It’s Tuesday afternoon, which means it’s high time for some over-sharing (aw yeah, let’s talk about feelings, shall we?). The very first hot-off-the-presses copy of our book arrived via Fed Ex yesterday and it kind of melted my brain a little, I think.
We couldn’t stop beaming at it 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 that “crazy-pants excited” was my only response to seeing it there on the floor looking all real and book-like.
I’m also skeered. Really scared actually.
And since I’ve spilled my guts about 14 months of breast feeding, owned up to a bunch of my unglamorous $herdog quirks, and even a copped to a beyond embarrassing teenage moment caught on video with a certain platinum-haired rapper, I’m cool with dropping this whole “jittery sweaty-palmed fear is actively happening” truth bomb. I mean I think I can be described as a lot of things, but I wouldn’t call myself especially brave. I have normal insecurities and self-doubts and all that. The book is a really big thing, so it feels especially scary. And for some reason I thought that pouring my heart out in a little online ditty could be the emotional equivalent to owning it (and perhaps others who’ve struggled with similar things might chime in and make me feel less weird). So here it goes.
I think it’s one thing to keep an online DIY diary for the world to read for free, but somehow putting out a book that then exists in the universe forever feels a lot more intimidating. Sure it’s hardly a high-profile thriller or much anticipated non-fiction, but there’s something crazy about not just being able to toss up an update if there’s a sentence that’s unclear or a typo that sneaks through like we do on the blog. The words that we wrote in that manuscript back in 2011 are printed and soon they’ll be on a shelf. Lots of shelves. And it just feels a lot more weighty and permanent.
Plus people have to pay for it. We worked darn hard to keep the price down, and even though books are returnable or re-sellable (and we got on our publisher’s last nerve to keep that price down) it still feels a lot… bigger. More complicated than a blog post by about 500 percent. I mean it’s 336 pages long with 243 suggestions/tips/projects, so it’s sort of like secretly writing 243 different posts and then publishing them all at once for a fee and then not getting to update or edit them if anything about any of them calls for a little note. Wait, it’s not sort of like that, it’s exactly like that. Maybe that’s why it feels a lot scarier.
It was also pretty intimidating to plan the entire book over three years. Finalizing the outline a year and a half in advance (that’s when we pinned down every last project) and shooting all the projects nearly a year ago (in an epic three week marathon at our house where neither of us remember eating or sleeping) was definitely like nothing we’ve ever done.
It was nerve-wracking in that “what if we regret these color or fabric choices later?” kind of way.
I’ve even had nightmares that there were typos on every page, chunks of blank pages, and even a particularly vivid one about some fictitious magazine that somehow recreated every last one of our projects identically (same exact fabrics and colors!) and scooped us by publishing them before our book came out. Oh yeah, my brain can go a little nuts whirring away while I’m laying in bed thinking of all the ways this endeavor could make me want to crawl under the covers a la Burger:
But this little freak-out fest does have a silver lining. The thing that I feel the most – even stronger that the jitters and self-doubt – is actually gratitude and pride. Not “I’m an author, look at me” pride, just “wow we actually did this” pride. Sometimes I can’t believe that I somehow convinced myself (and John) to put ourselves out there and write a book. Knowing that just like our blog not everyone will love it, and that’s ok. Blogging has taught is that we can’t please all of the people all of the time, so we want to focus on the positive and amazing aspects of this experience. Whenever I’m feeling especially clammy I just remind myself that there hasn’t been a single book on the planet that was beloved by everyone who ever read it (some of my faves have 5-star reviews as well as 1-star ones) so that helps me let go of that “be perfect or you suck!” voice in the back of my mind. Imperfect = real life. Like this crazy seconds-from-a-paw-yank family photo from last week:
So you can find me hiding under the covers with Burger when I get that guts-in-knots feeling, but don’t get me started about how excited I am for the tour. I know meeting you guys will be awesome and I’m literally giddy with excitement to thank you guys in person for the love you’ve shown us. And speaking of the tour, they added four more signings! Woot.
