Nevertheless, no matter how good your book idea is, your task remains. You have to figure out ways to make a name for yourself through branding, establish yourself as an expert in your field, and start to create some BUZZ so people will take notice and want to buy your book. I’m talking a lot of people want to buy your books. Yes, yes, you’re using social media, you have lots of friends on Facebook, you even have an established fan page, you tweet and you blog. OK, that’s a good start and a necessary part of the equation, but social media and blogging is not the entire picture. I’ve had new authors tell me they have a blog with lots of followers and when I check it out, they have 56 followers. That’s nice, but it won’t cut it. We are talking big numbers here, at least 5,000 or 10,000. That takes some real work. When I ask them about their email list, they don’t have one, or they have 100 people on it and they have not been in contact with them. Once again, this won’t cut it. We need numbers, big numbers.

If you’re writing a book, you’ll need to write a marketing plan and a book proposal. Ideally, this should be done before or during the book writing process. If it’s too much, hire an experienced writing coach or consultant to help you with that portion of the work while you continue writing your book. Even if you’re planning on self-publishing, you need to create a proposal because it is such a strong tool and will really help you plan your book and its launch. The marketing plan is part of the book proposal. But let’s stick with the marketing portion for this discussion.

A huge player in your marketing plan is who you know. Do you know or have connections to people who know important or famous people? If you do, you need to start writing these names down, contact them and write them into your plan. Here’s the thing, you may not be famous yourself—yet, but you may know some people who are.

Do you have connections to people who work in TV or radio? Even local TV news personalities can be of great help when you are starting out. I once ran into a local TV news personality at a sushi restaurant. I spotted her sitting at the counter by herself. Fearlessly, I went over to her and introduced myself. She was the health reporter so I immediately began telling her about the horse rescue facility my company was supporting and how they had an excellent program that helped handicapped children through equine activities. I gave her a scoop, I gave her my card, she gave me hers and guess what…we became friends.

Back at my office, I emailed her telling her what a pleasure it was to meet her that day. Then I mentioned my book to her. She came back at me with a hookup and asked me to send her my book. She passed my book to the woman that did the cooking segments. That association led me to do a TV segment with the cooking show host on that channel. I got to talk about my cookbook, The Rose Cookbook, and cook 3 different recipes while plugging my book. This never would have happened if I hadn’t taken it upon myself to introduce myself to that woman in the restaurant. I didn’t have that association until that day when I decided to go out and take it.

How about athletes or public figures? Do you know any? You have to start digging here. Go down to the next level. Who do you know that knows someone who has a radio or TV show? Do you know someone who has published a successful book? Start asking around. Are you friends with someone who is a top leader in an association that would be interested in your book?  Make the connections. Do you get the idea? Yes, it takes some work, but it has to be done if you’re going to succeed with your branding and book marketing campaigns.

The key for you is—how can you associate yourself with people who are more famous than you in order to become recognized and begin to build your own brand? Dan Schawbel terms it as branding by association. And just one ‘good association’ can be pivotal for your success if you leverage it. Here is Dan’s definition:

Branding by association – Creating a linkage between two brands of unequal brand equity, to build upon the brand of lesser equity through association.

This part of branding or branding by association is what you’ll need to do continuously while you are building your own brand. There is nothing wrong with this and even people that you recognize as famous now, started out using this technique. Very successful people still use it in the form of testimonials or acknowledgements. Who wouldn’t want an acknowledgement from Jack Canfield, Tony Robbins or Jacques Pepin on their website or book cover?

Until you become a brand name yourself, you’ll need to use this technique as part of your branding arsenal. As an author who wants to be successful, you’d probably like to imagine yourself on Oprah. For the run of her incredibly successful show, that was everyone’s dream. It was like gold or the ultimate association. Rachel Ray and Dr. Phil are just two people who owe a lot of their initial success to their early associations with Oprah. Yes, her network show has ended, but she’s started her own network- OWN now, and she’s still a huge star-maker. Nothing is impossible!

If you want to be a successful author you have to continue to associate yourself with people who are more successful than you are. The same thing goes for companies. Have you worked for large companies in the past? If you have, that is a good thing. Take a look at your resume. What well-known trusted company names are on there? If you have some, they can help you build trust with your new audience because people make associations. If a large company trusted you in the past, you are probably trustworthy, so people who don’t know you feel more at ease. It’s just one of the ways they can begin to know, like and trust you.

During my corporate writing career which began in 1993, I was privileged to work at some stellar companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley. One day I was looking back on the list and I realized how awesome it was. I decided to gather all the logos of the companies I had worked, for either as an employee or a consultant, and create an image. I was amazed at what I created! As early as 1998, the momentum began to build as one company would hire or contract me because of my previous associations. At one point, I simply needed to fax or email my resume and the associations I had, spoke for themselves. Do not underestimate the power of association. It is very powerful! In a way, this illustrates how I began to build strong associations, and then leveraged those associations to build more. I improved my career. The benefits were my increased earnings and the ability to get more work easily.

Is there any existing press on you? How about video? Can you get an article written about you in a local newspaper, even the neighborhood kind? Those articles can often lead to articles in more regional papers, or even national ones. And those can lead to TV or radio interviews. Don’t edit yourself out of the picture. The point is to get exposure, whether its NPR or FOX News  you need to reach large audiences if you want your book to be a success. To get to that level, you have to start building to gain momentum.   How about press releases, are you utilizing that tool to build your brand? Press releases are another method of getting the word out and they are read by people in the press and media who are always looking for the latest news.

Now is not the time to be shy. If you want endorsements and recommendations, you are going to have to ask for them. That’s why you need to make a list of people you know, and people you know who know people, and start drilling down and making contact. And always remember to give back. Ask yourself, what can I give to the person who helps me? Donate some books to their next event, tell them you can speak on your topic, volunteer some time for their cause, show them what you have to offer and just get into the mix!

Many authors I coach have problems with their immediate circle of family and friends. They are not supportive and are very negative. This can be very detrimental to successful writing and can actually deter your career. Remember, your success is defined by the five people who are closest to you. When you venture out into the market place to be a successful author, it is very important to spend time with people who are more successful than you, and these people should be people you can learn from. If people in your immediate circle are not supportive, you either need to lose them, or find ways to continuously counteract their negativity. This can be a daunting task because often times the negativity stems from family members.

Start thinking of ways you can surround yourself with more like-mined people to keep your energy up. Go to seminars and workshop that are of interest. Join groups in your area. Join a chamber or any type of group where people are striving to be successful. You need to go where you get energy boosts. These higher level associations will make your branding campaign easier—you may even meet some new people who can help you! I can’t tell you how many times I have attended an event and ended up meeting exactly the person I needed to meet for my particular needs at the very time.

Trust me— good things will begin to happen when you associate yourself with strong brands. Start thinking about your list of associations and ways you can bring new associations into your life. I hope you enjoyed this article. Next time I’ll be discussing the Top 10 things you can do right now to begin building associations while you write your book. The time to start is now.

Most recently, Chef Franco’s career has led him onto a new path of writing and inspiring people to cook for the ‘healing benefits’ they can achieve. He is re-dedicating himself to ‘inspirational cooking’.  This is something he has experienced first-hand, and he’s quick to say “Cooking saved my life more than once.” His story is one of a passion that turned to an obsession and led him on a quest around the world to become the best chef he could be. Here is a brief excerpt on this topic from his upcoming book:

”After many years of cooking and trying to reach the goal of becoming a “seasoned chef” I began to slow down and I started to realize what food really is and means in the broader sense of culinary arts! I began to think that TV chef shows, culinary competitions, multi-million dollar chef branding, and celebrity chef status somehow obscured the true essence of food— the miracle behind it, and what it really means to life and our existence planet Earth. I never heard any of those TV personality chefs shed light on the spiritual side of cooking, or the true gift of food and the lack of appreciation most people have towards it.”

Chef Franco Lania - Italian Chef on Oceania Cruise Line

As we began to work putting his book together, I realized what a rich life this man had led thus far. Reading his pieces and chapters, I often found myself laughing out loud, or feeling his pain. The emotions—whatever they were, ran high and deep. His passion for his work as a chef was undeniable, and it had led him on a world-wide journey searching for culinary secrets and techniques—a journey that many people can only dream about.

I looked forward to receiving his work and reading through it. Seeing his photos and reading his stories, I watched twenty years his life evolving in front of me as I edited and pieced the story together. I felt privileged to be an insider, collaborating with him on his chef’s memoir and learning about his travels and the interesting journey that was his life.

I hadn’t thought about it before, but food is the international language and the great equalizer. Food is the fuel and the cultural link that adds the flavor, color, spice and richness to our lives. Everyone loves food, and many people are intrigued with chefs and lives they lead. They want to be chefs. This is evidenced by the astounding increase in chef’s TV shows over the past 5 years. Whether some of those shows are good or bad can be argued, but that is another discussion.

Right now, chefs are hot. But if you ask them—they have always been hot. It’s just that now, more people know about it. Chef memoirs and culinary memoirs offer us a glimpse into someone’s life that has been made interesting because of a passion for food, a devotion to the craft, a perseverance to be excellent, and very often travel and work in exotic locations. This creates a culture-rich backdrop where food is the star and it’s the medium through which the chef—the “culinary artist” defines and experiences life. The emotions may be high or low, but the food is always there acting as the great life teacher.

We learn about the chef’s upbringing and what leads them into a life devoted to food and travel. We embark on their journey with them, catching glimpses of the world through their eyes. Many times these glimpses are laser-focused views that lead to personal revelation. We witness the recklessness of their youth—filled with cockiness and bravado. Then as the memoirist matures, we witness reflection, triumph and perhaps regret. All the human emotions that we all experience are richly recollected in a deliciously detailed soufflé that expands as the memoirist proceeds on the journey and matures.

Sometimes there is a lot of struggle involved, so readers can relate to this as they too may be struggling. Chef’s memoirs can also give us hope. It’s the hope of living the dream—whatever it may be. We ask ourselves, “Where are they going next? What are they running from? What are they chasing after? Are they going to open that restaurant? Are they going to close that restaurant? Will they find what they are looking for?” And as the adventure enfolds with all its hills and valleys, we find ourselves thinking—I can’t put this book down, let me keep reading!

