Real Life Wednesday: On Writing My Cookbook.
The best days start with sprinkles. Always and forever.
Seriously. Will I ever grow out of it?
I hope not.
Um, so I have to tell you. After last week and our talk on books, I ended up reading Fangirl. GAH! Holy cow, I LOVED it. Like read-it-in-two-days loved it. Like stayed-up-past-midnight-on-Sunday-and-slept-through-my-alarm-Monday loved it. That was the worst way possible to start a Monday but it was worth it. Then on Monday night I was up until 2AM finishing it. Need to control myself better. I liked Eleanor and Park but thought Fangirl was better.
It’s the exxxxxact kind of book to real me in. Attachments is next.
Say hello to my favorite juice. It’s not too green but green enough. It doesn’t make me hate life like some other juices. It’s a nice little snack. I wish it could replace broccoli for the rest of my life.
I’ve also been eating some major eggs lately. The ones below are served on top of a dirty beer cooler because I had to empty my fridge to have a new one delivered. Appliances are unlucky in my home.
Know what I’m gonna tell you about today? The cookbook. Yeah. My cookbook.
Lots of you are asking about the cookbook; in fact – it seems to be my most asked question at the moment. Yes, hashtag humble brag. I know.
I’m super excited about the book. It will be out this fall and it has over 150 recipes that are brand new. Well, okay, there might be maybe five recipes inside that are from the blog, but if they come from the blog, I made them even better. I really wanted to produce a book full of new content.
Here’s the thing about the book. I don’t know how to talk about it. I’m a freak. I’m proud of it but I hate to sound like I’m tooting my own horn. I hate to sound like I’m constantly promoting something or I’m all “buy my book, buy my book, get excited for my book, blah blah blah.” It’s something I’ve been struggling with now for over a year, and because of that, I haven’t given you much info.
The thing (the other thing, apparently) is that I like this blog to be about you, my invisible internet friends. Which I know, makes zero sense since I write everyday about myself, but I like to do it FOR you. I adore coming up with new recipes and sharing them with you. My number one goal for, well, ever was to only be myself and NEVER allow this site to turn into a commercial, which is why I rarely work with brands. So talking about my own product even freaks me out a little bit. It’s kinda like this… sometimes I want to do giveaways to show my appreciation to you (because omg, you’ve changed my life and I love your guts) but I never want you to think that I’m trying to buy your love. Can you be bought? I can probably be bought to a point. Especially with this bag. I want you to read because you WANT to read. I want you to be here because you want to be here, all big time kitchen appliances and gift cards and cookbooks aside.
If you’ve been reading since the beginning, you might remember that back in 2009 I would have given my left arm (wait, no… probably both arms) to write a cookbook. As a new blogger, I felt that a book validated my work, validated my content and made me REAL. That maybe it would make other people thing I was legit. I was thisclose to doing a cookbook at that time… and it was centered around something I wasn’t very passionate about. And it was then that I realized that I was already doing what I loved and I didn’t need a book to make it real. (AW!) I seriously LOVED (and obviously still love) sharing and writing and talking about recipes and whatever else with you guys. It is one of my strongest (if not thee strongest) passions and in early 2010, I determined that it was what made me so happy, what made my world go ‘round. It was scary at first to give up the idea of a cookbook, but honestly? It felt so damn right. The lack of interest I felt in doing it was… astonishing. To me. I didn’t want it. I just wanted to come here and write everyday and cook my buns off and do other things relating to that and all that jazz. SO I DID.
But the thing (another thing, ugh) was that the requests for a book did not stop coming. Oh my god, I know how it sounds. To tell you my thoughts in full though, this plays a large part in why I ended up with a cookbook coming out later this year. At first I was like, um hello? I put all my content on the internet for FREE. Why do you people want a book that you need to pay for? (No. Really. I think I responded to multiple emails with that line.)
This is the internet generation people! Live it!
