By Megan C. Norton-Newbanks
When I first dreamed of compiling Letters Now Sent, Volume 1, I had no idea what would unfold. What began as a quiet idea—a nudge to create space for heartfelt, handwritten reflections—quickly became a deeply moving, grand experiment.
Inspired by Ruth Van Reken’s Letters Never Sent, I wanted to invite people who have lived cross-culturally to write letters—not polished essays or anonymous journal entries, but real, signed, vulnerable letters to and from the people who have shaped their journeys.
What emerged was a cultural archive. A chorus of voices. A tender mosaic of identity, loss, belonging, and celebration.
These letters are powerful because they are honest. They contain apology, affirmation, disappointment, gratitude, grief, and love. They come from people who have lived between cultures and across borders—people who’ve had to say too many goodbyes, who’ve wrestled with where they belong, who’ve discovered joy in unlikely places. These letters are not just reflections; they are historical records. Primary source documents that speak directly to what it means to navigate life in multiple cultural worlds.
Every letter in this book was written with courage. Many were written without knowing exactly how they would land. Some with laughter still echoing, others through tears. But all of them carry truth. And that, I believe, is what makes them so beautiful.
One of my mentors recently reminded me, “If it’s a real relationship, it’s a truth-full one.” That stuck with me throughout this process. I wanted this book to be a place where real people could speak truthfully—where the messiness of humanity wasn’t edited out but held gently.
There were moments when the editorial team and I hesitated. Some letters are hard. Some may be misunderstood. But we chose to include them all. Because in these letters, there is an invitation: to lean in, to listen with curiosity instead of judgment, and to honor the complexities of our shared humanity.
I hold deep respect for the letter writers. What they’ve done—what they’ve shared—is no small thing. They’ve trusted us with their stories. And now, as readers, we have a responsibility to receive these letters with care.
These are pieces of larger stories. We don’t get the whole picture, but we do get something real—something significant. And in that proximity, in getting close to someone’s heart, we discover that our human experiences are far more alike than they are different.
Our lives are not tidy. They are sweet and salty, spicy and sometimes sour. They are paradoxical, contradictory, beautiful, and hard. These letters show us that.
I often return to a quote from Kate Bowler’s Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day: “It’s not every day that you see it, but sometimes beauty sneaks up on you with a tenderness, a sweetness, so lovely it hurts” (p. 93).
That’s how these letters feel to me. They sneak up on you. They stay with you. They break your heart open in the best way.
Letters Now Sent is for anyone who has lived between cultures, loved someone who has, or simply finds beauty in diverse stories. These letters are not about passports or perfect endings. They are about presence, truth, and connection.
This book is a box of saved letters, offered to you with reverence. My hope is that, as you read, you will pause. Listen. Hold space for the mess and the wonder. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll see a bit of your own story reflected back.
With deep gratitude,
Megan C. Norton-Newbanks
Compiler & Editor, Letters Now Sent, Volume 1
Read the collection: Letters Now Sent, Volume 1 on Amazon
Editor’s Note: The beauty of this book is that the letters are written by normal, everyday people. But global readers here at A Life Overseas may also recognize other names in the book, many of whom have written (or whose work has been referenced) at A Life Overseas in the past: Marilyn Gardner, Ruth Van Reken, Lois Bushong, Anna Danforth, Tanya Crossman, Kathleen Smith, and Chris O’Shaughnessy. ~Elizabeth Trotter
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Megan C. Norton-Newbanks (MA, MS) is an author, Third Culture Kid (TCK) consultant, intercultural trainer, podcast host of “A Culture Story,” and writer at adultthirdculturekid.com. Growing up as a U.S. diplomat dependent, she lived in six countries and has lived in four more countries as an Adult Third Culture Kid (in addition to six U.S. States). Her book, Belonging Beyond Borders: How Adult Third Culture Kids Can Cultivate a Sense of Belonging, equips and empowers globally mobile youth to recognize their cultural competencies and apply them in various contexts. She frequently leads both in-person and virtual TCK workshops, university retreats, and intercultural dialogue groups for a variety of international entities and sectors. Her writings and research are published in several magazines and online forums, and she currently manages the publication of several Third Culture Kid-specific books. Megan is actively involved with several organizations that support expats and Third Culture Kids (MuKappa International, Foreign Service Youth Foundation, Expat Valley, Families in Global Transition, OMF, Intercultural Transitions). For the past seven years, Megan has been the co-chair of the NAFSA Global Nomad/TCK Interest Group. She loves hearing TCKs share their stories and supporting their journey into their next “home.”
