Taking a Risk on Something New
Whenever we take on something new, there’s always some risk. The “What ifs” can start to pile up, and soon, we’re sitting on the sidelines watching other people do what we knew we could do - if only we had been brave enough. Both in business and in my creative pursuits, I’ve been on both sides of this story.
In late September, I published "Home Again—A Restoration Story.” This book is about restoring a family home (built in 1885) and some of the discoveries made along the way. It features nearly 300 color photographs, stories, illustrations, and my mother's rosette recipe.
I visited the house often as a child. It belonged to my Great Uncle, and while it stood strong and the “bones were good,” it needed everything. So much so that I walked away from it, returning four months later with an offer. It was clear from the beginning that there was a lot of interest in the work I was doing, so I began capturing it daily.
While I wrote and told the restoration story through photographs and words, Dylan Rogers, my Rotary Scholar mentee and summer intern in 2023, drew beautiful illustrations for the book. Hallie Heuser, Creative Company's designer and account executive, took over the book's design in the fall. Jay Handy, a master printmaker and long-time friend, was commissioned in February of 2024 to create the cover image.
Ben Sefarbi and Tristan Geisking, both at the firm, edited the book. Craig Hadley, our in-house web developer, built the website, shopping cart, and shipping mechanisms. We squeezed this project in between client work and competing priorities but we got it done a little at a time.
It’s available now at www.homeagainappleriver.com and on Amazon. You'll save $10 if you order from the Home Again site though! The book can also be picked up at The Creative Company in Madison, saving shipping and handling.
Curating this work, capturing the best parts of small-town living, and writing these stories brought me joy. I hope you feel it when you read the book. I'm told the pages comfort the reader and make them smile!
Although Apple River is not my permanent residence, a part of me will always be there, and it's nice to go home again when I can and to celebrate life with friends and family around a table.
All of this came about because I had an idea that turned into a decision. That in turn became a plan to not only restore something important but to share the story with others. Cultivate your good ideas. That's where the magic happens. Stay with it even when it's hard. The rewards are there for those who dare.
All the best,
Laura
Laura Gallagher
President of The Creative Company
2021 Governor's Business Plan Winner, 2019 SBA Women in Business Champion of the Year,
Wisconsin Trailblazer, Author, Speaker