What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

My new book is called, “Pickles & Popcorn, Recipes & Rhymes.” It is a children’s cook book filled with over 30 recipes. Each recipe is accompanied with a fun rhyme and an illustration drawn by a child from my area. Nineteen different children ranging in age from 1 to 12 illustrated this book.

Tell us something about yourself.

I grew up in the country near the small town of Cornell in Northwestern Wisconsin. Today I live in Eau Claire, WI which is only about 40 miles away from where I grew up. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember but I didn’t take it seriously until I turned 30. Some people spend their whole life not knowing what their God given gift is. I don’t fully understand my gift, but I know that children (and people in general) are drawn to me. No matter where I go, children will just come up to me and start talking to me. It’s kind of funny but I like it.

What inspired you to write this book?

My own two children inspired me to write this book. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen with my kids. We like to make up rhymes and laugh and cook together.

How did you choose the title?

The title is a combination of two different recipes that are in the book. I just thought it sounded catchy, so I went with it.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?

I stumbled into getting published the first time. I just started looking for publishers on the Internet and submitting manuals. When I held my first book, “Huckleberry’s Hiccups” in my hands for the first time, I knew I found my lifetime career. Now I never want to stop writing.

What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors?

I love to read classic juvenile books. My mom got me hooked on Laura Ingalls Wilder books because she named me after Laura’s mom, Caroline.

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
I am working on my next book! It is a Children’s Christian Bedtime Story. It is about a Dad and his Angel. That’s all I can give away right now.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

My advice is write about things you love. I never write things because I think they will sell. I write from my heart. That way I can be proud of my work no matter what other people think. If you do that, you will always sleep good at night.

Who is the perfect reader for your book?

Children ages 5 to 12.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

www.carolinehepfler.com my personal website

http://sbpra.com/carolinehepfler/ my publisher’s site

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WqDNnz0UqQ a demo from my book

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Caroline-Hepfler-Fan-Page-Strategic-Book-Group/142892842449912 my facebook fan page

What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

The Everything Salad Book. The name says it all, the book offers history, methods, tips and recipes for every salad imaginable. It tells you everything you need to know about selecting and preparing the ingredients, as well as how to store and preserve your creations. From fancy gourmet salads with sugared flower petals to easy kid-friendly salads with only four ingredients, I try to cover every variety.

Tell us something about yourself.

After working in swanky cafes through the US and Western Europe, I came home to Idaho. Fusing my passion for food with my passion for writing, I started playing with recipes. My mother and I often argued about who the better cook was because she puts in much more effort, but I put in much more thought. One day, she dared me to enter a recipe contest. So I did. To my surprise, I won. After winning dozens of recipe contests, I figured I was the idiot savant of the lazy cooking world. So, I decided to start taking my food seriously!

What inspired you to write this book?

A love for fresh fruits and veggies, and thus any kind of salad, was my main inspiration. When I was little, my mother couldn’t keep me from gobbling up all the fresh blueberries from the bushes and sweet peas from the garden. My aim was to bring joy back into something as basic as a salad, and show everyone how easy and delicious the results can be. I wanted everyone to fall in love with fresh produce the same way I did when I was little and would sneak those sweet peas.

How did you choose the title?

The title was chosen by my publisher, ready and waiting for me!

What obstacles did you encounter in getting this book published? How did you overcome them?

I literally fell into the book on accident. I replied to an ad about a publisher needing recipes, hoping to sell a few of my favorites. Over the course of a few emails, I ended up being offered a book deal. I know many writers want to lynch me for this, but I basically blindly tripped into my book deal.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?

I knew I wanted to be some sort of writer the first time I saw the TV show Murphy Brown. I knew I wanted to be a hard-hitting journalist that politicians ran away from. However, life is funny in that way. As I matured, I knew I wanted to write, but wasn’t sure about the world of journalism. Over the years, I became a freelance writer, found my niche in food and spread my wings.

Do you have any writing rituals?

I owe my work to Starbucks Coffee. I hate to admit it, but those Mocha Frappuccinos are my lifeblood! My Zen ritual is simply mocha to the left of my screen, snacks to the right and my fingers typing away in the middle.

Did you learn anything from writing and publishing this book? What?

I learned two main things. First, editors are angels. No matter how many times you proofread a manuscript, you get so used to it that you overlook major errors. Second, actually sitting down and writing a book is much harder than it sounds, but well worth the effort if you live through it.

If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?

I would start the whole “publicity and social networking” stuff the moment I finished the book!

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?