For people who love food or love to cook, they will enjoy the opportunity to temporarily get into the mind of someone who cooks for many, very often in exclusive places, or for dignitaries, or in their own restaurant that has been built on blood, sweat and tears. Each scenario offers a different set of circumstances, but the unifying factor is the food—always the food. This is real-life drama, set to food. And the drama is not staged as it often is on the more recent TV food shows that often pit chef against chef. Chefs are passionate people and a chef’s memoir is the real deal!

From the comfort of your seat on a subway train, your blanket on the beach, your favorite armchair, or your comfortable bed you can visit famous cities, and learn about the food and culture of another country through the eyes of someone who has devoted their life to food. Their experience is unique. And you’re catching that unique glimpse that only the chef who has “been there, and done that” can offer. Very often chefs meet or work for famous people, which can also add to the intrigue. When well-written, the experience is soul-bearing for the chef and emotionally resonating for the reader. Most often, when all the chapters are finally completed, the chef can barely believe they lived through their own life and adventures!

We get a glimpse of culture through the eyes of a chef. We get to travel with them, and we observe how each opportunity affects them. We can see them change and grow.  We experience their happiness and their pain. We read about how they mature. We witness the choices that are set in front of them. We experience the opportunities, the missed opportunities, and their disappointments with them. We watch the mistakes they make, the lessons they learn, the setbacks and tragedies they endure and the sweetness and glory of victories that ensue as they continually rise up to meet each occasion. From what I have observed so far, chefs are not quitters.

Well written culinary memoirs offer us a fully-loaded menu of emotions. With more variety than a Las Vegas buffet, we become privy to the chef’s feelings of love, hate, passion, sadness, joy, confusion, impatience, inspiration, satisfaction, dissatisfaction, fear, jealousy, insecurity, conceit, pride, contentment— you name it. It’s the smorgasbord of emotions that make us human. We also witness the moments where pivotal decisions are made, and as we read on, we understand the results of the decision and how those decisions impacted the life of the chef, and those in their inner circle in the long term.

Many memoirs begin with early childhood memories of food in the family setting. These food associations and/or the persons involved are sometimes so influential that they are one of the reasons the person chooses the culinary lifestyle. This “food memory” is fascinating and when reading about someone else’s food associations, our own food memories can be jogged, triggering deep and meaningful recollections of our own. Very often these memories can have a healing or soothing effect. Sometimes, they may bring up sadness. Whatever the result, the emotions are strong—and real. Like well written novels, good culinary and chef’s memoirs also contain rich dialogue. I have been amazed at the valuable insight these recalled conversations have added to the stories. I first became aware of this working on Chef Franco’s manuscript.

Now, I am experiencing the same thing with Chef Otto Borsich working on his culinary trilogy – Taste the Freedom. The dialogue add s to the feeling of ‘being there’ as well as understanding why the certain things happen as the story unfolds. What’s truly fascinating is the amount of detail that is captured and how it adds depth, life and insight into the other players in the story while it helps us to understand the writer and what they went through.

And similarly to Chef Franco, Chef Otto also has a cause and a purpose that goes beyond cooking in fancy restaurants or gorgeous hotels. Here we are talking about food—and the unfortunate people—too high in numbers, who don’t have enough food. He has long been involved with many hunger projects over the past several years. One notable project was on Nantucket Island, where he created the Nantucket Chefs Food Festival, a multi-course gastronomic affair featuring the islands’ best chefs. All proceeds were donated to the Nantucket Emergency Food Pantry. The event is still going strong since its inception in 1992. But Chef Otto still dreams an even bigger dream—to assemble chefs from all 50 States on the White House lawn to cook up a storm and feed the hungry for days!

Seriousness aside, these chef’s memoirs also have a fair dose of humor woven into them. As I mentioned, I have laughed out loud when reading about their adventures. Each morsel of dialogue recalled by Chef Franco held tremendous lessons that he carried with him throughout his career. You can relate to the dialogue, and even say to yourself “I remember someone saying something like that to me when I was that age, why didn’t I listen?”

Chef Otto’s story has more twists and turns than a giant roller coaster. Once completed, I know readers will feel like they just walked into the ultimate amusement park of life as they travel with him through his humble beginnings in Ohio, to a world-class chef’s career that’s jam-packed with more hilarious and outrageous adventures than even Forrest Gump could imagine!

Here’s what I’ve learned from working with these two stellar chefs: They’ve both had successful chef’s careers, traveled the world extensively and educated themselves in pursuit of their cooking art, and appeared on TV food shows such as TVFN’s Challenge and Bravo’s Top Chef, though neither one achieved ‘instant’ TV stardom. However—and this is what I’ve realized that really counts—both of them truly have something extremely valuable to say and share with the world—and they are just getting started! They have definitely paid their dues in the kitchen, but now they are utilizing their skills and the richness of their food careers in ways to help others. And they’re using writing as one of the ways to get the message out! I find that truly admirable and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Stay tuned, because both of these men have something to say and both stories are page turners!

But writing a good book proposal is not without challenges. There are a lot of details that must be addressed. You must know your book inside and out and be ready to explain how YOU are going to market the heck out of it!

So how can you make your book proposal get noticed? That seems to be a difficult question to answer at best because each book proposal is unique, just as each book is unique. It’s time to do some homework!

The point that new authors seem to miss is that writing a book proposal is not as much about the book as it is about the “marketing” of the book. Simply put—a book proposal is a business plan for a book. A publisher or an agent wants to know that your book is going to sell—it has the potential to make money! And it’s your task to convince them of that probability.

But your saying, “I know my book is going to sell, it’s a great idea, I just know it!” And you know what the publisher or agent wants you to do? They want you to PROVE IT! Let me say this again….It’s your task to convince an agent or publisher that your book will sell, and you have to show them WHY you believe that to be true. How do you do that? With facts!

An industry standard book proposal contains many components. We’ll look at each one of them here and give you some pointers to make each section strong. So let’s dig into this subject and hopefully you’ll come away with some solid ideas about how you can write a winning book proposal. Let’s see what it takes!

Overview:

Here is where you’ll introduce the book. What is your book about? This section should be concise, to ensure the reader that you can explain the book clearly, without rambling on. It should be no more than one or two pages. A key point to remember is that you are writing an “advertisement” for the book. You want to give as much powerful information as possible in a brief format that will keep the person reading. You really have to come out punching! You must intrigue the reader to continue reading—and arouse curiosity.

Also in this section you must include information about yourself—why are you qualified to write this book? What is your platform? Why are you an expert? What are your credentials? What work do you do in relation to your book’s topic? What is the market for the book? Can you put an exact number on that? What makes your book stand out from others in the same field? What are you going to tell us that is new information? Is the topic timely, or timeless? What is your approach?

Author Biography

The harsh reality of this section is the most difficult to overcome as a new author. Here is where your author’s platform will either make or break the book proposal. More editors reject proposals for nonfiction works for an under-developed author’s platform, or the lack of any platform than for any other reason.

In this section, you must do your very best to show that you are an absolute “expert” in your field. With the turmoil that the publishing industry has been going through, it is difficult at best to get anywhere in the business if you are not a “known commodity.” This is not to say that you cannot make it as a new author, you can, but your work is cut out for you and you will generally be swimming upstream until you break through. This is exactly why you see publisher’s jumping to publish books by celebrities. They are already established, have a following, have tons of people that know and love them, and they are bankable.

But this is not an impossible task. You just have to put your “salesperson” hat on and really start tooting your own horn. I have found that this is sometimes difficult for new authors I work with. I have to coax them into realizing how much they have done and how much they have to offer by going over their resume and history, and then creating a very detailed long and short bio piece for them.

Some questions to consider here are…What is your national platform?  Do you do workshops or give speeches? Where will you be doing this? Who do you know who is famous? You’ll include that information in the marketing plan, but you must speak to it here as well. Have you written for magazines or been featured on a news show or radio show? Local is good, but national is better. This type of information gives you national recognition, which once again sells books. Pull out all the stops and include as much information as you can think of. It can always be edited out if it does not really pertain.

Marketing

I don’t even like to say that any of these three section is more important than the other. They are all important, and the Marketing Plan is crucial. You have to tell the editor or publisher or agent how YOU are going to sell your book. That’s right. Here is another thing many new authors don’t understand. YOU have to get out there and market and sell your book—period!

So now that you’ve convinced the publisher that your book idea is marketable, and you are marketable, you have to show them HOW you are going to do it. So for instance, we mentioned in the Author’s Biography section that you were a speaker, right? In this section we are going to tell more about that. WHERE and WHEN you will be speaking?

Do you have a schedule that is in place with dates, times and locations? Great, include it in this section. Here we want as much detail as possible. Do you write regularly for a magazine or newspaper? Include it! Do you have strong ties to associations, groups, or corporations where you will be able to speak? Who are your contacts in those places? Can you get a letter saying you are going to speak in those locations? Include it! Remember, continue to focus on what makes you special.

Here we are talking about what you are already doing, and what you have scheduled to do in the next year. How many people do you plan on speaking to? What are the topics of your speeches, seminars, or workshops?

Do you have an established website or blog with lots of follower? How is your email list doing? Do you have lots of dedicated subscribers? What are the demographics? Are people in the media seeking you out? Can you pick up the phone and call someone from the NY Times? Who is in your rolodex? Who do you have on speed dial that is important in the media? Include it! Is it a known fact that the market for your book is growing? Prove it! Also, do you know someone in your field that is famous and also a published author or a recognized authority that would be so gracious as to write a foreword for your book? Are there any organizations you are a member of that you can contact that would buy your book in bulk? Publisher’s love to hear that you already have a market for 50,000 books!

Competition

In this section you want to select some books that are similar to yours, but you must show that yours has something that the others don’t have. Competition is another reason books are rejected. Or it can be the lack of competition, which means there may not be any interest on the subject. Once again, going into sales mode, you have to prove that your book is a stand out in its category. Put yourself in the publisher’s shoes for a minute, and do your best to convince them.

A good exercise to do is to go to a large bookstore and go to section where your book would be located if it was published. Look at all the books you are competing with. Find the best ones, and then proceed to honestly ask yourself what does yours have that the others don’t have? Choose about three examples and then use them in your comparison—yes, a “comparative market analysis,” in this section. If you can convey this and make it convincing in your proposal, a huge part of the battle will be won! Reviewing the books also shows that you are an expert in your field. You must show that you are aware of who your competition is in your genre. Never assume that publishers and editors don’t know the competing books—they do!