However, that didn’t work, and after two more years and an even stronger relationship with my invisible internet friends (we are tight right? I love you like a drug), here we are. It’s not that I have wanted to keep it a secret, it just comes down to the whole I-don’t-know-how-to-share-big-things-about-myself-with-you-without-feeling-like-I’m-screwing-my-own-content. You know you know? Anyhoo, long story long, I won’t do weird things like that anymore. I’m gonna tell you things about it. Like really delicious things. Probably annoying things. But real things. The new things inside the book taste REALLY GOOD. I can’t wait for you to see.
I’m also going to find a thesaurus and get a new word for “things.” And I’m probably going to eat leftover this for breakfast now because… that’s normal. Short rib omelet? Here I come.
139 Comments on “Real Life Wednesday: On Writing My Cookbook.”
Can fall just get here already? Or can you sneak it out sooner? HA! All of the feelings you just described are one of the things I think I love the most about ya. :)
And the cooler shot? Love it!
Is it appropriate for me to say i’m slightly, (not slightly, like REALLY) obsessed with you?
I’m super excited for your cookbook! Can’t wait to hear more things about it. :)
This space on the internet makes me happy and this post doubly so.
So excited about the book! Like ridiculously excited! I’m with Robyn…can’t you sneak us a few advanced copies!?!
Your recipes and posts are always amazing, so I can’t wait to see the book! Congrats!! You deserve it!
I definitely will be buying! Can’t wait! Much love from Idaho!
I am SUPER thrilled to find out you’re doing a cookbook! I have been following your blog for maybe a year or so now and I can’t get enough! I, myself, am not a cook by any means. I love looking at pictures of food and eating food, but I have never really been one to make food (weird, I know! I do love to bake. That I can do, hehe). You have been an inspiration to actually try though, and for that, I am grateful to you. Needless to say, I am definitely going to buy your cookbook when it comes out and actually TRY!
PS I also share your affinity for sprinkles.
Super excited for your cookbook!
I am so excited and happy for you! You are HANDS DOWN my favorite food blogger and I imagine your book will be amazing. :) Congrats!
I love the whole tone of this post, you sound so exciteable! Also, I’m now going to have to track down and read Fangirl :)
Sophie
http://what-sophie-said.blogspot.co.uk/
xxx
You are so, so wonderful. Everything you wrote up there is EXACTLY why you deserve to write a cookbook and why we are all so excited for it!!
What I love most about your blog is your genuine desire to cook cool things without it being about getting free stuff!!!! I swear other blogs I follow are all about leaving little hints about where or what they want to do so people reach out and give it to them for free, then they blog about it…it’s like really in this economy you are bragging that you got a free trip to Hawaii while the rest of us are happy to buy groceries….sorry…my soap box…I digress…….
I am soooo stoked for your cookbook! And you should brag it is an amazing accomplishment and one that you should be proud of!!!!!
You’re just the greatest and you make me want to work my buns off on my blog too.
I’ve been reading your blog for years now-You were one of the first blogs I ever got into, and one of the only ones I’ve actually stuck with! You’re recipes are amazing and I love everything you post in Crumbs… I feel like what you post is really you – and I love that!
Keep doing what you are doing! (oh and I can’t wait for your cookbook!!)
I have been following your blog/instagram/every move for years now (creepy enough yet?) and knowing that your cookbook will be out this year is the most exciting thing ever! While reading this post I realized that I have never even noticed the rarity of endorsements which is why I LOVE this blog. I’ve been so blissfully happy checking on this blog every day and identifying with almost everything you say that I failed to notice the lack of brand bombardment- amazing. You are my spirit animal!
Ok seriously.. I need this cookbook in my life! Like NOW!
Jessica.. I totally… totally… love you.. do not overthink about the cookbook… it is FINE, your invisable internet fans WANT a cookbook from you.. because then we can actually have a real-life slice of you in our hot little hands…. that is what it is all about!
