Ice Creamy.li

Today saw the first issue of my new paper.li newspaper appropriately called ... Today saw the first issue of my new Paper.li newspaper appropriately titled and subtitled ... 

I didn't mention it before as I wasn't sure if I had done it right! 

The way it works is I provide a list of sources (eg. The Huffington Post and Telegraph Food) together with some keywords and paper.li assemble an edition gathering together any articles by these sources which mention my keywords.

The great thing about it is that it is as interesting for me to read as it is for anyone else; for instance I am particularly pleased with the headline

"Cat Snores Into Glass Of Orange Juice For No Apparent Reason"!

My keywords are, of course, ice cream, gelato and sorbet but they seems to have been interpreted broadly and quite interestingly.

If you would like to have a look at this edition see here and if you would like to receive future editions just click on SUBSCRIBE at the top of the paper.li page and/or follow me on Twitter.

Speaking of ice cream here is a picture of Saffron Ice Cream - recipe in my book - with a handful of pistachios just to get you in the mood.

Twitter Impersonation!

Does anyone find this strange because I do?  Oddly enough I am (I am pretty sure!) being impersonated on Twitter.  I know I am really interesting all that but really!!!

This is my Twitter whatever its called ...

... and this is hers, if it is a her - it look to be so by her picture.

I agree they don't look alike and nor do we but what are the chances of her having exactly the same name, her twitter username being the same as mine but with an 'e' cunningly added on the end and, this is the clincher for me, she claims her location as Cornwall, UK and BVI.  Well I've never seen her in either place! 

                                                              

This surely, surely can't be a coincidence, obviously, even though Twitter say ...

"It appears that you have not provided sufficient evidence that the account you are reporting is impersonating you."

The fake me, isn't doing anything unpleasant on Twitter so ... should I be irritated or flattered?

Talking of Suzy Bowler type things you too can be Suzy Bowler if you join WDCAWBA which is The Washing DC Area Women's' Bowling Association.  Every year the lady who wins the annual tournament is Suzy Bowler for the year.  If you want a go see here - I've been Suzy Bowler for ages and ages and I recommend it!

Goodnight

The Real Suzy Bowler

3 Pieces of News

1.  219 Cooking Tips & Techniques you might find useful!

Today, tomorrow and Friday my little eBooklet is free on Amazon - so go here if you are in the UK or here in the US and get it.  If you are a dab hand in the kitchen it may not be much of an eye opener but it might have a few ideas you haven't thought of and if you are just starting out in the kitchen I think it might be helpful.

2.  Paper.li

I have, much to my own surprise, suddenly created a paper.li newspaper which I have entitled Leftovers.li.  This means that once a week (at the moment - I might up the frequency) friendly twits will receive via Twitter an invitation to read said "newspaper" which will comprise any articles pertaining to the subject of food in general and leftovers in particular.  I shall be reading myself because in addition to articles I add myself having set certain parameters paper.li gather more stuff from around the net. .If you fancy reading it follow me on Twitter @suddenlunch.

(If it works I think I'll do another one about ice cream soon!)

3.  The Leftovers Handbook

In my last post I apologised on behalf of Amazon and myself for the delay in delivery of this book; it was published on 21^st March but the first copies were not received until 19^th or so April. Apparently there was a hold up at the distributor which has now been sorted so I hope if you ordered a copy you've got it now.  If you didn't Amazon have a deal on at the moment offering it for £8.31 instead of the cover price of £12.99 so now might be the time to go for it!

Apologies from me and from Amazon

There's seems to have been a fair bit of confusion about my Leftovers Handbook - Amazon say the publication date was 21st March and yet anyone who has ordered a copy still hasn't received it.  I am so sorry about this - please bear with me, or rather with Amazon.  They have, however, also apologised thus ...

We regret to inform you that the following items have been delayed as we are still awaiting stock from our suppliers : 
Suzy Bowler "The Leftovers Handbook: A-Z of Every Ingredient In Your Kitchen with Inspirational Ideas For Using Them" Estimated arrival date: April 22 2013 - April 23 2013
One of Amazon's aims is to provide a convenient and efficient service; in this case, we have fallen short. Please accept our sincere apologies.
You haven't been charged for this item yet as we don't debit money from your payment card until just before your items are dispatched. We'll send you a confirmation e-mail when your items are dispatched to confirm the date, contents and method of delivery.

Anyhoo, there you have it - sorry again.

Suzy Bowler

PS. At least I've got mine and as you can see I'm playing with the filters on my photo programme!

A bit surprised by the Writer and Artists Yearbook

I have been eagerly awaiting my 2013 Artists and Writers' Yearbook so that I could research magazines I'd like to pitch now I have the strength of a published book behind me.  I have already written several articles for Vegetarian Living but was surprised to see they are not mentioned in the yearbook. 

