In a collection of three body-positive books, Nicole C. Ayers shares her journey of self-love with complete openness and vulnerability.
Love Notes to My Body, winner of the 2020 Living Now Body Award, is a whimsical gift book with gorgeous illustrations by the talented Mica Gadhia. Each page is a love note to a different part of Nicole’s body that speaks to the gratitude and love she’s cultivated for her body with this practice.
Love Letters to My Body: Writing My Way to (Self-)Love is a vulnerable and poignant collection of personal essays that digs into the grittier side of Nicole’s journey to accept all the parts of her body. Her hope is that reading these letters will make the reader curious about their own relationship with their body.
Writing Your Way to (Self-)Love: A Guided Journal to Help You Love Your Body, One Part at a Time is a guided journal experience for people who feel compelled to write their own love notes and letters to their bodies. Nicole’s suggestions get you started, and lots of blank pages allow room to be creative. A robust resource section provides suggestions for where to go if you’re in crisis or just need help, a list of body-positive people to follow on Instagram, and both fiction and nonfiction books to read to dive deeper into the subject of self-love.

Nicole C. Ayers has been playing with words as long as she can remember. While she’s held many jobs in her life, including stints as a server, camp counselor, telemarketer, print-shop lackey, bartender, and teacher, editing at Ayers Edits was her favorite because she combined her love or reading with the fun of wordplay, until she added writer to this list. Now it would be hard to convince her there’s anything better than telling her own stories.
Nicole lives in South Carolina with her brilliant and brave daughters, her best friend and husband, a goofy dog, a long-suffering tortoise, and the occasional fish.
We asked Nicole a few questions about her publishing journey and goals for the book.
Nicole on working with SPARK Publications
I am stunned with the fabulous work of the SPARKlers. They elevated my words to the next stratosphere, and I am forever grateful. I can’t wait to see the magic these books inspire!
Is there a particular moment that SPARKed your interest in writing a book?
I had been writing love notes to parts of my body as a journaling practice to improve my relationship with my body. One day, I heard a whisper that said, “This isn’t just for you.” I knew then that there was a book to be written, because women universally struggle with body image and self-acceptance.
Now that your book is published, what goals or experiences are you looking forward to?
I’m really looking forward to sharing this transformative practice with women and girls. I want to speak to gatherings both large and small, online and in person, and really begin to change the conversations we’re having about our bodies.
What surprises did you encounter on the road to writing and publishing the book?
My biggest surprise was that this project turned into a collection of three books, rather than just one. Talk about ramping up the intensity of all facets of writing and publishing!
I was also surprised at how much time every part of the process took. Creating a book is slow work for me.
How did SPARK Publications help in championing and publishing your book?
The SPARKlers took my ideas and elevated them beyond what I could imagine. I knew during our first creative meeting that they believed in me, in this project, and that my books (and me) were safe in their capable, talented hands. The designs they created are pure magic.
SPARK Publications guided me through all the tricky steps of book publishing. They shared their wisdom about so many of the elements of publishing that I didn’t even know I needed to think about.
I couldn’t have published these books without SPARK Publications, and I am so grateful to be a part of their publishing family.
What advice do you have for other authorpreneurs and aspiring writers?
If you have a story to tell, or a message to share, then do. Publishing a book will push you, and scare you, and elate you, and teach you so much about yourself. Gather your courage and write the book. Share the story. Somebody out there needs to hear it.
Tell us about your future plans—what’s next for you?
I plan to take some time to rest in the joy that Love Notes to My Body and her sister books are in the world and to enjoy creative play. I have my eye on a pottery class and belly-dancing lessons.
While I don’t know just yet what the future holds, I’m already feeling nudges to gather women and collect their stories. Someday I’d love to publish Love Notes to OUR Bodies. We’ll see where those nudges direct me.
If you could broadcast two sentences to the entire world, what would they be?
You are worthy. You are loved.