After almost 10 years of food blogging I wrote a book.
And it is on sale!
Many of you know my story and many of you do not.
I started food blogging in December of 2009, just three months after the birth of my first child. If you are doing the math correctly I am this close to reaching 10 years of food blogging.
Who flippin' knew, that is all I can say.
Who knew I'd stick with something this long, many of the first years not earning a penny. Many of the first few years juggling it with 3 kids under the age of 5. Many of the first years not telling anyone my side gig, but yet still plugging away.
It's been a ride!
If you're an early blog reader then you'll know I did write a self-published cookbook years ago {in fact some of you may still have it}, but let's be honest it was awful. I mean, the recipes are good, but the writing, photographs and layout were very amateur. Saying that I'm still proud of it. It was a lot of work and well, everyone has to start somewhere.
Fast forward a few more years and everyone kept asking for me to write ANOTHER cookbook. You know, like a real one....one published by a big publishing house and sold on Amazon. That kind of cookbook.
What most people don't know is that is HARD.
It is hard to get into the hands of publishers. Hard for them to get to know you. Hard for them to trust your blog platform. Hard for them to think you'll actually sell cookbooks for them. In the end, it's all about what sells and what topic will sell.
In the beginning of 2018 I did actually get my foot in the door of a mid-major publishing house. One that friend's of mine have published books with. From January 2018 until August of 2018 we talked and chatted and submitted proposals and talked some more.
I drafted chapters and ideas and sample recipes. I jumped on conference calls and went back and forth via email with an editor for months.
In the end, come August, I decided to take a break from it all. We both couldn't settle on an idea that #1 wasn't already in the works from another author #2 would sell cookbooks and #3 was something that I was passionate about. We parted away amicably and on good terms.
I was frustrated beyond belief.
I was seeing fellow bloggers publish books left and right, many simply by answering a random email from an editor who saw their work. Even one who magically "bumped" into an editor at a sporting event and struck up a deal. I felt like I wanted it so bad and was working so hard, yet no one wanted to work with me.
About this time, when I decided to take a break on negiotating cookbook deals, I had one last idea - one that I pitched to that publishing company and they basically said take a hike, it will never sell as there wasn't a market for it.
I took that Fall off, but still with this book idea in my head I made a goal in January of 2019 to sell something. Anything really. My blog income was coming from ad revenue and brand collaboration revenue. I felt I needed another piece of pie in that chart....I wanted to sell something!
Once the new year hit I started thinking, researching and sourcing out designers, printers, and the like. I knew my book idea was different, but I felt that if it was something I'd like to have around, I felt other women would enjoy it too.
Long story short, in May I met with my designer to plot it out. By July we were in edits and the first week of August my book was in my hands.
Bread & Butter: Embracing the Practicalities of Life, While Making Time for What Matters is finally here.
I designed this book for all the Moms out there. Personally in my life I needed something that allowed meal planning, shopping list organization and easy recipes to be found all in one book. A book that could travel with me in my busy life.
So this book has just that - three sections - a meal planning calendar, a shopping list organization and note section and a back recipe booklet with my top 50 easy recipes.
The inside cover of the book explains all of my thinking about this.
I titled this book Bread & Butter, because since having kids and being a wife and most recently being a stay at home Mom for 5 years, it is pretty much how I run my life.
Bread is the practicalities of life {schedules, work, mortgages}, but the butter is what makes your life full {your children's laughter, hearty soups on a chilly night, Friday night football games, a crisp glass of wine on your front porch}. The bread is okay by itself, but adding butter makes for the most delicious life.
Bread sustains us and holds us up, it will wake us up each morning to our various responsibilities, but when you finally add the butter that is when life gets real. Life becomes full.
I created this book, as I wanted something to mirror how I feel about life. For most that meet me, they will say a few adjectives - laid back, kind, witty, content - someone who strives to keep their priorities aligned. I am NOT trying to play myself up, I've made many, many mistakes in my life, but I feel like I'm finally in a place where I'm happy with who I am.
I wanted a book that I could take with me to the grocery store with all my lists in one spot. I wanted a book that I could take on the run in the van while shuttling kids here and there. I wanted a book that I could write in at 5 a.m. when ideas pop up. I wanted a book on hand so that when I'm in a dinner funk {yes, even I get in dinner funks} I could turn to the back section and find that one recipe my family loves.
So basically I wrote this book for myself.
But I figured some of you would like it too.
I have so many people to thank for this book. First my designer Regan at Doe a Deer Design. She is amazing and we click. Working with her was so easy. I cannot wait to work with her again. I have two behind the scenes web designers who have helped me to figure out how to sell something online. I'm pretty sure they've wanted to throw in the towel with me at times {I can be demanding, wanting things done yesterday}, so I appreciate them sticking around. They know who they are.
And of course my family - many of them didn't know I was writing a book until it was done, but that is how I do things - secretly!
So now for the details.
Please know I have ordered a LIMITED QUANTITY of Bread & Butter. That is how small businesses do things. Order small, then order more if needed. I could sell five today or I could sell out. If sold out, it will notify you at check out. If that happens quickly I will do my best to re-order quickly.
Lastly, if you are local and I know you {as in we are friends and you know where I live}, please make sure the use the second order link on the form so to avoid shipping costs. You will be able to pick up from me.
FOR ALL ONLINE ORDERS ----- > Bread & Butter: Embracing the Practicalities of Life, While Making Time for What Matters
When you order and receive this book in hand, I'd love to see a photo of you with it! Tag me on social media {@sweetsavoryeats} and I'll be sure to share the love. My hope is this book can help ease the stresses of life and help you enjoy those "butter" moments.
