The long-awaited design book from the New York Times bestselling authorshowcases the beautiful spaces behind Studio McGee and the tools needed for crafting them on your own.
Interior design superstar, bestselling author, and host of the EMMY-nominated Netflix’s series Dream Home Makeover, Shea McGee will release her highly anticipated design book, The Art of Home: A Designer Guide to Creating an Elevated Yet Approachable Home on September 12, 2023 with Harper Horizon.
Whether it’s through her thriving design business, Studio McGee, or her online community of over five million followers, Shea has shown the world how the principles of high-end design can be applied to any home on any budget. In her first-ever design book, Shea takes us through every room of the house, starting with an explanation of process and then guiding the way to a cohesive design for our entryways, living rooms, kitchens, offices, kids’ rooms, and even our utility rooms, balancing her signature aesthetic of sophisticated design and livable functionality.
“What I love about design is the opportunity to dream and then will that vision into existence,” said Shea. “I am passionate about sharing that ethos whether it’s through social media, my new Sessions on MasterClass, and now my latest labor of love: The Art of Home. Shortly after the release of this book in September, we will celebrate ten years of Studio McGee. The Art of Home is the culmination of all of that work. I am proud of the spaces we’ve designed over the years, as you’ll see on these beautiful pages, and to be able to share some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way so you can create a home that feels authentically you.”
In 2020, Shea and her husband Syd McGee released Make Life Beautiful, their New York Times bestselling autobiography which offered fans an insider and intimate look into how they built their business.
“Shea is a designer’s designer. Whether you are a professional designer or just a weekend aficionado looking for new ideas, this is the book for you. I can’t recommend it highly enough,” said Matt Baugher, SVP and Publisher of Harper Horizon.
The Art of Home is as functional as it is heart-stoppingly beautiful, and it will maintain a presence in your home for years to come. In a video shared on Studio McGee’s social media, Shea gave the first look at the upcoming new book.
Join Shea as she teaches us to dream and then shows us how to make it reality. The Art of Home is available forpre-order today here.
About Shea McGee:
Shea McGee founded her design firm, Studio McGee, with her husband Syd in 2014 and together with their team, she has designed hundreds of homes across the country. As their design portfolio and following grew, it paved the way for the launch of their e-commerce brand, McGee & Co., two years later. Their popular Netflix series, Dream Home Makeover, is entering its third season. With a vision that beautiful design can be approachable, they have become one of the leading innovators in the interior design industry. Their firm has become a premiere online retail destination and continues to share their light-filled aesthetic with millions.
About Harper Horizon:
Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint of HarperCollins Focus focused on the stories, values, and diverse voices of Americana and beyond, publishing authors such as Willie Nelson, Syd & Shea McGee, Zachary Levi, Meghan Trainor, Jenny Doan, Trae Crowder, Ellie Goulding, Luke Russert and more. For more information please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/Harper-Horizon.
The Emmy Award–winning journalist will offer an exploration of finding oneself and one’s place in the world in the face of crushing expectations and grief.
“Look for me there,” news legend Tim Russert would tell his son, Luke, when confirming a pickup spot at an airport, sporting event, or rock concert. After Tim died unexpectedly, Luke kept looking for his father, following in Tim’s footsteps and carving out a highly successful career at NBC News. After eight years covering politics on television, Luke realized he had no good answer as to why he was chasing his father’s legacy. As the son of two accomplished parents—his mother is journalist Maureen Orth of Vanity Fair—Luke felt the pressure of high expectations but suddenly decided to leave the familiar path behind.
Instead, Luke set out on his own to find answers. “I reached a crossroads in my early thirties where I felt empty and unfulfilled. I wanted to know why, so I set out into the world, hoping to feel something,” Russert said.
What began as several open-ended months of travel to decompress and reassess morphed into a three-plus-year odyssey across six continents to discover the world and, ultimately, to find himself. “The reward of travel was that it made me much more aware of my surroundings—the beauty of nature, the weight of history, and the common good of the larger human family,” said Russert. “It also forced out some hard truths about losing my dad, my relationship with my mom, grief, inadequacy, and ignorance.”
“There are times as a publisher that I’m fortunate enough to receive a page-turning memoir from an author who is equally nuanced and impactful. This is that book and Luke is that author. I can’t wait for the world to experience his story,” said Matt Baugher, publisher of Harper Horizon. The book has also received early industry praise with TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie adding, “In Look for Me There, Luke Russert traverses terrain both physical and deeply personal. On his journey to some of the world’s most stunning destinations, he visits the internal places of grief, family, faith, ambition, and purpose—with intense self-reflection, honesty, and courage.”
