10 Reasons I'm Publishing a Cookbook

Embarrassing reveal of only some of my recipes!

I recently determined to publish a cookbook. I asked for feedback from friends, but I think I had made the decision to forge ahead even before their much-appreciated input. 
It's proving to be a big task!

Here are ten reasons behind my motivation.

1 - My recipe books and scattered recipes are overtaking my storage space.

2 - I visualize each recipe - I know if it is typed or handwritten, in a book or file box, online somewhere, or shoved in a drawer. I waste a lot of time searching for the recipe I can "see" in my head.

3 - As you can see by the photo above, some recipes are becoming faded, stained, or torn and will need to be reproduced anyway.

4 - I have cookbooks that take up space yet have only a handful of useful (at least for me) recipes inside.

5 - Friends and family often ask how to make a particular dish and I have to go in search, take a photo or send a long text of instructions when it would be beneficial to direct them to a digital version or hard copy of all my favorite dishes.

6 - I needed a project to get me through January and February.

7- A few of the recipes on this blog required an update.

8- I can kill two birds with one stone if I update and create at the same time.

9- It gives me an excuse to cook some things I haven't enjoyed making in some time.

10 - While the task is truly for my own sanity and organization, the cookbook will be available for purchase as an eBook or hard copy. So maybe that is a third bird with the same stone.

Can you guess which of my recipes is most requested?
The answer is here.

 

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!

- Carol aka Running Granny Green

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Accepting the NaNoWriMo Challenge!

I’m biting the bullet and committing to NaNoWriMo this year! It's a challenge to write 50,000 during the month of November. Why? Because I’ve been finding other things to do and neglecting my writing. That’s kind of like a bow hunter neglecting target practice, or a pianist who never plays. Also because my better half encouraged me to do it. I’m already behind because it took me all day on November 1 to decide to commit. Now I have to come up with a topic, title, genre, a project of some sort. I’ve already begun outlining a cookbook, but recipes do not lend themselves very well to busting out a lot of words in one day. They are going to be mundane, technical, and take a lot of proofreading, so the cookbook is probably not going to be on this list. This blog might benefit from NaNoWriMo, but I get stumped on topics there as well. What to do? What to do?

Perhaps I could be like those song lyrics I detest, you know the ones that use nonsense to fill in measures instead of filling them in with something of value.

Lalalalalala….

Ohooo, oho, ohhhhh …

Hey, hey. he-e-ey …..

You get the drift. I feel that is just like adding blank or lined “journal pages,” or decreasing the page dimensions or increasing margin size in the hopes of gaining a greater page count. It’s all junk. As one friend once reported, “Garbage, no matter how it’s presented, is still garbage.” I think he used stronger wording than that, but it means the same thing.

So here I sit, baffled by the commitment I have just made. How do I begin? The cookbook is out for this month’s project. However, I will still be open to collecting and researching recipes. After all, cooking is my “what to do when I don’t know what else to do” tactic. It’s an escape that gets credit for being productive, because others benefit from it. They get to eat the fruits of my procrastination.

Fiction? I’m still sitting on my novel – afraid to publish it. I know I can write short stories, but I would have to write several to fill the word count. Do I have another novel idea? Perhaps.

Non-fiction? It’s what I know best. I’ve still got projects that need completion. And I have yet to write “Soup is not a Meal.” It’s about misconceptions and unrealistic expectations between men and women as they pertain to or are experienced in marriage. I’ve had my share of research on this topic over the years.

However, “Soup is Not a Meal,” may also lend itself well to fiction. I’m pondering on that one. Humorous? Clean. Does it lift and inspire others? Lifting and inspiring is one of the reasons I write. If it isn’t worth reading, then it probably isn’t worth writing and it definitely isn’t worth sharing with the world. That’s my opinion, anyhow, and it has evolved over the years.

So, … I want to write something worthwhile to lift, edify, inspire or motivate others. I’m going to sleep on it and hopefully, by morning I will have a plan. At least a starting point. That’s what I’m doing right now, is it not? Starting?

No more looking at a blank screen or baking before writing. I’ve got some work to do and mornings shall be my time to do it – after breakfast and scripture study, but before exercise. Perhaps the scripture study prior to writing will help me stay on track with my purpose – to uplift, inspire, and motivate.

I've just shared my first 600 words with you. And away we go!

If you would like to join me in this NaNoWriMo quest, it's not too late. Here is the link to sign up. https://nanowrimo.org/

I'll try to keep you posted on my progress throughout the month, but I may be too busy writing, or baking!

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

99 Cent Book Price Promo - The Hard Run

Find it on Kindle!

It's that time of year when we bake cookies, purchase presents, wrap gifts and decorate our homes. We try extra hard to make it all perfect for ourselves, for those we love, and sometimes even for those we don't love very much. It can all become very daunting.

What happens when the perfection of the season is marred with illness, loss of loved ones, or loss of a job? Do we give up? Do we take the season off this year? Do we put on a happy face and act as if everything were just that - perfect? Perhaps we do a combination of all those things.