Table of Contents (TOC) and Chapter Summaries

You probably skim through the TOC of a book when you’re browsing the book shelves at your favorite book store right? Right! And that’s exactly why you need to include this section in your proposal. The TOC gives another overview of the book, its contents. What are you going to talk about? Titles should be attention grabbing, but stay on subject. The titles of each chapter should deliver the goods. In other words, they reflect what the reader will be getting in the chapter. It’s also important to include any supplementary information that may be in the book here. This could include forms, charts diagrams, etc. You get the idea.

The Chapter Summaries will be your shining opportunity to show your writing style. Remember, you are being given a great opportunity to submit a proposal without submitting an entire completed manuscript as you would need to do if you were writing a memoir or a novel. So use this opportunity to write your summaries and once again make them intriguing and show your style! The summaries should be exciting and fun to read, provoking interest in your book. Use your writer’s voice! Here is your golden opportunity to make the editor want to read the full chapters you have included in the next section of your book proposal. As with everything in the book proposal, the point here is the stir up interest in your book, and keep the editor, publisher, or agent reading!

Chapters (Select two or three you want to include in their entirety)

We call them Sample Chapters because that’s exactly what they are, but they are the full chapters. You are giving the editor a chance to sample your writing. They will give a feel for your voice and style, but they should be your best work. Take time on these chapters to really make them shine. You must feel that they would be ready to publish exactly as they are. This is not the place to submit “draft” type work. Editing is of the utmost importance here. The chapters must be free of typos, using perfect punctuation and consistent style.

And remember, you don’t have to submit the first chapter of the book here. It can be any one you want. Remember, we are basing this on the fact that your book might not even be completed, so whatever chapters you have done already are the ones you can submit. Just make sure that the quality is there. Use your most interesting information here. You also want to reflect that you are ready to do the work, so the work you submit should reflect your professionalism and your ability to get the job done. Hasty does not fly here. Keep remembering, you are grabbing attention here, so make it your best work. Don’t be afraid to go all out!

Publicity

Here you will supply every bit of publicity including magazine and newspaper article, radio interviews, TV appearances, copies of articles you have written that have been published.

Conclusion

So there you have it, the contents of a solid book proposal. There are many more details involved here that I did not cover in this article, but this should have given you a good idea and what is needed as far as the bulk of information you need to gather and share.

If you have more questions about the format, pages, your author’s platform , how to come up with a good title for your book, or any other questions you may have, please feel free to contact me at publisher@balancedrockpress.com

I would be happy to arrange a free 30-minute telephone consultation.

It’s hard enough to write the book, but now there is this added burden of writing a proposal that includes the all important marketing plan. When I mention this to authors I’m interviewing, many of them balk. Hairball! “That’s a lot of work,” they say. My answer is, “Well—yes, it is. But without a plan, you’ll be getting nowhere fast.”

Let’s remember the old proverbial saying: “He who fails to plan, plans to fail.” When it comes to books and book marketing, all I can say about that is, “You’ve got that right buddy!”

Here’s the deal, if you’re writing a book, or even thinking about writing a book—let’s say you’re planning it, you’ve got an outline going, or a list of chapters you want to include. That’s great! But guess what? Before you go much further into the writing, you need to take a deep breath, STOP, and begin considering how you are going to market your book.

Trust me. There are no agents or publishers out there worth their weight that will entertain your book without a book proposal that has a “full-blown” marketing plan in it. What do I mean by full-blown? Keep reading and I’ll gladly show you. But before I do that, let’s get several key points very straight:

1. Your book will not sell itself
2. A publisher is not going to do all the work
3. A publisher or literary agent will not speak with you about your book if you don’t have a marketing plan
4. Your book doesn’t know your “goals and objectives”
5. Books are inanimate objects—they don’t jump off of shelves
6. Everyone does not want to buy your book
7. Selling books requires a strategic effort—that means from you

Is that enough to convince you? OK, I’m going to go over items 1, 4, and 7 in this article. We can talk about how to work with book publishers and literary agents at another time. All you need to know right now is that they will not give you the time of day without the plan, and the information I’m going to share with you now will help to point you in the right direction to deal with the powers that be later. So let’s get started!

Your Book Will Not Sell Itself

No matter how wonderful you think your book is going to be, it will not sell itself. Especially, and I emphasize this, especially if you are a new author. Books need help to make it off the shelves in the book store. Even seasoned authors need a plan. Remember, celebrities who write books have probably had years of press and media hype to help them along. The buying public already knows and loves them, so it is much easier for them to sell books.

This is a sad but true situation that we find ourselves in. Yes, we get information at the speed of light because of the internet, but when it comes to book sales, the internet really only helps those who are established, have a platform, and have a following and an online presence. As a new author without an established reputation, you must have a plan. That’s why it is crucial for the “newbie” to have a detailed book marketing plan, which is equally as important as the writing of the book, your design, the actual publication, and the distribution.

Just as each author is unique, each book proposal and marketing plan will be unique. There are specific items the book proposal and marketing plan must contain, but they will be completely tailored to the book, author, author’s goals, the book’s market and the budget. So take into consideration what you want to achieve with your book. Do you want a best seller? Are you an expert in your field? Do you have a personal experience you know could help others? Are you writing a family history? You see what I’m getting at, right? Each author and story is different, and each plan will be different. That’s why it requires your special thought and attention to detail.

Your Book Doesn’t Know Your Goals and Objectives

If you want to make money with your book, and I’m going to assume that you do, you must identify where that money is going to come from. First you must decide—WHY you are writing the book, and WHO will it help? Is there a NEED? If there is a need, you need to prove it! Once you determine that, you will have identified your target market and you’ve given yourself a reason to write the book. You now have a GOAL.

Be very specific with your targets. Your target or targets should be laser-focused. It is more powerful, and you’ll be more successful if you target a niche market, than try to be everything to everyone. So give this some serious thought. And remember—it’s your job to figure out HOW you’ll reach your readers.

Now—you may have more than one target market, and that is fine. But they must be identified so you can figure out HOW you will market the book to them. Generalizations won’t work here. I’ll say it again—be specific. Try to target each market in great detail. More than likely, each target market will require a different strategy, which means you will have a different list of tasks to get the job done.

WHAT are your sales goals? Do you know? Just saying “I want to sell a lot of books” is not going to cut it. So to get your sales goals defined, you’ll need to identify the specific markets and revenue streams you intend to target. Once you’ve done that you can determine “HOW” this will be done.

Whether you want to write a best-seller or you just want to raise funds to buy a new building for your church, club or organization, each book needs some sort of marketing plan. Your plan will capture in writing what the expectations are. This gives you something on which to create the goals for your project. Once that is done, you can create that task list to get the job done.

WHAT defines success for you? WHAT does it look like? You need to be able to answer these questions so you can write a marketing plan that matches your goals.

Yes—this is a lot of work….Are you still with me? I hope so because once you’ve done all that work, you’ll be able to determine your OBJECTIVES. And this is where it gets powerful!

For the sake of example, let’s say your objective is to sell 10,000 books in the next year. You’ve now given this a ‘number” so you’ve taken the important step of making your goal MEASURABLE! That’s a good thing, because now you have a way to measure your success. But be sure that the 10,000 is a reasonable goal for you. You’ll get a feel for this once you start to try to figure out how you are going to sell 10,000. If it seems impossible based on what you plan, then you may want to rethink the number.

Make sure you can achieve the objective. If you’re good with the number, plan away. And if at the end of the year you miss your goal, you can go back and look at your plan and make some corrections to make improvement. But you have to start somewhere. And remember, plans can be revised, and should be if something is not functioning. That’s why you should constantly be reviewing your progress. Don’t hold onto something if it’s not working! Change it!

Selling Books Requires a Strategic Effort—That Means From You!

Now that you have determined your objectives you’ll need to create PLANS that support the OBJECTIVES, and ACTIONS that support the PLANS. Believe me, it’s not that hard, you just have to give it some thought and be organized. Approach this very strategically. It’s just a matter of continuing to break things down, so they can get done. Break it down into bite-sized chunks and be prepared to take little steps to reach the big picture.

What’s important to remember is that all of your efforts need to broken down so you can understand them, achieve them, and be able to measure your success. The key is to not give up. Also, breaking things down into small pieces give you the ability to really “see” what you are doing as you make progress. You’ll get a great sense of satisfaction as you work on your plan, and little by little you can check items off the list!

Let’s take a look at how this plays out for one item of the PLAN using the objective, plan, and action format. We’ll use the example of ‘personal appearances” because that is one that seems to be the most important to all authors, and makes the biggest impact. Being face to face is the best way to reach an audience! So let’s break down “personal appearances” and see a little bit of what it’s made of.

Personal Appearances:

• Book signings
• Seminars/workshops
• Media/TV interviews
• Newspapers
• Radio interviews
• Classes
• Speeches
• Organizations
• Trade shows
• Book fairs
• Schools
• Clubs
• Special events

These are just some of the possibilities for one item in the PLAN, and I just came up with those off the top of my head. The next thing would be to take each one of those items on your list and drill down into it. Start to make another list of what you can do to make each one happen. Those items are your ACTIONS. Who do you know? Who can you call? What clubs are you a member of? What events are taking place in your area?

Do you get the picture? You have to constantly be thinking about where and when you can market your book.

Here’s what you need to remember…marketing, publicity, and the success that can comes with it is due to a long-term, strategically planned effort that is continuous, consistent and concentrated—period. Very few people are truly “over-night successes.” It may seem that way, but usually it is not. We have all heard of the overnight success that was 10 years in the making—right? I don’t say this to discourage you, but the encourage you to create a very powerful plan that can shave years off your trajectory when properly executed.

Conclusion

So I think I have made my point, and I’m sure you’re convinced that books do not sell themselves! This has been a brief overview about book marketing plans, why you need them, and how they can help you. If I can be of service to you, please contact me with your book marketing and book proposal or marketing plan questions. I create marketing plans and book proposals for books in many non-fiction genres including culinary and chef’s memoirs, cookbooks, gardening, pets, animals, gardening, self-help, and inspirational topics.

