She had experience neither in journalism nor as a business executive, but that hasn't stopped Paula Bisacre from beginning her own magazine.

It was her personal experiences with a second wedding, blended family and all the ensuing complications that inspired reMarriage, a publication whose first 64-page glossy issue was released in April.

Tracking down an appropriate bridal dress, explaining to her sons why their dad wasn't invited and figuring where to seat her widower-hubby's former in-laws before her own second ceremony five years ago, she found there was no published source of guidance.

Alas, "bridal magazines are geared to first-time brides in both content and advertising," the West Friendship resident explains.

Then the wedding was over, and the newlyweds, their combined five children and two dogs were living "the step-family experience," and finding that while the questions continued -- what to call each other, how to handle separate family traditions like vacations and heirlooms -- advice was still hard to find.

"One day, when I'm 62 and retired, I'm going to do a magazine about this," Bisacre, then an intelligence analyst contractor with the Department of Defense, recalls saying to husband Michael as she entered notes in a journal.

Then in March 2006, her youngest son, Trevor, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and her parental presence was required on a frequent, but irregular basis.

The 9-to-5 just wouldn't do anymore, but working from home, being one's own boss offered the flexibility (if not the 40-hour week) Bisacre needed.

So last October she commissioned a market survey, composed a business plan and launched her company, reMarriage, to produce her magazine after all.

"It was a typical small business start-up," she says. "You do it all yourself: project planning, strategic planning, bookkeeping." Seed money came from the usual investors: family and friends.

Although Bisacre did not come from the business sector, she knew how to network. It was through friendships and social events that she connected with Kathy Ely, who would become the magazine's managing editor, and Warschawski, its public relations firm-to-be.

Meanwhile, she learned from her survey that 34 percent of Americans are remarried or considering remarriage -- translating to 103 million people -- and almost one-third of them want information about relationships, legal issues and financial situations. Practically as many seek guidance about blended families.

And those figures represent only the people directly involved, not the parents, children and siblings also affected.

That's a lot of potential readers.

Bisacre had no trouble coming up with copy for her first issue. There was that journal, plus contributions from contributing writers. If they aren't remarried themselves, and it's not a prerequisite that they are, then they know someone who is. And outside feedback is already coming in.

"I'm confident that we're set for several years with enough ideas," she says.

Each issue will be built around a theme, such as the first one's "Home," which includes articles by experts in their fields, such as a real estate agent writing about where to live, an interior designer about merging household furnishings, an experienced writer about turning a household into a happy home.

Other pieces offer tips for everyday living and profile the founder of the Stepfamily Association of America.

Regular features include an advice column by husband-and-wife counselors and even some humor, this time provided by W. Bruce Cameron, author of "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter."

"Some (topics) are not unique to remarriage" -- all the brouhaha over how and with whom to spend holidays, for instance -- "but we come at them from the remarriage point of view."

Part of her goal is to present issues before people find themselves in the midst of them.

"But we're not just an advice magazine," she adds. "We also want to inspire hope and create a sense of community."

One literal example of that has already happened. Bisacre was at her local post office branch chatting with the postmistress about the magazine. Overhearing, another customer said he had a stepdaughter with whom he could certainly use some help. Bisacre offered him a copy.

The next day she stopped in again and learned that the unknown man had already been there, too, reporting that he had learned something and would subscribe.

Professionals say it takes seven years for a family to fully blend, Bisacre says, and the divorce rate for second marriages is 60 to 70 percent, even higher than for the first time around, she learned from her survey. "Maybe we can help," she says.

Adds the new publisher and editorial director/wife/mom/step-mom and co-parent with an ex, "I wish I had this magazine before I got married."

Although copies of "reMarriage" are being distributed to various area offices and outlets such as the National Family Resiliency Center in Columbia, the best way to get one is via Web site, reMarriagemagazine.com. The cost is $28.95 for a year's subscription of four issues.

E-mail Lane Page at lpage@patuxent.com.

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