Cornerstone Press signs TikTok star K C Davis in 48-hour pre-empt

Cornerstone Press has signed a “gentle guide to cleaning and organising” from licensed therapist and TikTok creator KC Davis in a 48-hour pre-empt.  

Editorial director Anna Argenio acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to How to Keep House While Drowning from Alexis Hurley at InkWell Management. The newly launched Cornerstone Press imprint will publish in hardback on 28th April 2022 as a lead title, alongside Simon Element in the US. 

“How to Keep House While Drowning is an accessible, compassionate and shame-free approach to taking care of your home, and yourself,” the publisher said. 

Davis is the content creator behind the TikTok account @Domesticblisters with more than 1.2 million followers and 24 million likes.

Cornerstone Press said: “On her channel, KC shares her journey of tackling domestic tasks such as cleaning, organising, tidying and more with a gentle approach to help those who are struggling or feeling overwhelmed. Her insights come from her own experience of her home descending into chaos after suffering from anxiety and postnatal depression, as well as her work as a licensed therapist with 15 years’ experience working with addiction, trauma and co-occurring mental disorders. A late diagnosis of adult ADHD shed further light on why everyday tasks were so difficult for her, and helped her develop techniques to combat functional barriers.” 

The blurb reads: "KC Davis asks a simple yet powerful question: what if we stopped seeing a clean house as a reflection of our worth and instead as a kindness to our future self? Based on her six life-changing principles for cleaning and organising in a methodical and functional way, this book revolutionises the way we approach domestic work and will help you break down housework into manageable tasks and make your home work for you.”

The guide expands on her previously self-published mini guide of the same name. The concept is currently in development as a reality TV show with award-winning producers Proper Television/Boat Rocker Studios. 

Davis commented: “It has been such an amazing experience getting to know my UK followers this past year. It really is true that the struggles we face with care tasks are universal and I think we are all able to connect around the gentle message of compassionate help. Since the first time we spoke, it was clear that Cornerstone Press understood my vision for this book and I am so excited to partner with them to bring it to the UK.” 

Argenio said: “As soon as How to Keep House While Drowning landed in my inbox, I knew this was a book I had to publish. I think we can all relate to the feeling of looking at a pile of dishes in the sink and wanting to crawl back into bed, but then worrying that we are somehow worse parents, partners or people for neglecting housework. I have no doubt that KC’s warm tone, encouraging outlook and genuinely helpful guidance will help a great number of readers who are drowning in housework and feeling stressed and anxious as a result. It’s such an honour to be publishing it here.”