Get Ready for Our Second Book: A Fresh Perspective on Family Living and Decorating
We’ve been hinting at our second book for quite some time now, often accompanied by promises to share more details soon. Today, we’re absolutely thrilled to finally make good on that promise and pull back the curtain on this exciting new chapter of our creative journey. This isn’t just another book; it’s a deep dive into the very heart of what truly makes a house a home, especially for families navigating the beautiful, often messy, and always evolving chaos of everyday life. We’re excited to share the vision, the process, and how you, our wonderful community, can even become a part of it.
The Journey Continues: How We Secured Our Second Book Deal
Our collaborative relationship with our publisher, Artisan Books, dates back to 2011, when we initially signed a comprehensive two-book deal. This meant that from the very outset, we knew a follow-up to our first successful book, which proudly launched in November 2012, was always an integral part of our publishing plan. This pre-existing agreement has provided an incredibly stable foundation, allowing us to approach the second book with a sense of security and a clear path forward, backed by the invaluable support and understanding of a publisher who truly believes in our vision. Having a multi-book contract offers a distinct advantage, fostering a long-term partnership that encourages deeper creative exploration and a truly collaborative environment from the initial concept development through to the final manuscript. It’s a testament to the trust and shared enthusiasm that has consistently defined our work with Artisan Books.
Anticipating the Release: When You Can Expect Our New Book
Currently, we are diligently working towards a target release date in the fall of 2015. While this serves as our primary goal, it’s important to remember that the intricate world of publishing, much like life itself, involves numerous moving parts and factors that often extend beyond our immediate control. Consequently, this date is not yet definitively set in stone, but it provides us with a clear and inspiring objective. Artisan Books has been exceptionally supportive throughout this entire process. Instead of pressuring us to immediately jump back into the demanding development of Book #2 right after the whirlwind release of our first, they wisely encouraged us to take crucial time to decompress, reflect, and approach this second project with renewed energy and thoughtful consideration. This patience has proven invaluable, allowing us to meticulously plan, refine our concepts, and ensure the quality we strive for. Having successfully navigated the intricate process of publishing a book once before, we now possess a much deeper and more realistic understanding of the significant time commitment each stage demands – from the initial concept development and extensive writing to the complex photography sessions, meticulous editing, and the incredibly detailed proofreading phases that demand sharp eyes and unwavering focus. We know from firsthand experience how swiftly deadlines can approach, and fall 2015, though it may seem a comfortable distance away, will undoubtedly be here faster than any of us anticipate.
A Fresh Creative Direction: Distinctly Different from Book #1
For those of you wondering if our second book will simply be a continuation or an updated version of the first, the answer is a resounding no! While readers can still anticipate the practical projects, actionable tips, and insightful advice woven into every chapter – elements they truly loved from our debut – the overarching concept and fundamental format of this new book will be entirely unique. Surprisingly, we initially thought Artisan might encourage us to stick closely to the successful formula of Book #1 – after all, if it’s not broken, why fix it? However, they passionately advocated for a truly fresh approach, wanting this book to stand powerfully and compellingly on its own merits, offering a unique perspective that clearly distinguishes it from our previous work. This challenge, while initially feeling a bit elusive and daunting, proved to be incredibly inspiring to us as well. The central question became: “What concept and format would truly capture our imagination and address new needs this time around?” We dedicated nearly a year to this crucial exploratory phase, brainstorming countless ideas, drafting numerous rough outlines, and engaging in extensive, often lively, discussions with each other and our dedicated editorial team at Artisan. There were moments when we, Sherry and I, worried we might never land on an idea that ignited enough passion to declare with absolute certainty, “That’s IT!” But then, sometime last winter, a truly exciting concept emerged that resonated deeply with everyone involved, building incredible momentum and enthusiasm for the entire project.
Unveiling the Core Concept: Decorating for Real Family Life
Without giving away all the exciting details just yet, the fundamental goal of this book is to deliver a wealth of authentic, achievable decorating ideas specifically designed to align with the dynamic, often imperfect, and incredibly rich reality of family life. It’s wonderfully inspiring to gaze at perfectly styled, high-end rooms often showcased in magazines or on social media – those pristine spaces where every item appears impeccably placed and not a single toy or stray sock is in sight. But in the context of real homes, where do the TV remotes actually end up after a movie night? What happens to the daily mail that inevitably accumulates on countertops? And do children and pets truly live, play, make messes, and create lasting memories in these picture-perfect environments? Our aim is to illuminate a myriad of practical decorating and organizing solutions that directly address the common, everyday challenges faced by countless families. Beyond mere aesthetics, we are deeply committed to ensuring that every single space within a home not only offers both essential form and indispensable function but also possesses profound meaning, allowing each and every member of the family to genuinely feel at home, comfortable, and truly represented within their environment. Recognizing that our own household, while deeply personal and cherished, isn’t representative of every family structure or living situation, we are incredibly excited to step beyond our own doors. This book will proudly feature other diverse homes, marking a truly fun, enriching, and inclusive departure from our first book, which was almost exclusively photographed within our own residence. Therefore, in addition to chapters brimming with our signature projects and creative ideas, we believe that thoughtfully peppering real home tours throughout this new book will allow us to beautifully showcase a greater variety of families, unique styles, innovative solutions, and diverse living situations, making the advice even more universally relatable and inspiring to a broader audience.
Your Home Could Be Featured: A Call for Submissions!
