It’s been nearly two weeks since my book went on sale and I’ve been keeping myself busy with end of the year events for my girls, book signings and interviews, and last weekend I spoke on a photography panel at BlogHer Food. I’m still processing everything happening around me and I can only describe how I’m feeling as an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
It is not unusual for someone to email me or leave a comment on a blog recipe sharing their joy and experiences with a particular recipe. But having people email or approach me about how much they enjoyed recipes from my cookbook is a new phenomenon I am still getting used to. Writing a book takes a huge level of vulnerability once it’s released because you never know how it will be received. Most authors hope people will love it but speaking for myself, as an author, all I ever wanted throughout this book journey is for people to enjoy cooking from the book for those they love the most while celebrating each day with good food.
The Amazon.com reviews for SAVORY SWEET LIFE: 100 Simply Delicious Recipes for Every Family Occasion has encouraged me and affirmed the reason I decided to write and photograph the book. I love the fact people are gaining confidence in the kitchen from the book’s recipes. However, this was the first week I received reviews of the book from influential media outlets and I’m truly humbled by these them:
“..what makes this cookbook a must-have is its focus on organizing dishes according to events, and not just holidays. Currah provides suggestions for everything from Sunday mornings, a birthday party for a tween, Father’s Day, potlucks, family game nights, Valentine’s Day, a block party, a welcome home celebration, and more. Hosts will appreciate simple but impressive fare …, all of which come together with minimum fuss and seldom a hard-to-source ingredient.” – Publishers Weekly (June 18, 2012)
“If you’re thinking of buying food blogger Alice Currah’s new cookbook, “Savory Sweet Life,” make sure you’ve got some free time ahead of you — because once you see the luscious pictures inside, you’ll want to get into the kitchen immediately.” – Huffington Post (June 14, 2012)
“Currah’s approach to food is simple and family-friendly, but she elevates everyday from ordinary to extraordinary. Savory Sweet Life is a good choice for the home cook who wants to feed his or her family delicious food that is easy to prepare.” –Shelf Awareness (June 12, 2012)
Wow! And if this wasn’t exciting enough, in the July issue of Redbook magazine, 3 entire pages are dedicated to photos and recipes from the cookbook. In case you’re wondering, I bought 2 copies of this issue, not to mention I scored major cool points with my daughters because Kelly Clarkson is on the cover. Somehow because she’s on the cover and a picture of myself is inside the magazine I’m considered cool by indirect association with Abbi and Mimi. That’s okay, I’ll take it because I could use all the coolness I can get with these tweens.
I’ll be doing a few more book events and signings until the end of this month in the Seattle area and a couple in Eastern WA (Spokane Costco)/ID (Coeur d’Alene Hastings). If you love dining out in the Seattle restaurant scene and would like to eat tasty bites by the finest restaurants in the city while listening to a panel with many Northwest cookbook authors (myself included), I invite you to attend Foodportunity (June 24) in downtown Seattle. Another notable book event (June 25) I’m doing will be at Book Larder – an independent cookbook store in the Fremont Area. Tickets are $10 a person which includes myself sharing a bit about my blog-to book story, cooking demonstration, and bites inspired from the Mimi’s Tea Party chapter in the book – the perfect event to bring your children to and experience as a fun outing.
Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has purchased a book. Your support and enthusiasm of this new chapter of my life has encouraged me more than you will ever know.
Hi Alice! I just purchased your cookbook after making your chocolate chip cookies – twice in once week for my family! My boys (3, 11, and 15), and my husband, ate them up so fast and wanted more!! Tonight, we tried the ginger broccoli with coconut jasmine rice! So tasty, we didn’t even need meat! It was delicious. The coconut had a meaty bite and was just perfect! That was my first time cooking with ginger and I was so proud of myself! Thank you for sharing these delicious, simple recipes. Me and my family are enjoying them! Wishing you much success from Texas!
LOVED meeting you at BlogHer Food! You did an amazing job on your presentation and I can’t wait to see your book. Congrats on everything; you deserve it!
oxx
Congratulations, Alice. What a couple of weeks!!!!
Congrats Alice! The book is so beautiful – what an amazing accomplishment! I’ve already used mine several times and it has come through, every time!
I am so proud of you ALICE!!! Keep on keepin’ on 🙂
I’m so excited about your book Alice, I think it’s amazing! You did such a wonderful job with it. And you’re definitely “cool” to me too 🙂
Great job on the blog, it looks great. I am going to bookmark it and will make sure to check back weekly!
I curled up in bed Friday night with your cookbook and fell in love! I so appreciate that the recipes are not only beautiful and tasty, but accessible. I’m making strawberry jam this morning!
Please do let me know if your book tour takes you to San Diego or anywhere in the SoCal area. It would be such a treat for me to meet you in person and have you autograph my copy of your book. I wish you much success!
Hi Alice, this week I had my daughter and her friend helped me make the banana cream pie, chop chop salad, scone, and thai chicken kabobs from your cookbook and everything turned out so delicious. Love your book and cooking style – it just clicks with me. The one recipe that seems most intimidating to me is the birthday cake recipe, mostly because I’ve don’t have much experience piping and decorating w/ frosting but I will tackle it one day. Next up is the almond pound cake recipe, can’t wait to taste it.
Really love the blog. It’s adorable!
Congrats! Your success gives hope to my own writing dreams!
Amazing, congrats!
Thank you everyone!
Von, unfortunately we are only doing signings around the NW. Too bad, I would really love to meet you. If I ever head down to SD, I’ll email you!
Any chance that you would come to San Diego for a book signing because I would love to have my copy sign by you
The book is totally gorgeous and the recipes are each just incredibly tempting, I feel like making them all! I can’t wait to cook my way through it, Alice, and congratulations on all your accomplishments and great feedback.
and major major major congrats to you on all these fabulous things…the book reviews, Redbook and still kicking myself I didn’t go to BlogHer and could have met you!
I just recently discovered your blog courtesy of The Splendid Table which devoted a post to your recipe for Thai Marinated Grilled Chicken Skewers. The Thai chicken was so good that I ordered your new cookbook.
The book came today and I’ve been reading it tonight. So many recipes sound delicious; I can’t wait to try some.
Your new book is everything (and more) that the reviewers have written. Congratulations on a work very well done.
Love your book! Congrats!
SO fantastic meeting you, Alice!
What a couple of weeks you’ve had. Congrats!
Congratulations! What an exciting time. I enjoyed hearing you speak at BlogHer Food – such a terrific panel. I appreciate all you shared! I’ll be going to Foodportunity and look forward to seeing you there.
SO thrilled for you!! I told my husband I wanted your cookbook for my birthday! 🙂
I’m super excited… I don’t have room in my house many cookbooks, so I get them from the library. I requested that my library purchase your book and they did! Can’t wait to pick it up once it arrives.
Congratulations on your success! Just bought your book and love it (so much so that I’ll ignore the fact that you didn’t spell savoury the ‘Canadian’ way 🙂 I’d love to see a post on the process of putting a cookbook together. I just finished reading (and blogging about) Julia Child’s My Life in France and was fascinated by her process, so I’m always interested to see how others went about it…
Very nice post..