Tiny House Diaries
Tiny House Diaries is the real, sometimes ridiculous story of what happens when life forces you to rethink what you keep, where you live, and what actually matters.
It starts with being turfed out of a home, includes six months in a caravan with a dog and a parrot, and ends in a tiny house on wheels — with plenty of wrong turns along the way.
It’s honest, practical, funny in places, and quietly revealing in others.
If you’ve ever wondered how much space you really need — or why your stuff feels heavier than it should — this might be for you
Decluttering, Downsizing & Discovering What Matters Most
It’s about learning what actually matters — the hard way.
By moving house. Downsizing. Making mistakes — lots of mistakes. Living in a space so small that your stuff — and your pets — almost become physically attached to you.
This isn’t a “tiny house dream” book
I didn’t set out to live tiny.
I set out to find a home that felt right — and ended up questioning what I needed, what I owned, and who I thought I was along the way.
Tiny House Diaries tells the real story of leaving a familiar home, living in a tiny caravan, and eventually moving into a tiny house on wheels — and discovering that downsizing isn’t really about space at all. It’s about clarity.
Sometimes that clarity arrived gently. Sometimes it arrived with a metaphorical sledgehammer.
How it unfolded
What happens when you get turfed out of your home, end up living in a caravan no bigger than a garden shed with a dog and a parrot, and have to decide what parts of your life are actually worth keeping?
You laugh. You cry. You swear at the toaster.
And you learn a surprising amount about yourself.
In Tiny House Diaries, I share the real, unfiltered story of downsizing into a tiny home — from six months of caravan living, to decluttering decades of stuff, to the dramas (and small triumphs) of building a tiny house on wheels.
Along the way, my dog, my parrot, and I discover what really makes a home — even when it’s about half the size of a small apartment.
Tiny House Diaries – Raglan Book Launch Interview
At the book launch of Tiny House Diaries, I was interviewed about moving from apartment living to building and settling into a tiny house on wheels. That adventure includes the six months I spent living in a tiny caravan with my dog and parrot — along with more than my fair share of chaos.
You can listen to the conversation here.
Recorded live at the Raglan book launch, March 2026
What this book is really about
At its heart, this book explores what happens when your outer life changes faster than your inner one. When your stuff carries more history than you realised.
When decisions feel heavier than they should.
When every choice seems to ask a bigger question than you expected. It’s about letting go without losing your mind.
Making decisions without perfect answers. Learning which compromises matter — and which don’t.
And building a home (and a life) that fits who you’ve become, not who you used to be.
How the book is structured
The book is in three parts:
Part One: Tiny House, Big Story
My real, raw, and sometimes ridiculous journey — from apartment life, to caravan chaos, to tiny house living.
Part Two: Design, Decisions & Realities
The thinking behind the house and cabin — what worked, what surprised me, and what’s worth knowing before you dive into any building project.
Part Three: Tiny Tips, Huge Lessons
A curated collection of practical Tiny Tips covering decluttering, downsizing, storage, extras, and the things I wish I’d known earlier.
(Reality checks rather than rules.)
You don’t need to want a tiny house
You don’t have to change everything.
You don’t have to live tiny.
You don’t even have to start decluttering.
Learning what actually matters — honestly and imperfectly — changes how you live in whatever space you’re in.
You’ll enjoy this book if you’re downsizing, decluttering, moving, separating, rebuilding, or simplifying — or if you’re simply tired of your home feeling cluttered, unworkable, or not quite right.
You don’t need to be planning a tiny house.
And you don’t need to love the glossy perfection you see everywhere.
You won’t find building regulations, technical diagrams, or “throw everything out and feel instantly transformed” promises. What you will find is lived experience, humour, practical insights, and reassurance that clarity takes time.
What readers are saying
“A captivating read with many laugh-out-loud moments — and a really valuable resource for anyone thinking of decluttering, downsizing, or tiny living.”
“I have four other books plus my Kobo next to my bed and haven’t read any of them since picking up your book on Wednesday.
“It made me laugh, cry, and more. Well done.”
“Big dreams, tiny house — realised with tea, tears, and Steph’s trademark self-deprecating humour.”
"Steph’s writing style is authentic, genuine, and real, which is why I was captivated and drawn in. A couple of times, I laughed out loud as I imagined her in the journey from teeny tiny to tiny. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone in any sized house."
“Funny in places, emotional in others, and always real — with loads of tips to stop your dream becoming a nightmare.”
“A joy to read — even in the hard bits. A heartfelt journey with great life lessons and practical insights into tiny living.”
Want the extra bits?
The book couldn’t hold everything, so I’ve put together a free Tiny Toolkit with extra photos, practical resources, and useful things I wish I’d known earlier.
Get the Tiny Toolkit
One last thing
Tiny House Diaries is a warm, honest, and practical memoir about letting go, designing for real life, and finding freedom in less space — with humour, heart, and the occasional feathered opinion.
Tiny House Diaries is available worldwide in print and e-book through Amazon and Apple Books, and can be ordered by your local library, if they don't already have it.
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