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My Cookbook – Lemongrass and Ginger: Vibrant Asian Recipes
My tired eyes had caused slight blurry vision. I lifted my head and looked at the bookshelves quite a distant away. My brain was struggling to think for a few seconds. My inner voice kept asking me to finish off what I had on my screen and hit the sack. The next morning, I switched on my computer, making sure the Outbox was empty with no more pending emails. I double checked my bag, the A4 size envelopes formed almost the thickness of 2 rims of A4 papers. I slowly dropped them in batches into the post box. I whispered to myself, ‘Good Luck!’
That was the scene of more than a year ago. Until today, it still seems like a dream.
‘Bing!’ Lazily, I touched the mail icon on my iPhone. It was a reply to an email that I sent. It read something like this “…… I’ve been looking for someone to write an Asian cookbook, would you be interested?” I paused. Trying to think if this could be the beginning of a journey that I had been waiting for?
It was unexpected, it happened. It was just before last year’s Christmas when verbal agreement was made. I was going to author a cookbook! It was a moment that seemed surreal. I couldn’t believe it was going to really happen! It has always been a dream of mine, one day, to author a cookbook. And it happened just at the right time, when I was looking out for opportunities, and landed one! I was really happy to have accepted the opportunity, so much so that I wanted to share my joy with you all. Finally, I can share it today!
I was on top of the world and found it hard to believe! At the same time, I was trying to figure out how I was going to juggle between the tight deadlines and my day job. Luckily enough, I managed to divide my time, working part-time and gave myself full concentration that I needed!
My role for this book deal is purely as an author, no photography assignment involved. Though, I gave my opinions on creative side of things – my views on how the dishes should look, ideas, advices and feedback to the creative team.
All the writing started in the beginning of January 2011 and lasted for about 3 months, to have all the recipes written and tested. It seemed like an impossible task, but with my determination and dedication, I made it! Of course, at one point, I had my family and friends that came to my rescue, helping me to test some of the recipes. Without them, I couldn’t have achieved this!
Throughout that period of time, I have had lots of supports, especially from Arnaud, who had put up with my late nights and being so very patient as I spent most of my time in front of the computer and constantly cooking in the kitchen. I don’t know if you guys remember or even notice that I wasn’t very active in the blogging scene for a little while. I did try my best to write some posts, though not very frequent. I want to apologise for my short disappearance as there were just too many things going on.
I know I have kept this very quiet. The publishing process is pretty long and I was waiting for the right time to mention about it, because I knew if I mentioned something you had to wait for more than a year sounds a bit crazy! So, the right time has come!
My cookbook – Lemongrass and Ginger Cookbook: Vibrant Asian Recipes, as it says on the title, contains a big handful of delicious Asian recipes and it is scheduled to be published in Spring 2012! It contains 224 pages, published by Duncan Baird. There are more than 100 clear, easy-to-follow recipes that are diverse, delicious and imaginative. Packed with inspiring, authentic dishes (many with a modern twist), this is a must-have book for the modern kitchen!
t is available for pre-order on several websites, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Book Depository!
I will provide more details in many posts to come. So, please stay tuned by following me on Twitter and Facebook. You will surely get the latest updates!
I really want to thank you, my dear readers, for your support and readership. Throughout these years, I have known a lot of like-minded people from different parts of the world (even have met some of you!). I dearly and truly appreciate the time we have shared through my blog. The passion I have in food has grown stronger each day and made me a very determined person. None of what I have achieved would have been possible without the support, love and sweet words of encouragement that you have been giving me since the first day I started to sow the seed of My Cooking Hut!
Thank you and God bless.
Congratulations, looking forward to read it !
Congratulations Leemei!!!! I am so happy for you. I can’t wait to buy the book.
Thanks Gert! I will announce the launch date for the US as soon as I know. 🙂
OMG…OMG… Leemei I am so Happy for you…
Congratulations… Woooohoooo
Thank you, Lisa! Will keep you and other AUS readers updated with the launch date in Oz.
great going ..cant wait to check it out 🙂
Congratulation! The design of the book-cover is also so lovely! It’s very you!!!!
Thank you, Pepy!
OMG babeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *huggies*
I’m so proud of you! CONGRATS!!! Can’t wait to flip those pages! xx
Thanks Babe! I can’t wait to see in the book form too!
Wow, congrats! That is awesome. I am so happy for you!
I love both lemongrass and ginger.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks, Rosa!!
Wowowow!!!! Congrats!!!! Can’t wait to get hold of your cookbook soon!!!!! I love both lemongrass and gingers too!!!!!!!
Thanks Ellena!
Whoa!!! Huge Congrats, Lee Mei!! Am very happy for you and I look forward to getting a copy!!! 🙂
Thanks Sylvia! I would be happy to sign a copy for you!
How exciting – congratulations!!!
Thanks, Su-Lin!
congratulation leemei!! so happy for you!! can’t wait to see the recipe..
Thanks, Lesley!
I am so happy for you Leemei. 🙂 Always good to hear from fellow bloggers (esp those blogs I frequent often) to have their cookbooks. Certainly, the daunting task of completing the manuscript in 3 mths! (my vivid memory of having to complete mine in less than 6 mths, oh gawd and I am really glad it is over), and you did it.
Anyway, congrats once again.
Thanks, Hui Leng! It was really tough to get manuscript ready in 3 months! But, I am glad I made it!
congratulations! i’ll def get a copy i i see it:DD
Thanks! 🙂
Congrats! I’m so excited for you — I already know this book will be amazing!