Look for Me There is both the vivid narrative of that journey and the emotional story of a young man taking charge of his life, reexamining his relationship with his parents, and finally grieving his larger-than-life father, who died too young. “This book shows the power of vulnerability. It’s something I felt and saw everywhere I went. Whether through faith or just a meaningful moment, when I became more vulnerable things became clearer,” Russert said.
For anyone uncertain about the direction of their life or unsure of how to move forward after a loss, Look for Me There is a poignant reflection that offers encouragement to examine our choices, take risks, and discover our truest selves.
Luke Orth Russert is an Emmy Award–winning journalist who was an NBC News correspondent from 2008 to 2016, primarily covering American politics. Since leaving broadcast journalism, he is the author of Look for Me There, a travel memoir about his three-and-a-half-year journey around the world that took him to more than sixty-five countries. Based in Washington, DC, he is the son of journalists Maureen Orth (Vanity Fair) and the late Tim Russert (NBC’s Meet the Press).
About Harper Horizon:
Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint of HarperCollins Focus focused on the stories, values, and diverse voices of Americana and beyond, publishing authors such as Willie Nelson, Syd & Shea McGee, Zachary Levi, Meghan Trainor, Jenny Doan, Trae Crowder, Ellie Goulding and more. For more information, please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/Harper-Horizon
The Grammy Award–winning singer will offer the TMI real talk women want about pregnancy, birth, body image, and the newborn days.
Today, Meghan Trainor surprised fans with big news during a pop-in appearance on the Today Show. While dropping by to exclusively announce the news of her first book, Dear Future Mama: A TMI Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, and New Motherhood from Your Bestie, she also announced that she is expecting her second child.
The chart-topping singer-songwriter behind “All About That Bass,” “Dear Future Husband,” and recent global smash “Made You Look” has wanted to be a mom since before she even knew how babies were made. From the moment she discovered she was pregnant with her first child—her son, Riley—she was fascinated by the entire experience. “I spent my entire pregnancy trying to get all the information I could possibly get. I was captivated by what I was experiencing, and as the first of my friends to be pregnant, nobody around me but my mom, my aunts, and strangers on the internet knew what I was going through,” says Trainor.
Dear Future Mama, which will be released on April 25, 2023, with Harper Horizon, is a heartfelt and humorous guide for expectant mamas and their partners inspired by Meghan’s own journey into motherhood. The book also offers expert insights from Meghan’s own personal trainer, registered dietitian, husband, and ob-gyn.
Yes, pregnancy and motherhood are miracles—but even a miracle can freak you out sometimes. Dear Future Mama offers future mamas a place to relax, laugh out loud, and get the pep talk they need to know that they are absolutely not alone. No shame, no judgment—just straight talk (and laughs) from a bestie who’s been there. Trainor shares her TMI guide to the good, bad, and WTF of conception, pregnancy, and childbirth. The book includes advice about everything from ovulation apps to breastfeeding as well as Meghan’s personal stories about body image, mental health, and navigating her career path as a mother.
“After feeling so overwhelmed and alone in my first pregnancy, I was inspired to write this book to make sure no other future mama ever felt like that.” says Trainor. “I want to give future mamas permission to find the right path for them —without the judgment of others. I want this book to feel like a hug from a bestie.” says Trainor.
Dear Future Mama will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook with Trainor narrating. You can pre-order today at harpercollinsfocus.com/dearfuturemama
About Meghan Trainor:
Meghan Trainor first made history in 2014 with her diamond-certified smash single “All About That Bass.” Since then, the award-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist has garnered a GRAMMY® for Best New Artist, achieved eight multi-platinum singles and two platinum albums, sold out three world tours, penned multi-platinum hits for peers across pop and country, and received countless industry awards and nominations. Expanding her influence on pop culture, she starred on FOX’s hit series THE FOUR: Battle for Stardom for two seasons and on the superstar coaching panel of The Voice UK alongside Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am, and Olly Murs. She kicked off 2020 with the release of her third full-length album, Treat Myself (Epic Records), which includes the platinum smash “No Excuses” as well as blockbuster anthems and collaborations such as “Nice To Meet Ya” [feat. Nicki Minaj], “Genetics” [feat. Pussycat Dolls], and “Wave” [feat. Mike Sabath]. At the end of 2020 she released her first-ever Christmas album, A Very Trainor Christmas, featuring the #1 holiday radio single “White Christmas.” In 2021, we got to watch her as the host of Top Chef Family Style on Peacock and as a judge on Clash of the Cover Bands on E!. In September of 2021 she also launched her podcast Workin’ On It which she hosts alongside her brother, Ryan Trainor. In 2022 Meghan released her fourth full-length album, Takin’ It Back, which takes you through her journey into marriage, motherhood, and achieving a new level of confidence. The album features colossal hit “Made You Look,” which has garnered over 300 million streams and become an internet sensation, being used in over 4 million videos on social media to date. She kicks off 2023 by joining the judging panel of the iconic star-maker series, Australian Idol, in its highly anticipated return to air. This year, Meghan will also be making her literary debut with Dear Future Mama, a humorous, unflinching guide to pregnancy and motherhood…..and more music to come soon!
