We promised a full post about the book-deal process back in March when we first announced our upcoming book. It’s taken a while to write because we’ve been deep in the trenches actually writing the 260+ page book, juggling the bambino, keeping the blog updated, and managing all the projects that go with those things. Thanks for bearing with us. Many readers asked how the whole process unfolded — a few years ago we wouldn’t have known how to navigate book proposals, agents, and publishers — so here’s a clear timeline of how it happened (with photos of Burger conveying our moods):
- Roughly two years after we started blogging, a few agents and independent publishers reached out about a potential book deal.
- We were thrilled — we love writing and sharing projects — so we explored the idea.
- We asked John’s sister, who works in publishing in New York, for advice. She helped us vet the initial contacts and suggested waiting for stronger offers.
- We held off and went about our regular lives for a while.
- About six months later, a reputable NY/Boston agency (Zachary Shuster Harmsworth) contacted us. John’s sister confirmed they were highly recommended, and we jumped at the chance.
- We began working with an agent to create a book proposal — the document agents send to publishers to pitch a book.
- A proposal is substantial — usually 70–150 pages — and starts with an outline, an introduction, a conclusion, and a clear explanation of why the book is unique and appealing. It’s essentially your case for publication.
- It took us about a year to craft our proposal. We revised it repeatedly until we were proud of the direction and tone; we wanted to pitch something fresh, fun, and confident.
- When our agent felt the proposal was ready, she began pitching it to editors.
- She later took maternity leave, so another agent in the agency continued the pitching process. It was nerve-wracking but exciting — a real whirlwind.
- The agency pitched our proposal to around twenty publishing houses; seven expressed interest and participated in an auction. We expected one or two, so seven felt astonishing and surreal.
- Publishers then submitted bids during an auction. Each bid described their editorial vision, anticipated format (big coffee-table book versus smaller, more affordable handbook), proposed advances, and royalties.
- Learning which houses favored large, expensive formats and which offered a collaborative, boutique approach helped us choose the right partner. We preferred a hands-on publisher that valued collaboration and an approachable price point.
- We ultimately chose Artisan/Workman. Workman is a well-known publisher; Artisan is a smaller, boutique imprint that manages fewer books with close editorial attention. They understood our vision: a fresh, fun, affordable book full of practical ideas and great photos rather than an expensive coffee-table tome.
- Artisan/Workman offered a two-book deal, which felt hugely encouraging — an indication of faith in our work beyond the first title.
- About eight months ago we signed the contract and publicly shared the news. Then we dove into writing the full manuscript.
- After roughly seven months of intense writing, while still maintaining the blog and caring for Clara, we submitted a 100+ page manuscript outline. With tutorials and photos added, the final book should reach 260+ pages.
- That hand-in happened a little over a month ago. We’re now preparing for the photography and layout phase: fleshing out tutorials, working on the book’s structure, and shooting projects with a professional photographer.
- We’re also coordinating with a few guest contributors whose work we’d love to feature.
- Becoming an author is a full-time endeavor. Balancing parenthood, the blog, and a book simultaneously has been intense, but incredibly rewarding. When the book work wraps, we’ll probably collapse into a long nap.
- The book is slated for release in fall 2012, though occasional chatter suggests a spring 2013 date. Publishing timelines are long — even with most content already created — because of photography, layout, and production work.
Conceptually, the book is an idea book: a compilation of more than 250 ways to show your home some love. Our working title is Spruce: 257 Ways To Show Your Home Some Love, though the exact number may shift as we finalize projects. We designed the book to be informal and approachable — a volume you can flip through, pick any project, and adapt it to your own home and style.
This isn’t a technical decorating manual full of step-by-step staging theory. Think of it as a spark: a starting point packed with ideas. Some projects are simple and free; others are more involved and may require saving up. In short, it’s the blog in book form — more than 250 ideas with photos, checklists, tutorials, illustrations, sidebars, and our usual dorky commentary.
Nearly all content in the book will be new — original projects, photos, and illustrations — not recycled blog posts. Some concepts will overlap with blog themes (like painting furniture or reupholstering a bench), but we’re executing fresh takes on those ideas so the book feels new and inspired.
To anyone considering publication: we highly recommend working with an agent. Their guidance through contracts, timelines, and negotiations was invaluable; we can think of many moments when having representation was a lifesaver.
Have publishing tips or experiences to share? Tried self-publishing? Any stories about writing a book to tell? We once tried writing a humorous pet-naming proposal years ago, but it fizzled out when we realized how much work it would require — maybe someday we’ll revisit it. For now, we’re focused on finishing this book and sharing it with you.
Update — We often get questions about professional blogging: how we built the site, grew an audience, and turned it into a full-time endeavor. We’ve shared those details in another post about how we started a blog and grew it into a career.