The second edition of my book is officially OUT! It's been shipping from Amazon for a couple weeks, but I'm getting reports of it appearing on the shelves of bookstores now too, which is very exciting.
This Saturday I'm doing a reading at Elliott Bay books in Seattle. I'm super hoping to meet some of you there — won't you please come and meet me and Megan? And Dre and Tavi will be there too!
- Date: Saturday, March 6, 2010
- Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Location: Elliot Bay Books (101 South Main Street, Seattle WA — one of their last readings before moving to the new space!)
Ladies, bring your grooms-to-be! I've got a few Altar Your Thinking Tees in men's sizes to give away!
Now, for those of you who aren't in Seattle, I've got a favor to ask of you...
The new edition isn't that different from the old book — new cover, new subhead, new introduction, new chapter on budgeting. But I'm SO much happier with the new cover, which features an illustration by Donna Wilson of butterflieskiss, who did the illustrations that have graced this here website for the last year or so. I have to admit, I'm sort of smirky that the book was redesigned to match the website. See, when the book first came out, I barely had any control over the cover design. Not that the old cover was bad, but the photo was stock photography. The bride on the cover was just some random model who posed for some German photographer who sold the image to a stock house. Nuthin' special.
But this time? Since the website has grown so much, the book was designed to match offbeatbride.com, instead of the other way around. GO NEW MEDIA! WOOHOO! And Donna's illustration just makes for a MUCH lovelier cover — don't you agree?
Anyway, I've been such a fan of the reader photos I've gotten over the years of folks with my book. Now that the second edition is out, I'd love to get photos of y'all with the new cover! Submit 'em to the Flickr pool — I can't wait to see. 
Oh and PS: I'll be in San Francisco next month, so if you're in the Bay Area, COME!
About Ariel Meadow Stallings
Author of Offbeat Bride: Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides, Ariel acts as the publisher of all the Offbeat Empire websites. She lives, loves, and dorks out hard in Seattle, WA.
jx Ü said
Hope it's wonderful : ) – sorry I can't be there!
any chance of a Boston reading? after all, it's a great town and Cape Cod is awesome and if you want to vacation here, you could actually make it a business trip and therefore a tax write off and – that way we all get to meet you and Dre and Tavi … well, maybe someday
Aurora said
I second this motion! Just think: being in the first state in the union to legalize gay marriage, and reaching out to all the lesbian OBBs in your fan base who were some of the first in the GLBTQ community to enjoy all the legal privileges that marriage provides! Think of the things you could do for your book! Think of the things you could do for gay rights! Exciting, no?
Eliza said
I would love to come, but the Netherlands is júst that little bit too far away..;-)
Ann D said
I'm totally going to be there, but will have to duck out pretty quickly to get ready for a… wait for it… wedding.
beaugirl said
Ariel, I've been an avid (though quiet) follower of yours for the last 2.5 years (married March 2008), I recently gave away my copy of your book to an engaged friend, and ordered the new edition for my brother and his fiancee in CA. I wish like hell I could be at your reading on Saturday, but I'll be out racing a sailboat on the Sound (I know, poor me). Best of luck with the reading!
Jenaca said
My local bookstore FINALLY got it in stock, I'm assuming once they sold out of the first edition they just never ordered more, but they have the new one in now! I'm so excited, I'm picking it up in an hour.
Quinn Russell said
YEA! I will be there with my little family in tow! Excited to hear you read!.
Sara said
I am on the East Coast, so will not be able to make it, but I did want to let you know that I just got the new edition this week and I'm almost done with it and I loooooove it! Initially I wasn't going to get it (i have the website! what more could i need?!), but one of your posts (or someone's) about the second edition changed my mind. And it couldn't have come at a better time (i have makeup ideas but i can't find a dress! they're all the same! i'll just go naked! freak out! ahhhh!!!). It's so nice to have and I love your writer voice (so much like my own in some ways), and the advice and support throughout has been fantastic- it's like having a rectangular friend to carry around.
So thank you thank you! And good luck at your reading! 
Sabrina said
Good luck for your reading! Man I wish I could be there
Heather said
It's a good thing that my parents and sister are in vacation in Florida right now, because it isn't in the Canadian bookstores yet!! I'll have to get mine imported!
channamasala said
Good luck with the reading! Once I am in a county where I don't have to pay $30 for shipping I plan to buy the book.
The new cover looks fantastic!
Somewhere, though, deep deep deep in my id, I have a wish that the next edition will feature a bride on the cover who is not wearing white…
Katie said
I may have to buy a copy. I had the first edition but I loaned it to a friend who got engaged shortly after me and she seems to have "forgotten" to give it back.
Sigh, I guess that's just the risk you run when loaning out such a great book.
Ramona said
Thought this might cheer you up… as midded as I am: my copy seems to have been stolen from my work desk!!!