When I started writing Hardanger Filling Stitches in October 22, I had no idea it was going to turn into the heavy tome it turned into.
For many years I have enjoyed working with Search Press who take my books to the rest of the world, other than Australia and New Zealand. I have complete control over the content and they know that I’m a bankable author for them.
In November 22, I had the pleasure of meeting the managing directors of Search Press when they came to Australia, having only emailed before. We discussed all things embroidery books, and I told them I was working on a new book: “Hardanger Filling Stitches”.
They asked me to send the book’s details as soon as possible, with a provisional cover (to be changed later) so that they could get it scheduled in their publishing program. I was writing furiously, and hoped to have it written quite quickly. After all, I didn’t have to go on a research trip for this book, which usually adds significantly to my research phase.
I didn’t expect the book was going to get as huge as it did. As it expanded, my delivery date to Search Press was delayed again and again. And each time, I felt like I was letting you all down.
But why stick with an advertised release date if it means the customer is going to get a half-baked book? It’s FAR more important to write the book well, and take the time that needs. And so, I took the time I needed.
This is why the release date started off in mid 23, then moved to late 23, and then early 2024 for some. Right at the end, there were shipping delays from the printer, which didn’t help either.
Let’s remember that behind those release dates, there was an actual, real person madly writing (& stitching, designing, illustrating) as quickly as possible. I worked HARD. (Overly hard, and I think that’s a big reason I’ve been unwell for 3 months now.)
If you feel you’ve been waiting forever, I assure you that you haven’t – it took less than a year for me to write, which is FAR faster than any other book I’ve ever written and it is a MUCH thicker book than any of my previous ones.
All the reviews coming in say that the book was worth waiting for. I hope you do/will agree!
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
All the work in writing a book is invisible to the reader, isn’t it! It’s absolutely the case that a good book, not quite when first expected, is better than a half-baked one!
So much is invisible! And when you’re doing all of it, like I am – not just the writing – there’s a lot to be done. It’s not like I write the words and hand them over to a publisher to make it into a book. The whole process of writing, illustration, photographing, laying out the pages and editing to fit the pages, is all done by me. Actually, I do wonder if that’s one of the reasons my books (in my opinion) work so well? Because they’re not all separate processes done by separate people.