On the left is the cover of the original edition of my book on track plans for a spare room. On the right is the significantly upgraded second edition, which I will release next month.
Restoration is an uplifting concept. Whether it be a car, old photograph, or structure, there is something uniquely satisfying about taking something with “good bones but needs a facelift” and breathing new life to it from the ground up.
It never occurred to me until now, but the same concept applies to books in the form of second editions. Back in 2009, I published 8 Track Plans For a Spare Room. Your typical spare bedroom is the most common footprint I encounter in my job. Clearly, there is a need for plans for this type of space. The concept was sound, but being only my second effort, it was a little rough around the edges. I’ve learned a lot about design, layout construction, and publishing in the seventeen years since.
I’ve taken the first edition and put it in the shop for a total makeover, which includes:
-Four entirely new plans.
-Tweaks and re-designs of most of the original eight plans.
-Increased the page count from 50 to 80.
-Added commentary on space utilization.
On the left is one of the designs from the original book. On the right is the redesign for the second edition. The second version is leaner in terms of turnout count, cleaner overall, and has longer sidings to make operations run more smoothly.
The second edition is finished, but I’m going to wait until summer is over and release it in late September.