Question 1

What makes The Alpaca Handbook unique compared to other alpaca books?

Accepted Answer

Most of the alpaca books available online are written for vets so they are too technical for the average owner, the books provide outdated information, or the books are poorly written by AI and self-published. The Alpaca Handbook includes current information and advice from real alpaca owners. I'd encourage you to review the Table of Contents as it will illustrate the topics covered and the holistic approach taken in crafting a comprehensive guide for alpaca owners.

Question 2

Is this book self-published?

Accepted Answer

The Alpaca Handbook is not a self-published book, so you don’t have to worry about low-grade content. The Alpaca Handbook is professionally published by Lyons Press and The Globe Pequot Publishing Group, Inc.

Question 3

What is the release date of The Alpaca Handbook?

Accepted Answer

The Alpaca Handbook will begin shipping on March 3, 2026.

Question 4

What formats will The Alpaca Handbook be available in?

Accepted Answer

The book is available in paperback and Kindle (via Amazon).

Question 5

Is the book available for preorder now?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is available for preorder via our website or major retailers around the world. The book is currently available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Books-a-Million, and IndieBound. Many other retailers are picking the publication up and will have it available as well.

Question 6

What are the shipping options and costs?

Accepted Answer

The shipping costs will vary by retailer. Shipping is free on our website and many other retailers.

Question 7

Will The Alpaca Handbook help me decide if alpacas are the right livestock for me?

Accepted Answer

Yes! It should be very helpful in learning about raising alpacas in both practice and daily life. You’ll learn about raising them for fun, profit, or for other activities like 4-H.

Question 8

Can beginners with no livestock experience use this book?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Remember that we were once city, I had zero livestock experience, and I couldn’t tell the difference between straw and hay. This book is to help guide you and prepare you for live as an alpaca owner. I’ve tried to include all the bits and pieces we had to figure out so your alpaca adventure is smooth.

Question 9

Does The Alpaca Handbook include both practical guidance and real-life stories?

Accepted Answer

The book walks through life as an alpaca owner, provides guidance, and blends real-world examples from our farm to help illustrate concepts and advice. I believe education is much easier to digest when placed into real-life scenarios.

Question 10

Will The Alpaca Handbook help if my goal is to start a small business based around alpacas?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While the book isn’t specific to running a business, it absolutely covers many aspects of budgeting, business start-up requirements, revenue streams, and marketing. As a serial entrepreneur, it is hard for me to write about alpacas without including business advice and lessons I’ve learned over the last 20 years of owning and running small businesses.

Question 11

Is The Alpaca Handbook useful for families considering alpacas as pets?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The chapters on lifestyle, considerations, visiting farms, behavior, and youth will provide lots of great information for those owners who want to raise alpacas as pets.

Question 12

Is The Alpaca Handbook helpful for people interested in agritourism businesses with alpacas?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our farm hosted thousands of visitors per year and I cover this aspect of our business in the book. While agritourism isn’t perfect for every alpaca owner, it is a great option for many.

Question 13

Is The Alpaca Handbook geared toward hobby farms or commercial operations?

Accepted Answer

The publisher and I really tried hard to have to fit both types of farms. While our farm is for profit and we run it like a business, we treat our alpacas as family and interact with them like they are a family pet. You’ll get a feel and guidance for both sides of owning alpacas.

Question 14

Will experienced alpaca breeders find new insights in this book?

Accepted Answer

Some experienced farms will find the book helpful because there are many ways to raise alpacas and you’ll be learning about our process, our farm, and our business. I’m very transparent in our method and this can be useful to other farms.

Question 15

Can it help with setting up infrastructure, breeding, and selling alpacas?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. The Alpaca Handbook covers all of these topics and much more.

Question 16

How will the book help me prepare before I purchase alpacas?

Accepted Answer

Yes. It covers considerations in owning, tips for visiting farms and shopping for alpacas, and there is an entire chapter dedicated to purchasing your starter herd.

Question 17

Does the book explain the costs involved in raising alpacas?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Throughout the book expenses and costs are covered to help future owners evaluate ownership and budget for an alpaca purchase and ongoing care.

Books

The Alpaca Handbook

Knit, Pray, Share

Christmas Crochet for Hearth, Home & Tree

Swedish Knits

The Big Book of Little Amigurumi

The Knitter’s Guide to Combining Yarns

Tips for Knitters

All About Knitting

Beyond the Scarf

Cozy Stash-Busting Knits

Socks a la Carte Colorwork

Handmade in the UK: Luscious Lace + Artisan Yarns

Road Trip: Knits Inspired by the Open Road

Max & Bodhi’s Wardrobe: Modern Baby Patterns

Great White North: Classic Wintery Knits

Pacific Knits: Irresistible Earthy Knits

Alpaca Pearl Packs for the Poles

Alpaca Coloring Book

Learn More About Buying Alpaca Products

Shop the Alpaca Store by Product Category

Subscribe to Our Newsletter