About Harper Horizon:
Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint of HarperCollins Focus focused on the stories, values, and diverse voices of Americana and beyond, publishing authors such as Willie Nelson, Syd & Shea McGee, Zachary Levi, Meghan Trainor, Jenny Doan, Trae Crowder, and more. For more information, please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/Harper-Horizon
Just in time to help you kickstart healthier habits in the new year, global superstar Ellie Goulding is releasing her first U.S. book, Fitter. Calmer. Stronger.: A Mindful Approach to Exercise and Nutrition with Harper Horizon. In this attractive, full-color book, Gouldingshares her tips for making simple changes in your daily routines that not only help combat anxiety but also add up to foundational changes in the way you approach health and well-being.
Ellie Goulding is a multi-platinum selling, award-winning and critically acclaimed singer/songwriter. Now, after years of inspiring fans with her love of fitness and wellness, Goulding shares her favorite recipes, workouts, and training principles. Drawing on her own personal experiences, as well as the advice of friends and experts like Ant Middleton, Fearne Cotton, and Katie Taylor, this book will help you develop a positive mindset and establish clear, achievable goals. Going far beyond diet and exercise, the book equips readers with tools and techniques that they can use every day to build a fitter, calmer, stronger version of themselves. This means prioritizing self-care and flexibility and approaching wellness from a perspective that is sustainable—one that doesn’t leave you feeling like you’ve failed and, most importantly, allows room for fun and creativity.
Fitter. Calmer. Stronger. will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. You can pre-order today here.
About Ellie Goulding:
To date Ellie has garnered two BRIT Awards, two GRAMMY Award nominations and a Golden Globe nomination. She has sold over 18 million albums and 140 million singles and amassed 23 billion streams worldwide. With over 50 million followers combined on her social platforms, she also earned YouTube’s Diamond Award with 10 million subscribers on her YouTube channel and over 5 billion views globally. Her forthcoming anticipated new album, Higher Than Heaven, will be released February 3, 2023 on Interscope Records.
Alongside her incredible music career, Ellie is a long-standing activist and philanthropist who uses her platform to engage young people with global issues. In 2017, Goulding was awarded the UN’s New Voices Award, and in recognition of her wider activism became a goodwill ambassador for UN Environment. Earlier this year, Goulding also became a TIME100 Impact Award winner and shortly after, announced her ambassadorship with the WWF.
Ellie’s passion for music and activism is matched by her dedication to health and well-being. She enjoys boxing, running, yoga, and many other activities. Her first book details her philosophy for a happier, stronger you and approaches fitness holistically, prioritizing happiness and flexibility above all else.
About Harper Horizon:
Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint of HarperCollins Focus focused on the stories, values, and diverse voices of Americana and beyond, publishing authors such as Willie Nelson, Syd & Shea McGee, Zachary Levi, Meghan Trainor, Jenny Doan, Trae Crowder, and more. For more information please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/Harper-Horizon.
HarperCollins Focus:
HarperCollins Focus, LLC owns and operates a collection of publishing imprints, that enlighten and empower readers to transform their hearts and minds, connecting through story, advice, mentorship and community. The company is based in Nashville, TN. For more information go to www.harpercollinsfocus.com.
When US Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor sacrificed his life by throwing his body on a live grenade to save his comrades during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he inspired thousands around the world and reminded us that freedom is never free.
On September 29, 2006, Michael Monsoor and three SEAL snipers watched vigilantly for enemy activity from their rooftop post in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. When a grenade thrown from insurgents bounced off Michael’s chest, he could have escaped. Instead, he threw himself onto the live grenade, shielding his fellow soldiers from the immediate explosion. Michael died thirty minutes later, having made the ultimate sacrifice.
Today, on the anniversary of the day that Michael gave his life, Harper Horizon announces the release of the compelling biography that highlights his legacy.
