Local preservationist and author Sara McDaniel and her husband, photographer Hector Sanchez, celebrated their recent book releases with a joint signing Saturday, October 17, at Purvéy in downtown Minden.
McDaniel, founder of Simply Southern Cottage, recently released her first book, The Bright Side of the Other Side: Notes from a Soul Restored, through W Publishing, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. The memoir chronicles her journey through divorce, faith, healing, and restoration, drawing parallels between rebuilding her life and renovating a neglected 1926 cottage in Minden.
That first renovation led to numerous historic preservation projects throughout Minden and helped McDaniel build a social media following of more than 2 million across multiple platforms.
Sanchez, an interiors and lifestyle photographer, contributed the photography for Past Forward: Reviving an Old Southern House with Collections, Antiques, and Passion, a Rizzoli publication by Barbara Adkins. The book showcases the restoration of a historic Alabama home, its gardens, antiques, and collections.
The couple’s book signing offered a hometown celebration of their respective publishing projects, both centered on preserving and sharing the beauty and history of older homes.