You can see more general tour info on our book page (just click the tour dates button), but here’s the news that we have so far on the new dates:
- RIDGEWOOD, NJ: Friday, November 2, 7pm – Bookends, 211 Ridgewood Ave, book signing. More info here.
- WASHINGTON, DC: Saturday, December 1st, Time TBD – Living Social, 918 F Street, Talk, holiday crafting, and book signing. More details to be released here.
- RICHMOND, VA: Sunday, December 2nd, 1pm – Mongrel, 2924 W. Cary Street, book signing. Store information here.
- CHARLOTTE, NC: Early February. Other details TBD
*There’s also serious talk about an Atlanta stop while we’re nearby in Charlotte, so we’ll keep you posted! And of course other places like Philly & Cali are still being chatted about. We wish we had more control over what cities we’re hitting! It really is all about who invites us where (so it has nothing to do with how big a city is, it’s all about if a certain vendor or bookstore works with the dates/times/etc).
Anyway, thanks to you guys for being so excited and supportive about this whole crazy book journey! It’s kind of a big deal in our little lives, and you’re just the best readers ever. So in return we’re burning the midnight oil to churn out a bunch of projects for ya (even when we’re slipping through 20 cities we’ll be doing our best to blog at our regular pace, with lots of secretly stockpiled makeovers & projects of ours along with house crashing & window shopping adventures a plenty). Not to mention that we have another before-and-after-fest in the hopper for you tomorrow.
Not sure how to end this ramble-fest, so… word to your motha. $herdog out.
Shannon says
You Kill me! lol I was seriously laughing out loud at my desk with your closing sentence! Too funny!
I am so excited about your tour up to Toronto, Canada. I cannot wait to meet you guys! And just know that as proud as you guys are of all that you have done, your readers are as well! And we will support you by buying your book and compliment you by using your project ideas as inspiration in our own homes! Thank you Thank you Thank you!
Cady says
I’m sure it is very exciting and hugely scary to publish a book. But the bottom line is that you all did it! I can’t wait to get my copy and if this baby doesn’t come early, I’d love to see you all at the DC book tour. If this kid comes early and I’m in the hospital, maybe you can skype me in :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, done!
xo
s
Jillian says
Would LOVE for you guys to come to Philly!
rachael says
I’d mostly be nervous about leaving Burger and Clara and how tired you’ll be after all this travelling. I’m not American, so I don’t know the distance at all but are they all flights between each stop or driving?
YoungHouseLove says
Most of the flights are non-stop and there are some long drives, but just since we like them so we stuck them in for a change of pace from all that flying! Haha.
xo
s
Brenda says
I’m so excited to read this. I’m so excited to meet you both at the Twin Cities book signing. And I’m really excited to get inspired to make my little apartment homey and fun. Even if I don’t love every single project in the book, I just know there are going to be lots of fabulous ideas that I can tweak to make it work. I’m so excited for you both to see the hard work pay off as you get to meet fans and sell books!
Sarah says
So excited to see the time for the Dec 1st D.C. signing. Hoping I can make it! :)
You guys are great and the book will be awesome! Pre-ordered and not-so-patiently waiting for it!
Go Petersiks!
Megan says
Hey, I was (re)reading Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook the other night and found a typo. So even if you have one, you’re in good company.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! Thanks Megan!
xo
s
Julia @ Chris Loves Julia says
This made me all teary-eyed. We don’t know each other, but I feel like we’ve been to each other’s homes and now our friends wrote a book. That got published! And are going on a tour! And we couldn’t be happier for the Petersiks.
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet Julia. Man I love ya.
xo
s
Jennifer says
Big slobbery slurpy kisses to the person or persons who added Charlotte to the tour. I’ll be there with bells on…literally. That’s how you will be able to tell its me. :) So excited.
Beth @ BandBBuildALife says
A living social event! How awesome!! We’ll be there on Saturday in Cinci (woohoo roadtrip excuse!) but I’ll def be adding the 12/1 stop to my to-do list too! (The book I pre-ordered should be in my hands by then, so I can get that one signed too!)