I’m working on several recipes for another collection, yet to be specified.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

As annoying as it is to hear, just keep working! Keep your eyes and ears open, as opportunity can pop up in the strangest places. Try to broaden your horizons as well, looking into every niche that may suit your writing style.

Who is the perfect reader for your book?

Any bored cook who wants to learn how to make great salads and any parent who needs new ideas to keep healthy food on the family menu. The how-to style is particularly good for young adults living on their own for the first time. It teaches all the basics they need to know for creating healthy meals, or at least more than just Ramen noodles.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

Amazon.com

What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

The I Love Trader Joe’s Party Cookbook: Delicious Recipes and Entertaining Ideas Using Only Foods and Drinks from the World’s Greatest Grocery Store (November 2010, Ulysses Press) features 28 party themed menus, ranging from Afternoon Tea to Tailgating. All ingredients are available at Trader Joe’s stores, which makes not only the party, but the shopping and prep fun! While the recipes are grouped around themes meant for celebrating, there are plenty of great family dinners in the book!

Tell us something about yourself.

I attended culinary school when I was 40. Having always loved cooking, I decided to get out there and learn the “hows and whys” of cooking. I knew I didn’t want to work in (or own) a restaurant, but wanted to see what other foodcentric opportunities might arise. Immediately upon graduation, I got a job in a cooking school, and found that I loved teaching people to cook. When that school went bankrupt, I dove in and opened my own. That was eleven years ago, and I still love it every day!

What inspired you to write this book?

We’ve done cooking classes based on Trader Joe’s ingredients since the cooking school opened. There is a great interest out there about the company, the great stuff they carry, and what to do with all of it. These classes have been among our most popular, and they are really fun to create recipes for. Because of the success of these classes, I was contacted by an editor at Ulysses about doing a book. (Every author’s dream–no proposal, no rejection letters!)

Do you have any writing rituals?

I literally write my cookbooks on the kitchen table. The laptop is front and center, with tons of post-its, ingredient labels and jars, and frequently a sample of something I’ve recently recipe-tested at my elbow. I’m steps from the stove, so I can tweak a recipe and record the results quickly.

What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors?

I am a voracious consumer of all food-related books and magazines. I am constantly plowing through a teetering stack of these, and I especially adore food memoir. I’m practically sitting on my front step right now, waiting for Gabrielle Hamilton’s new book, Blood, Bones and Butter. I read an excerpt on a recent flight, and ordered it as soon as we landed.

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?

Absolutely–thanks for asking! I’m working on an international flavors book for Ulysses, also based on Trader Joe’s products. They stock so many great products from all over the world–must be a fabulous job to be a buyer, right? I’m having great fun pulling together recipes from all over the world, using the ingredients available at TJ’s.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

I’m not a big advice-giver, but I do believe a good writer is a great reader. I think that being a ravenous reader makes me a clearer and more effective writer. I love when a writer has really found her voice, and so I try to get myself onto that page. It really delights me when someone tells me that they felt like they were in one of my classes, by reading my words describing a recipe.

Who is the perfect reader for your book?

Anyone who likes to have fun in the kitchen! Whether there is a TJ on your block, or you and the neighbors are conducting a write-in campaign to get one, the recipes are quick and tasty, and can be made with the ingredients specified, or with substitutes from other grocery or specialty stores.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

My website is www.chezcherie.com
The I Love Trader Joe’s Cookbook
The I Love Trader Joe’s Party Cookbook
The books are available at independent bookstores, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Amazon and Urban Outfitters.

What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

Rock Star Recipes

ROCK STAR RECIPES offers celebrity recipes and lifestyle tips that everyone can use to stay fit, healthy, and indulged! Rock stars don’t like to compromise on fun and flavor, and through his travels and on various sets Anand Bhatt has developed and discovered ways to stay healthy and fit without giving up enjoyment!

After battling and witnessing unhealthy lifestyle practices on the road and in the studio, Anand Bhatt has finally risen to the challenge of creating and discovering healthy alternatives for the busy & the adrenaline-worn.

Rock Star Recipes are easy to add no matter how intense and busy the lifestyle, and will provide immediate benefits to anyone and their goals.

Tell us something about yourself.

Anand Bhatt, born in Chicago, is one of the hottest rock & on-screen celebrities to be recognized worldwide. As a major rock star & TV/ Movie personality, Anand Bhatt has been seen and honored just about everywhere. Aside from Bhatt’s great movie & TV roles, talk-show appearances and nerve sparking hosting gigs, Bhatt is known for his GRAMMY recognized music as both a solo artist and as frontman for celebrated heavy rock group Anand Clique. He has appeared everywhere from E! & Vh1 to CNN.