Soon after that I was surprised to see that Cook Vegetarian was not in there.  My third surprise came when I decided to try Great British Food - not there!  These are surely 3 of the leading UK foodie mags (after Delicious, of course, and some of the Beeb's magazines).  Eat In? - no.  Easy Food - no. Good to Know Recipes? - um, no. 

That's about it for food magazines, I haven't fully researched other subject matters but I would have thought the above magazines would all have been bigger sellers than, say, Picture Postcard Monthly or Music Teacher.  Not that I in any way mean to disparage these two magazine, rather I wish to parage the food magazine mentioned above, if paraging is something one can do.

I'm still glad to get the Yearbook and there's lots of useful info in it (I found my lovely agent Jen Christie of Graham Mae Christie through an earlier edition) but does anyone know how they select which publications to include?  

Thank you,

Suzy Bowler

Now writing for CCN!

Things are hotting up for me ... I think, it's hard to tell!  I have received copies of my book and it is a strange and pleasant thing to hold a real bona fide book with my name on the cover.

The book can be ordered from Amazon at quite a good discount (at the moment the cover price is 12.99 but Amazon who always discount anyway have a special offer on it - £8.31) and for ease of ordering I have added a widget to my other website, Sudden Lunch!  It's in the sidebar and looks like this ..

Having the widget on my other blog does mean you have to click twice instead of once but it's still easier peasier than having to go to Amazon all by yourself!  I'd add a widget here too but Amazon only allows one site to be widgetted (new word!) per person and Sudden Lunch at the moment is getting over 20,000 hits a month which this one is not!  Early days! 

I am writing for CCN!

I like that headline!  CCN of course stands for Cornwall Community News and they have asked me to contribute a weekly-ish article and Cornish foodie stuff.  Myfirst, on lovely Cornish Gouda, can be seen here. 

CCN gave called me "the chef of leftovers" which title I'm pretty sure I shall adopt.

Reviews, Amazon and Goodreads

If by any chance you should read and enjoy my book (or indeed anybody's book) it is a real help if you then review it on Amazon, I am trying to remember to do this myself with writers I like.  Goodreads is another great place to not only rate or review books but also to find things you'd like to read - I have started an online shelf of books I am going to look out for. I have, incidentally, heard that Amazon have purchased Goodreads so they may now be one and the same thing!

Published ~ now I'm a real grown up writer!

Today, 29^th March, is quite important to me because I am now a published writer!  My first book (yes, I have another one planned!) "The Leftovers Handbook" is now available in all good bookshops, I hope, I can't wait to meet it.

I have been looking forward to this day in particular for several months and in general, ie. the day I would have a book published, probably since I was a child.  And guess what!  It's the same as every other day. 

I should have been forewarned; in the excellent "Writers and Artists' Yearbook  Guide to Getting Published" by Harry Bingham

it says ...

"When your book is published ~ nothing happens."

Still - exciting times!  I am now pondering the best way to promote said book and a bit iffy about peaking too early it being  Good Friday when everyone is on holiday enjoying the spring weather (hahaha).  I have noticed, incidentally, that I get most hits on my blogs on weekdays during working hours - what a lot of cheeky buggers people are!

So this is a little, tentative self congratulation and I thought I'd take this opportunity to tell you a bit about my book.

As the title says - the book is an "A-Z of every conceivable ingredient in your kitchen with inspirational ideas and recipes for using them" but I can tell you more than that.  Leftovers have always been my favourite ingredient; I am much happier and more creative confronted with a seemingly random collection of ingredients than I ever am when I can choose from pretty well all the food in the World!  It is for this reason that I started my blog Sudden Lunch! which led to my huge friend Ian (he's 6'6") saying "If you know so much about leftovers why don't you write a book".

Each of the ingredients in the A-Z starts with some ideas on food pairing which are useful to see what other leftovers you might be able to use at the same time.  There are some ideas on storage and freezing, the occasional Handy Hint, a list of short suggestions and ideas, some complete recipes and any jokes, anecdotes or quotes I have thought relevant.  Towards the end of the book I give a chapter of basic recipes which can be useful for all sorts of leftovers and the whole book is cross referenced.  I am very proud of it!

Because the book is so stuffed with info there are no photos, just a few basic line drawings at the start of each letter.  I have, however, taken lots and lots of pics as I've cooked and tested ideas and these I will now start publishing on my new Pinterest Board which goes live today.

Soon I hope to install a widget so that my books and other that I recommend can be purchased from Amazon via my sidebar but do fee free to go ahead and get a copy any way you can eg. Amazon in the UK or W. H.Smiths or Amazon in the States.

I do so hope you find my suggestions and recipes useful and, if you do read the book, please can I ask you to give it a review on Amazon - its such as help.

Thank you,

Suzy Bowler