Chef Franco Lania, working on his book at the NYC Library

During the past several months, I have had many phone conversations with Chef Franco Lania while working on his chef’s memoir. Working with Franco has been easy, and anyone who knows him gets that he’s  not shy, and basically wears his heart on his sleeve. I came to know and understand his essence and philosophy by helping him organize his thoughts and history as we wrote his story. As his writing coach, I wanted to understand how he came to the realization that he needed help writing his memoir. Our conversation that day grew so long and I could tell he had a lot to say so I asked him to write about. Here is part of what he shared with me during one of our illuminating conversations, and later in writing…..

From the desk of Chef Franco Lania:

One thing that all artists tend to struggle with is the balance between the love of creating their passion and the ability to sell and market it. For many, this is where it all goes wrong. For the sake of argument let’s just say that the sooner you learn this balance and the sooner you can learn to ease up on the artistic submersion and begin to delve into the business side with the same passion as you have for the creation side, the sooner you’ll be taken seriously and begin to make money.

Personally, I suffered a long time from an imbalance between art and business. Like so many artists before me. I was way too involved in the making of things, experimenting, and searching for food knowledge and flavors to enhance my techniques and artistry. It took me many years before I realized that I needed to take my head out of the sand so to speak, and get more involved with the bigger picture of cooking and being a chef.

TVFN-was just becoming a big craze in the US and the Iron Chef shows were just coming out. Emeril was a big hit and Bobby Flay was doing Grillin’ and Chillin.’ I watched these shows over and over again, and said to myself, “I can do this, I can do a show.” I’ve been watching cooking shows since I was a little boy. I watched the era of cooking shows long before there was TVFN, like the Galloping Gourmet, Julia Childs, Jacques Pepin, and Martin Yan, to name a few. When TVFN came on, it tugged on my old dream—to be a TV cooking show host. That was something I had dreamed about since childhood while watching those pioneers of the original TV cooking shows. I felt if those guys on TVFN can do it, so can I!

I took my head out of the sand and decided from then on that all my jobs, travel, and passion towards cooking have to place me in a position or enhance my knowledge so I can write a culinary story and move on to cookbook writing utilizing all my experiences as a professional chef. My plan was to write and get a cooking slot on TVFN. I was not going to stop until I accomplished it.

I read a book once called ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ and it changed my outlook on life. What I remember the most from this book was that the key to making money and becoming wealthy is not to get stuck on the making of your product, but to become more involved on the selling, marketing, packaging, and enhancing of your product.

To say it simply, don’t get too stuck on how to make a widget, but become more involved with the business end of selling widgets. Reading this blew me back in my chair because for years I was suffering from that exact dilemma. I began to take inventory on myself. What did I have that I could sell like a widget and become rich? What did I have different from those other Chefs out there doing TV, writing books, and owning fancy restaurants? After spending countless years living an artist’s life completely driven by food and travel, what could I have that is marketable and different from the rest?

What I came to realize was that my ‘widget,’ my very special product was quite simply—ME. With no guidance or help of any kind from anyone other than some school programs and teachers, I single-handedly placed myself into a life that was amazingly blessed. The blessings appeared in so many ways and were a result of my sheer determination to follow a dream fueled by my passion. I had no avenue to express it like those other TV chefs. My platform was going to be writing and I was going to re-invent myself in that way.

The platform of ME was a noble idea but I had no idea how I could use it to become rich. I knew that I had enough education, experience, and knowledge to write cookbooks and do cooking shows. This was a long-time dream of mine along with the actual cooking and traveling. But it was now time to stop dreaming about it and having the belief that TV Chef land was a type of elitist boys and girls club. I needed to start making some noise, knock on some doors and kick the roof off my culinary career and place myself where I belong because no one is going to do it if I don’t.

I knew in my heart that I most definitely belonged in the Boys club of TV-chefs and Authors. This is where I found my thoughts going after reading ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad.’ I was going to have to back off of the fascination of widget making so to speak, and get more focused on the ‘Big’ picture and re-invent myself. The problem was how?

How does one stop an obsession that has nearly run their life for nearly two decades? The answer came to me surprisingly, quick and simple. Stop cooking! And start writing! Write your ass off in every way and on all things pertaining to my book ideas. Don’t wait any more. Don’t wait for more knowledge, another adventure, or one more chef accomplishment. The time is now and the knowledge I possess is more than enough to enter the big arena of culinary stardom with confidence and class.

I had collected enough recipes and cooking secrets, and traveled so much so that it had worn my soul thin. It was time to stay still and write. I began to believe that all the pieces of the puzzle and knowledge I possessed could be organized and re-packaged into a very saleable product.

The only problem was the pieces of this puzzle had been scattered in various cities in and out of the US over the past twenty years, and the memories and knowledge needed to be collected and corralled if I was to even begin. Things would have been much easier if I had been aware of this plan all the way through the journey! But of course the moment of clarity and triumph comes only with the realization of the obstacle. And my blessing—disguised as an obstacle, was the task of trying to organize twenty years of living like a gypsy and make some sense out of it.

Your focus and your desire to truly want to attack your re-invention are of primary importance. Without laser-focus it won’t happen. A burning desire, the likes of which you’ve never known before must come over you. When it does, you’ll be well on your way to collecting your thoughts and ideas to make money!

God works in mysterious ways, and I believe this applies to everybody! For me, every time I was dealt a hand, whether win, lose or draw, somehow by some stroke of luck, an opportunity popped up. Even the losing hands came up with something for me to grab on to in a positive way and move on to higher ground. Even the smallest glimmer of hope can be just enough when you’re down to grab on to and get yourself up and moving again.

An unfortunate set of circumstances in a business relationship I had in a restaurant in Little Italy in NYC led me to move on to Oceania Cruise Line as an Italian Chef. Not only was this a lesson in making a positive out of a negative, but being at sea gave me the focus and determination to begin to organize all the scattered pieces of the puzzle that I wanted to write about. Living in a solo cabin at sea was a blessing and I spent countless hours at night after the day was done on the beginning process of my writings. There is little to do at sea with free time—either you sleep, eat, or drink in the crew bar— those are your basic choices.

I opted to use the time in a positive way by writing and organizing my ass off in my cabin most nights, working on this personal project of re-inventing myself, and coming up with a marketable plan. After five months at sea I completed my chef contract, and left my ship with a significantly new outlook on life, my re-invention plan, and what I was now going to do with my life moving forward. I was ready to write my first book, get a writing coach, and start an all out assault on cooking TV show auditions. I was now organized, clear, certain, determined, and more than ready for these new challenges.

This is where Laura Denktash comes into play. Laura is a writing coach and a powerful motivator and organizer. Meeting and working with her is what enabled me to methodically put together the pieces of the scattered puzzle I was attempting to make sense of. Laura and her coaching skills helped me to keep from getting over whelmed from this extremely daunting task. And step by step it all started to come together in a much more vivid and fantastic way than I ever anticipated!

Author’s Note: At this writing, we are presently finalizing the first book—Chef Franco’s memoir, which is well-anticipated and already drawing a lot of excitement. We’re also working on a series of recipe/cooking inspiration books to follow that have sparked interest and are already in various stages of development!

Quinta do Arco is one of the great rose gardens in the world, the garden of Miguel Albuquerque, who has collected more than 17,000 bushes and seen many of them grow to unimagined heights. Incredibly the garden was only begun in December of 2003. The size and health of the roses give testament to the favorable climate they are growing in and to Miguel’s dedication and expertise.

Nestled among the hills and overlooking the ocean this dramatic setting for a Rosarium is unique. Some 1200 different varieties of roses are on display and they range across all the classes from Albas to Modern Shrubs. Miguel has used mass planting as a way of showing the roses. Mixed in with statuary and framed by the dramatic scenery around them the result is stunning.

The Quinta is also a place to stay and reservations for accommodations can be made through their website. Besides the rose garden there is also an extensive collection of native plantings. There is also an electronic newsletter you can sign up for. If you are looking for a unique rose vacation spot The Quinta do Arco should definitely be on your list

Roses have existed on earth for millions of years and have been cultivated for at least three thousand years. There are many references in classical literature and in Greek and Roman mythology. The first roses that were grown were the wild species, more for medicinal purposes than for ornamental flowers. In ancient history, there were no sophisticated varieties with big and beautiful flowers and the large range of colors we can find today almost everywhere in the world.

Modern roses as we know them today go back to around one hundred and fifty years ago and some very popular species have appeared even more recently. About twenty species of roses were used in the genealogy of modern breeding, through complex systems of crossbreeding, but it’s not up to a simple amateur to tell the story of how the different types of modern roses were achieved.

Up to the beginning of the 19^th century it is estimated that there were about three hundred breeds of roses. Only then did the China Rose, Tea Rose, Noisette, Portland and Bourbon appear in Europe. After 1850 more than three thousand varieties were already in cultivation, and from that time on we witness an exceptional surge in the creation of new types and varieties of roses.

The French breeders and growers exerted a decisive influence upon the creation of modern species. The passion of the Empress Josephine for roses is well known. In her garden at the Chateau de Malmaison she possessed one of the largest collections in Europe, which by the way, only stopped increasing upon her death in 1814. It was also in France the first Hybrid Perpetual Rose appeared—The Rose du Roi, produced in the Royal gardens of Sèvres in Paris. Another important Frenchman in the history of roses was Jean Baptiste Guillot, who created the first Hybrid Tea Rose named ‘La France’ in his greenhouses in Lyon in 1867.

In the Quinta do Arco gardens you will find one of the most extensive collections of roses in Portugal. There are more than 1,700 different kinds of rose buses, some which are very old and some which are more recent. The most important and rare are identified by their names and species in the garden. It is the hope of Elisabete and Miguel Albuquerque that you will enjoy the beauty and color of their unique garden, which is always at your disposal when visiting Madeira.

Set in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Morocco, Madeira the largest inhabited island of the archipelago. Porto Santo is also inhabited with Desertas and Selvagens, both closer to Africa, being uninhabited. Known to the Romans as the Purple Islands, they were rediscovered in the 15^th century under Henry the Navigator.

The volcanic origins of Madeira can still be seen, the amphitheatre that surrounds Funchal was once a caldera. The Island is surprisingly mountainous with peaks of 1,860 meters; over 6,100 feet high! Fortunately for the tourists, volcanic activity stopped about 6,500 years ago. This activity has endowed the island with a fertile landscape where much of the island was, until comparatively recently covered in ancient subtropical rainforest. Indeed this is the reason for the name of the island, ‘Madeira’ meaning ‘wood’ in Portuguese.

