Today my book, “Baby Proof: Mocktails for the Mom to Be” is released in major bookstores and sold online!
Join me in celebrating the release of my first book, “Baby Proof”! I am making it safe for pregnant women to have a mocktail during pregnancy.
A YES, YES YALL! AND YOU DON’T STOP!!!
MY FIRST BOOK IS OUT AND YOU DON’T STOP!!!
Can you feel the excitement running through this post right now?! I mean seriously, do you know feel how excited I am knowing that right now my book, the book I created, is being sold in local bookstores and online through top retailers like Target, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon?! This is a crazy exciting day and time for your favorite food blogger over here! I don’t even know what all I can say about this but “Thank you, Jesus”! I guess I’ll talk to you about my story to “Baby Proof: Mocktails for the Mom To Be”. I figured I would talk about this book in a series of questions that I am already being asked by friend, family, and bloggers.
How did you get your first book deal? To be honest, I was not shopping for a book deal at all. I was contacted by an editor at Countryman Press and she asked if I had ever thought of publishing a book because I take great pictures (really?). I told her that I always wanted to publish a book but I didn’t know the processor wasn’t currently pursuing that opportunity. She thought it would be great for me to work with her to get something out there. Initially, we were going to extend and publish my e-book, “I Love You…Let’s Eat”, because it was a great concept and it was halfway done (work smarter not harder). We ran into the issue of how to market the book, how do we compete amongst the other books out there that have a similar theme. So we decided to explore other options that would be true to me but would help me stand out for a first time published author. We talked about my pregnancy and we thought it would a good idea to create a book of mocktails that would be perfect for pregnant women. This came after I mentioned how I actually craved alcohol. No, literally, it was an actual thing! No joke.
I was approached in September of last year and once we had the concept, that’s when I started working on the actual book proposal, which was after I had my son last November. In December, I got an email saying that the marketers and sales team loved it and they offered me a deal! I know that may seem pretty easy and all, but it really wasn’t. When you make the decision to write a book, more than likely, you have to write the book before it even published. That is what I had to do. I came up with the concept, the recipes, the photos, and the stories that I share. Make no mistake, every word, recipe, and photo in my book is MINE. I worked hard on the book. My son was only 1 month when the deal happened and I had four months to get my final manuscript submitted, so creating “Baby Proof: Mocktails For the Mom To Be” was a grind. Between breastfeeding, changing diapers, trying to get rest, keeping my blog alive, and working because I do still have a 9-5 that is unrelated to blogging, I was exhausted. But I honestly kept the hop of how this book can be something that will sell and be impactful to pregnant women for years to come.
How did you come up with the recipes? To be honest. The most intimidating aspect of creating this book was the fact that it was all drinks. I had never been a bartender and I am not a heavy drinker so I questioned myself and doubted my abilities at the beginning of making this book. I felt that because it was a book that was comprised of mostly non-alcoholic drinks, that it had to look a certain way and possess certain things to be successful. I was putting myself under some serious pressure. So, I decided to shake off those unsaid expectations and just have fun with my book. I tried traditional cocktails that actually had alcohol to get a gist of the flavors and that allowed me to explore with different juices, mixes, teas, and flavorings that would create the same flavor of those cocktails that actually contained alcohol. I am very, very proud of my book and I honestly feel that I did a good job with creating a combination of mocktails that are easy and affordable, which is the general rule of thumb I go by when creating dishes on my blog.
What is your favorite mocktail in your book? My favorite beverage in my book is the Cantaloupe Mimosa, “Baby Momma on the Beach”, and Spicy Chocolate Martini. There are many others in the book that I love, but those three are my absolute favorite for different reasons. I love Cantaloupe Mimosa because the picture is gorgeous and it insanely and surprisingly delicious and I don’t even like cantaloupe. I can’t stand it actually. I love the “Baby Momma on the Beach” because it was the first mocktail that I made and drank like 3 glasses full. It is crazy good! Lastly, I love the Spicy Chocolate Martini because it is rich and chocolatey and has all types of funky spices. It is definitely one of my most creative books yet!
Why would you recommend I buy this book? I think my book, “Baby Proof: Mocktails for the Mom-To-Be” is the ultimate baby shower gift. This book is cute, colorful, filled with topic items for each trimester of pregnancy, and something that will be appreciated for years to come. When I first got the book offer, I wanted a self-proclaimed book that was about me and the dishes I make on my blogs, such as Grandbaby Cakes, How Sweet It is, or Damn Delicious. These are cookbooks that I personally love and think are amazing and I highly recommend them. However, I wanted a book that fulfilled a need that I could relate to.
When I was pregnant, I wanted to drink alcohol every day!
I am not the only one who sits in that truth.
Being pregnant is beautiful, romantic, and amazing. But it is also exhausting, taxing on the body, and uncomfortable. When you have all of that stress that your body is going through, along with the stress of preparing to be a parent again or for the first time, it all can be overwhelming. These are emotions and feelings that I definitely went through during both of my pregnancies and it all makes you WANT A DAMN DRINK! There is nothing wrong with that feeling. I know many women out there does allow themselves to have a glass of wine here and there during their pregnancy. But for those who are too paranoid to have a drink, this book is perfect because it allows you to have that feeling of drinking a refreshing cocktail. I am not saying this because I am the author of this book, but I wish I had this book when I was pregnant…seriously.
What did you use to make the drinks? Okay, at first I was going in the direction of making drinks that consisted of a bunch of syrups and mixes and then I thought how unhealthy that is. Don’t get me wrong, there are some of those types of drink in this book. However, I wanted to be very careful with the drinks I made because expecting moms will be drinking these beverages and passing them along to the little ones. So, I used heavily brewed teas as an alcohol supplement and I used freshly pressed juice as well. If you don’t have a juicer that is fine. I do recommend that you buy juices that are required for some of the recipes as fresh and natural as possible. This will allow you to taste the drinks in its natural flavors.
So, I said a lot about this book and I hope that you get the gist of the theme in this book. I hope that you buy my book, “Baby Proof: Mocktails for the Mom-To-Be” (yes I am saying that on purpose) as a baby shower gift, something for yourself, or as a stocking stuffer for this upcoming holiday season! I hope that you can feel the love and have fun with this book as I did. My hope is that this is the first of many books for me that will become the gift that keeps on giving!
To celebrate the release of my book, I am conducting a giveaway where I am giving away 3 signed copies of my book! Enter your information below for a chance to win!
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