Here's a new one: a virtual book potluck
With publicity budgets slashed at publishing houses, 鈥渧irtual book tours鈥� have become the norm for many writers. In these, the hopscotching is all virtual, with the book and author appearing on different guest blogs in the form of interviews or reviews. But the trend took another twist for me this past week, with an invitation to participate in a virtual book potluck.
Tara Mataraza Desmond and Joy Manning, the Philadelphia-based authors of the new cookbook 鈥淎lmost Meatless,鈥� invited colleagues across the US and Canada to cook a different recipe from their book and then to blog about it later the same day, July 29.
I asked Desmond in an e-mail how the idea came about. She responded that it was inspired by a similar potluck that author Monica Bhide did last month for her book, 鈥淢odern Spice.鈥�
鈥淚 participated and loved the idea,鈥� Desmond wrote. 鈥淚 emailed to ask if [Bhide] would be willing to chat over the phone about the logistics. She, being incredibly generous with her time and spirit, agreed.鈥澛� Desmond and Manning pitched the idea to publisher Ten Speed Press, which enthusiastically jumped on board (and agreed to send books to the participants). Ten Speed鈥檚 new parent company, Crown/Random House, was also gung ho, publicizing the event on its website and via Twitter.
Within a day or two of receiving invitations from the authors, 35 bloggers had signed on 鈥� some famous in the food world, some unknown. And every one, in pixel form, 鈥渟howed up with their dish鈥� on the given day. I picked the 鈥淩oasted Salmon Citrus Salad鈥� to cook and write about, figuring the fish would best represent my Northwest focus. Marisa McClellan, whose 鈥淔ood In Jars鈥� blog specializes in preserving, made the book鈥檚 recipe for ham stock 鈥� and canned it!
Debbie Koenig, a former Random House vice president who 鈥渂rings stress-free menus to other busy moms,鈥� blogged about the Turkey and Pinto Bean Cornbread Pie, and included a video of her son鈥檚 reaction to it. (Hint: It was titled 鈥淚鈥檒l cook it, but I won鈥檛 eat it.鈥�)
鈥淚 loved that everyone personalized the recipes, tweaking them to their blog themes or their lifestyles,鈥� Desmond told me. 鈥淭hat's what cooking is all about.鈥�
Desmond鈥檚 been handling most of the in-person publicity for the book, as co-author Manning is a restaurant critic who needs to guard her anonymity. Those promotions have included more traditional venues: A cooking demo on their Philadelphia NBC affiliate, classes at Whole Foods Market, a cookbook panel, literary festivals, farmers-market demos, and signings.
Finances did help spur the virtual event. But in the end, the potluck created new connections.
It was special, wrote Desmond, that all this online energy has flourished from the physical page.
鈥淚n this digital age, when treasured, traditional cookbooks as we've known them are losing their place in our lives, it meant a great deal to read everyone's blog posts, which had been inspired by the pages of our book.鈥�
Want to see 30+ different takes on one book? Desmond has links to the entire potluck feast .
Writer Rebekah Denn blogs at www.eatallaboutit.com
