Breaking News: I’m Writing A Cookbook!

It’s the things that dreams are made of. Or at the very least, a larger pant size.

You guys. I’m writing a cookbook.

I don’t know if I should squeal with glee, pee my pants or vomit a little bit. Or all 3.

It started in August with an unexpected email and a fair amount of disbelief.  My editor, Ann from Countryman Press, a division of W.W. Norton & Co, wanted one of my photographs for the cover of one of my favourite books. That in and of itself was great news. But the best was yet to come… She also wanted me to write one of my own.

Like all good proposals, this one was completely unexpected.

My immediate response (to myself, mind you): “Fuck yes!”

My second: “Is this a joke? Because that would be really, really mean.”

Finally, my third – and the one I sent her in my most professional and respectable adult voice: “Why Ann – it’s so good to hear from you. Yes, I certainly am interested. Let’s talk.”

As soon as I hit send I contacted every cookbook authoring friend I had (thank you thank you thank you Charmian, Julie, Aimee, Erin, Amy, Jennie and all the folks at FBC) to interrogate them on their cookbook writing experiences and plead for their wisdom.

A few short weeks later, the publisher and I agreed to terms.

In just a few months my friends, I’ll be introducing you to Cooking with Cocktails, on sale in the Fall of 2016.

I can’t believe this is happening.

Even after deciding on a concept, agreeing to an advance, signing the contract, and developing, photographing, testing & editing the first 4 recipes, I have to pinch myself, Magic Mike style, yo!

..Uhh, hard. That means I pinch myself hard.

But in all seriousness. I’ve always wanted my own book. I dreamed of it. Salivated over it. Yearned for it with all my burnin’ loins. But I honestly didn’t think it would ever happen. In fact, it was only July when I decided I’d step away from blogging to pursue a career in Marine Biology. For realz.

And then that little inbox ping sounded and everything changed.

To get a little after-school-special on your ass, dreams really do come true.

Now I get to spend the coming months developing recipes, soliciting recipe testers and working closely with Ann who has been nothing but supportive and collaborative and amazing from the get-go. I have one of the best Editors in the world.

She’s kind of rad and I totally owe her a drink Or 8.

The Concept: Cooking with Cocktails

Cooking with Cocktails is a foray into dishes that are both boozy in nature and delicious in flavour. The concept for the book evolved through a particularly saucy debate with friends over which was better: Food or booze?

My argument was why choose when we can have the best of both worlds? Amiright?

You know I believe the best memories – the ones that nourish us, touch our hearts and evoke spirited laughter from the deepest parts of our bellies – are foraged over good food and drink. Put the two together, and you undoubtedly have a recipe for intoxicating deliciousness. Not to mention wild stories for years to come.

Who ever said we can’t have our gin cake and eat it too? Not me, that’s for sure.

Think classic cocktail hour meets farm to table fresh ingredients, garnished with a pinch of sass and general badassery.

Kinda like you.

From appetizers to dessert, breakfast to late night snacks, the 75 recipes in Cooking with Cocktails will invite you – the hungry, life loving, alcohol enthusiast – to look to your bar for inspiration for your next meal.

Or mine. Come on over, you’re always welcome.

Ultimately it’ll be a sassy, entertaining, punchy, stunningly visual adventure that entices us to enjoy our meals with passion, with friends and with alcohol.

Preferably upright. Ow ow!

The Next 7 Months

For the next 7 months, I’m going to be one broke-ass food writer!

Well, not really. I’m still working via my design business 3 days a week so I they don’t turn off my electricity. Because hey, when writing a cookbook a girl’s gotta actually cook, right?

But I’ve also been blowing my advance on new photography props (which you’re going to DIE when you see they’re so pretty) and an artificial light kit because it’s the rainy season here in Vancouver = it’s pretty much dark 26 hours a day.

Not to mention all the ingredients and booze I’m going to have to invest in to test, re-test and soothe my nerves, err, recipes, err… with. Awkward.

Moving on…

I Want You to Be Involved – It Makes Me Happy!

Honestly, I’m so ridiculously grateful to Countryman Press and my Editor for this opportunity to bring my vision to your coffee tables.

But it’s not all about me. I want you to be involved too.

Over the next few months I’ll be posting book updates here on the blog in addition to regular posts. I hope you’ll follow along.

You can also catch photo set up and behind the scene sneak peaks on Instagram because let’s face it, I pretty much live there, as well as live broadcasts – yes live – on Periscope TV.

And of course, if you want to get up to the nano-second updates and first crack at purchasing the book when it goes on pre-sale, please sign up for my semi-regular newsletter. It’s all there for you.

Lastly, I’m also giving an open call for recipe testers and feedback givers. If you want first crack at the contents of the book and are willing to donate a bit of your time to making the recipes before they’re finalized, I want to hear from you.

Whether you’re new to She Eats or you’ve been a part of my blog since it’s inception in 2010, I value you more than you know. You ARE She Eats in spirit and I wouldn’t want to do this without you. I wouldn’t want to publish a book without you. I wouldn’t want to live with you.

Okay, not living is a bit extreme.

Dudes. You may be my “audience” but you’re also my community. My kindreds. My friends.

And I’m so ridiculously, seriously, smittenly (is that a word?) pumped to share this with you.

Here we go… Let’s write a book together.