I’m absolutely giddy for you guys! So glad you’re finally getting to bask in the baby-book-glow!
Krista says
another dc date? yessss!
:)
Kristin says
Love the page the book was open to! I recently did something like that to my backless media center with foamboard and wrapping paper – now it has a pretty back and the cords are all hidden!
Ashley says
TWO DC stops!! YES! I definitely can’t wait to see you and to get to buy your book!
Becky S. says
I don’t think anyone has asked yet, but how can we get tickets to the Mongrel event? I waited too long for your first event, and that won’t happen again!!
Thanks, and I just love you guys…your blog, your dog, your…hmmm, can’t think of a word for daughter that rhymes with blog…but love her too! You guys are awesome!!
YoungHouseLove says
I’m not sure if Mongrel will just be a line (no RSVP, but just cue up outside and it’s all good) or what- here’s hoping as we get closer we have more details!
xo
s
S'Mo says
Ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohpleeeeeeeeease let there be a stop in Atlanta! (If not, I supposed I’ll just have to drive over to Charlotte and meet you guys there!)
Also, I have already emailed my sisters a “Christmas Shopping Ideas” list that includes a copy of your book–let’s hope I’ve been a good girl this year…
angel says
That.
That right there.
The reason we love you guys.
No one is perfect, perfect is boring.
Keeping it real, honest and sometimes weird is awesome.
And yeah, having all sorts of emotions is normal!
Unless you’re robots.
Who is a ray of sunshine all the time? It’s cool you share the nerves and excitement, the joys and the sadness, the fun and the not-so-fun.
We love that.
Congrats on the book! Anxiously awaiting my copy.
Have a super fun tour!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Angel! You guys are the best.
xo
s
KLL says
I am a newspaper editor/reporter/photographer. I’ve been doing this job a long time
and I still have dreams about printing a blank front page or will wake up in the middle of the
night praying that I the headline reads “public schools hold open house” and NOT “pubic schools
hold open horse.”
I tell myself that’s entirely normal…so this sounds about right to me!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah! I kept joking that the cover of the book would accidentally say Young Hose Love.
xo
s
margie says
Ahhh I so hope someone picks you up in Philly!!!!
Dave Krajewski says
So after reading YHL for years now, I feel as if I already know you guys, so I am dragging my wife up to Toronto to meet you in person, and show you both some support! We live in a small suburb outside of Buffalo, NY, so that happens to be the closest stop. We were both pleased to see a sneak peak in Country Living we just got yesterday! Thanks for letting us in on your adventures, and we look forward to meeting you next month! If you are driving to the T-O, you have friends in the B-Lo just in case you need an architectural tour, dinner suggestions, or inside information on where to find the best soda(pop) shirts or ceramic animals! Best of luck to you two!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Dave! You’re so sweet! So excited to meet you guys.
xo
s
Jackie says
Embrace it, we are all excited. Friends of mine from different states you aren’t visiting have even been arranging for their books to be sent to me so I can bring them to get them signed. You are well loved and it’s all going to be fine.
Karlee says
Aw, this post was great! I have this horrible anxiety that when you guys come to Tacoma, WA super shy me is going to just throw my book towards you, not say a word and run away, hehe! Knowing you have nerves too makes me a little more at ease. :)
I can’t wait to get my hands on this book!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I promise I’ll win the awkward contest at any book event! Promise!
xo
s
Melanie says
YAY, DC! That’s close enough for me! I’ll be there!
Melanie says
I guess I should clarify – Yay that it’s on a weekend!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
Stephanie says
Nerves are normal. Nerves are what make us human. And your human-ness is what makes you guys great. You keep it real and it shows. $herdog & J-Boom keep it real! :)
Word to your mother! LOL. I have the urge to listen to 90s rap now.
YoungHouseLove says
Hah thanks Stephanie!
xo
s
Alicia Vargas says
Just pre-ordered the book today!!! So exctied, and can’t wait to get it. Congratulations!!!