Defend Us in Battle is cowritten by Michael’s father George Monsoor, who is himself a Marine veteran, and Rose Rea. It also includes a foreword by Dr. Donald C. Winter, former Secretary of the Navy. Through interviews, military documents, and eyewitness accounts, the authors detail Michael’s remarkable military career and devotion to God and others. The book highlights how Michael prepared for this selfless act all his life—a life that will inspire readers to have a similar generosity of heart.
Michael grew up a quiet boy in California, but his childhood of asthma and being bullied made him a staunch defender of justice and passionate about never quitting. It was because of that passion that he achieved his dream of becoming a Navy SEAL and saved numerous lives throughout his deployment. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Michael received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart for his years serving his country. But his greatest legacy is in the hearts of those he inspired to live, and even die, for the sake of brotherly love.
“Michael Monsoor was an exemplary SEAL—a man of great integrity, a skilled warrior, and a loyal teammate. That loyalty led to his willingness to sacrifice his life for his teammates.”
—Dr. Donald C. Winter, Secretary of the Navy, 2006–2009
About Harper Horizon:
Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint of HarperCollins Focus focused on the stories, values, and diverse voices of Americana and beyond, publishing authors such as Willie Nelson, Syd & Shea McGee, Zachary Levi, Meghan Trainor, Jenny Doan, Trae Crowder, and more. For more information please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/Harper-Horizon
About GeorgeMonsoor:
George Monsoor is Michael’s father and a Marine veteran. He was born in Wisconsin and moved to Southern California at an early age. He is the father of four children, including Michael, along with nine grandchildren. He has spent more than five decades in the business and entrepreneurial fields and continues to reside Southern California.
About Rose Rea:
Rose Rea has worked with high-end regional and national publications for fifteen years, including founding her own, which she has since sold. She is also the creator of the coffee-table book Spirit and Life. She is a SEAL wife and mother of six children and resides in the South.
As Told by America’s Foremost Outlaw Country Troubadour, Me and Paul Chronicles the Adventures of Willie and His Longtime Drummer, “Closest Friend” and Guardian Angel Around the World and Across the Decades
Me and Paul: Untold Tales of a Fabled Friendship
Willie Nelson’s revelatory new book, Me and Paul: Untold Tales of a Fabled Friendship, invites the reader to meet Paul English, Willie’s longtime drummer, “closest friend” and combination bodyguard / guardian angel who shared and often shepherded the behind-the-scenes real-world comedy, drama, tragedy and transcendence that come with the territory of a career like Willie’s.
Willie first immortalized Paul English with the hilariously-detailed road song “Me & Paul.” Penned for the drummer in the early 1970s, the song became the title track for Willie’s 1985 studio album and a fan favorite in his live sets. “I’ve got this song that begs to be a book and a book that begs to read like a song–a long, romping ballad of sweetness and scandal bridging seven decades of friendship,” Willie has said, and now, Me and Paul: Untold Tales of a Fabled Friendship fulfills the promise of that song.
For 70 years, Paul English was a towering figure in Willie’s life and career. From serving as the steady musical heartbeat in the band to acting as the gun-toting bodyguard and tour accountant who made sure the band got paid for every show, Paul always had Willie’s back. From their earliest meeting, Willie and Paul had an intuitive understanding of each other and the kind of music Willie Nelson was meant to create.
Written in Willie’s direct and inimitable narrative style, Me and Paul: Untold Tales of a Fabled Friendship is the career-spanning journey of one of the great buddy teams in American literature and show business, with Willie and Paul not unlike Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn (or maybe Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis). The pair shared an unbroken bond that lasted until Paul’s death at 87, on February 11, 2020. According to Willie, “There’s something about my friendship with Paul that reminds me of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Tom was more civilized and Huck was wilder. Although I was plenty wild at age twenty-two, I’d have to say Paul was wilder. Like Tom and Huck, though, we became a team. Nothing could or would ever separate us. If someone tries to tell my story without putting Paul by my side, don’t bother reading it.”
“In 2020, my closest friend left me. Into the infinite abyss,” Willie writes in his introduction. “The mission of this book is to bring him back…. Why were Paul and I so devoted to each other? Good question. That’s another reason I wrote this book—to show the mystical connection between me and Paul…. It was like I knew him before we ever met. And now that he’s gone, he’s still here. He still knows me. He still lives in my heart and in the hearts of everyone whose lives he touched. Another thing about Paul: I owe him big time. The man saved my life more times than I can remember…. It’s been said that a good friend knows all your best stories, but a best friend has lived them with you. Well, that was us…. In the Willie Nelson Family, he stood in the center. I was the front man of the band, but he was the front man of my life. He was the papa bear, the big brother, the wise uncle, the money man, the bag man, the dealmaker, the sharpest shooter, and the kindest heart.”
