It’s Tuesday afternoon, and that means it’s time for some honest oversharing. Yesterday a fresh, hot-off-the-press copy of our book arrived via FedEx, and seeing it in person honestly made my head spin a little.
We couldn’t stop smiling and saying things like, “It’s real! It has pages! It has a cover! It has our names on it!” But I’d be lying if I said excitement was my only feeling. I’m also really, genuinely scared.
I’ve already shared awkward and personal moments here on the blog — from 14 months of breastfeeding to embarrassing teenage stories — so it feels right to admit that I’m jittery, sweaty-palmed, and nervous about this book. I don’t consider myself especially brave; I have everyday insecurities and doubts. Publishing a book feels huge, and part of me assumed that writing about that fear online might make it less scary, especially if others who’ve felt the same chimed in. So here it is: the truth bomb — I’m scared.
Keeping a free DIY blog for the world to read is one thing; putting out a printed book that will sit on shelves forever feels far more intimidating. A blog post can be updated or corrected in an instant. The manuscript we finished in 2011 is now printed and permanent. Seeing those words bound into a 336-page book with a cover made it feel weightier — more final.
There’s also the reality that people will pay for it. We fought hard with our publisher to keep the price low so it’s accessible, but a book still feels bigger and more complicated than a blog post. This one contains 243 tips, suggestions, and projects — basically 243 posts rolled into a single volume — and once it’s printed we can’t go back and tweak anything. That permanence makes it feel a lot scarier.
Planning the book took years. We finalized the outline a year and a half before publication and pinned down every project long before the photoshoot. We shot everything nearly a year ago during an intense three-week marathon at our house that neither of us remembers much of — there wasn’t time for sleep or proper meals. It was an experience unlike anything we’d done before.
There were plenty of nervous moments — “What if we regret the color or fabric choices?” — and even a few nightmares. In my head I’ve imagined typos on every page, blank sections, or some imaginary magazine copying our projects exactly and publishing them first. My brain can spiral while I lie awake, picturing all the ways this could go wrong.
When I get overwhelmed I hide under the covers with Burger and breathe. Those anxious moments are real, but they’re balanced by something even stronger: gratitude and pride. Not a boastful “I’m an author” pride, but the amazed, humbled feeling that we actually did this. We wrote a book, and while not everyone will love it, that’s okay. Blogging has taught us we can’t please everyone, and learning to be okay with that has helped quiet the “be perfect or you suck” voice in my head.
Imperfect equals real life. Here’s a perfect example: a chaotic family photo from last week where Burger nearly pulled a paw and ruined the shot — imperfect and authentic.
While I’ll still hide out with Burger when nerves strike, I’m also ridiculously excited about the book tour. Meeting readers in person will be amazing, and I can’t wait to thank everyone face-to-face for their support. We just learned that four more signings were added to the tour, which is thrilling.
Here are the new dates we can share so far:
- RIDGEWOOD, NJ: Friday, November 2, 7pm – Bookends, 211 Ridgewood Ave, book signing.
- WASHINGTON, DC: Saturday, December 1st, Time TBD – Living Social, 918 F Street, talk, holiday crafting, and book signing.
- RICHMOND, VA: Sunday, December 2nd, 1pm – Mongrel, 2924 W. Cary Street, book signing.
- CHARLOTTE, NC: Early February – details TBD.
There’s also serious talk about an Atlanta stop while we’re nearby in Charlotte, and other cities like Philly and spots in California are being discussed. Tour locations depend on invitations, vendor availability, and scheduling, so we wish we had more control — but we’re doing our best to make as many stops as possible.
Thank you all for your excitement and support throughout this crazy book journey. It means the world to us. We’re working late nights to keep producing new projects for the blog, even while we travel through dozens of cities. Expect more makeovers, projects, house crashes, and window-shopping adventures — plus another before-and-after feature coming tomorrow.
Not sure how to sign off, so I’ll keep it simple: thanks for being the best readers. $herdog out.