Two Weeks and Beyond

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.