Finding Purpose Through Preparation — A Conversation with Valisha J
Presented by Dedra Walker and hosted by the Winder Public Library
Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Winder, GA
A celebration of stories that inspire connection and community.
Inspire Author Series: Finding Purpose Through Preparation — A Conversation with Valisha J
At the Inspire Author Series, we celebrate authors who turn lived experiences into lessons that connect and inspire.
This week, we feature Valisha J, author of The Plan — a compassionate and practical guide that helps families prepare for life’s most difficult transitions with love and clarity.
Before you meet her in person at our next Inspire Author Series event on October 23, 2025, take a few moments to get to know the heart and purpose behind her work.
Q: What inspired you to become a writer?
Valisha J:
“My path to writing was born from love and loss. What began as a heart-wrenching personal journey after losing my father transformed into a mission to help others avoid the same pain our family endured.
When he passed without a will or essential documents, we faced not only the devastating grief of losing someone we loved deeply, but also a maze of confusion, uncertainty, and challenging conversations that no family should have to navigate while mourning. Watching my family struggle through those difficult moments opened my eyes to how unprepared so many of us are for life’s inevitable transitions.
Through that experience, I realized that having a plan isn’t just about paperwork — it’s one of the most profound acts of love we can offer our families. I became a writer because I discovered the power of words to transform pain into purpose. My goal became ensuring that no family has to feel as unprepared as we did. Writing The Plan became my way of turning our loss into a legacy of love and preparation for others.”
Q: What message or feeling do you hope readers take away from your work?
Valisha J:
“Above all, I want readers to feel empowered rather than overwhelmed. So many people avoid end-of-life planning because it feels scary, complicated, or depressing, but I hope The Plan shows them that this process can actually be one of the most loving things they do for their families.
I want readers to walk away with a sense of peace — knowing they have the tools and knowledge to protect their loved ones from the confusion and additional heartache my family experienced. But more than that, I hope they feel a deeper connection to what truly matters in life.
When you start planning for the end, you often gain a clearer perspective on how to live more intentionally in the present. My deepest hope is that families will start having these important conversations before they’re forced to by crisis.
Preparation isn’t about dwelling on death — it’s about celebrating life and the people we love enough to plan for their future comfort and peace of mind.”
Q: What have you learned on your writing journey — what are some of your biggest takeaways?
Valisha J:
“The biggest thing I learned is that pain can become your purpose. Writing The Plan taught me that our deepest wounds don’t have to remain just sources of hurt — they can be transformed into something that serves others and honors what we’ve lost.
I also discovered that starting chaotic is okay, which changed my procrastination into determination. I used to wait for the perfect moment, the perfect outline, the perfect words. But diving in messy and finding structure later taught me that action beats perfection every time. Sometimes you just have to begin, even when you don’t have it all figured out.
Perhaps most surprisingly, I learned that writing can be an act of service and love. I thought writing was about self-expression or creativity, but The Plan showed me it could be so much more. Every word I wrote was written with love for families I’d never meet, hoping to spare them the confusion and pain my family experienced. Writing became my way of caring for others — of extending comfort and practical help to people facing one of life’s most difficult transitions.
This journey taught me that our stories — especially our painful ones — aren’t just personal experiences. When we’re brave enough to share them, they become bridges of understanding and tools of healing for others walking similar paths.”
Q: Where can readers find your work and follow your journey?
Valisha J:
“You can find The Plan — available for $60.00 — and learn more about my work at valishaj.com.”
Reflection
Valisha J reminds us that preparation is more than planning — it’s an act of love, courage, and connection.
Through The Plan, she turns one of life’s most difficult subjects into a compassionate invitation: to prepare, to protect, and to cherish the people we hold dear.
Her story is proof that purpose often grows from the hardest soil — and that when shared, it has the power to guide others toward peace and clarity.
Join us on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Winder Public Library to meet Author Valisha J in person and continue the conversation in the Inspire Author Series — where stories like hers remind us that words can build bridges between life, love, and legacy.
Dedra Walker 
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