Anand Bhatt is the first Indian-American to be inducted into the Latin Grammys and is also one of the first Indian-Americans in general to break into success in the mainstream music industry (An honor shared by only three: the other two pioneers are Tony Kanal from No Doubt and Kim Thayil from Soundgarden).

In 2010 Anand made the Desh Videsh list and has been named one of the most successful Non-Resident Indians alongside M. Night Shyamalan and Deepak Chopra.

Anand Bhatt got his start to fame at a young age thanks to collaborations with Faith No More and many celebrity testimonials. After years of battling and witnessing unhealthy lifestyle practices on the road and in the studio, he finally rose to the challenge and began his lifelong endeavor of creating and discovering healthy alternatives for the busy & the adrenaline-worn.

What obstacles did you encounter in getting this book published? How did you overcome them?

Initially it was going to be an Amazon Exclusive, and that for Kindle only. After several meetings and discussions it became clear that Amazon did have the ability to offer proper merchandising and service to fans and readers in exchange for the rights. That was solved by releasing its ebook form to all major retail outlets. Amazon will still get an exclusive on the print version for a while.

Do you have any writing rituals?

I have to meditate a bit before I write, or I am just too frazzled to get it done. Green tea is also an excellent writing helper!

Did you learn anything from writing and publishing this book? What?

The industry is changing fast! Royalties on physical media are near worthless once you factor in all the intermediaries, the costs of printing, warehousing copies etc. These are all deducted form an author’s paycheck. Environmental clutter is also a downside of physical books. Digital media is the way to go, and it is quite clear that the entire industry is leaning towards the effort to go all digital. I was even told by an executive that physical books will be obsolete very soon.

What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?

I like non-fiction. Brian Greene is great because he explains things so well. Duncan Watts is another favorite of mine, he really does a great job being informative and entertaining at the same time.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

Argue with your publisher/agent if they are pushing physical media. The costs will eventually come out of your pocket, and even though writing is fun you will need to put food on the table somehow. See if they’ll let you ebook it, and ask if there are any creative marketing ways to get the word out on your electonic versions of the book.

Who is the perfect reader for your book?

Celebrities and Rock Stars of course! But, really the book is for people that want to live and grow healthy without compromising pleasure and without sacrificing their other responsibilities.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

I would start with Amazon.com. Google searches on “Rock Star Recipes” or “Anand Bhatt” should help too! You can also ask me anything you want at http://twitter.com/anandbhatt and http://www.facebook.com/anandbhattrock

What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

My latest book is a culinary memoir titled Siren’s Feast, An Edible Odyssey, a tale of sex, drugs and couscous. Set against the backdrop of the late 60′s and early 70′s, it chronicles my emotional and spiritual journey as a rebellious daughter who leaves the safety and security of suburban life to heed the Siren’s call to a life of romance and adventure. Along the way I established the first vegetarian restaurant in Spain, on the island of Ibiza, trekked in the Himalayas, had an affair with a Bedouin gypsy during a stint as a cabaret dancer in Syria and, through a series of mishaps, was incarcerated in an infamous London prison (along with my new-born baby) where I managed, even there, to pioneer a healthy way of eating. Siren’s Feast contains over forty mouth-watering recipes.

Tell us something about yourself.

I’m Armenian and a native of Phoenix, Arizona. My spiritual quest began when I was still in my teens, after taking the native sacrament of peyote. In the late 60′s I left home for three weeks and didn’t return for seven years. I traveled the world seeking answers and discovered the woman who would become my life mentor back in Phoenix, at the end of my seven year odyssey. I studied the ancient Japanese healing art of Jin Shin Jyutsu with her for many years and became “masseuse to the stars” in Hollywood. Thirty five years later, I am still practicing this art.

What inspired you to write this book?

I come from a family of storytellers and great cooks. As the daughter of a survivor of the Armenian Genocide of l915, I grew up surrounded by a large extended family who gathered often for picnics and feasts. Amidst all this abundance, I was fascinated and horrified by their tales of deprivation, brutality and survival. When I related these stories to friends and other people everyone kept telling me I should write a book. Ultimately, I agreed with them.

How did you choose the title?

According to legend, the island of Ibiza, Spain is the Island of the Sirens from Homer’s Odyssey. Once you have been there, the Sirens will always call you back. And since food figures so prominently in my memoir, one of my clients, in the course of having a massage, came up with Siren’s Feast. It was a perfect fit. I added the Edible Odyssey because I liked the way it sounded.

What obstacles did you encounter in getting this book published? How did you overcome them?