Willie Nelson wrote Me and Paul: Untold Tales of a Fabled Friendship with Grammy-winning music journalist/biographer/author David Ritz, who collaborated with Willie on It’s a Long Story: My Life and Me (2015) and Willie and Bobbie Nelson on Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band (2020). In his preface, “A Note from a Ghost,” Ritz explains how the new book differs from Willie’s previous memoirs: “Me and Paul is not straight autobiography. This is something different, a collection of tales–some short, some tall–told by Willie Nelson and his best friend, Paul English….”
Me and Paul: Untold Tales of a Fabled Friendship tracks the rise of Willie Nelson’s career from the obscurity of Fort Worth in the 1950s through the seedy clublands of Dallas in 1963 to the challenges of Nashville, the allure of New York and Hollywood (Paul appears in Willie’s 1986 movie, “Red Headed Stranger”), launching the Outlaw Country revolution, founding Farm Aid (Paul served as Farm Aid’s treasurer for many years) and much more.
Paul and Willie first played together in Fort Worth in 1955; Paul became Willie’s regular drummer in 1966 and an essential member of the Family. Four of the performances on 2021’s The Willie Nelson Family–“Heaven and Hell,” “Kneel at the Feet of Jesus,” “Laying My Burdens Down” and “Family Bible”–are among the last recordings Willie made with his longtime drummer and best pal.
About Harper Horizon:
Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint within HarperCollins Focus, publishing nonfiction literature across a number of categories, including self-help, memoir, health and wellness, cooking, and other inspirational topics that reflect the values and cultural diversity of America’s Heartland. Harper Horizon exists to empower the minds of readers to all things possible, whether that is learning a new skill, building community, improving the environment, or having the courage to embody their beliefs. Learn more at www.harper-horizon.com. Previous Willie Nelson book titles to be released through Harper Horizon include Willie Nelson’s Letters to America and Me and Sister Bobbie.
About Willie Nelson:
With a seven-decade career, Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor, and activist. He continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force. In recent years, he has delivered more than a dozen new albums, released a Top 10 New York Times’ bestsellers book, again headlined Farm Aid, an event he co-founded in 1985, been honored by the Library of Congress with their Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, received his 5th degree black belt in Gong Kwon Yu Sul, headlined the annual Luck Reunion food and music festival during SXSW, launched his cannabis companies Willie’s Reserve and Willie’s Remedy, and graced the covers of Rolling Stone and AARP The Magazine. In July 2020, Willie released his album First Rose of Spring – an atmospheric soulful showcase of beautifully-written songs and poignant performances. September 2020 brought a memoir with his sister and pianist Bobbie Nelson titled, Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of The Family Band. For 2021, he released a new studio album in February —That’s Life, Willie’s second album of standards and classics made famous by Frank Sinatra (his first, 2018’s My Way, earned Willie the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Solo Album). In June 2021, a collection of his thoughts on America, family, faith and music hits shelves as a new book titled Willie Nelson’s Letters to America. In November 2021, Nelson released the new studio album, The Willie Nelson Family, a collection of country gospel-flavored songs performed by Willie’s Family Band. In April 2022, he released another new studio album, A Beautiful Time, which includes a variety of newly-written future pop-country classics including five new Willie Nelson/Buddy Cannon compositions. These creative endeavors as well as new songs and performances that add to his classic catalog, find Willie Nelson rolling at an artistic peak, writing and singing and playing with the seasoned wit and wisdom that comes from the road.
Series of bonus bookstore events to provide in-depth look at Willie Nelson’s Letters to America with co-writer Turk Pipkin
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, June 2021 – Book lovers and Willie Nelson fans alike will be eager to take part in a slate of multiple events from Harper Horizon in anticipation of Willie’s forthcoming book, Willie Nelson’s Letters to America (Harper Horizon, June 29, 2021, ISBN 9780785241546).
To coincide with the book’s launch, the 92nd Street Y, known for curating world-class cultural events and conversations, will host Willie Nelson in an exclusive interview with Apple Music Country radio host and journalist Hunter Kelly. The in-depth conversation, part of the “From Nashville” series, will offer an intimate and exclusive look into the stories and letters found in Willie’s newest book. Tickets for the event are priced at $40, which includes a copy of the book.
Harper Horizon, in partnership with Texas Monthly and fan-favorite bookstores, will also host five additional opportunities for readers to engage with the book.