My book, The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny, takes a look at difficult things and explores when it's okay to take the season off and when it's best to put on a happy face and push through.

In respect for the challenges of the season, I'm offering The Hard Run on Kindle for $.99 December 8 thru December 15 (December 9 thru December 16 in the UK). Perhaps you know someone going through a difficult time who could use a little endurance perspective right about now. Perhaps that someone is you. Don't miss this opportunity to save on the Kindle version of The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny. Order the book, put your feet up, and munch on one of those special Christmas goodies you worked so hard to create.

Haven't made any goodies? It's okay, but if you need some ideas check out this blog post from seasons past. It has recipes for three of my favorite food gifts. 

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!

Carol - aka Running Granny Green

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Black Friday Book Bash!

I don’t know about you, but I’m not much for fighting crowds on Black Friday. I would rather stay home with family enjoying the company and leftovers. Perhaps I’m not really a shopper!

That’s why I’m offering 25% OFF all my book titles ALL WEEK LONG! Browse. Go eat another piece of pumpkin pie. Email me if you have questions. Shop some more. Purchase when it’s convenient for you. You can even use the coupon more than once. And there are no crowds to fight!

This offer is good now thru Cyber Monday in my Etsy shop or by contacting me personally. It is not valid on Amazon!

Use coupon code: BOOKBASH25

People on your Christmas List who might enjoy my books:

Kids

Country Folks

Fishermen

Quilters

Runners

Non-runners who wish to be runners

Readers with short attention spans

Readers who love life lessons

Writers

And the list goes on …

So, give the shop a visit when you have time between baking, eating, and recovering from that hectic Black Friday shopping trip! Remember the code: BOOKBASH25

Happy Thanksgiving and ...

Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

New Running Books Released! Run at Any Age Guidebook and Journals

What began as a few blog posts about training tips for new runners has evolved into a series of books for beginners. Run at Any Age: A Beginner's Guide for Adults is directed at grownups who have a desire to begin running or to resume running after a few years away from the sport. I share those things that have worked for me as I began running when I was older.

The purpose of this book is not to convince you, the reader, that you should begin running. You have already come to that realization. You may, however, have some doubts about your ability to become a runner.

The purpose of this book is 1) to encourage and convince you that you CAN begin running given you have a clear bill of health from your doctor, 2) to give you information that will help you get started, 3) to provide tips and techniques to help you endure when the physical or mental going gets tough, and 4) to help you obtain benefits and satisfaction that only a runner will understand.

This book is for anyone who is anxious about running, but especially for women who have neglected their physical well-being while providing for the day-to-day needs of those they love. You know who you are and you want to be healthier – not so much for yourself, but for those you love. You want to live a long and active life so you will be here to care for, celebrate with, and cheer on your loved ones, young and old.

You know you should, but you aren’t convinced you can. Let’s begin by dispelling some of the myths you have heard or created about running. Let’s begin slowly and wisely. Let’s begin with the right tools to be successful. Let’s begin with the support and encouragement of other runners.

As I was creating Run at Any Age: A Beginner's Guide for Adults, I pondered much about my advice to log, record progress, write about, and share running workouts as a motivation to keep going. I considered including a sample page within the section, Log Your Workout, but it did not fit the format of the book. A sample page, although it would offer an idea, would not serve the runner over a period of time - and the goal of the motivation sections is to keep the new runner pursuing the goal over more than a few days or weeks. It occurred to me that a logbook and journal combination would be beneficial to new runners. Using the weekly log and journal prompt questions will help the runner see progress during the course of a year. The runner might be surprised to note the physical, mental, emotional, and social changes that running has induced.

As I developed the Run at Any Age Journal, I considered how it might be received by the younger runners whom I coach. My experience with young adolescent runners helped me create prompt questions designed for them. I adapted the journal and prompt question to better fit the running experience of girls and boys - and now we have Run at Any Age Journal for Girls and Run at Any Age Journal for Boys!

Here is a sample of the journal interior ...

Last, but not least, the runner's guide is currently being adapted for young runners! It will be released in late June or early July. I'll be sure to let you know where to find it!

It has been a busy spring!

Find copies of all Run at Any Age books on Amazon or Etsy.
Run at Any Age: A Beginner's Guide for Adults will be available on Kindle.

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Beads, Books and Baubles

I’ve been tapping into a different side of my creativity lately and I am finding joy in it. These beaded bookmarks were originally an attempt to make my Etsy shop more visible. The cyber world is a crazy mathematical place and more items means more opportunity for buyers to find me.  In an attempt to sell more books (I’m not ashamed!) I found a new hobby.

The creative writing/publishing/book selling business is hard work. It’s fulfilling if you, like me, have a drive for communication and teaching through written word. I have discovered, quite by accident, that I also find fulfillment in creating beautiful things with my hands. Some will gasp! Some may call me a turncoat! You see, I have long shunned crafting and I have been quite free with my opinions. I feel pressured when a group activity is accompanied by painting, gluing, or even sewing – I prefer visiting. I especially dislike painting!