Parts of this forest (Laurisilva) still remain, mainly on the northern slopes and have become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the superb blooms for which the island has become famous may be found in abundance all year round. One of the nicest ways to see the dynamic and panoramic vistas is to take a ‘Levada Walk’ alongside the water channels designed to supply irrigation to the drier parts.

Madeira is a scenic, year-round resort. The islands produce bananas, sugarcane and Madeira Wine, but now derive much of their economic growth from tourism. The north remains mainly rural in nature while the south, especially in and around Funchal has developed with the discerning traveler in mind. Most, but by no means all, of the Island’s finest hotels are found in this area.

Madeira’s tourism is also changing, bringing a greater variety of tourists from many different age groups and walks of life. The island, a once haunt of the older generation has of late been rediscovered by the younger more affluent set. Now seen as the home of “Ronaldo”, it no longer has the image of a small rural community but a stunning all year round summer island destination that is in easy reach of most of Europe and is attracting a classier younger crowd who not only like to enjoy a night out but also love the spectacular drives and friendly people that can be found in abundance. Madeira’s Nightlife, fine dining, water sports, perfect climate, and spectacular scenery, are second to none and a ‘must’ for the modern traveler. Here is a short video showing the resort area of Quinta (in Portuguese, but very nice images! Enjoy!)

Everyone is writing cookbooks, from stars to non profit organizations. Gwyneth Paltrow and Eva Longoria now have published their cookbooks. Jamie Oliver sells millions, and becomes the second British contemporary best-selling author behind the Harry Potter brand. The new social media of the digital era have helped multiply the authors and buyers of cookbooks, with many authors such as Gwyneth being experienced food bloggers.

Corporations are jumping in, with cookbooks from Coca Cola and Kraft Foods to Lufthansa Airlines and Bimby. Cookbooks bring together all communities, actors, celebrity chefs, non-profit foundations or schools. There are more and more fund raising and charity cookbooks.

The Peko Peko charity cookbook raises funds for the Japan earthquake relief effort. Peko Peko means “I’m Hungry” in Japanese. It is the call of the millions whose food is threatened by disasters and climate.

The best cookbooks now focus on health and sustainable food. The “Best Cookbook of the Year” for the “Gourmand World Cookbook Awards” is Me’a Kai, Come Eat in Maori, published by Random House New Zealand, for the sustainable foods and tourism industry of the Pacific Islands.

One hundred and fifty four countries participated in the last “Gourmand Awards.”

It was announced on April 28 that the next “Gourmand World Cookbook Awards” will be March 7 in Paris, for the opening of the next “Paris Cookbook Fair, March 7-11, 2012.” The party is open to all, and can already be tasted on the three minutes fun food video:

I will surely be there, and this time I will have a booth. The Paris Cookbook Fair also includes a ‘foreign rights’ center where it is possible to sell the rights to your cookbook to agents and publishers from other countries! Plan ahead and make the trip.  If you are interested to attend or need more information about this fun event please contact:

Edouard Cointreau, President – Gourmand World Cookbook Awards

Tel: +34-91-541-67-68 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +34-91-541-67-68 end_of_the_skype_highlighting –

edouard@gourmandbooks.com

SOURCE Gourmand Books

The Riverside Rose Society is an affiliate of the American Rose Society. They are a non-profit, for-public-benefit, educational organization dedicated to the cultivation and appreciation of “America’s National Flower”, the rose. This group is one of the most active groups in southern California, so I am thrilled to be spending two days with them at this event. Please stop by and visit the booth, there will be lots of rose-related products to choose from. On Sunday I’ll be giving a talk about cooking with roses at 12 PM. Hope to see you there!

As for the Home and Backyard Show itself, these shows always feature displays and exhibits of the latest ideas in home improvement, remodeling, interior-design, decorating and landscaping. In addition, they provide educational and informative seminars and demonstrations designed to help homeowners enhance the beauty and the value of their homes. The shows combine high quality products and services with family entertainment, including top name musical acts, along with sample product give-aways, special appearances by many of California’s best known radio and television personalities.

Location:

Riverside Convention Center
3443 Orange Street
92501

Date:
June 3, 4 and 5

Hours:
Fri. 2pm-7pm, Sat. 10am-7pm, Sun. 10am-6pm

As time went on, I realized that Celeste was extremely talented and accomplished at many things. She is a true entrepreneur in every respect—constantly moving, changing, improving, and navigating. She always knew how to leverage her talents and attributes. She remains the type of person I want to know. I continue to admire her and always look forward to see what she is up to next! This women gives new meaning to the term ‘multi-tasker’ and some of her accomplishments are surely things that other people can only dream about. The truly exciting part is that the story continues to evolve in the most beautiful ways. Here is the story to date, I am sure it will inspire you as it does me!

Celeste Yarnall, Ph.D. has lived a multi-faceted life. Like a handful of other celebrities from the entertainment world, Dr. Yarnall comes to her holistic health expertise because it is her passion. As an actress, Celeste Yarnall was “the product” that she marketed and, therefore, being fit and healthy was of paramount importance.

After being featured in Life Magazine and appearing in the Nutty Professor with Jerry Lewis, Celeste won the coveted title of Miss Rheingold 1964 in New York City, receiving 20,000,000 votes in America’s second biggest election. She made Time Magazine at 19 years of age for this achievement. She was the recipient of a very large cash prize and starred in Rheingold’s TV commercials, radio spots, print ads, and did personal appearances all over the Eastern Seaboard. Celeste even had her own pavilion with Rheingold at their Little Old New York replication of a 1904 tavern at the 1964 Worlds Fair.

Celeste returned to Los Angeles after her amazing reign as Miss Rheingold to resume her acting career, having been signed by the William Morris Agency and groomed for stardom. She became a Deb Star, Hollywood Star of Tomorrow, and was awarded her trophy in1966 on a prime time television special.  She then went on to become “The Most Photogenic Beauty” by the International Press community at the Cannes Film Festival.

If you’re a “trekkie,” you’ll  remember Celeste Yarnall as the guest-star on the classic Star Trek episode entitled “The Apple.”  Perhaps you remember her from some of her other memorable TV guest appearances on such legendary shows as “Bonanza” or “Man from U.N.C.L.E.”

You may recall Celeste as Elvis Presley’s co-star in “Live a Little, Love a Little,” to name but a few of her acting credits. You can visit her personal website for more information and photos of Celeste from various roles as an actress.

Celeste maintained her connection to the entertainment world continuing to do acting roles and television commercials as a spokeswoman but also became noteworthy as an entrepreneur as the first woman to own and operate her own commercial real estate brokerage, as Celeste Yarnall and Associates, specializing in the entertainment industry through the leasing and sale of high rise office buildings in Beverly Hills and L.A.’s prestigious Westside. The annual volume of business she and her crew of sales associates were responsible for was well over $100,000,000 annually.

In fact, she was featured on prime time TV by a popular news anchor on a program entitled, “The Young Millionaires.” Just in her early thirties at the time, Celeste was filmed showing her clients prospective properties in her cream colored Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II. She made headlines in newspapers and numerous publications for her real estate expertise and was plucked off the front page of the Real Estate section of the Los Angeles Times by the Chairman of the Board of California Federal Savings to be their spokeswoman in TV, radio, and point of purchase advertising campaigns.

At the same time, Celeste ran an artist’s management company, which specialized in representing talented new screen writers with an eye to entering production and packaging of film properties. Celeste sold several scripts to major studios, and one was made into a multi-million dollar film starring Steven Seagal. However, the stress was becoming overwhelming for her, as she was raising her daughter, still acting, running two full time businesses, and traveling extensively. A lifetime love of cats and dogs led Celeste on a completely different path, which segued to leaving these two businesses behind.

Enter yet another career for Celeste and a new paradigm. Celeste became one of the leading celebrity experts in the world of holistic health care for cats and dogs, as she realized in the early 90′s, that there was much to be challenged in the world of traditional veterinary medicine. This led her to study clinical nutrition. In I997 she was awarded a doctorate in Nutrition from Pacific Western University.

She has written four books to date and numerous articles for prestigious pet oriented publications. She was one of the first authors to take a strong stand on the importance of feeding dogs and cats a species specific raw meat and raw bone carnivore diet, the dangers of vaccination, and over use of drugs and chemicals in veterinary medicine. She is a seeker of truth, challenges the traditional route, and stands resolute in the face of controversy.

Her first book, Cat Care Naturally, was published in 1995. The updated paperback, Natural Cat Care, was published in 1998 along with the release of Natural Dog Care, endorsed by Dr. Barry Sears, PhD, of “The Zone” fame. Between 1993 and 2009, Dr. Yarnall and her breeding partners did what no one else in the veterinary community has ever done and that is to raise eleven generations of her own beloved championship Tonkinese show cats on the basic holistic principles outlined in her books, including formulating her own state-of-the-art supplementation based on her expertise in clinical nutrition, and anti-aging principles.

The incredible health results from this work were the impetus behind her newest book co-authored with renowned holistic veterinarian, Jean Hofve, DVM. The book is entitled, The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care, and is the recipient of the coveted Cat Writers Association’s 2010 Muse Medallion Award and is enjoying outstanding reviews. It is the first anti-aging book ever written for pets. World reknowned anti-aging physician, C. Norman Shealy, MD, Ph.D., recommended the book in his prestigious Youthful Aging newsletter.

Dr. Yarnall stresses the importance of the inclusion of Omega-3 marine lipids and antioxidant supplementation throughout her newest book. The featured product in her practice is Moxxor. A brand new category of Omega-3 marine lipids from New Zealand. She has recently been appointed to the Moxxor Holistic Advisory Board. Moxxor has become the cornerstone of her practice for both her human and animal clients, whom she consults with in her practice.

Dr Yarnall also integrates her expertise as an Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tapping consultant and is a member of the prestigious Tapping Insiders Club. Dr. Yarnall is a Reiki Master, medical intuitive, grief counselor, and is also expert in nonverbal communication and incorporates homeopathy, herbs, flower essences, among other protocols into her holistic repertoire. She is a highly skilled, charismatic motivational speaker sharing her journey and insights in her own warm, authentic, engaging voice adding value to the lives of all who come in contact with her.

Dr. Yarnall is married to noted British painter, Nazim Artist. Their combined holistic paradigm is embraced as the Art of Wellness Collection. Celeste and Nazim reside in Westlake Village, California with their 4 naturally raised Celestecats Tonkinese cats and are surrounded by Nazim’s magnificent art works.