First, Turk Pipkin will take part in a Facebook Live hosted by Texas Monthly on June 15. Joined by Texas Monthly editor, John Spong, the event is free and will be shared on Willie Nelson’s Facebook page. Turk will provide a behind-the-scenes look at how the book came together as well as details on what it was like working with the American legend.
Then Turk will be featured in a limited number of virtual events at bookstores to share stories from the book and take questions from readers. Each store is running a sweepstakes in conjunction with the event offering a limited number of Willie Nelson signed copies. Dates of the free events are listed below. Pre-order your copy today.
For the June and July events with bookstores, click here to preorder and learn more.
Willie Nelson’s Letters to America is a collection of intimate letters from Willie delivered with the same humor and poetic phrasing millions have come to love. In the letters, Willie shares his thoughts on America’s past, present, and future, his closest family members, and his personal heroes. The book also features Willie’s reflections on many of the classic lyrics that made him famous and loved by fans worldwide.
Willie Nelson’s Letters to America everywhere books are sold. More details on the book can be found at WilliesLetters.com.
For reviews, excerpts, and media interviews, contact:
With a seven-decade career, Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor, and activist. He continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force. In recent years, he has delivered more than a dozen new albums, released a Top 10 New York Times‘ bestsellers book, again headlined Farm Aid, an event he co-founded in 1985, been honored by the Library of Congress with their Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, received his 5th degree black belt in Gong Kwon Yu Sul, headlined the annual Luck Reunion food and music festival during SXSW, launched his cannabis companies Willie’s Reserve and Willie’s Remedy, and graced the covers of Rolling Stone and AARP The Magazine. In July 2020, Willie released his album First Rose of Spring – an atmospheric soulful showcase of beautifully written songs and poignant performances. September 2020 brought a memoir with his sister and pianist Bobbie Nelson titled, Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of The Family Band. For 2021, he released a new studio album in February —That’s Life, Willie’s second album of standards and classics made famous by Frank Sinatra (his first, 2018’s My Way, earned Willie the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Solo Album). The two legends were friends, musical colleagues, and mutual admirers of each other’s work. This June, a collection of his thoughts on America, family, faith and music will hit shelves as a new book titled Willie Nelson’s Letters to America. These creative endeavors as well as new songs and performances that add to his classic catalog, find Willie Nelson rolling at an artistic peak, writing and singing and playing with the seasoned wit and wisdom that comes from the road.
ABOUT TURK PIPKIN:
A longtime friend and golfing buddy of Willie’s, writer, director and actor Turk Pipkin has appeared in numerous feature films and played a recurring character on The Sopranos. A contributing editor to Texas Monthly, he has also written for television and is the author of eight previous books.
ABOUT HARPER HORIZON:
Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint within HarperCollins Focus, publishing nonfiction literature across a number of categories including self-help, memoir, health and wellness, cooking, and other inspirational topics that reflect the values and cultural diversity of America’s Heartland. Harper Horizon exists to empower the minds of readers to all things possible, whether that is learning a new skill, building community, improving the environment, or having the courage to embody their beliefs. Learn more at www.harperhorizon.com.
In upcoming book, Tiff’s Treats’ Tiffany and Leon Chen share secret ingredients to their success and challenges overcome in building a brand on the brink of national expansion
AUSTIN, TEXAS, February 2, 2021 — Tiff’s Treats, the beloved Austin, Texas-based brand that created the warm cookie delivery concept, today announced its founders Tiffany and Leon Chen have signed a book publishing deal with Harper Horizon, an imprint of HarperCollins. The book will inspire entrepreneurs and dreamers with the unlikely story of how the two took Tiff’s Treats from $20 and a college apartment kitchen to a rapidly growing brand with millions of customers, $85 million in funding and a valuation in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
“We are very excited to work with Harper Horizon to bring you the story of Tiff’s Treats!” said Tiffany Chen, co-founder and president of Tiff’s Treats. “From 19-year-old college students starting in our apartment kitchen to where we are today—over 1,600 employees and 64 locations and growing—Leon and I can’t wait to share with you all of the highs, the many lows and plenty of misadventures along the way.”
In their first book, the Chens prove the American dream is still achievable with a behind-the-scenes look at how they built a first-of-its-kind on-demand delivery concept while juggling college classes, hustling for years to earn a profit, adding marriage and twin children to the mix, and eventually, introducing warm cookie delivery to new markets across the U.S. The book will detail some of the couple’s favorite “warm cookie moments”— Tiff’s Treats’ true magic, the moment of human connection and happiness their warm cookies facilitate—with customers over the years. And to the thousands of cookie fans who have requested recipes or drooled over Tiff’s Treats’ cookie beauty shots: the book will not disappoint. For the first time ever, the Chens will share homemade versions of some of their recipes, inspired by Tiff’s Treats’ most popular Flavors of the Week.
