The Big Tiny: A Built-It-Myself Memoir (21 page)

I
’d like to acknowledge the following people and entities. Without them, there really wouldn’t be a book.

Paul Hawken, who inspired me to use words other than
tiny
and
big
, and to write absolutely from the heart. And to my friends and family, who have encouraged me and who haven’t seemed to mind that I sometimes suddenly have to stop what I’m doing so I can jot down what they’ve just said, scribbling madly on a piece of paper—slips of paper they’ll be happy to know are largely incomprehensible because I’m usually laughing too hard later to read my writing.

Many thanks to my editor, Sarah Hochman, at Blue Rider Press; David Fugate of Launch Books; and my co-conspirator at Portland Alternative Dwellings, Joan Grimm. And more thanks than there are sticks of wood in Oregon to Jenn Berney, who somehow was able to edit this book while raising two children, working a full-time job, making soup, chopping wood,
running a marathon, and making me understand that anything is possible . . . even, crazy as it sounds, writing a book.

And finally, deep bows to Hugh, Annie, Keeva, and Kellen, who have created a sense of home with me that has retooled my heart and made me . . . Me! Many blessings.

One final note: The events I’ve written about are real, but I’ve massaged the timeline a bit to accommodate the story. If you want the long-winded, properly timed version of things, you’ll have to take a road trip with me where we’ll both confess everything out of boredom and proximity.

Dee Williams is a teacher and sustainability advocate. She is the co-owner of Portland Alternative Dwellings (www.padtinyhouses.com), where she leads workshops focused on tiny houses, green building, and community design. Dee’s story has been featured in numerous broadcasts including
Good Morning America
, National Public Radio, PBS, MSNBC, CNN,
Der Spiegel
, CBC, and
NBC Nightly News
. She has also been profiled or featured in hundreds of online blogs and articles, and in printed media including
Time
magazine,
The New York
Times
, and
Yes!
magazine (cover story). A video of her day-to-day experience in the little house is currently on display at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., as part of the five-year exhibit
House and Home
. She lives in Olympia, Washington, with an overly ambitious Australian shepherd, and in the shadow
of her dear friends’ house.