I’ll admit, I’m more than surprised. Stringing the beads, focusing on creating an attractive pattern and even taking photos of the finished product seem to relax and clear my mind. It’s like hitting the refresh button on a web page that isn’t responding.

I’m concerned about one thing … might my books get lost amongst the colorful sparkly beaded creations? That could backfire, could it not?

Happy Creating!

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Book Marketing and Giveaway!

 

I presented a workshop on book marketing last Saturday to new and upcoming authors.  As I returned home after an eventful and productive day I realized that I had been neglecting one of the book marketing tools I had suggested they all use.  Yes, this blog has been lacking new posts of late.  I have an excuse!  I always have one of those.  Truthfully, my energies had been directed at preparing the book marketing information for the WOW! Write on Workshop Conference by theInspirational Women Authors and promoting my newest books, The Hard Run and Gary Learns to Skate.

Here is a little trivia about Gary Learns to Skate …

• It is a children’s book based on a true story. 

• Very little poetic license was implemented!

• My granddaughter is the illustrator and she did a fantastic job!

• My favorite illustration is the skating flamingo!

• Half of the profits are hers.

In an effort to practice what I preached last Saturday and demonstrate the effectiveness of social marketing, I am going to hold a contest for a copy of Gary Learns to Skate. 

These are the rules …

1. You must visit this blog post for a chance to win.
2. To prove you were here leave a comment on this post or message me on Facebook with the answer to this Trivia Question: What is my favorite illustration in Gary Learns to Skate?
3. Sharing this blog post on your Facebook page will earn you a second entry into the contest.
4. No cheating!
5. This contest will run through Friday, June 5.

Let’s see how effective this contest can be in proving the value of social media in book marketing. I will be presenting in future workshops from the Inspirational Women Authors.  This information will help develop those workshops. I can’t wait to see who wins a copy of Gary Learns to Skate!

Go!

Happy Running!

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Book Excerpt: The Doily

Find it here.

 

 Here is an excerpt from Milk Cans and Quilt Blocks.  This perspective helps me more fully appreciate our differences.

The Doily

I am not much of a crafter.  I haven’t the patience for it.  Cutting and sanding wood, painting cute faces on it, gluing on hair, fastening a hook for hanging – none of those things really appeal to me.  I would rather visit while someone else does the crafting. I have often blamed my real job, lab work with its tedium, for my dislike of crafts.  I craft all day!  Why do I want to do it for fun?

Ironically, I have one hobby that falls into the crafting category.  When I was ten my oldest sister, Kaye, taught me to crochet.  I made something for a Barbie doll to wear and one small doily.  I learned that to correct a mistake properly, one must pull out all stitches looped after the mistake.  This can be extremely frustrating if the project is extensive and the mistake has been overlooked for some time. 

Over the years, I have crocheted sporadically, usually making a doily for an event or occasion, using it to justify time spent in front of the television, or to pass the time during a long road trip.  Occasionally, I have made an afghan or baby booties, but I prefer doilies.  My favorites are large table top doilies with intricate patterns that take several weeks to complete.  Often I have pulled rows of stitches out in an attempt to make my doily perfect.
 
I have been known to take on projects unrealistically.  So it was that I determined to make large doilies as graduation gifts for nine of my daughter’s friends.  I began in October.  When the New Year arrived and I had completed two, I knew I was in over my head!  One evening as I was tearing out yet another row, I grumbled about it to Marie.
 
“I could go a lot faster if I could just quit making mistakes!”
 
“You should just leave them.”

 

“I can’t just leave them. It would affect the whole doily.  Every mistake would just get bigger and it wouldn’t work out!”

“Then just fix it.  The mistakes give them character.”  She replied.  I was a bit frustrated that she didn’t see the severity of my dilemma.
 
Two weeks later as I was about to pick out another row, Marie’s words came back to me. 
 
“Just fix it.  The mistakes give them character.”

If I was going to make my goal, I couldn’t keep back pedaling.  I had to move forward, and I could fix it.  Much like writing around an obstacle in a story, I could add a stitch where one had been dropped, or drop a stitch where one had been added.  Most mistakes could be fixed so as not to mar the entire work. And so I did. 

I have a special apron embroidered for me by Grandma D.  When I have occasion to wear it, I trace the stitches with my fingers locating the mistakes that are there.  Grandma D passed from this life years ago, but as I study my apron, I am always reminded of her.  I wonder what may have interrupted her as she was working.  I treasure my apron partly because I know that nobody has one just like mine.

A doily is much like a life.  Woven of a single thread, it has many turns and changes along its way.  Not every stitch is perfect, and like each of us, there are places where mistakes are made and flaws occur.  In spite of its faults, the end result is a thing of beauty.  Even the mistakes are appreciated in that they contribute to the unique quality and impression of the doily.  May your life be like a doily.  As you progress along your path, learn from your mistakes, continue onward, and form yourself into a thing of beauty and experience.

Find all my books in my Etsy shop or on Amazon and Kindle.

Happy Running!