“At Horizon we look to partner with authors who share the mission and values of our imprint: hard work, collaboration, and a willingness to dream big and give back. Tiff and Leon embody all of these characteristics – and more. We are proud to be partnering with them on their first book project,” said Andrea Fleck-Nisbet, Publisher of Harper Horizon.
The Chens say they hope that sharing the joys they’ve experienced and the challenges they’ve overcome during their journey to success will motivate others in pursuit of their big dreams. The book is scheduled for release in early 2022, with pre-orders starting this year.
Tiff’s Treats delivers classic baked-to-order cookies and brownies from more than 60 locations across Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and soon, Oklahoma, and plans to continue opening stores throughout the U.S. The business has raised nearly $85 million in the last five years by firms such as Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital, Pixiu Investments, CIC Partners and Capstar Partners. In addition, Tiff’s Treats has received recent investment from basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki and fashion designer Kendra Scott, as well as tennis star Andy Roddick and actress Brooklyn Decker, long-time Tiff’s Treats fans who came on board as brand ambassadors in 2018.
About Harper Horizon
Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint within HarperCollins Focus, publishing nonfiction literature across a number of categories including self-help, memoir, health and wellness, cooking, and other inspirational topics that reflect the values and cultural diversity of America’s Heartland. Harper Horizon exists to empower the minds of readers to all things possible, whether that is learning a new skill, building community, improving the environment, or having the courage to embody their beliefs. Learn more at www.harper-horizon.com.
About Tiff’s Treats
In 1999, Tiffany Taylor accidentally stood up Leon Chen for a date. As an apology, she baked and delivered a batch of warm cookies, and the concept of warm cookie delivery was born. Tiff and Leon, just 19-year-old sophomores at The University of Texas at Austin at the time, opened Tiff’s Treats with $20, a cell phone and a dream. Since then, the business has grown to 64 stores in Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, with more than 1,500 employees, baking hundreds of millions of cookies since the company started. The founders are now married and the business continues to grow, but Tiff’s Treats has the same core mission: creating memorable moments through classic, baked-to-order cookies and specialty desserts from high-quality ingredients, and delivering them straight from the oven to the home or office, warm, in about an hour. Customers can order online, with the Tiff’s Treats app or by phone, all supported by industry-leading technology and top-notch customer service. The charitably-minded company continually gives back with hundreds of thousands of cookies per year donated to nonprofit organizations and most store opening celebrations benefiting a local charity. To date, Tiff’s Treats has donated well over $1 million in products and funds to charitable organizations. To learn more, please visit www.cookiedelivery.com.
Harper Horizon has secured the US rights to publish and distribute Zen Mamas: Finding Your Path Through Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond as a must-have parenting resource from Teresa Palmer and Sarah Wright Olsen. The book will arrive in US stores on April 6, 2021—just in time for 2021 Mother’s Day celebrations.
As the co-founders of Your Zen Mama (YourZenMama.com) — one of the most popular and trusted parenting sites worldwide — Palmer
and Olsen have established a loyal following with their highly personal and
delightfully entertaining expressions of motherhood. In Zen
Mamas, Palmer and Olsen offer readers the
essential parenting knowledge they’ve collected over the years, sharing their
personal struggles, joyful moments, and hard-won realizations. In addition to advice
from their lived experiences, the book features keen insights from expert
mentors addressing topics such as prepping
for pregnancy all the way through birth, the first twelve weeks with your
newborn, and figuring out the kind of parent you want to be long term. Whether
it’s dealing with fertility challenges or pregnancy loss, riding out a long and
complicated labor, or juggling multiple kids (and work!), these mamas have been
through it—and have written a gorgeous book to help readers find their own zen
on the journey of parenthood.
Teresa Palmer is a mother of three, Bodhi,
Forest and Poet, and stepmother to Isaac. She has starred in many major films,
including Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge, for which she received an
AACTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and Ride Like a Girl,
the biopic of trailblazing Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne. She is
currently starring in the Sky series A Discovery of Witches while
running the plant-based wellness brand Lovewell.