Can I just say, I LOVE when you share big things like you did in this post! Don’t be scared about your content, because your writing and sharing real life things will only take it to the next level. I’ve been a food blog addict for about three years now, and I would say yours is the only one I always read- even if the recipe title isn’t something I’m 100% interested in (which almost never happens) because I know you’ll have a funny relatable story or just say something that will stick in my mind. You’re great at this, Jess. Be encouraged!
P.S. I’m OMG so excited for your cookbook!!
I love collecting cookbooks from my favorite bloggers! Not only do I get to eat all the delicious things and see the pretty pictures – but I’m sure us invisible internet friends all love supporting you! We’ve come to know your little sprinkle vignetted life and consider you a friend, and who wouldn’t buy their friend’s cookbook?
People like me are the reason they keep asking you to write a cookbook… I hardly ever actually buy cookbooks anymore because I get all my recipes off the internet, I mean I love them but I only have so much shelf space ya know? BUT if one of my favourite bloggers writes a cookbook I WILL BUY IT! I will so buy yours, can’t wait :)
Rest assured, all of your internet friends who make your recipes every week for most of their meals will gladly, willingly, wantingly buy your cookbook.
Or send links to their husband with a smiley face and then pretend it was an accident but mention they REALLY want the cookbook.
Did you announce the date? !
I love you and I can’t wait for your book.
Can we preorder your book? For real? I’m so excited for you..! I have been reading your blog for a few years and creepily stalking all your beautiful internet work since. You’ve even made my homepage on my computer.. that’s serious business. Let me know if I can preorder.. I will have my order in tomorrow ;)
So I read this earlier this morning but just started thinking, the fact that you have created this cookbook with 150 recipes, almost all new, and still have the creativity and time and talent to put as much wonderfulness as you do into this blog, it’s almost mind boggling. I have only been an invisible friend for about a year but I really enjoy your blog, your food, and your humor. And I’m so excited for this cookbook, congrats to you!
I can’t wait for your book! I totally understand how it’s hard to talk about – but we want to hear about it!
I can’t wait until your cookbook comes out! I have no doubt your book will be awesome, I think everyone that follows you would like to hear about the book and the whole cookbook process.
Thank you soooo much for expressing all this! Humble-brag be damned, let’s hear more about that book!
Can’t wait for your book to come out! Much love from Michigan!!!
SO EXCITED FOR YOU JESSICA, I CANT HANDLE MY EMOTION OH MY GAHHHH!!!
I love that you do NOT do giveaways! I understand that a lot of people like them, but they annoy the crap out of me. I skip over those posts.
Your blog is my #1 favorite across all categories (and I read a LOT of them) partly due to this fact, and mostly due to your writing style and delicious recipes. Ok, I’m going to quit fangirling out on your now. But seriously. Congrats on the cookbook and I will be buying it, even though my recipe binder is currently already full of MOSTLY recipes from your blog.
I can’t wait to cook my way through the entire book!!! Congrats on this big, exciting news! Ps- I am absolutely loving Real Life Wednesday- the past two weeks I feel like I’ve gotten to know you better, and I love the open, honest style of writing in these posts. Takes our invisible internet friendship to the next level, y’know? ;)
You are one genuine person. Much love to you. Can’t wait for the book – and for God’s sake, brag on!!!
Cannot wait to buy your book…and one for everyone I know. As I know I have commented before, yours is the only blog I hit every. single. day. I adore your voice and writing style (perhaps because it resembles my own?). And, though I do love to cook and create, I would never (EVER!) be able to come up with some of your flavor combinations. Thanks for continuing to do this every day.
PS. We are approx the same age and from approx the same place and I love sprinkles just as much as you do. :)
Be proud! Your followers are certainly proud of you :) I am so inspired by you and your seemingly endless creativity. It’s really something to do everything you do for this blog AND create 150 new recipes for a book! I think I speak for everyone here when I say I CAN’T WAIT TO SEEE IT!!!
