a book is a baby. a baby is not a book.

October 6, 2015

simple matters by erin boyle book proofs But books and babies both take a while to find their way to you.

There’s that early period of waiting. The same semi-hopefulness that burbles somewhere at the very top of your belly but that you mostly try to ignore because, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. And maybe the time’s not right. And do I even know what I’m doing? 

And then suddenly it happens. One minute you are all stomach flutters and wondering, the next you are doing it. There’s a date on the calendar. A deadline. A lifeline? In any case, this is it. Here we go. 
simple matters by erin boyle book proofs
Babies and books are not all apples to apples, but writing a book in the year after I had a baby made me realize that my experiences in welcoming both into the world weren’t so very different.

To be sure: my manuscript did not need to be fed, or changed, or rocked to sleep (that was me). But it was demanding of its parent in other ways. It required patience and understanding and it certainly kept me up at night. But it also gave me moments of intense, quiet joy.

Like a baby, a book is, in part, a tiny shared secret. It shifts and changes and grows into itself without anyone really seeing it at first. The parent—and writer—bears witness to the miraculous process of the child coming into herself. But there are moments when even the writer cannot see precisely what this book-child will end up like. So different than the practice of writing a blog post between breakfast bites and sending it off into the world by lunchtime, writing a book meant working on whole chapters before anyone else at all would read them—and a whole year and half before many more people than that. simple matters by erin boyle book proofsBut we’re rounding the finish line. It’s time to start planning the baby shower book party.  It’s time to begin sharing bits of the secret. Time to put the final touches in place. To prepare for this labor of love (and sweat and tears) to make its way on out into the wide world. We’ve still got a few months to go—the release date is January 12, if you’re the calendar marking type—but I approved the final proofs of Simple Matters last month. They came on a Wednesday afternoon in the midst of me having an existential crisis over my Twitter strategy (non-existent?), my website fonts (serif or sans?), and what the heck we were going to have for dinner (chili?). Put another way: a perfectly average late-afternoon mid-week.
simple matters by erin boyle book proofs
The pages arrived via messenger, in the same padded envelope that all of other passes came in, but these ones were real. The pages were thick. The images were crisp. It was thrilling and—yes—a little intoxicating to take it all in. After months of looking at the blurry print-outs of my pages, I’d forgotten that the final pages would have sparkly photos and clear black and white text. I forgot that it would be small enough to hold in my hand. That when printed and bound they’ll create a book to snuggle up with.

I gave my stamp of approval for pages and cover. The cover had needed flowers, and so I bought cosmos and snapped early morning photos while there was still a bit of light. Now the cosmos are on the cover and it’s here for you to see. I know we’re not supposed to judge books by their covers, but of course you will. I hope you like it. 
simple matters by erin boyle book proofs Working on this project has been such an incredible honor. Simple Matters is a book about hopefulness. It’s about carving out the time and space for things that matter and getting rid of everything else. It’s about paring down and finding the essential. But it also acknowledges that we’re human: flawed and imperfect but still mostly capable of changing the world around us for the better.

I’m hoping that in it I’m able to share bits of wisdom that I have learned from living in small spaces and much larger spaces. I hope that for many of you it’s something to nod along to, and that for others it offers a bit of inspiration, a bit of encouragement. I think it will appeal to city folk and country folk. I’m sure it has something to offer fresh-faced idealists moving into their own spaces for the first time, and other things to offer veteran homeowners in need of a fresh start and a nudge in a new direction.

I’m terribly excited for you guys to read it. More soon.

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37 Comments

  • Reply debbie October 6, 2015 at 8:04 am

    Already on pre-order with Amazon here in the UK – I cannot wait! x

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  • Reply Rita Tocta October 6, 2015 at 8:28 am

    I’ve already pre-ordered too 🙂 excited!

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    • Reply Erin Boyle October 6, 2015 at 10:45 am

      Wheee!!!

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  • Reply Norma October 6, 2015 at 9:59 am

    I’ll be reading it!

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  • Reply Bridget October 6, 2015 at 10:04 am

    Will there be a release party that your readers can attend?!

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    • Reply Erin Boyle October 6, 2015 at 10:45 am

      Working on it!

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  • Reply Shuang October 6, 2015 at 10:09 am

    SO stoked to read your labor of love! 🙂

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    • Reply Erin Boyle October 6, 2015 at 10:45 am

      Thanks so much, Shuang!

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  • Reply Christine October 6, 2015 at 10:09 am

    Congratulations, lady! Your success is so well-deserved, and I’m so looking forward to reading this.

