Photo by Suzanne Boothby
Any town boasting a bookstore that's also a wine bar is a must-visit literary destination, don't you think? Among its other charms, Asheville provides plenty of delicious food and coffee options, like wood-fired pizza and a chocolate lounge. Plus, its home to the MFA program at Warren Wilson College, so there are plenty of literary activities to enjoy throughout the year. Thanks to local writer Suzanne for guiding us through town!
A dream coming to fruition is simultaneously surreal and thrilling, like the sweet and savory flavor combination of sea salt and caramel or strawberry and balsamic vinegar. There's something intrinsically right about the whole thing.
You know I've been swept away by motherhood these past few months, but there's also been a birth of a different sort taking place. The kind with pages and black ink and binding.
I'm writing a cookbook.
(!!!)
Part of me wants to say I don't believe it, I'm still in the best kind of shock. In some ways this is true. But in another way, and perhaps a more important way, I'm fully grounded because this isn't a project that fell into my lap. I worked at it, I waited, I didn't give up. A lot has gone in behind the scenes for more than two years, actually.
One day I'll share more about the journey to publication, but for now, I just want to tell you that come Spring 2017, in time for National Poetry Month, you and I will be able to have a real, smell it, underline it, post-it-note stick it, hold-it-in-your-hands book. I can hardly wait.
Roost Books is the publisher, and like the blog posts you've come to expect from this space, the book will combine poetry, recipes, and stories, exploring all the ways poetry infuses our daily lives, especially in the kitchen. I hope it will find a space on your bookshelf.
Thank you as always for reading, and cheers to the year ahead.
I know many of you readers are also writers, so throughout 2016 I've decided to share some behind-the-scenes glimpses into the writing process. I'll be dedicating a few upcoming newsletters to the subject, so if you'd like to learn more about writing a cookbook and my writing lessons in general, sign up here. (If you already receive my monthly newsletter, you're all set.)
Much more to come!
Photo by Valeria Cristina
The last time I was in Amsterdam was in 2002 (!), long before Literary City Guides existed to guide my adventures. I got by with my two roommates, hopping on and off the trams, finding cafes, eating waffles, and visiting the Van Gogh Museum. We had a wonderful weekend, but it would have been handy to know where the best bookstores, restaurants, and coffeeshops could be found.
Enter Valeria, our trusty guide who has called the city home for six years, which is long enough to discover that Amsterdammers often build little shelves outside their houses, where anyone can share and donate their books! She also reveals where you can find the best Dutch sandwiches, Thai food, and stationary stores, among other great finds.