Dr. Yarnall’s book, The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care is available on Amazon

More recently I became fond of the “chili and chocolate” combination. A friend told me that she had become partners in a local coffee house and we started talking about who supplied her baked goods. I suddenly felt the urge to bake again like I had felt when I was finalizing the recipes for my cookbook.

Something came over me and I decided it was the right time to launch a line of gourmet baked goods that I would bake “on demand” as clients ordered them for special occasions.

My list will be a simple one page menu of tantalizing and flavorful jaunts into “wild flavor” country.

The Rose Diva Gourmet Baked Goodies features  brownies, cakes, cookies and pies specializing in chocolate blended with  chili, herbs and roses…to name a few.

I’m interested in taking orders for Tea Parties and special events.

There will be more news to come on this topic, including a sample of some of the recipes I have been working on. I will create a page for Rose Diva Gourmet Baked Goodies.  I will be using The Rose Diva website to post information and recipes as well as some photos in the near future.

Back in 2007 when I was completing The Rose Cookbook, I decided to create a recipe for Pecan Pie that would honor Barbaro. I am baking that pie today, as I have each year since then. Here is the recipe which I adapted by using a little rose syrup, a little bit of chocolate, and Kentucky bourbon combination.

Here is the recipe as it reads from the book:

The great thoroughbred Barbaro captured the world’s heart during his run at the 2006 Kentucky Derby. Tragically,  his dream of attaining the illusive triple-crown as well as  his life, ended too soon. Now, we can only imagine the greatness that could have been achieved. For this year’s Kentucky Derby, I decided to create a pecan pie as a tribute to Barbaro. The ingredients are symbolic for the way he touched me. Serve it every Kentucky Derby and remember a true champion, and your own dreams. Let the rose touch your heart.

Barbaro’s Run-for-the-Roses Pie

1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
½ cup butter, melted
4 large eggs
2 Tbsp. Kentucky bourbon
1 Tbsp. rose syrup
1 cup chopped pecans
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 unbaked 9-inch pastry shell
rose petals for garnish (rose petals must by organic, no pesticides!!)

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, eggs, bourbon and rose syrup in a large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until blended. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips. Pour into pastry shell. Bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle a few fresh rose petals on each plate when serving.

Enjoy!

For more rose recipes or to purchase The Rose Cookbook, visit The Rose Diva

So, I’d like to ask you 2 questions.You might want to write these down.

In regards to your book or cookbook:

Ask yourself…

What specific results have you achieved so far this year? AND………

What results are you committed to achieve by the end of this year?

Now, if you’ve been reading my articles you know a little bit about me and why I believe I’m qualified to teach you how to put a book or a cookbook together.

When I finally decided to finish my first cookbook in 2007, I needed help to stay focused and finish the job. One of the techniques I have used since then that is extremely helpful is visualization. I recommend this technique to all of my clients because it works.

I’d like us to take a moment to share this simple visualization technique with you right now. I promise this won’t take long, but it’s very powerful!!

So…Close your eyes, and take a deep breath in. Hold. And slowly let it out. Let’s release all the tension of the day and focus on the burning desire that is in your heart right now…the one about writing a book. And one more deep breath in. And hold it, and let it out. Excellent!

Keeping your eyes closed, I want you to imagine that you have a book in your hands. That book is your completed book or cookbook. I want you to see your name on the front cover. If you know the title, see that also. You may also see the exact cover design. The more detail you can add, the more powerful your visualization will be. Take your time and enjoy this. See it, feel it, and you many even smell it. New book smell! Feel the weight of the book as you hold it.

Open your heart and experience all the joy you feel that your completed cookbook is in your hands. And I want you to know that this book, your book, can take you on a wonderful journey, opening new doors for you.

Imagine those possibilities. And I want you to notice how this feels as you look at your book, with your name on it. Just hold that image for a few moments….Feel the excitement and happiness.

Now take another deep breath. Let it out…And open your eyes.

Great! Now that you know this visualization, you can use it anytime. I used it a lot to keep me going when I was writing my cookbook.

That’s one of the simple techniques that can make all the difference in staying focused on your book project. If you have any questions, or would like to sign up for a free consultation regarding your book project, please contact me.

Remember….Today is Where Your Book Begins!

Otto Borsich is living proof that one person can make a difference. Armed with sheer iron will and a wealth of culinary expertise, this Patriot remains persistent in his quest to bring attention to the severity of hunger in America and the world. His slogan: “Have Knives Will Travel” is befitting. At the Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas he initiated a food rescue program to donate excess food to the Red Cross. He also organized an even on the lawn of the Government House (the Bahamian White House) feeding hundreds of impoverished citizens.

In Vero Beach, Florida, Borsich organized the Vero Beach Victory Dinner, a gourmet fundraiser which generated thousands of dollars for the Coalition for the Homeless of Indian River County. On Nantucket Island, he created the Nantucket Chefs Food Festival, a multi-course gastronomic affair featuring the islands’ best chefs. All proceeds were donated to the Nantucket Emergency Food Pantry. The event is still going strong since its inception in 1992.

In Hyde Park, NY, employed as a Chef Instructor at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to observe World Food Day, he challenged the entire campus to “Pitch in a Pound and Raise a Ton.”  The objective was to pitch in a pound of non-perishable food and collect a ton. The participation was extraordinary and over a metric ton of food was donated to the Hyde Park Emergency Food Pantry.

Additionally, he organized students to cook and serve hot meals for the hungry in Poughkeepsie. In NYC he organized trips for underprivileged children to the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum and the United Nations, while providing a nutritious lunch after the experience. He has delivered his message to schools across the nation. While living in Las Vegas he volunteered monthly to provide a hot breakfast for inner city school children and also served as co-chair of the SOS Taste of the Nation event in Las Vegas.

On a national level Chef Otto was the catalyst behind Childhood Hunger Day in Washington DC. Chefs from all over the nation converged on Capitol Hill for a three-day symposium on hunger and poverty legislation. Since 1993, Borsich has been on a crusade to create FEAST, (Feed Every American Starting Today) on the White House lawn every October 16, World Food Day.

Borsich is tenacious, determined to make a difference. After 16 years of the Clinton and Bush administrations’ non-committal replies, Borsich remains resolute as ever. He truly believes President Obama and his message of “Yes We Can” could still be the difference. His role as a contestant on Bravo’s Emmy-nominated Top Chef – Season 2 provided notoriety as he continued to champion against hunger. Borsich has worked in some of Americas’ finest establishments including the Pierre Hotel, the Gotham Bar and Grill, the Bellagio Hotel and Charlie Trotters. He is a proud Navy Veteran and served as a cook onboard the nuclear submarine USS Patrick Henry in Pearl Harbor.

Now with a book coming out later this year, we can only imagine that the best is yet to come!

The Heritage Roses Group of El Cerrito puts on the best display of rare and heritage roses in the world, at this once a year, free event. Roses, companion plants and an array of rose-themed items will be for sale–such as jewelry, hats, shawls, books and even rose-flavored food–along with other refreshments. Come and appreciate the roses! The perfect outing for a Sunday in springtime! Featured in “Sunset” magazine, the AAA’s “VIA” magazine and other publications. Wheelchair accessible.

The Heritage Roses Group, formed in 1975, as a fellowship of those who care about Old Garden Roses, Species Roses, Old or Unusual Roses – particularly those roses introduced into commerce prior to the year 1867. Its purposes are to preserve, enjoy, and share knowledge about the Old Roses.
The Heritage Roses Group of the United States inspired the establishment of similar groups in Australia, England, New Zealand, and France.

In the USA, members are located across the country, in five different Regional Groups: SouthWest (includes all of California), NorthWest, SouthCentral, NorthCentral, NorthEast, and SouthEast — with a Regional Coordinator for each area.

The FREE event will take place at:
The El Cerrito Community Center
7007 Moeser Lane
El Cerrito, CA
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
For more information visit The Heritage Roses Group

I’m impressed, and it makes perfect sense. Good food is made at home.

He recently told PopEater that cooking is one of the things he and his partner, the beautiful Camila Alves love to do. In his words, “Cooking is one of the main things we do. One and a half hours to two hours a day. We eat out like once every two months because we cook. It’s really great family time from six to eight. Glass of wine and we start mixing up sauces and trying new things. See what we can pull off and we swap, sometimes I’m the cook, sometimes Camila is the cook.”

The pair, who have two children, son Levi, two, and 14-month-old daughter Vida – rarely go out together because they have so much fun trying out new recipes.

They enjoy getting into the kitchen and mixing things up. McConaughey said, “We’ve got a whole bunch of things to fill up a cookbook right now. We might as well put it all in a cookbook.”

My sentiments exactly!

What else does the “Lincoln Lawyer” enjoy? When he isn’t in the kitchen, 41-year-old Matthew loves going for a drive as he claims being behind the wheel of his car gives him time to relax and think.

McConaughey said: “When I’m driving, that’s my favorite place to think. Or not think. “I like to put myself in a place where the answers sort of show up and my favorite place is behind a wheel, heading somewhere.”

Sounds like the next place he’s heading may be the bookstores for some book signings!

And BTW Matthew,  if you need any help with that book….call me, the Cookbook Coach! I’d be glad to help!

GET BRANDED WITH BRANDING FOR BRILLIANCE

Branding for Brilliance wants to be your one-stop solution for Personal Branding, Social Media Marketing, and Online Presence creation.

You know you’re an expert in your field. We recognize your unique talents and qualities. Now it’s time for everyone else to know about you! Let Branding for Brilliance position you for success.

Gain high visibility and make a lasting and unforgettable impression on your target market and the people that matter the most to you.

At Branding for Brilliance we understand that your brand is YOU! It is the most authentic version of yourself, which is the most powerful form of your essence.

When the inner you and the outer you are congruent, people who see you experience you as warm, sincere, trustworthy, and authentic.

As the qualities of your essence are clearly communicated through your branding, people begin to feel your self-confidence and they understand your purpose.

This becomes compelling and your unique reputation begins to be noticed. This creates a feeling of self confidence within you; as well as a reciprocal feeling of confidence that others have in you.

Make no mistake, you can experience incredible life-changing results when your essence is tapped and the true YOU is revealed. The art of branding is in understanding how to convey this to the masses.

