Update, Monday 5pm EDT: The giveaway is now closed. Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments and suggestions; I’m so grateful to have you as readers! Stay tuned—I’ll announce the winner in the next day or so. :)
A Milestone
I have some exciting news to share with you today: in the first year of publication, my book, The Joy of Less, has sold 20,000 copies! And I want to celebrate with you, my wonderful readers, because you made it happen.
You were the ones who bought my book, requested it from your library, and recommended it to your friends. You were the ones who reviewed it, blogged about it, and tweeted about it. You were the ones who embraced minimalist living, spread the word to others, and transformed it from a quirky lifestyle choice to a mainstream movement.
You were the ones who decided to dejunk, declutter, and live more lightly on this Earth—and used my book as a guide to do so. And for that, I’m eternally grateful to each and every one of you.
People are often surprised when I tell them I self-published The Joy of Less. Why did I choose the indie route? Because from the moment I finished it, I was so excited to share it with you—and the 12- to 18-month time frame of traditional publishing seemed a terribly long time to wait. Furthermore, minimalism was such an offbeat topic at the time, I didn’t think a publisher would touch it with a ten-foot pole (ironically, I’ve now heard from several interested in acquiring the rights). Finally, I wanted to make sure that the message stayed true—and wasn’t transformed into “buy more containers to organize your stuff.”
So this has truly been a grassroots effort. I haven’t had a public relations department, an advertising budget, or any of the marketing muscle of a traditional publisher. I’ve had virtually no coverage in major US media (just a brief mention in the Chicago Tribune). These sales weren’t driven by hype or promotional campaigns; they occurred quietly, one by one, by word of mouth (both online and off). I love that, and wish I could thank every one of you personally for your support!
Furthermore, it’s more than just the sales that make my heart sing—it’s the fact that 20,000 people are actually interested in minimalist living! 20,000 people want to reduce their clutter and consumerism, and are taking the steps to do so. How wonderful is that? It gives me great hope for a kinder, gentler, more sustainable future.
A Question
Now I have a question for you: what would you like to read next? Is there a particular aspect of minimalism you’d like to see covered in more depth? Or a topic related to minimalism that you’d love to learn more about?
If you could pick the subject of my next book, what would it be? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
A Giveaway
What would a celebration be without a giveaway? (Certainly not as much fun!) So if you haven’t yet read The Joy of Less, here’s your chance to win a copy (your choice of paperback or Kindle). Even if you’ve read it, perhaps you’d like to pick one up for a friend; it could make a great gift for the packrat in your life!
To enter, simply leave a Comment below (just one comment/entry per person, please!). If you’d like to leave a Comment, but don’t want to enter the giveaway, just note that in your post.
I’ll keep the giveaway open until this Monday, Sept 12, 5pm EDT. As always, I’ll use the random number generator at Random.org to choose the winner, and make the announcement next week. Please be sure to use a legitimate email address, so that I can contact you to obtain your mailing information.
Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart. I never dreamed I’d be able to make such an announcement (my original goal was to sell 1,000 books!), and I couldn’t have done it without you. Here’s to growing this community, this movement, and this commitment to a beautiful life with less stuff.
Best of luck to all who enter the giveaway!
Congrats! Good for you!!
I would love to win a copy.
Thanks for the chance.
Cheers!
Congrats on 20,000 sold! I have been pretty faithfully reading your blog for a little over a month or so and love it. Initially, I was inspired to rid myself of basement clutter and did. I donated lots and lots to people who might actual need the stuff. The place I get lost and overwhelmed is all of my kids stuff. I have a 4 and 2 1/2 yr old and seriously, I can’t bring myself to throw away pictures they draw and are so proud of (even when it is multiple pictures a day). I can’t bring myself to giveaway their favorite Little Mermaid toy (even though they have 3 of them). I don’t think you have kids, but this is a topic I could use some inspiration on :)
I would so love to win your book. Congratulations on your success, and thanks!
Funny that the prospect of a free give-away causes even minimalists to go crazy hunting for it! :D
However, I’m no exception as I haven’t read it yet.
Congratulations on 20000 sold copies! :)
I really loved your book! It’d be great to have a copy to loan to friends.
Wow, congrats! I would love to win a copy!
Hugs, Marlies, The Netherlands
Congratulations! I have really enjoyed reading your blog. I am currently working on simplifying
my wardrobe and read your blog about your simplified wardrobe too. I would love a free copy of your book. I am currently reading a great book, Little House On A Small Planet. Very inspiring. I would love another book on anything that is an alternative to how our society believes that working and having more is the right thing to do.
Thank you.
Congratulation. You deserve it. I would like a book with lots of pic. I am very visuel person and I find pics to be very motivating. I love your pics from your different appartment.
Anette (Denmark)
I would love to win. I don’t have a minimalist home or life at all, but I’m slowly embracing minimalism and at least embarking on the journey. Thanks for the inspiration.
