It’s an exciting day here at Entertablement. The Book, Entertablement – The Four Seasons has launched. It’s available on Amazon in Kindle version; the hardcover will be available in early September.
It’s been quite an adventure. Writing a blog is one thing, though the learning curve on all that technology took me a while to navigate successfully. A book is something else again. Preparing the food, photoing the tables, picnics and dinner parties, as well as the actual writing of the book, was the fun part. But much like hosting a dinner party for the first time, the behind-the-scenes aspects are very daunting to the uninitiated. I won’t bore you with all the details, but suffice to say there were five, yes five, software translations from photos and writing to Kindle book: Lightroom Library & Develop, Lightroom Book Module, Blurb book, Blurb eBook, and Kindle DIrect publishing.
The hardcover is produced at step 3, and that was my original goal: publish a modest number of hardcover books on this rather narrow and esoteric subject matter. But with the wonders of modern technology, the push of a button and a very modest investment delivers a digital file that can be seen on an e-reader. The translation wasn’t exact, but it was much faster and more elegant than I would ever have dared to imagine. Some fonts didn’t translate, and alignment was off in places, all of which had to be adjusted manually. So far, so good. Then to go to a Kindle reader was another translation with similar font and alignment adjustments. But lo and behold, in short order, we had an ebook! The digital book image quality is astounding.
Here is the Table of Contents. There are twelve tablescapes for each season, listed in black with associated recipes in green.
Remember the crazily colourful cake I showed you a few weeks back?
It’s a Mad Hatter Tea Party
We have honey-bee cookies.
Guys Gathering on the Porch.
A Wedgwood Inspired Tea.
A Fall Picnic.
And we finish up with a Penguin New Year’s Eve dinner.
Back in the land of physical reading material, though, printers, covers and paper take longer. We decided to do a limited first edition on very high-quality paper for people who want a coffee-table book. Early September is the date; $60 is the price.
At its core, this book is about taking the things in life that inspire you and bringing them to life in food and at the table, on a picnic or at a birthday party, in celebrating everyday and special occasions, so the people in your life know they’re loved.
As you may have gathered, launching a book is hard work. If you’re willing to help me spread the word, I’d be very grateful. It would be enormously helpful if you’d care to tell a friend or post an Amazon or Goodreads review, or anything else. Every little bit helps!
To celebrate, I will be giving away three copies of the Kindle or hardcover book – your choice. Stay tuned for details on how to enter the contest. Hint: start thinking about things that inspire your creativity.
I hope readers enjoy the book as much as I did writing it. It was truly a labour of love, from my house to yours.
Thank you, dear readers, for travelling with me on this journey. I’m so very grateful for your support and encouragement. I couldn’t have done it without you.
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Congratulations Helen !
I want one !
You can wait for the contest, Annie and keep your fingers crossed.
How wonderful! Congratulations on a beautiful book.
Thanks, Joy! It was such fun to do.
Congratulations! How exciting for you! Can’t wait for the hardcover as I like to savor the color photos.
It won’t be long. Maureen. I hope you enjoy it.
Hello Helen,
You will be my Christmas gift this year.
Daughters and friends will have years of joy.
I knew it would be special, but it looks spectacular.
September is around the corner. It’s always nice to have
something to look forward to and your book will be it.
Kem
Thanks so much, Kem!
Summer is slipping away quickly now, isn’t it? Let’s make sure we enjoy these last few precious weeks.
Bought the kindle version because September is so long to wait. The book is lovely. So beautiful and so well done. Congratulations!
Thanks, Lorri. I hope to see your cookbook one day, too! Come on in, the water’s fine. 🙂
Dear Helen,
So glad you can finally get a bit of rest. It must have been a herculean effort. In my corporate life I was often under time constraints to craft perfect legal agreements. When I finished one I was a basket case for a day, so I sort of understand. Can’t wait to see the printed version! Congratulations for a beautiful result from all that work!
Thank you so much, Beatrice. It was indeed a bit of a job, and I’m very relieved it all came together. I’ve been slagging it these last few days, but am slowly feeling more ambitious again!
Helen,
Congratulations!!! How exciting!! I’ll be first in line for the hardcover!
Linda
Thanks, Linda! It’s being printed as we speak!
Dear Helen,
A lovely table and congratulations on your books! I had expected one – but instead there are four. What a remarkable achievement. Wow! I downloaded the Kindle version and the pics are stunning. Am considering the hardcover as well. Take care and I hope your trek back to Canada goes without incident.
Thanks, Kim! I hope you enjoy the book.
Okay. I’m confused. It is just one book, or is it four? I can’t tell from the kindle version… Thanks.
Hi Kin,
It’s just one book, 242 pages, with four sections, one for each season.
Hope this help!
Thanks,
Helen
Yes, it does, thanks. For some reason I looked at your second picture and thought it must be four books – one for each season. But I’ve just returned from the interior of B.C. with temps in the mid to high 30s with no AC. Please forgive my heat-addled brain…
No trouble, Kim. It’s not always easy to convey what we mean in comments and texts.
I hope you had fun in BC, though it sounds very hot. Did you visit the wine area?
It was crazy hot there. We hiked in the (early) morning and shopped in the afternoon, and then tried to stay cool in the shade the rest of the time. We had planned to go rafting down the river, but it was just too hot, and the hot springs held little appeal for the same reason. The second night we were there, there was a fierce lightning storm which is said to have started the fires in Penticton and area, and which are now burning out of control. That sort of put the kibosh on visiting wineries in the Okanagin…
Anyway, kudos on your book – such gorgeous pictures and mouth watering recipes. Shall order the hard cover. I’m a relative newcomer to tablescaping, but you have taken it to another level. Sincere congrats!
It sounds like quite an adventure, Kim. Typical late summer unsettled weather, though. Too bad about missing out on the Okanagan, but better to be safe than sorry… In my old life, I used to be in Vancouver for about a week out of every month. B.C. is a beautiful province.
It looks beautiful. Congratulations!
Thanks, Cindy! It’s all very exciting! 🙂
So exciting, I have enjoyed you beautiful tables and recipes
Can’t wait to order this beautiful book !
Thanks, Alexis! It’s printed and on its way. Should be available in the next couple of weeks!
Helen I’m SO excited for you and I can’t wait to get my hard copy! I may break down and get the Kindle copy too because I can’t wait! 🙂
Huge congratulations!
Thanks, Barb! I hope you enjoy it.
Your book is more than amazing. Martha ain’t got nothin on you! It’s more than a coffee table book and I know first hand the work effort that was involved. I have it and love it, love it, love it and will get the kindle version so I don’t spoil it traveling. Congratulations on a well done piece of work that all your readers will treasure.
Maura, you are too kind! Thank you so much. I’m thrilled you’re enjoying the book. As you know, it was a labour of love, but I learned a ton while writing it, and had a blast creating all the treats to share with neighbours and friends. See you soon. 🙂