Digital products, downloadable resources, memberships, and fulfilled physical items may not be eligible for refund once delivered or accessed.

If you experience any issues or concerns regarding your contribution, please reach out to us directly and we will do our best to work with you fairly and compassionately.

Other Ways to Support

If you’re not able to contribute financially, you can still help by:

Prayer:

Pray for the process as this book moves through editing, production, and printing. There are always moving parts, and we want to steward each step with wisdom and care.
Pray for smooth timelines, clear communication, and that every detail comes together well so we can deliver something meaningful and done with excellence.
Pray for the contributors and readers who will encounter these stories

Share:

Sharing this campaign with friends, family, or your community using#beautyforashesanthology
Sending a personal note to someone who may need this book, with a link to the project.

Join our Next Anthology:

All the funds for the anthologies go to supporting the mission of releasing these types of books twice a year. If you or anyone you know would like to work with us on our next anthology, find more details and the theme at: https://abovethesun.org/collaborativebook/

Beauty For Ashes

Phase 3