Sarah Wright Olsen is a mother of two, Esme and
Wyatt, with a third baby on the way. Sarah has starred in many TV shows and
movies including Mad Men, Parks and Recreation, The
House Bunny, American Made, and most recently, Spinning Out on
Netflix. Sarah is also the co-owner of a plant-based organic skincare line for
the whole family, bāeo.
Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint within HarperCollins Focus, publishing nonfiction literature across a number of categories including self-help, memoir, health and wellness, cooking, and other inspirational topics that reflect the values and cultural diversity of America’s Heartland. Harper Horizon exists to empower the minds of readers to all things possible, whether that is learning a new skill, building community, improving the environment, or having the courage to embody their beliefs. Learn more at www.harper-horizon.com.
Imprint signs 11 new authors to join its growing roster
(Nashville, Tenn.) January 16, 2020—Just five months in to its inaugural year, Harper Horizon has successfully signed eleven author agreements, one content partner, and twelve new projects to its growing list. Debuting the imprint’s first two releases in 2020, Harper Horizon will publish Make Life Beautiful by Syd and Shea McGee (October 2020; ISBN 9780785233879) and Walk Through This: Harness the Healing Power of Nature and Travel the Road to Forgiveness (November 2020; ISBN 9780785238652) by Sara Schulting Kranz.
Syd and Shea McGee are the powerhouse couple behind Studio McGee, the fastest-growing interior design studio in the country. In their book, Make Life Beautiful, they share their insights and wisdom on how classic interior design principles can be used to build an authentically beautiful life. For their one-million-plus fan following, Syd and Shea share an inside look into how the couple transformed Shea’s small room of fabric samples and big dream of becoming a designer into a successful interior design business.
Life and leadership coach Sara Schulting Kranz offers readers a step-by-step handbook on how to reconnect with nature to heal, in her book, Walk Through This. Kranz writes to give readers the inner courage they need to overcome setbacks and will help them develop the tools needed to build a life of fulfillment and purpose. As a certified wilderness guide, Kranz specializes in helping those who have suffered hardship or trauma to find forgiveness and strength in their lives, through guided wilderness retreats in locations like the Grand Canyon and the Pacific Rim. In November 2019, a documentary was filmed about the author’s guided trips, and will be released in 2021.
“Our debut fall titles perfectly reflect Horizon’s mission and showcase authors who not only have great stories to tell but are actively working to make our world a better place,” said Andrea Fleck-Nisbet, publisher of Harper Horizon. “Make Life Beautiful from Syd and Shea McGee tells the story of the couple behind Studio McGee, using aesthetic design principles to inspire readers to lead a joyful, authentic life. Walk Through This from Sara Schulting Kranz is a roadmap to forgiveness and healing that will teach readers how to harness the power of nature as a tool for personal well-being.”
In addition to these two projects slated to hit the market in the second half of 2020, Harper Horizon has finalized additional publishing agreements with:
Linda Johnson Rice, former CEO of Johnson Publishing, owner of Ebony and Jet Magazine
Tim Storey, nationally sought-after speaker and life coach, and often featured guest on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday
Naomi Davis, content creator behind the popular blog, Love Taza
Molly Galbraith, founder of Girls Gone Strong, global online movement of 800,000+ women
Zachary Levi, actor (Shazam!, Chuck, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and mental illness advocate
Nicole Lynn, one of the youngest African American, female sport agents
Kristina Cho, San Francisco-based cook behind the delicious recipes at EatChoFood.com
Katie Russell, cancer survivor, advocate, and sport enthusiast featured in MLB for Mom documentary
Fatherly, the leading digital media brand for dads
“At Horizon we are building our catalog from the ground up. This means we have the opportunity to be intentional about the projects and partnerships we develop,” continues Fleck-Nisbet. “It’s been such a joy to bring on a diverse group of talented authors, each with an inspiring story to share and valuable skills and knowledge to impart to their readers.”
About Harper Horizon: Harper Horizon publishes a broad base of nonfiction literature across categories including memoir, how-to, biography, self-help, health and wellness, lifestyle, and other inspirational topics that reflect the values and cultural diversity of America’s Heartland. Harper Horizon works to empower the minds of its readers to all things possible whether that is learning a new skill, building community, improving the environment, or having the courage to embody their beliefs. Working with authors who are writers, actors, activists, chefs, bloggers, fitness professionals, advisors, or field experts, Harper Horizon is about creating connections and exploring today’s world. The imprint is part of HarperCollins Focus and based in Nashville, Tenn. For more information about Harper Horizon, please visit www.harper-horizon.com.
partner, and twelve new projects to its growing list. Debuting the imprint’s first two releases in 2020, Harper Horizon will publish Make Life Beautiful by 