Yes, absolutely! We are actively and enthusiastically seeking homes to feature within the inspiring pages of our upcoming book. While we have already begun the exciting process of shooting some incredible spaces, there is still ample opportunity for more, and we would be absolutely delighted to consider yours! Perhaps it’s a friend’s thoughtfully designed abode, a neighbor’s creatively organized space, or even your quirky beekeeper’s uniquely charming home – we are genuinely open to all possibilities that embody real-life living. If you’re interested in potentially sharing your home and its story with our readers, here’s what you need to know:
- Embrace Personal Beauty and Functionality: We are specifically looking for homes that, while undeniably beautiful in their own right, are also deeply personal. These are spaces that genuinely reflect the distinct tastes, evolving needs, and vibrant personalities of the people who inhabit them. Don’t worry if you feel your entire home isn’t quite “ready for its close-up” or perfectly staged. We are very flexible and have creative ways to feature single rooms or specific areas that tell a compelling story. So, if you believe you possess a truly special kitchen that serves as the heart of your home, a wonderfully organized playroom that sparks joy, a strikingly designed entryway that welcomes guests, or even a remarkable staircase with a unique history, we absolutely want to see it. It’s about authentic living and ingenious solutions, not unattainable perfection.
- Celebrate Unique Circumstances: We strongly encourage submissions from homes with unique stories and diverse family dynamics. Our overarching goal is to embrace the broadest possible definition of “family.” This includes, but is not limited to, traditional parents with children, empty nesters enjoying their evolving space, dedicated couples with beloved pets as their “fur-babies,” multi-generational households living harmoniously under one roof, or even individuals creatively navigating compact living in a small apartment. Have you ingeniously converted a spare bedroom into a dedicated hangout room for your eight rescue dogs, showcasing incredible pet-friendly design? Or perhaps you’ve crafted a clever, space-saving solution for managing a large family in a surprisingly small footprint, proving that big living can happen anywhere? We are genuinely all ears for these compelling, innovative, and deeply personal stories. These unique scenarios often provide the most inspiring, relatable, and universally applicable solutions for our readers.
- How to Submit: To share your story and photos, please send them to [email protected]. It’s crucial that you include “BOOK TWO” in the subject line of your email. This ensures your submission is properly categorized and reviewed by our dedicated team. Please provide a brief story or description that gives us a compelling glimpse into your home’s personality, the people who live there, and any unique challenges or solutions you’ve implemented. While high-quality photos are always a plus, don’t feel the need for professional shots; good natural light and clear images that accurately convey the essence of your space are often perfectly sufficient for our initial review.
Beyond Home Features: Other Ways to Participate
If you don’t have a home you wish to submit for a full feature, don’t despair! We’ve thoughtfully designed several other engaging and fun ways for you, our amazing readers and community members, to be an integral part of this book. Our vision is for this book to truly represent and celebrate the incredibly diverse experiences of countless families, offering a wide spectrum of perspectives, challenges, and ingenious solutions. We’re keeping some of these details under wraps for now, building anticipation for their reveal, but rest assured, we will be sharing more information about these exciting opportunities as we move closer to the publication date. Stay tuned – your voice, your experiences, and your creative contributions are profoundly important to us!
Behind the Lens: A Smoother Photoshoot Experience This Time Around
One common question we frequently receive revolves around whether we’ll be enduring those intense, multi-week photoshoot marathons in our own home again. Thankfully, the answer is hopefully not! Learning invaluable lessons from our previous experience, we are proactively striving to make the entire photography process for Book Two significantly less hectic, more manageable, and ultimately, more enjoyable for everyone involved. A key strategy we’ve implemented has been to space out our photography sessions considerably, allowing for a more relaxed pace and greater flexibility in scheduling. This approach is particularly vital given the added logistical challenge of coordinating shoots not only in our own home but also across various other diverse residences, all while gracefully juggling the joyful yet demanding responsibilities of a newborn. We initially attempted to schedule all shoots to be completed before Teddy’s arrival, but quickly realized the impracticality and sheer impossibility of such an ambitious timeline. However, it was immensely helpful and strategic to complete a number of shoots beforehand, lightening the load significantly. Artisan Books has demonstrated incredible understanding, flexibility, and support, allowing us to pace ourselves thoughtfully and prioritize enjoying those precious, fleeting moments with Teddy. We successfully finalized our comprehensive book outline last month and have recently embarked on the exciting task of writing some of the introductory chapters and practical tutorials. Our ambitious yet achievable goal is to have all remaining photography completed by the end of the summer, which will then give us several dedicated months to meticulously complete the manuscript and guide it through the final stages of editing. This structured approach aims to minimize stress, maximize creative output, and ensure a high-quality final product.
On the Road: Will There Be a Book Tour for Book Two?
Another frequently asked question, and an exciting one, revolves around the possibility of a book tour and whether we’ll be visiting specific cities. This is certainly an exciting prospect that we are enthusiastic about, but it’s a detailed discussion we haven’t truly engaged in with Artisan Books yet. At this pivotal stage, everyone involved – from authors to editors and marketing teams – is laser-focused on the primary objective: crafting the absolute best possible book. Details regarding a potential book tour, including its ultimate scope, specific cities, and precise format, are typically ironed out much closer to the publication date, likely in another year or so once the manuscript is complete and the release strategy is solidified. Our educated guess is that there will indeed be some form of tour or public engagement to connect with readers, but the exact nature, the number of cities we might visit, and the precise locations all remain a significant and open question mark. So much of tour planning depends on various dynamic factors, including which venues and organizations are willing and able to host events, logistical considerations for travel and scheduling, and the overall marketing strategy thoughtfully developed by our publisher. It’s simply too early to make any definitive predictions or firm commitments at this point. For now, we are incredibly grateful for the freedom to concentrate wholeheartedly on the creative process, knowing that we don’t have to contemplate extensive travel away from our little ones for at least another year. We’re cherishing this precious time to create meaningful content and enjoy our growing family, with the promise of connecting with you all on the road in due course.