On Friday, July 6th I got an email that made me squeal. Just the subject line, “Prevention RD Cookbook?,” was enough to send me into full-out hysteria — disbelief, excitement, and every other emotion under the sun.
I opened the email and it read, “…I was recently given the link to your blog, Prevention RD. I browsed through your recipes, checked out your photos, (bookmarked some recipes to try later!), and read your About Me and Food Philosophy pages. I feel that your approach to cooking/baking and your past, present, and future material would result in a great cookbook….Have you ever thought of publishing a cookbook? Do you think this project would hold any interest for you? Please let me know if you would like to discuss the details….”
I think I then proceeded to read it about 12 times, pinch myself, and then call my nearest and dearest to FREAK OUT with excitement.
I talked with the Editorial Assistant via email to get some questions answered. During this time, she was feeling out the Editorial Team to see if my culinary spin and approach was, in fact, “cookbook material”. She encouraged me to write a proposal and said that she was interested in pitching my book to the publisher. The proposal included some information on me, my background as a dietitian, what got me into cooking and why my perspective is unique, along with some work samples of recipes and photographs. My proposal was submitted on July 24th.
On July 30th, I received an email with a subject line of, “Prevention RD Cookbook — Great News!” I about died. The email read, “I just pitched your book and my publisher would love to publish a cookbook based on your blog…I’m so excited for you! Congratulations!”
And, that was that. All smiles and then panic-stricken with, “Oh my gosh…CAN I DO THIS?!”
The answer to that question is, I hope so! But in order to do so, I am going to be cutting back on my blogging frequency through October 1st when my manuscript needs to be complete. I have no intention of quitting blogging and I have every intention of picking up speed to my usual daily posting in 8 short weeks. 😀
Eight weeks…dear lord. So much to do! Between the new job that keeps me working a 50+ hours a week, keeping up with the blog (albeit on a smaller scale), continuing my routine of exercise and my hockey team (I’d go looney tunes without regular exercise), and the upcoming college football season and chili contest…it should be a challenge to add in writing a cookbook, but we’re going to give it a go! When it rains it pours (good and bad — luckily, this is all good!). Writing a cookbook is truly a dream come true…and I would never let this opportunity and honor pass me by.
As for the details, the cookbook will be out in the spring of 2013 (April/May). I will be doing a lot of new recipes for the cookbook that have never been posted on my blog. Each recipe will have nutrition information (of course!) and a color photo, plus a few notes from yours truly. Don’t you just hate when cookbooks have recipes without a photo? Me too. The cookbook will include at least 100 recipes and a variety of selections — everything from appetizers to vegetarian to crock pot. Desserts, as well!
There is no way this opportunity would have come about without readers of my blog coming to my corner of the web each day. So, thank you…so very much. I never would have believed that something like this could fall into my lap, literally, but I am so thankful that it did. I am so passionate about health and wellness, helping every day people see that they can eat well by making small, manageable changes that result in truly delicious food that they will want to eat forever. Eating well should never be a barrier — not cost, not accessibility, and certainly not taste!
With all of my love….thank YOU!
xo,
Oh my Gosh!!!!! Congratulations!! I am sure your book will be great. Keep us updated ’cause I want to buy it!! 🙂
I will absolutely pre-order this! Congratulations – you seriously deserve it! I’ve tried recipes from tons of healthy living/food blogs and yours are the only that *always* immediately make it onto our ‘badass recipes to make again’ list.
WAHOO!!! I CAN’T WAIT TO BUY IT!
Congrats again Nicole. This is so awesome. Who knew your blog would get you THIS far?! You deserve and, and we are ALL so proud of you!!
Can you imagine me making a recipe and writing as the source “PreventionRD Cookbook?!”
Oh my goh, such exciting new!!! It really is pouring with amazing things for you! So excited to see how it turns out (I know amazing!).
Congrats Nicole, what an awesome opportunity!!!
So proud of you!! I can’t wait to buy your cookbook!
Congrats! Can’t wait to see the finished product.
Congratulations and well deserved! Add me to the list of those pre-ordered and wanting your autograph ;).
I am not surprised….blog is great! I am a cookbook junkie. I read them like novels. Can’t wait for yours. Congratulations!
Well deserved!!! Congrats!
CONGRATULATIONS! That’s amazing!
Congrats lady! This is fantastic news!!! Good luck and I can’t wait for even MORE amazing food…
Congratulations – very exciting news!!
This is amazing news! I’m so glad that it’s happening to you. Congratulations!
How exciting! I’ll definitely be buying it.
Congratulations Nicole! This is awesome and you totally deserve it. You come up with some great recipes.
I am so excited for you and thanks for teaching me healthy eating can be tasty. I will definitely be getting a copy!
Super duper excited for you! I can’t wait to be able to pick up a copy!
CONGRATS!!! That is so great! And I can’t wait to purchase one 🙂 You’re a celeb, should have gotten your autograph when we met the other year! haha
Congrats! I love your blog and I am sure I will love your book too! Just beautiful healthful food to give my body. Thank you!
Congrats! I will be ordering your cookbook for sure! You know, I have about 50 different healthy eating/living blogs on my Google Reader but yours is the one that I am always most excited to read each day. Your recipes have changed the way I see nutrition, your beautiful photographs have changed the way I see food, and your uplifting commentary has changed the way I see my own life.
I literally never leave comments on blogs but I had to let you know how very much I enjoy yours and how excited I am to see all your hard work recognized. Please keep us readers updated on when we can pre-order and good luck with the project!
OMG! I am so happy for you!! I will definitely buy your cookbook,,I already make 3/4 of all your recipes! 🙂
Awesome news! Congrats!
