When did we all stop believing in magic?
On my book deal + why thrifting now is more relevant than ever
I guess you’re out of your mind ‘til it actually happens.
That’s what I thought for the initial weeks spent pitching my book. I got either no response or something along the lines of, “We love the title, but don’t see a market for a new book about old things.”
But you know what? I did. I saw the world of thrifting and shopping for vintage absolutely blowing up every time I looked at social media. I saw a new crop of people — those who had never expressed interest in design before, or who hadn't spent decades in antique shops — suddenly picking up the habit.
And, finally, within a few weeks of pitching, I started getting bites and landed on a solid partnership. My book would be published and distributed nationally by one of the largest publishing houses in the world, and would be available at stores like Target and Barnes & Noble.
The day I got my book deal (which was at that scary point in the pandemic where we were lining up outside grocery stores and not leaving our homes), I got in my car, drove around my block a few times, cried my eyes out, and sang Katy Perry’s Daisies at the top of my lungs. Because it really felt like I had believed in magic for a long time, and now someone was believing in it with me. And hopefully, once the book was published, a lot more people would believe in it, too.
Fast-forward nearly two years later and publishing day is almost here. I am equal parts delighted and terrified. But I am confident that the idea I had two years ago is more relevant now than ever.
Not only are more and more people hitting up thrift stores to do their shopping, they’re sharing it via Reels, TikTok and YouTube — proving in real time that yes, there is a market for this idea. (Add to that the ongoing supply chain crisis and the fact that buying new furniture is just…not always easy, and you have another crop of people willing to learn a little bit more about thrifting.)
The point of all of this is to say that success always comes with struggle. That makes it sweeter, in a way. Because don’t we all kind of want our Pretty Woman moment?
Maybe a couple of years ago it didn’t seem like anyone would buy a new book about old things. But to pass on that idea now?
Big mistake. Big. Huge.
Recommended reading:
Chairish “took the measure” of Big Thrift Energy, chatting with me about my love for vintage shopping and what you can expect in the book. I’ll be hosting a Chairish webinar this Wednesday so sign up for that if you’re interested.
I spoke to writer Erika Veurink about the story behind my Goyard trunk (and what it represents to me) for her stellar newsletter, Long Live.
Sarasota Magazine also offered a fun run-down of BTE and outlined three tips to help you on your own vintage journey.
You can scroll to the 47:00 mark of WJCT’s First Coast Connect for an interview with me about the book.
PS. If you purchased the book online and write a review come publishing day, send me a message with a screenshot and I’ll mail you some BTE swag!
And I’ll leave you with this….