Brag away. I am so proud of you and have always been a #1 supporter from the start. Cant wait to get my signed copy. You worked so hard for this. xoxo
I’m an avid reader (though rare commenter)…so relieved to find that all is right with the world. I just knew you, with the quality of your writing and your creativity around sharing food, ought to be in cookbooks, and now you are. Well done and congratulations. I can’t wait to add it to my collection.
I can’t wait for your cookbook. Your blog has gone from my favorite food blog to my favorite blog-blog, if that makes sense. Your warmth, excitement and well, joie de vivre (plus obviously your gorgeous pics and delicious recipes), keep me coming back each day. I am so excited to hear your cookbook is out this year. Three cheers for you!
I think you will have a NY Times best seller on your hands this fall! :) Wishing you all the best as your book hits shelves this year. I’ve read your blog for so long, I sort of feel like I know you so I will obviously buy your book & then tell people, “I kind of know this author…but not really.” Is that weird? It is, isn’t it? Ha
Hi Jessica,
This is my first comment on your blog (I rarely leave comments on blog), but I felt the need to let you know that I’m looking forward to your book and you should be extremely proud of yourself! I read several food blogs and yours is the only one that I’ve cooked the most recipes out of. I think I’ve made your Lightened up enchiladas like a million times…ok, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit :) But I do use your recipe for the enchilada sauce in lots of other things like chili and mexican lasagna. Oh and I made that mocha coconut fudge at Christmas and it was sooo good…I made it to give away in my cookie tins but ended up eating a large portion of it so only 2 of my closest friends got it :)
Oh what a great post. Wednesdays are my new fave day, FOR SURE!
Your book and everything you just wrote, omg, so honest, raw, and I think every new food blogger wants that book deal to validate them and their work but it’s ones who are truly wise like you to say you know what, I don’t want to do this, I don’t need this, I am very content with how things are and so Im not going to rush into this or do it just because. God that is so admirable!!!
And the fact that you feel that this book is really a gift to your readers and you did it for your readers, not yourself, that’s amazing too. Since I know writing one is truly a labor of love – you are into it mind, body, spirit, butter and sugar for a good year.
Own this. Work it. Savor this moment. And toot toot toot your own horn :)
People that are awesome deserve to toot their own horn a little bit, so toot away! Can’t wait for your book!
TELL US ALL OF THE THINGS!!! ALL OF THE TIME!! WE ARE THRILLED!
I love the way you think and how you write and share what’s on your mind. I love your blog and I am beyond thrilled to purchase your upcoming cookbook! Thank you for being so quirky and relatable!
I am SOO excited for your book! I don’t buy many cookbooks at all, because like you said, you can get everything on the internet for free, but for months I’ve known that when yours comes out Ill definitely be buying one.
When I make my meal plans every two weeks, yours is the first site I check out…this week alone, we have three of your recipes lined up. I made your thai turkey burgers a couple nights ago and my husband said “This is why I married you”..it was a little awkward when I said they were yours. ;) And the fact that he knows who you are says something..we’re always trying your stuff. You and your recipes are amazing!
So brag away, because you deserve it! And I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of that!! :)
P.S. Your Pinterest inspiration board, literally changed how I view 2014 and how Ive approached every single day. THANK YOU. xo
I love all of your recipes and CANNOT wait for your cookbook to come out! So exciting!
Yay! Yay! Yay! SOO excited for you to release your cookbook! :-)
I have to admit, I was one of those individuals who would think, when is she coming out of a cookbook. So excited for you!
I can’t wait for your cookbook! So exciting! :)
I am totally one of those people who never buys the books of my favorite bloggers because, as you said, it’s on the internet, for FREE. But your book? I must have. Because really, you’re the best and I love your writing, and your recipes, and your pictures. They all make me so happy and I can’t think of a cookbook that I’d rather have in my kitchen. So I’m SO glad that you decided to write a book for us! :)