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  • Reply Jessica October 6, 2015 at 10:37 am

    Definitely already pre-ordered, and I can’t wait to read it! Congratulations; what a wonderful feeling it must be 🙂

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    • Reply Erin Boyle October 6, 2015 at 10:45 am

      Thank you, thank you!

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  • Reply Samantha October 6, 2015 at 11:22 am

    I’m so excited for this! Definitely asking for this book for my birthday (which is the day before your release date )

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  • Reply Melanie October 6, 2015 at 11:25 am

    How exciting!! I can’t wait to read your book!! I’m been a long time reader and I’m so excited for you!!! Best wishes with the finishing touches & launch!! =)

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  • Reply Leslie C. October 6, 2015 at 12:55 pm

    Joy! Joy! Joy! Looking forward to this, Erin.

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  • Reply Jen October 6, 2015 at 1:39 pm

    Pre-ordered it and can’t wait to read it!

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  • Reply Kari October 6, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    Definitely going to have to ask for this for a belated Christmas present. Can’t wait.

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  • Reply Leslie Bulion October 6, 2015 at 1:52 pm

    Thrilled in all ways!! Congratulations, Erin!!!

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  • Reply Megan October 6, 2015 at 1:58 pm

    I’m so excited for your book! It looks beautiful! Can you tell me where you found that lovely white vase in the photos above?

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    • Reply Erin Boyle October 6, 2015 at 2:06 pm

      Thank you! It’s a vintage ironstone pitcher! Lots of them on Etsy if you’re on the hunt (though garage sales are a good source too!)

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  • Reply Elizabeth in Paris October 6, 2015 at 3:02 pm

    Oh, how exciting! I’ve pre-ordered from Amazon in the UK to be delivered here in Paris!

    I love what I can see so far – so clean and fresh! And your new website design is just lovely…and that’s coming from a former website designer! Congratulations, Erin!

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  • Reply Kaolee October 6, 2015 at 4:31 pm

    I’m looking forward to reading it!

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  • Reply Kelly October 6, 2015 at 6:22 pm

    So excited for you; love your reflections on the very curious and interior process of producing something like a book. Have pre-ordered and can’t wait to hold this thoughtful collection of words and images in my hands!

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  • Reply Becks October 6, 2015 at 8:45 pm

    Can’t wait! Love the blog and can’t wait to see the book!

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  • Reply Janet October 6, 2015 at 8:50 pm

    The cover is lovely, and so representative of you! I’ve also pre-ordered, and can’t wait to have it in my hands.

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    • Reply Erin Boyle October 7, 2015 at 11:16 am

      Thank you, thank you!

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  • Reply abby October 6, 2015 at 8:50 pm

    Getting so real! So exciting Erin!!

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  • Reply Inga October 6, 2015 at 9:29 pm

    What a wonderful and touching text to read. I love your blog and get a lot of inspiration out of it ( I bought little mason jars to rearrange my spices today) so I am definitely going to buy your book. Are you going on a little tour? Probably not, because of your little daughter. But if you do, please come to Portland,OR.

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    • Reply Erin Boyle October 7, 2015 at 11:16 am

      Will work on it!

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  • Reply Archana October 6, 2015 at 10:34 pm

    Erin,

    I hope you get a kindle version of the book. I live in a tiny apartment too and cant handle incoming paper books.

    – Archana.

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    • Reply Erin Boyle October 7, 2015 at 7:41 am

      Hi Archana! There definitely will be—just still a little early yet!

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  • Reply thefolia October 7, 2015 at 1:23 am

    Cheers to Simple Matters…if only we could all embark on this path, what a wonderful world it would be. Happy hoping!

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  • Reply Lexie October 7, 2015 at 3:51 am

    Brava!!!!Already preordered.

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    • Reply Erin Boyle October 7, 2015 at 11:15 am

      Yahoo!

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  • Reply Carole Chevalier October 7, 2015 at 7:43 am

    Congrats on the book! I can’t wait to read it 🙂

    I’ve been following your blog for quite a while now and it will be great to have a book with loads of your clever tips and advices all in one place! And by the way, I love how simple and beautiful the cover is.

    (please please tell me that you ship in UK)

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    • Reply Erin Boyle October 7, 2015 at 11:15 am

      Yes, indeed! It’s even available for preorder on Amazon in the UK right this minute!

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  • Reply Christina October 8, 2015 at 5:10 pm

    Yes! Yes! Yes! I can not wait!

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  • Reply Sarah October 14, 2015 at 11:28 am

    So cool! I’m looking forward to reading it soon! Congratulations on your bundle of joy. 🙂

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