Congratulations!! As a long-time reader and fellow RD, I’m so glad to see a new RD-authored cookbook hit the shelves! You have such a great way of “lightening” recipes, without losing the flavor ;). I’ll definitely be purchasing it. Can’t wait to hear more about it! Congrats Nicole!
So exciting! I’m sure it will be beautiful. Your blog has become my favorite food blog, so I’ll miss you but I will absolutely pre-order your book as soon as it’s available 😀
Wow– SO exciting!!!! Congrats, Nicole!!!
Holy cow!! Congratulations! That’s so fantastic!! I can’t think of anyone whose cookbook I would enjoy more. Let us know what it’s ready for pre-order!!
Such awesome news! Super excited for you. And whew, yes please to photos in the cookbook. That’s a smaller turn-around than what I would’ve expected. Good luck girl, and can’t wait to see the finished product!
Holy cow Nicole! How incredible! I am so very happy for you! You know I’ll be snatching up a copy once it goes on sale. Huge congrats to you!!!
I forgot to email you back, but I asked around my office and no one had a good recommendation that they knew for an attorney to look over your contract – hopefully you found one close to you!
I am beyond thrilled for you Nicole – you deserve it!!
Well this NEEDED to happen 🙂 Congrats, I can’t wait to order my copy!!
Congrats again honey!!!
Yay! I have loved SO many of your recipes and would 100% buy your cookbook!!!! Congrats!!
Oh my gosh!!! This is SO exciting! CONGRATULATIONS! I can’t wait to buy a copy!!
Congratulations, Nicole!
Congrats Nicole! This is so exciting!
Yay!!!! Congrats and I cannot wait until April/May : )
Congratulations Nicole!
That is amazing news! So proud of you!
Congratulations! This is excellent news. Good luck with the writing process!
Congratulations!!! This is awesome!!
I am SO SO SO happy for you!! I can’t wait to buy it! 🙂
Congrats, Nicole! So well-deserved!
YAY!! Nicole, I’m SO excited for you and what a dream come true! Can’t wait to see you in October and celebrate your completed deadline! 😉
Congrats! Cannot wait to see it
You. Are. Awesome! 🙂
That is amazing!! Congratulations!! I’m so excited for you, and I cannot wait to pick up a copy. 🙂
Very exciting!!! I’m so happy for you! Can’t wait for the cookbook 🙂
xoxo
Congratulations! I can see why the lady was smitten with your blog! I can’t wait to read it (:
Yay you! I’m so happy for you! And looking forward to all those great new healthy recipes!
BIG HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!!! I’m so happy i found your blog ages ago. So many great meals we’ve made because of you 🙂 Good luck!
AHHHH! CONGRATULATIONS!! What amazing news. I’m so happy for you. Best of luck with the writing process. I look forward to adding your cookbook to my shelf next spring (just in time for my 30th birthday…I’ll have to add it to my wish list for my husband!) 🙂
This entire post made me so happy for you- what awesome news! You’ll be so super busy, huh?! I’ll be looking out for your book, keep us posted! 🙂
Congratulations! I can’t wait for a hard copy of your awesome recipes!
Congratulations!! That is so awesome. Count me as one of the ones already in line to get a copy 😀 I know it’ll be amazing!
Congratulations! That is amazing! I actually just found your blog yesterday and can’t wait to try some of your recipes!
Congratulations! I’m a fairly new follower, but I’ve enjoyed everything so far.
Nicole! This is so exciting! From moving to starting a new job to this amazing opportunity – you go girl! Wish we were both still in Columbus and could meet for coffee! 🙂
Congrats ! You are my first go-to morning read for real-life recipes that I can use everyday. I can’t wait to buy your book!
🙂
Congratulations! How exciting!
What fantastic news! Where can I preorder the book!
Wow, sign me up!!it’s about time! Seriously, out of all the blogs I read, im pretty sure that I have pinned and actually made more of your recipes than any other. So happy for you!
Congrats!!! Now that’s a cookbook I’d buy
So can it be pre-ordered on amazon yet? This is wonderful news…now I’ll have all of your wonderful recipes in one place!!
Way to go Nicole!! That’s really great news!! No worries if I get less posts from you knowing there is cookbook brewing (haha). Enjoy the success!!
Yay, congratulations Nicole! How exciting!
This is fabulous new Nicole1 Congrats!! I’ll be first in line to buy your new cookbook. 🙂
Congrats! That’s fabulous news!
A big whoopee for you !!! How fabulous ! Are you taking advance orders yet ? Happy cooking !
Congradulations! That’s Awesome =)
Hi congratulations , I’m so happy for you , you deserve it ! And u r such an inspiration
Congrats!!! Just came across your blog a few weeks ago and really have enjoyed each and every recipe I have tried. Definitely looking forward to the cookbook.
I am excited! I can’t wait to buy it.
I am so happy for you, Nicole! Be sure to come to Boston for one of your book signings! 🙂
Congrats!! This is so awesome! I would love to buy your cookbook and as a fellow RD, recommend it to patients!
Wow, Nicole! I am SO happy for you! I’ll be waiting to pre-order from Amazon! And as always, I can’t wait to try the new recipes……..in fact i just made the lite ranch dressing from your blog for dinner tonight! Just think of how many more people you will inspire to eat and live healthier! Congrats!
I am so, so, SO excited for you Nicole!!! Your blog is absolutely gorgeous and you are so talented…I know your book will be incredible and I can’t wait to buy it! XO
Awesome. Good luck! I hope we’ll be able to get it in the UK 🙂
Congrats on the cookbook. I love your photos and recipes on this site so look forward to seeing it all in book form. Best of luck getting it out the door!
Congratulations on your cookbook! That is awesome!
Congrats Nicole, how exciting!! 🙂