My writing teacher at the time, Dr. Tristine Rainer who authored Your Life as Story, loved the book so much she became the editor and sent it to a few big publishing houses in New York. Most of the rejection letters were excellent, so I was told. Finally I got a deal with a small publisher in California, who did make it a better book. But the process was taking so long I decided to self-publish. There was a big learning curve involved, so I took it a step at a time. The results were gratifying since I was able to create a beautiful looking book that is Forest Stewardship Council certified, something important to me.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?

I have loved writing and reading since childhood and over the years communicated through letters with people all over the world, who often told me how much my letters meant to them. I began taking writing courses in UCLA’s extension program. My first instructor there was Aram Saroyan who was a great inspiration. I continued in writing groups and through the feedback I received from others in the group finally got the courage to begin my book.

Do you have any writing rituals?

I can’t sit and write until I’ve taken a hike or a long walk. It gives me time to think about what comes next in my work. Then I feel compelled to finish the crossword puzzle in my daily paper. After that, my mind is stimulated enough to sit and write. First drafts are always written on yellow legal pads. I still love putting pen to paper.

Did you learn anything from writing and publishing this book? What?

Yes, I learned that if you can’t afford a $5,000 a month publicist, you will be spending enormous amounts of time publicizing yourself.

If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?

I would remember to include an index of the recipes found in the book.

What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?

I mostly read memoirs. As Mark Twain once said, “Truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction, after all, has to make sense.” I love Zora Neale Hurston, both her fiction and non-fiction. And I’ve read everything Barbara Kingsolver has written.

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?

I’m working on two books simultaneously–one is a follow up to Siren’s Feast, that chronicles my years working as a “healer” along with more travel adventures and recipes and the other project is a natural foods cookbook for children.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

This advice comes from William Saroyan: If you write a page a day, by the end of the year you’ll have a book. And from me: Never ever give up. Keep at it. Get rid of the self-critic sitting on your shoulder. Don’t show your first draft to anyone and never ever give up. Keep at it. Join a writer’s group or start your own. That kind of support is invaluable.

Who is the perfect reader for your book?

Though I’ve received emails from 20 year old women to 87 year old men (yes, more than 1 of those) who all said the same thing–”they couldn’t put it down,” I would say the perfect readers for my book would be the 7 million people who liked Eat Pray Love. One reviewer called Siren’s Feast “Eat Pray Love on steroids.”

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

Amazon.com
http://www.sirensfeast.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sirens-Feast-An-Edible-Odyssey/176894235245?ref=ts

What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

Musing and Munching: A Memoir and Cookbook It is a collection of memories and stories from my life, plus recipes and menus that have inspired or relate to those stories. The stories make up half of the book, and the other half is a detailed cookbook with recipes from several countries like Norway, Holland, and Indonesia, as well as the U.S.

Tell us something about yourself.

I describe myself as a gray-haired grandma who has survived a number of life-style extremes and can still ride the bumps and smile through it all. I’ve had 3 husbands; was abandoned once, widowed once, and am currently happily married. I have 6 children and 2 step-children, and 20 grandchildren. I’ve lived in Minnesota for my whole life, but have recently done some traveling and I talk about some of those travels in my book. Careers have included being a singer, an actress, a secretary, a communications consultant, an office manager, and more. I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.

What inspired you to write this book?

Having 3 husbands has led to 3 totally different lives for me, plus surviving a troubled childhood and living in a home for the elderly while I was in high school. My 6 children have long wanted me to document some of the stories that have followed us around. They also wanted some of the recipes that they remember from home, but I’m a cook who uses whatever is on hand at the time and every recipe turns out differently each time I make it. This makes it tough to write down. I just started writing one day and decided to tell the stories as they related to foods through my life.

How did you choose the title?

I wanted to have a little fun with alliteration, and musing and munching is what the book is all about.

What obstacles did you encounter in getting this book published? How did you overcome them?

I first wrote this for my family only. I wrote it quickly, had it copied and put in a 3-ring binder and it was a Christmas gift for them. Then people read it and made comments like, “You need to do more with this – you really know how to tell a story!” I did many months more of editing, adding stories and recipes, more editing, and then talking with others about how to go about getting published. I got a lot of advice, most of it leading to independent publishing rather than dealing with the rejections and long waiting periods associated with getting a publisher interested in a totally unknown writer. A phone call from a newspaper book reviewer convinced me that going the independent publishing route was the way to go for me.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?

I was doing quite a bit of technical writing of proposals and marketing materials for my job with an engineering firm. Prior to that I was what you’d call a “late bloomer.” I got my bachelor’s degree at age 55. During the 8 years it took to do that while working full-time, I had some college writing classes as well as some classes on-line and had good response from instructors. I just kept at it.

