I feel about as happy as Henry looks! Did I just give away the punchline or what?
Seriously, you guys, I have been sitting on this secret for a long, long time. Too long, if you ask me!
First of all, I don't like secrets. I prefer living out loud and sharing authentically. But it wasn't up to me. You see, I started sharing the process from the very beginning when I announced that I wanted to write a book and that I was looking for an agent. I was also looking for kindred spirits to provide feedback on chapters I was working on.
As I looked for an agent, I continued writing the book--all 65,000 words of it. I worked with many of you to revise big chunks of it (I'm indebted to you!). I got my first nibble from an agent in the summer of 2009 (after many, many heart-wrenching rejections!). She helped me to revise my proposal (all 21,000 words of it) and get it to the place it needed to be. I signed a contract with her company at the end of 2009. She asked me to keep our relationship on the down low (which nearly killed me because I wanted to shout it from the top of the Houston high-rises!).
She began her diligent work of looking for an editor at a publishing house. We had many ups and downs throughout the process. We would find a super-passionate editor who would want to champion the book, but then her sales team would shoot down the idea. More heart-wrenching rejection (it strengthens the soul, right?).
Finally, the stars, sun, and moon aligned and we got a real, live contract from Voyageur Press in December of 2010.
At that point, I was allowed to mention it, but I didn't. I was getting oh-so-close to having a baby, and I was busy with stuff. Like getting this blog ready for my maternity leave (I'm indebted to you for all your help AGAIN!), designing a Montessori nursery, preparing myself for birth and the life-changing process of bringing another life into the world--you know, stuff.
But now it's time to get going folks. My first deadline is August 1 (finalized outline and first chapter), and the rest of the book is due January 1. Although 65,000 words of the book are already written, I have lots of revising to do. Significant revising. I need to reorganize it and incorporate even more of your insights and experiences.
That's where I could use your help! If you have a second, would you mind filling out one of the surveys below? I divided them into two, so they wouldn't be so overwhelming (but feel free to tackle both if you're looking for an excuse to procrastinate from your real work!).
Survey I: Focuses on Budget, Wedding Industrial Complex, Engagement, Save the Dates, and Mainstream Wedding Elements.
Survey II: Focuses on Registry, Alcohol, Wedding Showers, Ceremony, Decorations, and Last Names.
Why write a book, you might ask?
Because books have changed my life. Because books have been my companion through so many life transitions. Because books help me set new goals for myself and work toward them. Because books show me what's possible and inspire me to strive.
I want to take our story (and all of your stories that have been shared in bits and pieces throughout the years) and consolidate it into a helpful, insightful, and concise companion. I want people to be able to pick it up off the shelf and carry it with them as they navigate the sometimes treacherous seas of wedding planning.
I'll keep you updated!
Seriously, you guys, I have been sitting on this secret for a long, long time. Too long, if you ask me!
First of all, I don't like secrets. I prefer living out loud and sharing authentically. But it wasn't up to me. You see, I started sharing the process from the very beginning when I announced that I wanted to write a book and that I was looking for an agent. I was also looking for kindred spirits to provide feedback on chapters I was working on.
As I looked for an agent, I continued writing the book--all 65,000 words of it. I worked with many of you to revise big chunks of it (I'm indebted to you!). I got my first nibble from an agent in the summer of 2009 (after many, many heart-wrenching rejections!). She helped me to revise my proposal (all 21,000 words of it) and get it to the place it needed to be. I signed a contract with her company at the end of 2009. She asked me to keep our relationship on the down low (which nearly killed me because I wanted to shout it from the top of the Houston high-rises!).
She began her diligent work of looking for an editor at a publishing house. We had many ups and downs throughout the process. We would find a super-passionate editor who would want to champion the book, but then her sales team would shoot down the idea. More heart-wrenching rejection (it strengthens the soul, right?).
Finally, the stars, sun, and moon aligned and we got a real, live contract from Voyageur Press in December of 2010.
At that point, I was allowed to mention it, but I didn't. I was getting oh-so-close to having a baby, and I was busy with stuff. Like getting this blog ready for my maternity leave (I'm indebted to you for all your help AGAIN!), designing a Montessori nursery, preparing myself for birth and the life-changing process of bringing another life into the world--you know, stuff.