Remember, whether it is in person or online, you really only have between 10-20 seconds to make that everlasting first impression.

We would like the opportunity to help you convey your truly authentic “best version” to the world. We can help you accomplish this by balancing the inner and outer messages you convey.

Branding for Brilliance has a personal branding program that when implemented, can create and sustain the success your deserve.

Experience the feeling of confidence in knowing who you are, and what gifts you bring to the world, while knowing you always put your best foot forward. A truly powerful combination in today’s marketplace!

Contact Branding for Brilliance for a complimentary 30-minute get acquainted session. We look forward to hearing from you!

BOOK PROPOSALS

A well-written book proposal is the ultimate sales and marketing tool for your book! Period.

You don’t know how many times I hear clients say, “Do I really have to write a book proposal?”

Yes, you really do have to write a book proposal!

It doesn’t matter whether you intend to self-publish your book, or you seek a a traditional publishing deal, either way you MUST write a book proposal or have an experienced person write the proposal for you. The book proposal is your business plan for your book.

If you want to enter the freeway of book publishing success, you must exit onto the on-ramp marked “Book Proposal.”  There is no getting around this, and I will gladly tell you why.

I know this because when I wrote my first book proposal, it was a revelation!

rev·e·la·tion

1. the act of revealing or disclosing; disclosure.
2. something revealed or disclosed, esp. a striking disclosure, as of something not before realized.

It was so powerful, that now I require all my clients to have a completed book proposal, even for clients who intend to self-publish.

WHY?

Because… the book proposal is where the power lies.

When you go through the process of writing the proposal you are creating the business plan for your book.

As an author, you have to know all about your book, inside and out.

WHY?

So you can pitch it!

You have to know what you are talking about….

You are the expert of your book.

If you want to talk to publishers, you have to realize that they are going to expect you to answer a lot of questions about your book.

And, you can’t blame them because they are going to be taking a chance on your book, so you better know how to explain everything about it.

That includes MARKETING.

Marketing is the most important thing. Many new authors miss the boat on the marketing.

That’s why the book proposal is so important. It forces you to create a marketing plan for your book.

You’ll know exactly who your customer is.

You have to know this so you can convince the publisher to work with you.

Or, so you know what to do with your book once it is completed!

Doing a book proposal is really not so bad, and with the right attitude, it can be fun!

How cool is it to really know everything about your book project, and be able to clearly communicate everything great about your book to other people when you talk about it?

It’s very cool, and it makes you look really good.

So get with the proposal.

All you need is title, complete description, the primary benefit of the book, explanation of what the book is about, the specifications, your target market, marketing plan, competition survey, chapter outline (TOC) and sample chapter.

Not the whole book! Non-fiction and cookbooks can be pitched with a proposal. But memoirs require a completed manuscript.

You may or may not get a publisher interested in your book, but you will have your proposal and you’ll be able to make an educated decision about your next steps.

You’ll also have your marketing plan, so you’ll know exactly what to do to market your book should you decide to publish yourself.

Book proposals ROCK!

So get busy. There is still time to write your proposal this year and get it out there!

Contact me if I can be of service to you. I love working on a good book proposal!

A book proposal coaching partnership with me will provide you with an amazing opportunity!

PERSONAL BRANDING for AUTHORS

I am excited to help authors develop their personal brand while developing their author’s platform as their book project progresses.

An incredible opportunity exists for authors at this time. The publishing industry is changing rapidly. New methods must be employed if an author is to be successful. Part of the newness is the advent of the creation of a person’s “Personal Brand.”



The most important thing to consider when creating a brand for yourself is that “you” are the most important product.

The way you position yourself in the marketplace will determine how hard you have to work in the future to get the results you desire.

You want to work smart, not hard. You want to attract the right customers and clients that want what you have.

If you’re an entrepreneur, you want to be able to have the freedom to work when you want, and have the freedom to choose the clients you want to work with.

If you’re a business owner, you need to realize that your brand and your business are connected. Neither one can truly succeed without the other.

So, the success of your brand will depend on how true it comes to the real you and, how well you manage and communicate that image to the marketplace.

Either way, you’ll need to know who you are, what you stand for, and what qualities make you unique.

A personal brand is exciting because it tells the world about you, your values, and your beliefs. When properly crafted, your brand will allow your customers to know, like, and trust you.

This feeling will build into a relationship between you and your customer, giving them the confidence to expect the same quality experience with you every time.

Once you’re clear on your brand, you’ll have so many choices about the ways you can communicate that out to the world. The middlemen are gone.

By embracing social media as the incredible tool that it is, you’ll be able to maintain and expand your brand and reach millions of people with a few keystrokes a day!

EDITING

My goal as your editor is to work with you to preserve and maintain your unique “voice,” while clarifying your meaning without changing the meaning of your content.

Because your personal goals are important to me, I’ll work with you to first understand what you envision as your highest outcome for your manuscript.

I can offer you the type of editing you need, based on an analysis, your goals, and the amount of involvement you want to commit to. This process will ensure the results you expect for your project.

Please contact me for a consultation and estimate.

publisher@balancedrockpress.com

BOOK REVIEW: By Celeste Yarnall, PhD.

The Rose Cookbook is my favorite cookbook of all time. I am passionate about roses and recently discovered how truly delicious they are as an exotic addition to some of our favorite foods. However there was nowhere to turn to learn how to use them appropriately in cooking. All that changed when I received my beautiful copy of The Rose Cookbook.

First of all when you first hold this book in your hand you are immediately struck by the beauty and brilliance of the deep red rose on the cover. Then you open this easy to use spiral bound book which opens flat conveniently and one truly finds a treasury of rose recipes from around the world which is exactly what it promises to provide the reader.

What a joy! After a fascinating introduction we learn all about the symbolism of the rose…something that I truly treasured learning about. The history of the rose is magnificently presented and includes mention of the lovely symbolism of the Nightingale and the Rose as well as how the rose is perceived and adored throughout history. I learned so much reading this beautifully written section and refer back to it often.

The recipes are so easy to follow and your mouth waters just reading them. You learn not only how to cook with roses but how to prepare jams and jellies, main dishes, desserts and beverages but also how to use rose water and rose oil in the preparation of face masks, facial scrubs, steam techniques, toners….how to make your own bath salts…this recipe is worth the price of the book alone as rose bath salts are very dear to purchase and why not make your own…The Rose Diva’s recipe is as easy as can be and also fun to do. I use my bath salts and light my rose candle and do exactly as she suggests sprinkle rose petals from my own rose garden in the steamy tub. If you’re looking for the best hair conditioner on the planet try the recipe for Rose and Banana! You may want to purchase two copies of this divine book one for your boudoir and one for the kitchen. And while you’re at it give it to everyone you know who loves to cook!

Now I have rose water in spray bottles by my bed and in every room of the house along with rose oil in my nebulizer! Rose syrup on Belgian waffles is delicious as well! Now it is time for me to enjoy some homemade Rose ice cream and truly smell the roses…The Rose Cookbook is a gift from heaven!

I give it 5 stars!!!!!!

Most sincerely,

Celeste Yarnall, PhD

Celeste is co-author of wonderful book-
The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care
http://celestialpets.com
http://celestecats.com

Quote from Katherine Che….10/29/09

“Oh, Man! I just can’t stop eating the Rose Chicken with Honey Glaze & Potaotes that I made from “The Rose Cookbook” by Laura Denktash. SUPER-Yummy! Thanks, Laura! I practically want to make a cocktail from the juice!! ♥ ♥ ♥”

Katherine Che – Cultivator of Joy

http://katherineche.com/

 

For more information and to order  The Rose Cookbook – a treasury of Rose Recipes from Around the World, please visit The Rose Diva

Cointreau stated that at this time publishers should be concerned as many more authors are deciding to leave  to self-publish. He reasoned – if you are an established or famous author, you don’t really need the publisher. And if you are an unpublished author, the publishers don’t want you anyway, so you might as well self-publish and keep all the money!

The trend shows that only 1 in 5 cookbooks are currently being published in the traditional way. This is a huge change from the past five years.

As far as popularity of topics in the food industry, wine and spirit books are on the rise and doing very well. Also, food and wine,  and food and spirit pairing  have been hot topics for books and selling briskly.

The eBook craze should not effect the cookbook industry as much as it has effected other publishing.

The Paris Cookbook Fair is an annual event in Paris. I will surely make it to next years fair. Bon Apetit!

Have you been dreaming about writing and publishing a cookbook?

Is writing a cookbook on your “bucket list?”

Are you a resident and/or business owner in community where you know you could spark interest for a community-based cookbook?

Are you a restaurant owner, professional chef, personal chef, or nutritionist?

A compilation community-based cookbook project can give you the opportunity to have one or more of your favorite recipes published in a high-quality book! And with a lot less work on your part than what is normally required to write and publish a complete cookbook.

This project-model is the brainchild of Laura Denktash – author, writing coach, speaker, and most recently, founder and publisher of Balanced Rock Press.

Balanced Rock Press is a new and growing independent publisher of traditional books, eBooks, and audio books. One of our specialties is cookbooks. We presently have 7 cookbooks scheduled for release during 2012, with several more in negotiation, and additional titles in developmental stages.

Part of the Balanced Rock business plan includes at least one project per year that’s based on the “compilation” model.

Compilation books are written by a number of co-authors on a subject. And in case you are not familiar, participants pay a modest fee to be published in the book. The fee covers the production costs of editing and printing. For someone with a business, It’s’ like an advertising fee paid to a newspaper or magazine to promote your business, only the book lasts much longer, and is not discarded in the recycle bin!

For Balanced Rock Press, the compilation model also includes giving a portion of the sales to a worthy cause. A typical amount donated would be 10% of the sales. For the group putting the cookbook together, this donation mechanism is a wonderful way to donate to a worthy cause of their choice. This also works well if the group compiling the cookbook is a non-profit organization. Schools, churches and clubs have been using this model of fund-raising for years with much success.

The participating authors will be writing recipes, not whole chapters, so the fee structure is very reasonable. And the value of being published in a book far outweighs the small investment involved!

You can say forever that you have been published in a book!

Each person or business featured will have a short bio and their resource information listed along with their recipe and a photo. They’ll also be able to list their website, business information, or product name.

Participation in a compilation book offers the writers a great opportunity for self promotion! And, there will also be opportunities to purchase full-pages in the book. This sponsorship opportunity is a great way to advertise your business and help a worthy cause in your community.