Did you learn anything from writing and publishing this book? What?

I learned that writing is not only not easy, it’s really tough! For me it was a personal catharsis in voicing some really difficult childhood experiences. I also tell about those experiences in hope that others may make better choices than I did. I learned not only that I am a survivor, but I am a joyous survivor! The book has led to speaking engagements where I can share that joy and inspire others. I help them determine what their gifts are and how to use those gifts.

What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors?

I am a voracious and diverse reader because I want to experience a wide variety of styles and subjects. Favorites are Jodi Picoult, Marie Giordano, John Steinbeck (“The Pearl” is the most perfect writing ever), Penelope Stokes (“The Blue Bottle Club” is delightful), Nora Roberts (she gets better and better and her recent “The Search” has wonderful dialogue).

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?

I am a Hospice volunteer, and I help Hospice patients write their life stories. I’ve recently started to help others capture their life stories for their families. These are not published, but are for private collections only. I am also playing with some fictional pieces now and want to take more classes in writing fiction before I really get into doing it.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

Write, write, and write some more. Enter contests, record your thoughts, capture interesting experiences and make notes for future use. Don’t worry about making something complete or final; just make notes and keep them together for use in something down the line.

Who is the perfect reader for your book?

My book appeals to women. I expected that it would appeal mostly to older women, but am finding that younger women like it, too.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

My website through my Xlibris publisher is: http://www.gloriavandemmeltraadt.com/ and the book is also available through Amazon.com.

What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

My new book is Reel Food From Reel Women: Our Favorite Dishes. It is a collection of favorite recipes from women in the entertainment industry, as well as from friends. It has everything from Key Lime Pie Ice Cream (Katherine Fugate), to Rajmah (Nisha Ganatra). In the book I have also included biographies of the women which makes for interesting reading. It is 128 pages and in full color.

Tell us something about yourself.

I currently live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but my family are all from Idaho and Oregon. I have worked in education for 27 years (and retiring soon!), and I am also involved with independent filmmaking and screenwriting. I have won a couple screenwriting awards, and produced/directed, or cinematographer or co-wrote three award-winning short films. These films are listed on imdb.com (Internet Movie Data Base): http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1523779/

I have always wanted to be a writer, so when I hit age 45, I began attending workshops on writing novels and screenwriting. I found I enjoyed screenwriting the best, but I do have two novels I’m working on. Let’s face it, the filmmaking “bug” hit me hard.

What inspired you to write this book?

There are two answers to this: 1) I wanted to find a way to highlight the work of women in entertainment that I admire. 2) I needed a way to raise funds for a feature film I hope to shoot in the Spring of 2011. As an independent filmmaker living in New Mexico, the hardest part is raising film funds, It’s actually the hardest part for ANY truly independent filmmaker. So, I am very hopeful that the book will do well, and the profits can go toward this project.

How did you publish this book?

I chose print-on-demand for my cookbook. Among the many possibilites out there, I found CreateSpace online. As I read the benefits they would provide, as well as the low cost, I felt this was the best and easiest avenue for me. One plus was that your content would automatically be placed on Amazon.com.

No matter who a new author publishes with these days, we are expected to do our own marketing. By publishing with CreateSpace my book became available on Amazon.com and in bookstores within two weeks of sending them the final copy! Additionally, I am able to purchase author copies at a very reasonable cost.

I should mention that the book came out beautifully. And that is in large part due to the graphic design team I hired for this project, Russel Garcia and Chayne Avery. They are wonderful artists and we worked well together on “the look” of the book. And, also due to the expertise and care CreateSpace provided.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?

I have wanted to write since I was about 10 years old and took more of an interest in reading on topics of my own choosing. Actually, what I really wanted was to become a Photo Journalist. But, I let other influences push me into education. It’s been a great career, don’t get me wrong, but really not my dream.

I love getting lost in other people’s worlds, in the words on the printed page (I have yet to delve into e-books), and I love creating those things for myself.

Now that I’m older and can financially follow my interests in writing and filmmaking (classes, workshops, etc.), that is what I am moving toward more and more. I’m 59 now, so it’s a late start, but I have no regrets.

What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?

It’s something you have to do alone, and often friends and family don’t understand this need for alone time, for quiet time and reflection. That’s proven the hardest for me.

How do you do research for your books?

It depends on what I’m working on. For instance, I’m working on a novel that is loosely based on the life of my maternal grandmother. The story takes place mostly in the 1930′s. So, I have purchased on books covering this time period, watched documentaries and films covering the era (including Grapes of Wrath), and spent a good deal of time in the library with my very helpful librarian.

