Brenda It’s a Wrap!
The Mediterranean Herbalist is complete and the photoshoot happened last weekend. Once I get the photos back from my lovely photographer, Pauline Goeminne, I will put them into the manuscript (so the layout editor knows which plant is what!), and off it goes to the publisher. And that will be my part complete. This has been a mind-blowing journey since last summer when I signed my first publishing deal. It’s been a life-long dream that finally happened—just not in the way I thought. Does it ever happen how we think it will?
Book Shelter in Germany will be handling the publishing. They have been fantastic to work with and I feel lucky to have signed with them. I can’t wait to see the final layout. I will try and get some sneak peeks for you guys if they will let me. But either way, they have said the book will be ready by October, when I’ll be speaking and doing a book signing at the Mani Literary Festival.
The Photo Shoot
I met Pauline last summer on one of the Workaway farms. We hit it off immediately, but since I didn’t yet have a book deal, I had no idea we’d be working together one day. When I called to tell her about the book and asked her if she would do the photos, she was thrilled. I have to say, she was the right choice. Pauline did a lot of preparation, coming up with a few mood boards for me to choose from and she gave me many ideas for cute items to buy for the shoot.
Once she arrived and we got to work, it was seamless. The light didn’t cooperate as we’d hoped on Saturday, but was spectacular on Sunday. What impressed me with Pauline was how dedicated she was to the shot she envisioned. I had to take this photo because I had no idea how physical it could be to do this type of shoot. We were climbing over stone walls and ladders, and sitting at the edge of a cliff. Chad even had both of us climb up onto a roof terrace. It was quite the day. I have only seem samples of the photos, but I know they are stunning and I can’t wait to share them.
New Family Member
To make things a little more complicated, but also a lot more fun, we added a new member to the family a few days before the shoot. Of course, he ended up taking the spotlight and probably had just as many photos taken of him as the rest of the shoot combined.
May I introduce Puccini, the newest member of the family and only six weeks old. He was a rescue from the city and has seamlessly become part of the family. Diego still isn’t quite sure, but they booped noses today, so I think he’s just holding off to make a point.
I have to say I’m relieved to be done with the writing and the photos as it was a lot of work along with the rest of my job as a writer and social media manager. I planned on taking a small holiday, but just got a request for another big job. I can’t say no as it’s for a great client, so I guess I’ll defer my holiday until August.
I’ll be putting out the newsletter with some sneak peek photos and a lot more details about the shoot, the book, and my lovely photographer. I sure felt like a celebrity as she followed me around with a camera, even when we went to dinner at a tavera by the sea. That’s something I’m definitely not used to, but it was a fun weekend.
If you haven’t already signed up for my herbal letters, make sure you do before the next one comes out so you won’t miss any of the fun. I’ll also be sharing a sneak peek into the book and one of my favorite recipes.
And because I just can’t help myself, here’s another cute picture of Puccini. He sleeps with his tongue sticking out all the time. If that isn’t a secure, happy kitten, I don’t know what is.