So why are compilation books so good for authors?

1. You promote yourself! You can get your website and name in front of a whole new audience by being in a compilation book. You can catch their interest with your story. You will also most likely be able to participate in future books if there is a series.
2. Other people promote you. Each of the authors will generally have bought copies of the book at wholesale prices in order to resell them for a profit. Or they will be giving books away to clients and friends. As people read the book, they come across you and check out your site.
3. Compilation Books promote community! Being a part of a group cookbook is fun, especially when an entire community takes part. It’s a great way to make new connections, whether you are a business owner or a private citizen.

Everyone in the community can take advantage of this wonderful way to promote their town , its quality businesses, and the talented people that make up their beautiful community.

For further information regarding a compilation cookbook project or other compilation book projects please contact Laura Denktash at publisher@balancedrockpress.com

Super Foods, also known as anti-aging foods, are foods high in antioxidants as well as high concentrations of crucial nutrients that have been proven to help prevent and in some cases, reverse the effects of aging. The Super Foods will make up the major part of the recipes in my upcoming book. The list is fairly long, but most of the foods are familiar. I’ll be adding to this section every few days.

Here we will discuss the “super foods” and how you can easily incorporate them into your diet. You probably already eat a lot of them. Now you’ll just want to concentrate on getting rid of some of the foods that do not give you energy. A few minor adjustments can make a huge difference in the way you look and feel!

Almonds make the ideal snack. A few handfuls a week, about 35 kernels is all you need to get the benefit from this super food. Almonds are a great source of protein, fiber, and several minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium and zinc.

They are also high in vitamin E, and contain smaller amounts of folic acid and vitamin B2. Almonds also contain monounsaturated fats, which can help to keep our arteries supple, and help prevent heart disease. Almonds are an important source of alpha linolenic acid, which is a pre-curser of omega-3 fatty acids. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, is found in almonds. Tryptophan is said to decrease the time needed to fall into a restful sleep. Always choose unroasted, unsalted nuts.

Black Beans Like most legumes, black beans are cholesterol-free, almost fat-free, and rich in fiber and nutrients, supplying more than half a day’s requirement for folic acid and hefty amounts of calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc in every serving. They also are loaded with phytochemicals, such as saponins and phytosterols, that lower cancer and heart disease risk, and they are low in the glycemic index, so help regulate blood sugar, as well as appetite. A study from Tulane University School of Public Health in New Orleans found that people who included beans in their diets at least four times a week lowered their heart-disease risk by 22% compared to people whose diets included a serving or less each week. Finally, black beans are the magic combo of water and fiber, so they fill us up on fewer calories than other proteins and are an excellent addition to any weight-loss diet.

How to include more in your diet: Use rinsed, canned black beans in salads,burritos, and soups, or sprinkle with cilantro and serve hot on top of brown rice.

Blueberries All berries are good for you, but those with a blue hue are among the best of the bunch. They have the highest antioxidant level of all commonly consumed fruit, according to research from the USDA Agriculture Research Service in Little Rock, Arkansas. Blueberries deliver 3.6 grams of fiber per cup. Instead of topping your cereal with fruit, fill your bowl with blueberries, then sprinkle just a little cereal on top and add milk or yogurt. Think 80/20, 80% blueberries and 20% cereal. A bowl of cereal and milk is a real carb “bomb” that should be avoided.

They not only look and taste great but blueberries contain antioxidants known as anthocyanidins, some of the strongest antidotes to oxidative stress, which many scientists believe to be the cause of aging in humans. Research carried out at the US Department of Agriculture found that blueberries had the highest antioxidant capacity of 40 tested fruits and vegetables. Berries also contain a phytochemical called ellegic acid, which is thought to prevent abnormal cellular changes.

Broccoli If the other foods here are “super” foods then broccoli should be a “mega-super” food. Researchers are finding a wealth of healthy compounds in this vegetable, which include two power anti-cancer substances, sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. Sulforaphane destroys any carcinogenic compounds that you have ingested and then it creates enzymes that eat up any carcinogens left over from that reaction.

Sulforaphane also kills the bacteria Helicobacter pylori which causes stomach ulcers and greatly increases the risks of gastric cancers according to a study at the John Hopkins University, Baltimore.

Indole-3-carbinol helps your body to metabolize estrogen, potentially protecting against breast cancer. Broccoli is also a good source of beta-carotene and potassium, which helps lower your risk of heart disease. Many therapists suggest eating broccoli at least three times a week and now we know why.

Carrots offer an excellent source of beta-carotene, which is 3.62milligram (equivalent to 1981 international unit for the value of vitamin A) in each 100 grams of carrots. Many studies have shown that carrots provide us with the highest amount of beta-carotene among the list of vegetables we normally consume on a daily basis.

The best thing about carrots is that they are easily assimilated by our body. Chinese practitioners say that carrots tastes sweet, and are good for the health of spleen and stomach. Carrots are also believed to improve impotence (lower sexual drive), sexual dysfunction, night blindness, long term cough (or called ‘hundred days cough’ in Chinese medical prescriptions) besides strengthening the kidneys and eliminating excessive wind and cold in the body.

Olive Oil contains monounsaturated fat, a healthier type of fat that can lower your risk of heart disease by reducing the total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol levels in your blood.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), consuming about 2 tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil a day may reduce your risk of heart disease. You can get the most benefit by substituting olive oil for saturated fats rather than just adding more olive oil to your diet.

This article is taken from The Radiant Cougar website. It is portion of an in-depth list of all the super-foods.  More information will be shared in subsequent posts.

DISCLAIMER: This blog is meant to educate, but it should not be used as a substitute for personal medical advice. The reader should consult his or her physician or clinician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. Always consult your physician or health care provider before embarking on a new exercise program. All exercises are not suitable for everyone. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field is ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.

You may find yourself in a number of situations that require you to re-invent yourself in order to continue moving forward and being successful. Here are some of the most common:

1. You have been laid off from your job
2. You have been unemployed for more than 1 year
3. You want to leave the corporate world
4. You want to pursue what you love – your art, your craft
5. You want to write a book
6. You have just been divorced or widowed
7. You have moved to a new city or town
8. You are a “baby boomer”
9. You want to open your own small business
10. You want to open a new service business
11. You have just completed or in the process of completing a new degree or higher education that is different from what you have been working at prior to your schooling.

Perhaps you have lost your job. Being laid off is not the time to start thinking about how to brand yourself. Your lay-off can be much easier to cope with when you have clearly defined your brand and have a plan B to work off of prior to such an event.

When you’re laid off from a job, you may have to begin to consider other types of work in a completely different field. For some, this can add more stress to an already stressful situation. Branding for Brilliance can help you determine what steps you need to take, and help you re-brand yourself so you are marketable to a new industry.

Your online personality is now important. If this is something you have not come to terms with, we can help you do that also. Did you know that hiring managers and HR Departments routinely “google” prospective employees to see what kind of information they can find on them. It is crucial to have a presence on the internet now that is supportive of your goals.

If you are still new to the subject of personal branding, here’s a tip…You develop your personal brand treating your personal image as if it where a consumer brand.

Don’t mistake personal branding as hype and bragging…

It is completely the opposite.

Personal branding is about finding what you are authentically good at and using that to build, re-build, or re-invent your career!

Branding is the process of articulating your unique values and attributes, consistently, across multiple platforms, so it becomes recognizable.

Branding for Brilliance can support you in whatever situation you find yourself in. We will help you gain the confidence you need to pursue your dream of a new career by creating a personal brand that is authentic and unique like you!

Many have lost their jobs.

Many have been unemployed for extended lengths of time that would have been unheard of 10 years ago. With no other livelihood to fall back on, this can be a recipe for a disaster.

After working so many years, many boomers find themselves in a situation that would have only been part of their worst nightmare not too many years ago.

Yet… the baby boomer group makes up one of the most industrious and innovative segments of the population that the world has ever seen. So let’s focus on the good things.

You can re-invent yourself by embracing the new technology. By deciding that you must become familiar with the internet if you have not been, and allowing an expert to guide you in the process of re-inventing yourself.

Remember the saying: Insanity is trying to do the same thing over and over again, and expecting a new result.

We understand that change can be uncomfortable, but change you must, if you are to survive. This may not be what you want to hear, but it is the truth and it must be dealt with.

Branding for Brilliance is sensitive to the needs of boomers when it comes to re-creating an image. We know that you are probably an expert in at least one field if not more than one. We know that you are talented and have varied interests that have been developed over a period of years. You just need someone to reposition the light on you so it shines on your finest assets. This re-positioning will make you marketable again, and give you a new direction.

If you would like to discuss the possibility of re-branding your image, please do not hesitate to contact Branding for Brilliance. We look forward to being of service to you.

BrandingforBrilliance

Has anyone ever said to you “That’s a brilliant idea?” If so, what did you do next? Did you act on your idea and bring it to fruition? If not, WHY?

If you didn’t act on your idea, you’ve closed off the channel that gives you ideas! Here’s what you need to know—

Ideas come from the universal mind, the creative force, source, or creator, if you will.

You would not get ideas if you were not capable of achieving them!

Friends and relations can get in the way, and sabotage your BRILLIANCE!

Developing your personal brilliance is a solitary effort.

One brilliant idea leads to another.

You are unique, and so are your gifts. You have a responsibility to bring your brilliance into the world.

Author and publisher Laura Denktash was seeking inspiration. One day while driving, she made a ‘request’ that would lead her to an incredible personal breakthrough.

She asked: “How can I be more brilliant?” The response she received that day started her on a journey of a lifetime, and the results she’s manifested since then are nothing short of miraculous!

The answer she received?

JUST BE BRILLIANT!

In other words, just be who you are, knowing that you already ARE brilliant.

This realization opened up a tremendous wave of brilliant ideas that have continued to emerge and build on each other.

She’s inspired others to do the same and wrote the telecourse ‘Brilliance 101’ and created the seminar ‘Just Be Brilliant™.’

JUST BE BRILLIANT is the story of one woman’s journey to brilliance. Learn to develop the ‘101 brilliant qualities’ you need and create the blueprint for your personal brilliance, success, and happiness.

Tap into your brilliance today. Decide to live a brilliant life and truly shine!

JUST BE BRILLIANT will be published by Balanced Rock Press and will be available December 2011.

Stay tuned for announcements, events, and special offers!