On my screenplays, I have relied on my own imagination so far. I haven’t written on topics that required research.

Here is a thought for new writers; Make your local librarian your new best friend. When I first walked into the library and said, “I’m working on a book on…” the librarian was excited and happy to help a writer. She told me it added a little excitement to her day every time I, or any writer, walked through the door. So, the lesson here is, utilize their knowledge and expertise when needing to research any topic.

Did you learn anything from writing this book? What?

I learned to not have unreasonable expectations. For my particular book, I had to learn to be patient while waiting for that recipe to be sent, or the biography, or the headshot. But, it was well worth it!

What are you reading now?

Currently, I am reading Eat, Pray, Love, and enjoying it a great deal. On my bookstand, awaiting attention is Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell.

What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?

I prefer mysteries, thrillers, and sci fi/fantasy for my personal reading. My favorite authors are Marion Zimmer Bradley (deceased), Dean Koontz, John Saul, Patricia Cornwell, and Mary Higgins Clark. I also enjoyed The Road by Cormac McCarthy, so I plan to read more of his work in the future.

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?

I am working on a new book with the working title, The White Horse. It is the story I referred to earlier about the early life of my grandmother.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

Besides the act of writing, make sure you study how to market your book. Build a presence on Twitter, Facebook and other social media. You can’t just create accounts, you have to actively search for people to follow, or to invite to be your “friend.” Find people with common interests first, and the rest will follow. But it is something you have to always work at.

Also, create a list of other avenues for promotion; local print media and bookstores, independent or public radio stations where you might be able to secure interviews, magazines that relate to your topic or genre, etc. It’s all important.

Last, learn how to write a good press release for yourself that you’ll need when contacting your list.

In my mind, it doesn’t matter if you have the potential to be the next Stephen King, if you don’t generate interest in your work it won’t happen. Marketing is key to doing just that.

What are you doing to promote your latest book?

Similar to what I just mentioned above. I have both twitter and facebook accounts. I decided against MySpace as I felt the other two were easier to use. I have sent promotional copies of the book to several radio stations that interview people in the arts and entertainment world, and to 3 key monthly magazines. I have also sent promotional copies to book review bloggers that have a large following in my genre. As a result, I’m getting noticed on the internet, and I have a radio interview scheduled for July 14th. And that’s in just the first 3 weeks of publication. I have also scheduled a book launch party for July 17th for all local recipe contributors, as well as friends.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

Reel Food From Reel Women can be purchased directly from my website at http://reelrecipes.com. There is also a free recipe that can be printed from the book’s website.

It is also available at Amazon.com.

This book can also be ordered through your favorite local bookstore.

What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.

COOKING AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH KIDS: USA REGIONAL RECIPES AND FUN ACTIVITIES features recipes from all over the United States. I divided the U.S. into 10 regions, one chapter per region. Each chapter includes:

* A map of the U.S. with the states of that region highlighted
* State names
* Activities related to that region
* A regional description (the land, water, temperatures, and what they produce)
* Recipes typical of that region and/or made with foods that are produced there

I wrote this cookbook to teach about the wonderful blend of cultures in the USA and to make the recipes accessible to parents and children. My cookbook combines cooking, learning, and fun for to help create lasting memories and foster close relationships with children.

Tell us something about yourself.

I was born in New York and moved to St. Louis in 1967, when I was in fifth grade. I began baking by myself at age 12, an apple pie. My mom didn’t bake, but we all loved desserts, so I was highly praised. When I was a teenager, my mom worked and didn’t get home until about 6 PM, so we made a deal. I would cook supper instead of doing other housework like cleaning the bathrooms, vacuuming, and dusting.

After high school, I attended the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY. This was in the mid-1970s when only 10 percent of the students were women. It was a two year program, but after a year I didn’t know if working in a restaurant was the right direction for my life, so I transferred the University of Missouri.

After I married and had my first baby, I wanted to stay home with her. While she took naps, I wanted to do something fun and challenging, so I started writing. That was 28 years ago.

What inspired you to write this book?

Moving to the Midwest at age 10, I noticed that people on the east coast and people in the Midwest ate different foods. I was used to eating more fish and seafood in New York, and people in the Midwest ate more beef and pork. I also noticed that people in St. Louis put mayonnaise on both the top and bottom slice of bread for their sandwiches instead of just the top, like in New York. I thought the sandwiches in St. Louis tasted better. When I visited Maine, I ate lobster. When I lived in Memphis, I was introduced to grits. When I visited New Orleans, I ate Shrimp Creole. Everywhere I lived or visited, I was fascinated by the delicious differences in the food I ate and I wanted to write about it.