Ms.C says
So proud of you guys! And on the “yep, I feel ya” front, yep, I feel ya. I’m a writer, too, and even on a 10″ story for the paper, I sit with my finger over the submit button for a while thinking, “What have I gotten wrong? What have I missed that’s super obvious and is going to make me hate myself tomorrow when I see it in print?” etc etc ad nauseum. Thank god for short deadlines so I HAVE to press send and trust my editors to a) fix what I screwed up and b) not screw it up worse.
So I appreciate hearing your angst as I can only imagine it’s exponentially larger than any publishing angst I’ve felt, this being a book and sooooo many many hours of hard work.
Hope it’s a huge success for you. You guys deserve all the love. Wish you could come by my house when you’re in Houston and help me troubleshoot the organization and microwave placement problems in my kitchen! Maybe you can add “House Helping” to house crashing? :D
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahah! I love that idea actually.
xo
s
Karen F says
I would so sign up for that!!
Ashley S. says
Do not be scared! People will love this book, and I know I will NOT be returning or re-selling the book. Well worth every one of those 25 dollars and I would have easily shelled out more money for this.
And the whole thing about people having to pay for 243 posts – look at like this – a lot of us are thrilled to get 243 new ‘posts’ to read all at once without having to wait to get them one day at a time.
It’s going to be fabulous!
Sarah says
I’m a signing at a restaurant be out of the question? I’m a manager at a great local pizza place in Atlanta.
YoungHouseLove says
Mmmmmmm, that sounds good to me! Wish I made the call- but it’ll all on the publisher to coordinate all the details/scheduling/travel, etc!
xo
s
Mollie says
As my dad always told me, “If you aren’t nervous, you don’t care enough.”
xo
YoungHouseLove says
That’s sweet!
xo
s
Emma (Broke Ass Home) says
It is completely reasonable to be nervous Sherry. The first time I had an article published the EDITOR, not me, put in like 20 typos while he was reformatting it. I was speechless and petrified that someone from a college that I was applying to might stumble upon what was supposed to be a big break, only to see that I couldn’t even spell the town I lived in.
You have thousands of fans who love your family and will happy curl up on the couch with a dog and a paintbrush figuring out their next weekend project.
Never fear! Your lovers are here! :)
Emily says
Book SINGING in DC?! Will it be Christmas carols or Eminem?? ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- just a typo! We meant signing. Haha.
xo
s
Christina says
Ohmygod, ohmygod!!!! You’re coming to Ridgewood!!! I KNEW
Esther says
First off, my two cents: Everything. Will. BE. Fine. I promise.
Also, I took this opportunity to follow the link to the Eminem post and finally watch the video! So many reactions – hilarious! adorable! you were the coolest and prettiest 17 yr old ever! how on earth did you seem so chilled interviewing a superstar?!? also, maybe its contagious, cause now you’re a superstar :)
YoungHouseLove says
Um, I think you were watching something else! I was a total nerd! Haha!
xo
s
Lindsey says
It is natural to be a bit scared – but I am sure the book will be as wonderful as your blog. Can’t wait to get my copy signed in Boston! :)
Karla@{TheClassyWoman} says
Thanks for sharing your feelings with us. I know how vulnerable one can feel sometimes when blogging never mind publishing a book that is available for eternity. I’m in a similar place right now too-just in the editing process myself.
I’ve been following your blog for as long as I’ve been blogging which is over 3.5 years. You guys are still the way I begin my day-I have a few must-read blogs daily. The reason I love your blog is not just the DIY projects but your ability to be transparent and well, “real” people instead of trying to be perfect. You have nothing to be scared of. You guys are already a huge success and your book will be also. We’re all just so darn excited to get your book into our hands because we KNOW it will be fabulous, just like you! ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, thanks Karla! You’re so sweet.
xo
s
Christina says
This is crazy!!! I KNEW you couldn’t leave us Jersey folk for long!!! I’m super excited about the Ridgewood tour date!! It means that I don’t have to trek all the way into the city!!!! :) I’m soooo excited, I’m literally smiling from ear to ear!!! :)
Kara says
Aw, Sherry, I have no doubt that the book will be great, because it’s you two.
