Edmonton Journal

DESIGN YOUR LIFE

Lifestyle guru takes tips from own book in realizing her dream

- SHELLEY BOETTCHER

Chapters In-Conversati­on and Book Signing, Chapters West Edmonton Mall (8882 170th St.), Sunday 2 p.m.-3 p.m.

A couple of days before home lifestyles guru Debbie Travis started doing interviews for her new book, her wallet was stolen. She was busy dealing with the hassle that comes with that: replacing her driver’s licence, credit cards, you name it.

But the annoying situation did little to stifle the sparkle that Travis has been renowned for throughout her 20-plus years as a lifestyle TV star and bestsellin­g author.

This fall, she released her latest book, Design Your Next Chapter: How to Realize Your Dreams and Reinvent Your Life (Random House Canada, $32.).

The new title is a self-help book of sorts, a guide to helping people who dream of making big changes in their lives. “It’s not about happiness. It’s about vitality — that’s different,” she says.

“Your kids knock it out of you. Married life can knock it out of you. Your job can, too.

“How do you get it back? And how do you go from that dream to the seed to living the consequenc­es?”

Travis herself is no stranger to reinventio­n. Born in England, she worked as a model for six years when she was younger. Then, when she moved to Canada, she started a paint and design business.

In 1995, she began hosting Debbie Travis’ Painted House, one of the first TV shows about decorating. The shows were syndicated around the world, and she quickly became an internatio­nal star. That led to several more series, including Debbie Travis’ Facelift and From the Ground Up, as well as books and product lines, including paint, jewelry, wine, even olive oil. The idea for Design Your Next Chapter began almost a decade ago when Travis herself needed a boost. She was giving a talk in front of 800 women, shortly after one of her TV shows ended.

The host asked her what she planned to do next, and she blurted out something she’d never discussed publicly before.

“I said I’m going to bring women to Italy, to walk through the olive groves and vineyards, to cook and drink wine and talk.”

She didn’t speak Italian. She didn’t own a place in Italy. But with true Travis energy, “I jumped in feet first,” she says.

Next year, 2019, will mark 10 years of hosting groups in Tuscany, where she and her husband now own a villa.

“Living in paradise, that’s rare, but you replace your day-to-day stress with other stresses, like wild boars in the garden,” she says with a laugh.

Not to mention the stress of a stolen wallet and writing books. “You have to have discipline, writing a book, or you’ll spend the entire time just looking in the fridge,” she says.

But in writing one, she hopes, she’ll help others follow their dreams.

“I hope women will write their notes in this book and really use it. It’s about finding what makes you smile again.”

 ??  ?? Debbie Travis is living out her dream by renovating an Italian villa. She has written a book to help others realize their dreams.
Debbie Travis is living out her dream by renovating an Italian villa. She has written a book to help others realize their dreams.
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