But now it's time to get going folks. My first deadline is August 1 (finalized outline and first chapter), and the rest of the book is due January 1. Although 65,000 words of the book are already written, I have lots of revising to do. Significant revising. I need to reorganize it and incorporate even more of your insights and experiences.
That's where I could use your help! If you have a second, would you mind filling out one of the surveys below? I divided them into two, so they wouldn't be so overwhelming (but feel free to tackle both if you're looking for an excuse to procrastinate from your real work!).
Survey I: Focuses on Budget, Wedding Industrial Complex, Engagement, Save the Dates, and Mainstream Wedding Elements.
Survey II: Focuses on Registry, Alcohol, Wedding Showers, Ceremony, Decorations, and Last Names.
Why write a book, you might ask?
Because books have changed my life. Because books have been my companion through so many life transitions. Because books help me set new goals for myself and work toward them. Because books show me what's possible and inspire me to strive.
I want to take our story (and all of your stories that have been shared in bits and pieces throughout the years) and consolidate it into a helpful, insightful, and concise companion. I want people to be able to pick it up off the shelf and carry it with them as they navigate the sometimes treacherous seas of wedding planning.
I'll keep you updated!
11 comments:
Hooray and congratulations, Sara!! What wonderful news for you and your growing group of fans/kindred spirits. I'm excited to soon recommend your book to my soon-to-be-married friends. Henry's definitely doing a happy dance for you, ha! All the best :-)
Hearty congratulations, Sara and family! You have so much wisdom to share with the world, and I can't wait to read your book!
Yea, Sara! Congrats to you. Your beautifully authentic point of view on weddings was my light throughout my planning and even to this day. I'm glad the rest of the world will get to hear from you on this life changing subject!
Congratulations! So glad to hear you got the deal!
Big congratulations. Proof that visualizing, verbalizing and focusing on a goal really does work. Before you know it your charter school will be opening too. Pretty freakin' fabulous if you ask me.
Congratulations! Filling out surveys now!
Oh my gosh, how wonderful! Congrats! That's such amazing news!
Totally great news for you and the world of us who want to get married. I'm still in more the brainstorming phase of my wedding so I don't feel ready for the surveys but I will say you have altered and empowered my point of view on weddings.. as well as organizing! I don't think I'm alone at all, looking at your blog. Well deserved, great news!
Yay, so glad to see the official announcement on here -- and so happy and excited for you about the book, which I know is going to be just terrific! I'm proud I was able to play a small part in making it happen :-)
I'll be buying the book and sharing it with all my newly-engaged friends, both male and female alike!
I think it's so wonderful that you are sharing your wedding wisdom with the rest of the world. I would buy your book for sure. You have inspired me to think entirely different about wedding planning. You've made it possible for me to have the wedding of my dreams without having to spend loads of money. Thank you for inspiring me! I can't wait for my fiancé and I to get married. I know the wedding will be beautiful!
I myself am so excited about the wedding planning process. I get excited when I share my wedding ideas with others. I myself want to share my wedding story. I hope to write a story about my wedding process. Maybe, I too can inspire others to have a differenapproachch to wedding planning.
There are so many women out their who engagedaged and then feeldisappointednted because their being told they can't have the wedding of their dreams. You've made it possible for all those couples out their getting married to think differently about how to plan a wedding on a budget. What I love is that your sharing your real wedding story. I've looked through wedding books in the bookstore and a lot of the books I've seen aren't very good. Most of the DIY wedding books stink. The advice they give is very general. It's things that people already know. They don't break down the cost of things, or explain what websites to go visit, etc. What I love about your website is that you go into detail about wedding planning and all the different ways a couple can save money on their big day. Most of those wedding books I've seen don't even do that.
If I hadn't come across your website I would still be in a funk and worried that I wouldn't get to have the wedding of my dreams. Now, I don't have to worry anymorfiancéfiance and I will be having the wedding of our dreams on a small budget! Thank you for your inspiration and I can't wait for your book to come out.
-Jodi :)
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