Thanks, Xiaolu!
Congratulations Leemei. That is wonderful news. What an exciting journey!
Thank you, Sukaina! It was a really wonderful experience for me!
Congratulations!! I would definitely get one!
Thanks!
This is fantastic news! Congrats! I can’t wait!!
i’m ok with lemongrass but i don’t like ginger in my food
Congratulations Leemei! That’s so fabulous and to think you had to keep it quiet for so long 🙂 Will definitely get a copy!
Thanks, Jen!
How fantastic, congratulations! How excited you must have been to be asked but had to keep it quiet. That would be so hard I would want to shout it out. Wonderful news. GG
Thank you! 🙂
Congratulations!! Am looking forward to the recipes with a twist! :)) will be booking my copy 🙂
Thank you, Lina!
So so happy for you Leemei ! The book will be great! Congratulations!
Thanks, dear! 🙂
Awesome news my dear friend!
Congratulations!! Can’t wait to get (hopefully!) a signed copy from yours truly 😉
Thank you my dear! I can’t wait too and yes, hopefully will be able to sign some copies!! 🙂
Wow, that is an awesome story! I guess writing any book is tough but a cookbook is even tougher because you want to perfect your recipe. Congrats on getting it published.
Can’t wait to get my hand on this!
What is the release date for the UK? Was having a quick glance and couldn’t find it.
Thanks Clare for your interest! It is scheduled in the beginning of April. I will announce as soon as I have a definite date. Stay tuned!
I love a bit of ginger in my food! Any little hints on the recipes that are going to be in the book? I’m so excited for you Leemei, you might have your own cook show one day!
I hope so too! 🙂
Will the book be in bookshops? My wife loves cooking Asian food and this sounds like a great book to get her!
Yes, the book will be in the bookshops. I will announce when I get more details nearer to the date of launch.
Congratulations! Your passion in cooking brings you a success beginning.
Thank you my dear.
Congratulations, that’s brilliant news. You’ve done really well getting it onto Amazon!
Can’t wait to get my hands on this book! Will the recipes be quick to make or will they take slightly longer?
The cooking industry is a tough industry to break into. I’m sure your book will do great though, haven’t seen one like this before!
Congrats, this is exciting times for you! Make sure you don’t neglect your blog with your new found fame, haha.
I will not neglect my blog for sure 🙂
Whoo hooooooo! I’m so excited for you Leemei and congratulations! What a happy news~! I love the cover of the book – design and color it’s so pretty. I’m sure your book will be very successful with all your hard work. Congrats again! ^_^
Thank you, Nami! Yes, I love the design and the colour too. I can’t wait! I hope I will have more news to share soon!
hey Leemei, really so happy to hear this, congratulations for your dream come true! ^^
Thank you my dear!
very Happy for you leemei, congrats!
you are the star and one of my fav best photographer :))
oh ya, absolutely the best cook i have ever known!
Thanks, Ira! It’s been great knowing you, love your food too!
Wow, congratulations, you kept this one quiet! I’m excited for you and wish you all success with the book.
Wonderful news. You’ve already been on one hell of a journey to get it published, writing it in 3 months is quite quick. Hope it all goes well!
I’m pleased for you Leemei. I’m sure the book will be brilliant.
Shame that it isn’t much of a photography side, your photo work is fantastic!
I’m really excited for you Leemei! I hope everything goes well with the book.
Also i love that picture of the ginger, they are really odd shapes.
Fantastic. looking forward to this!
WOW! Congratulations, Leemei! This is a huge milestone! Love the cover of the book – so stylish! You must be so proud of this accomplishment. May there be more cookbooks to come 🙂
Thanks Shirley! Yes, it has been one of the milestones in my life. I can’t wait to see the book and yes, I hope there will be more cookbooks.. 🙂
Woo, exciting news! This is a massive achievement, well done and i wish you all the best. keep us updated on how it goes!
Congratulations Leemei. I love Asian food and cannot wait to read the book. Hopefully even my dreadful cooking skills will be bale to rustle something up.
Yes Steph, you will be able to rustle something! 🙂
Good luck with the book. I’m sure it will do amazing!
Sounds like a dream story! Hope your dream continues with the book, good luck.
Congratulations Leemei! That’s fantastic news, I’m so happy for you!
Thanks Sylvie!
Really good news! Asian food is my favorite!
I’m so pleased for you Leemei! How are the pre-orders going?
Congrats, must be very exciting! Will the book have Indian, Chinese, Thai dishes?
Yes to those you mentioned! 🙂
Your passion for cooking is second to none, shown by you writing this book in just 3 months!
Hope everything goes well with the book!
That is fantastic!! Your dream came true. Congrats! The design for the cover of this book looks great!
Thank you! Yes, it’s really a dream comes true! 🙂
Congrats, such great news, can’t wait to see it!
Thanks Bee! 🙂
This is amazing, LeeMei, am so glad for you. You are a wonderful cook!
Thank you, dear!
lovely photography!
coongratulations leee mei
Just found out this post. Glad that I didn’t miss it. What a great news! Congrats!
Thank you Christine! 😀
Hearty congratulations Leemei! Beautiful cover, can’t wait to get a copy.
Thank you Niamh!
恭喜恭喜!预祝你:新书大卖!希望有一天能在电视上看到你的美食节目哦!:)
Congratulations, Leemei. You must be soooo excited. At least, I am! Looking forward to your book launch.
Thanks Jun! I will keep you update with the launch very soon! 😀
So happy for you Leemei! Can’t wait for your book.