Like you said a while ago, it’s not some toned-down or jived-up version of the two of you, it’s you. Minimally edited, but not changed. And that’s what your readers like, that’s why we keep coming back, and THAT’s why were sooo freakin’ excited to get our (my) copy and meet you at the book signing.
I have the Dallas date posted on my calendar and I am beyond! excited.
Camels & Chocolate says
This is so exciting! We’re in month three of renovating our 1899 home, so I love your blog on a whole different level now (and will definitely buy the book, no matter the cost!).
Though while you’re in Charlotte, and maybe Atlanta, you should hop on up to Nashville, too… =)
pen@new york nonsense says
As someone who works in publishing, I gotta say… take a deep breath and smile- this is going to be golden! I can’t wait to pick up a copy! And, seriously congrats! What a huge accomplishment and work of art come to life!
Kristen says
So, first of all, I am so excited for you guys!! If any of the stops were closer to where I am I would be there in a heartbeat. And probably get faint and sweaty palmed because I was getting to meet real-live celebrities. (You guys totally are, don’t deny it). Congratulations on this whole amazing-hectic-scary-exciting time.
p.s. Not to add fuel to your typo-in-the-book fears but, “we can’t please all of the people all of time,”. I think you forgot a “the” somewhere in there.
YoungHouseLove says
Hah, oops! Better get that back in there!
xo
s
ryan says
your fear of being “scooped” by a magazine makes me think you’ve caught 13 going on 30 on tv lately. poise vs. sparkle, was it? HA!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahah!
xo
s
Lissa says
You telling all of us how scared you are just reminds me once again of one of the reasons I have read your blog every day (minus weekends) for the last few years. You all are so genuine and real and that is one of the things that all of your “fans” love about you both. I am trying to finagle a trip to Cincy this weekend with my little one and will feel like such a big dork to meet two superstar DIYers but I will try to contain my nervousness!! Cannot wait to read the book!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Lissa!
xo
s
Steph says
So sad you won’t be in Germany :(
Jenna Braisted says
Congrats! I look forward to your blog every day and enjoy seeing what you’re up to and learning new things. The thing I love most about you and John is how genuine you are.
Reenie says
Woot Woot….can’t wait to get my copy…. even though you aren’t coming close lil ole’ Kansas. I’m still excited =)
Megan says
No need to be skeered, Sherry! I cannot wait for your book! I will be purchasing it in November at your Chicago book signing. I know for sure that I will be slowly gazing at each and every picture in your book and filling my mind with lots and lots of inspiration. You guys are awesome and will not disappoint :)
Ashleigh says
SO SO SO SO excited to see Charlotte! Ah! Already nervous about meeting you!
Karen F says
Sorry, didn’t mean to scoop you with my comment on this morning’s post :)
Of course it’s completely scary to put yourself out there in such a permanent way! But your blog has a huge following for a reason, and the book will be successful for that same reason – your creativity and your personalities, which shine through in your writing.
I still can’t believe you planned original content for the book, and for the blog while you’re on tour. Truly above and beyond, you guys. You’re are amazing and deserve all the goodness that’s coming your way! Looking forward to the book and even more forward to getting to meet you in person. (I hope I don’t cry – I do that sometimes when I’m happy/excited!)
Karen F says
and now MY typo gets to live on for eternity in my comment above! Just my way of trying to make you less nervous about typos…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! No worries Karen!
xo
s
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet Karen. Seriously, you guys are the best. You make me grin like a fool.
xo
s
Joy Franks says
Pre-ordering your book after work tonight!! Can’t wait to hold it in my hands. Mazel Tov!
Kristin says
Congratulations! Take a deep breath & shove that first child out of the nest…and blame any & all typos on the publisher. And I’ve gotta say that I think 3 stops in Texas is a bit much when so many states (Missouri!) are being neglected so far.
Ashleigh says
I’ll see you in Charlotte!