Offbeat Empire Books
Over the years, our founder Ariel Meadow Stallings has produced a wide range of titles. Several traditionally published, some indie, and some more on the guidebook side of things… all of our publications are infused with irreverence, inclusion, and insight.
Published Books
💍 Offbeat Bride: Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides
Published by Seal Press / Hachette (3 editions: 2007, 2010, 2019)
The book that launched a movement. This irreverent wedding planning guide is part memoir, part manifesto, and part how-to for anyone who wants to create a celebration that actually feels like them. Queer-friendly, budget-conscious, and radically nontraditional since way before that was a hashtag.
💩 From Sh!tshow to Afterglow: Putting Life Back Together When It All Falls Apart
Published by Seal Press / Hachette (2020)
The ultimate offbeat breakup book. Equal parts memoir, self-help, and spiritual survival guide, this book is for anyone who’s had life implode and is crawling back toward the light. It’s raw, real, and a little bit ridiculous because healing doesn’t have to be so damn serious.
Self-Published Books
🖤 Pros Before Bros
Published by Offbeat Empire LLC (2018)
PROS BEFORE BROS was a self-published art book experiment that combined a limited edition hardback with author-designed jewelry. A true story about sex work and grabbing your own healing by the balls, the narrative of PROS BEFORE BROS explores identity, feminism, shame, surrender, gender roles, BDSM, empowerment, embodiment, and trying to get out of your own damn head.
The limited run first edition hardback + jewelry pairing set sold out, but the work is still available as an hour-long author-narrated audiobook.
eBooks & Digital Guides
Over the years, we’ve also produced numerous downloadables and eBooks,
often working with industry leaders to bring deep understanding to niche topics.
A guide for anyone who wants to stop using AI for productivity hacks and start using it for personal insight. Packed with powerful prompts and somatic integration tools, Reflected helps you build a personalized AI experience that calls you forward, not just calls you out.
Not everyone wants to get married in a church with “Dearly beloved” vibes. This pack includes customizable, inclusive templates for writing your own ceremony, whether you’re officiating your BFF’s queer forest handfasting or your cousin’s Star Wars-themed rooftop vows. Produced with Life-Cycle Celebrant Jessie Blum.
A punchy little guide to help photographers, florists, planners, and other wedding vendors walk their talk when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Real talk, no shame, just actionable strategies to make your brand as inclusive as your values. Produced with DEI and inclusivity expert Taylor De La Fuenta.
Short on time? This guide is your crash course in how to start using AI (like ChatGPT) to make your creative work faster, clearer, and less lonely. Especially helpful if the tech feels overwhelming or you’re not sure where to start.
From your besties at Offbeat Wed comes this refreshingly simple guide to vintage-inspired styles. Produced with Roxie Jane Hunt, a retro-minded hairstylist and brush-maker with decades of experience.