Wonderful news! Congratulations! I have read your book and loved it. I read The Joy of Less as I was just embracing minimalism and it really helped me to think about “stuff” in a different way…particularly sentimental items. Please enter me into your drawing so that I can pass the book along as a gift (I can’t give mine away because I want to re-read it!!).
Hi Francine and Congratulations to you! How exciting…20,000 copies! Wahoo!
I am inspired every time I read both your book and your blog and grateful for the experiences and wisdom you share both from your life and others on a similar journey.
I would love to see you write a specific book about “Living” that includes your philosophies and ways everyone can experience a fuller life rich with experiences while living with “just enough” for their circumstances. I know you would do a fantastic job on reminding us all why we are trying to simplify in the first place.
Cheers!
Congrats! That’s wonderful! I’m so very impressed you self-published; I’m sure it felt like a daunting task. My own minimalism journey started when I was younger, but your blog and now your book have rekindled that ideal. I’d love to win one of your books!
I would love to read a book on how to inspire minimalism in your family… practical ways on how to get the husband and children on board! Perhaps including a collection of family projects to get put the ideas into practice.
Love your book. I first borrowed it from the library, then I bought a copy for my Ipad when I realized how timeless and timely your words felt. I wanted your words to support me in my minimalist venture always. Learning that you self-published your book is rather wonderful and even more inspiring. Love that you chose the route of self-loving investment and decided to bypass the potential compromises that accompany commodification. Makes me approve of the book even more!
I would love to win a copy!
Congratulations on selling the first 20,000! I really enjoy reading your blog. For your next book I have 2 suggestions:
1) explore the energetic aspects of minimalism – how it frees up energy on different levels, how too much stuff keeps you stuck, etc.
2) include lots of photos, whatever the aspect of minimalism you explore! or do an entire book on the visual appeal of minimalism.
There! I’ve shared a few ideas & now I’m hoping I win a copy of your book! :D
All these comments on a post from today. Well, the news is absolutely fantastic so it only makes sense.:)
Weeeeeeee! Woot! Woot! Doing the happy dance for you Francine. You’re going to be on the NYT bestseller list before you know it girl! I’m going to second Mike on the book idea. I’d also love to learn how to simplify and streamline work-related activities. I loved the small section on time management in The Joy of Less and wished it were larger when I read it.
Awesome! 20,000 copies in a year and waiting lists at the library. It doesn’t get better than that. (Gigantic smile and hug for you.)
I would love to win your book. After paying off all my debt (except the mortgage), I’m now working on getting rid of stuff and not introducing more into my life. It’s a slow process because I like to find good homes for things rather than just throwing it all out so it ends in a landfill somewhere!Sometimes it is difficult to stay on this path but I have found your posts very inspiring and keep me heading in the right direction.
I’m very impressed and happy for you. Clearly, you dedicated a lot of time and love to the book and you deserve to be very proud of your achievement.
Congratulations!!! on 20,000 copies sold. It would be so great to win a copy of your book.
Congratulations! You have the best blog on minimalism out there, in my opinion, and I would love to read your book since I’ve read through all your archives over the past several months! I love the pictures you post of your own home and of rooms that you think are beautifully minimalistic. I also love hearing from others about their journeys as they aspire to have more life with less stuff. Thank you!
Congrats! What a milestone!
I would love to win a copy of the book!
Francine, I appreciate the beauty of your writing. Thanks for this offer.
Hi, I have just discovered minimalism blogs and love them. They really inspire me. Don’t know if I can offer suggestions for another book since I haven’t read your first one yet. It is on my Amazon wish list though. My husband and I recently downsized and got rid of a ton of stuff but we run an antique business out of our home so it is hard to keep it uncluttered. I am working on getting rid of more of my personal and general household stuff. I love reading about how people get by with so little and I love to see other peoples homes, closets, drawers, etc. Maybe you could do a minimalism decorating book. Please enter me in your drawing!
Congrats on the milestone! I just love your blog and i continually check the catalog at the city library but sadly they havent yet added your book to their catalog – so I would LOVE to win a copy then donate it to the local library so the wonderful message of minimalism can touch more people!
Congratulations. I was introduced to this site by word of mouth and it remains one of my favorite resources on minimalism.
I think minimalist WARDROBE would be an awesome topic. In fact, I think that’s the google search that first led me to your site.
Congratulations on your publishing triumph!!!
Congratulations, Francine! For your next book, how about a compilation of all the highlights of your trips, similar to a diary. I would be interested to know if minimalism influences your choice of location. Does travelling reaffirm your love of minimalism? Is it sometimes hard not to come home with a box full of memories? Etc. Thank you for holding another giveaway!
Congratulations on your success! I’ve already read it from the library (minimizing, you know!), but I’d love to have my very own copy.