How did you publish this book? Why did you decide on that publisher?

Leona Jackson, the owner and publisher of Images Unlimited, and I are both members of the Maryville Chapter of the Missouri Writers’ Guild. Lee had self-published a few apple cookbooks, her specialty, and was looking for cookbook manuscripts to publish, transforming her business into a small publishing company. She liked my idea of publishing a children’s cookbook. Lee knew that I had written a monthly cooking column, “Preschooler in the Kitchen,” for the parenting newsletter, Parent & preschooler, for 12 years. We looked at the topics of my columns and decided on a holiday/seasonal theme for the cookbook, as that is the time of year many people take extra time to cook. So our first cookbook came out in 2001, COOKING AROUND THE CALENDAR WITH KIDS: HOLIDAY AND SEASONAL FOOD & FUN. My new cookbook is a companion written in a similar style, with a similar title, and using the same easy recipes with clear directions to help in the success of cooking together.

How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?

I didn’t know I wanted to be a writer until I started writing when my daughter was a baby. My mom had written a book for children when I was growing up and I thought it looked like fun. She had a few articles and stories published, but she pursued a more academic path, teaching on the college level. When I started, I asked my mom a ton of questions about the writing/submission process. My career has brought my mom and me closer together, too.

What do you believe is the hardest part of writing?

The hardest part of writing is taking all the information and deciding what to use. It can be overwhelming.

How do you do research for your books?

For my cookbook, I used my own personal experience, and asked friends and family members. I also did a lot of reading not only about regional recipes, but about each state and what they produce. I read books, articles, and online. The best information came from the USDA and other government agencies. They keep great records and make them available to the public.

Did you learn anything from writing this book? What?

I learned so much! We have such abundance of food, a rich mixture of tastes, and the geography to grow and produce a great variety of food. I learned fun facts like: the state California is the highest producer of vegetables and fruits, cranberries grow in New England and in the Great Lakes States, and the ice cream cone was introduced at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.

What are you reading now?

I recently finished THE END OF OVEREATING: Taking Control of the
Insatiable American Appetite by David A. Kessler, MD. It changed my life—I highly recommend it.

What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?

I like to read self-help, inspirational books, and mysteries. I often read children’s books, too, not only because I enjoy them, but for market research since the majority of my books are for children. For self-help, I recommend, WRITE IT DOWN, MAKE IT HAPPEN: knowing what you want and getting it by Henriette Ann Klauser. For inspiration, anything by Max Lucado. One of my favorite children’s authors is one I read growing up, Phyllis A. Whitney. There are so many children’s authors I enjoy reading such as, Eve Bunting and Madeline L’Engle.

Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?

My sister, Nancy Browning, who is a wonderful cook, and I are working on a cookbook about couples cooking together titled, COUPLES COOKING. Each recipe lists tasks that need to be accomplished so the recipes are easily cooked with a partner. The focus is to bring people together to cook and to eat. We are looking for a publisher.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

Learn the craft of writing by reading about on how to write, enrolling in writing courses, keeping up with market trends, and by writing itself. There’s always something new to learn! For publishing, be persistent! Keep sending out manuscripts, attending conferences, and networking.

What are you doing to promote your latest book?

• Speaking to organizations and schools
• Posting links, announcements, photos on facebook, twitter, and my website
• Sending complimentary copies to specific persons
• Requesting interviews online and in the local newspaper

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

At my publisher’s website: www.imagesunlimitedpub.com

At my website: http://amyhouts.com

At Amazon.com

Rachael Ray heads an empire that includes hit TV shows, best selling books, a magazine and her own product lines. Things keep getting better and better for Rachael Ray. But, you might be interested to know that it was a couple of radio interviews that propelled her to fame and fortune.

As a book publicist I talk to authors and clients every day and every so often one says, “Oh I really don’t want to do radio” or I’ll have a client who’ll decline a radio interview and then give me reasons like “There’s only 5,000 people listening to that station, or such and such is a small town, or nobody listens to radio at 2AM,” or whatever.

I usually respond with “If the Rotary Club in your home town called you today and invited you to speak to their club and 450 people would be in the audience, would you go?” The answer is always a resounding “YES! I’d love to do that…” What’s the difference? Perhaps it’s perception. If you can see them, 450 people are a lot of folks. If you can’t see them it’s too small. How about 5,000 people? But, it’s not always the quantity of listeners it’s the quality of that listening audience.

Let me tell you, radio makes stars, radio interviews get people on TV, radio gets people on Oprah.

That brings me to the story of Rachael Ray and her big break in 2001. She had already sold 10,000 of her cookbooks and she had her own TV segment on WRGB, the local CBS affiliate in Albany, New York. Jennifer Pullinger, the publicist at National Book Network assigned to work on two of her books, Comfort Foods and Veggie Meals, had booked her on various radio shows for phone interviews as part of the publicity campaign. After booking Ray on a handful of small-market radio shows, Pullinger utilized one of Ray’s contacts at WAMC in Albany, New York and scheduled her for a cooking demo on Northeast Public Radio’s “Vox Pop.” The host, Joe Donahue, had had Ray on his program before and happily booked her again. Ray did her demo, and of course, listeners loved it.

And, guess who was listening to that station? Someone who knew the Food Network’s VP of Programming, Bob Tuschman. That “influential” person heard Ray’s segment, and told Tuschman about her. Tuschman then called Pullinger to arrange a meeting with Ray and the rest is history. Oh, and who was listening to another of Rachael Ray’s radio interviews while on his vacation? Al Roker, the weatherman from the Today Show. Al told the show’s food producer to check her out. The producer called Pullinger and booked Ray for a live cooking segment with Al on the Today Show. She was a hit. Then after a couple of years on the Food Network she got THE BIG CALL from Oprah which led to her daily nationally syndicated TV show.

Her big break(s) can be traced back to radio interviews and the groundwork laid by her publicist Jennifer Pullinger, who had previously shipped tapes of Rachael on WRGB-TV to the Food Network and all the morning shows. Think about it. A major star’s career was born from a radio interview, and one that happened at the last minute, and one she nearly turned down. PR opened the door for Rachael Ray and it can do that for you too. Putting a value on that is hard to do but, I’d have to say it’s priceless.

I am often called by producers who want a guest at the last minute. I always deliver them a guest and since I just helped them out of a jam they remember it.

The bottom line is, radio works – radio is a great medium. If you get a radio opportunity, take it! You never know who’ll be listening.

Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm with a special knack for working with individuals and entrepreneurs to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz has handled public relations and marketing for numerous authors, doctors, lawyers, inventors and entrepreneurs. As a book marketing expert Lorenz is called upon by top execs and bestselling authors to promote their books. Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at http://www.book-marketing-expert.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090.

Here’s how one man made millions of dollars from publishing a cookbook…

Cookbooks always sell. They’re always number one sellers. People buy hundreds of cookbooks. It seems like anybody who comes out with a cookbook sells it. Before he wrote his book, he had not known much about the cookbook market, has just read something that said cookbooks always sell well.

He was thinking of the “hungry” market and at the same time, his love for science fiction movies. He says of his idea that he was “driving down the street. My twisted brain put these two ideas together, science fiction and cooking, special effects and cooking.”

This was back in 1990. He thought of what a great idea this could be for him: a special effects cookbook; how to create recipes that move and smoke and sing and glow in the dark and puff, and snap, crackle and pop and so on.

And so immediately, he went home and created his first recipe: a smoking dragon cake. This was a cake in the shape of a dragon that actually blew out safe, mysterious smoke.

Because of his inventing spirit he was able to figure out how to do this on his own, and then from there, just created another one and another one and another one. It took him about two months to create 50 recipes and put them in a book.

He also decided to self publish, and with this sold 500,000 copies at a profit of $10 a piece. That’s five million dollars, straight into his pocket, just by self-publishing!

Do you have the makings of a good quality book? Here are a few hints for you. Unless you’re a very well versed in desktop publishing or you’re a good artist, I would hire it done.

In the cookbook, he wrote all the recipes out in longhand and did some rough sketches. He actually had a good friend who was a cartoonist and did the hand drawings that he for the cover of the book. He then just took it down to the print shop and cranked out 20 books. They were all soft cover, and had no photographs.

He didn’t even have a formal copyright; just went ahead and printed copyright 1990. His plan was to sell this by space ads, but didn’t have enough money to do it right, so did some publicity instead.

And this is another thing I think a lot of marketers don’t pay enough attention to is getting publicity for their products, especially books. Books are hard to sell. If you go to a publisher and have them agree to publish your book, they’re still not going to advertise it.

He had never even considered going to a publisher with the cookbook. Instead, he always considered self-publishing to maintain complete control over the product.

If you’ve been collecting recipes or have a unique idea for a cookbook, self publishing with a sound marketing plan is a great recipe for success.

Michael Senoff is a sought-after Internet marketer, interviewer and business coach with more than 50,000 students on four continents. For a limited time he is giving away free over 120 hours of in-depth audio interviews with some of the richest and most successful marketers, copywriters and business experts in the world at his famous website http://hardtofindseminars.com.

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