I would love to receive a copy of your book and pass it on to others who could surely benefit from it. I’ve been following your blog for, jeez, over two years now. I can’t believe it has been so long! Still learning where my hangups are and really enjoying learning about myself through this lifelong process. Congratulations on your success, Francine!
Congratulations!
And yes, I would love to win a copy of your book!
I enjoy your beautiful insights you give on your blog a lot but I also love to hear the stories of others. I think a bunch of maybe mainly similar but all a little bit different takes on the same subject is always interesting.
Congrats on the success of your book! You’ve tapped into a need that people have to simplify and declutter their lives in addition to their homes.
Congratulations Francine – that’s huge! I’d definitely love to win a copy of ‘The Joy of Less’. I’m right at the beginning of my journey towards a simpler, clutter-free life but your posts already go a long way towards inspiring me to find a little more energy every day to do a bit more, throw out one more item, put one more thing back on the shop shelves and walk away without buying…
THANK YOU!
Congratulations! I haven’t read your book yet, but I’ve been enjoying your blog for a couple of months and would certainly love to win the book. Thanks for the inspiration.
Congratulations. I’d love to win a copy of your book.
Congratulations on the success!!
I am 8 months pregnant and the “nesting” instinct made me discover your blog. Since then I have been reading it almost every day. It has already changed my life. My husband, daughter and I are just back from another trip to our local thrift shop and have donated so much stuff we did not use. We are taking baby steps toward minimalism, and your blog is full of inspiration – although I confess children’s toys are a difficult one. I try to keep organised but the toys seem to multiply.
I would love to win a copy of your book.
Karla, from Australia.
I have just discovered your website and enjoy reading your posts. I have not read your book but look forward to the opportunity. Congratulations!
Congrats! Love your book and would love to win a copy for a friend who desperately needs it!
The hardest part for me is the mental aspect, particularly, “I might need it some day.” I will go back and read the relevant chapter. Meanwhile, anything new you could add on that subject would be greatly appreciated!!
Congratulations on the 20,000
If anyone can not find the book in their local library, they should buy at least one copy and donate it-spread the word!
More on ENOUGH and Minimalist Philosophy
Congrats on the success of your book. I have not read it yet, but when I do I will suggest other topics I would like to read. Thank you for the inspiration.
Congratulations! I love your book. I read it on vacation this year, and couldn’t wait to begin paring down my belongings. Giving things away that I no longer love has brought me a great deal of joy, and sorting through my things has led me to find treasures that I forgot I owned and now enjoy using. I would love to win a copy of your book. Thank you for sharing your ideas – please continue to do so.
Hi,
Just started reading your blog recently and love the ideas you share. Congrats on your success, you deserve it. I would really like the chance to win a copy of your book, If I don’t win one I certainly will be buying one soon.
Jane
Congrats! I did buy your book and also loaned it to my neighbor. We were both inspired. Thank you.
I would love to win a copy of your book. I love your blog, especially the wardrobe posts. Minimizing clothing has always been a struggle for me!
congratulations! i thoroughly enjoy reading your blog but have not, as yet,read your book. thanks for all the wonderful
things you share that give me the motivation to simplify my life. i would love to win a copy of your book.
Congratulations! I think it’s great that you went the digital route so that people purchasing your book won’t have another physical thing in their lives as well :)
I just found your blog a couple of months ago and read the whole thing in a few day long marathon :). I haven’t read your book yet though and would love to. I’ve been slowly decluttering (freecycle, craigslist, thrift stores) for the past few years, but your blog finally motivated me to get rid of the stuff I thought I *should* keep but didn’t love.
Congratulations, Francine! I love your book and I’m not surprised that it’s a wild success – you have such a thoughtful, calm, buoyant writing style.
My suggestion for your next book? I would LOVE to read about your approach to minimalist travel. Not just about packing lightly, but about how YOU travel as a minimalist – how you decide where to go, what you do all day, how you apply a minimalist philosophy to experiencing the world, etc. I really enjoy reading your posts about this subject because I long for a life full of travelling, but I get so bogged down in the details and the worry (and the lack of time and money for travelling, of course! :)
Anyway, that’s my suggestion for a topic – but I’ll buy your next book no matter what it’s about :)
(By the way, I already have Joy of Less, so I don’t need to be included in the giveaway)
Thanks for all your wonderful inspiration!
Ashley
I would love to receive a copy!
Congratulations! I would also like to enter the giveaway. I have quietly followed your blog for a while now (not a big commenter), and put in a valiant effort a while back to find your book at the local library (to no avail). The chance to win a copy would be wonderful.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with the world!
Siobhan
Congrats of the sales miss m and keep the quality coming.
How about minimising our tech? With the number of gadgets, phones, laptops, desktops, operating systems, external drives, flash drives us ‘tech minded’ folks like to accumulate, what are our best options for streamlining them? Not a whole book, but surely enough to rate a chapter?
Michael