Today I welcome my cousin, Cyndy Haines, who recently published her first cookbook, to my blog! Cyndy, what prompted you to write a cookbook?
My children. They were always calling for recipes, and my boyfriend suggested I write a cookbook. The idea grew, especially after I found out that a co-worker’s sister, who was struggling with personal issues, wrote and self-published a cookbook for their family and friends. She used a local printing company and never intended to make it available to the public. I manage nine antique booths in an antiques mall, and one of the ladies who has a booth there was going through chemo treatments, and she wrote a cookbook while sitting in the hospital going through her treatments. I saw you were struggling with vision problems yet still writing and editing. So the three of you inspired me to accomplish this goal. If you three could overcome adversity to fulfill a dream, then I could too.
Thank you for saying I was an inspiration to you. I am just glad I was able to be a small part of this process for you. Tell us, how did you choose the recipes?
Most of the recipes are old family recipes and recipes fro friends with no real known origin. For example, I have several of your mom’s recipes, and I have Mom’s, my daughter’s, my son’s, and more. I selected my favorites and my children’s favorites, because the original intent was a cookbook for them. Then you told me about Amazon publishing, and I tbought, “Why not?”
Are any of them your own creation?
Yes, several of the meat dishes. Some of the recipes were modified from the original by me, but I think a lot of recipes are like that.
What are some of your favorite recipes in it?
I love Kyle’s brownies, Gwyn’s cabbage casserole, and my baked pork tenderloin. I also love my caramel cake icing recipe and barbecued meatballs.
Just hearing those food names makes me hungry! know you self-published the book through Amazon. What are some things you learned that others would need to know before self-publishing with them? It was very challenging. The first thing I learned is that formatting is the real key to a perfect book. For instance, when I I typed recipes in Word, I have hit enter several times. Well, that made things not line up correctly. I called a local printer for help. His charge was very small, and he helped solve the problem. You can find the steps for self-publishing with Amazon, and they are very easy to follow. However, be sure the formatting is correct, that you have allowed room for the gutter (the middle of the book), and that you have created your cover. They do have standard covers you can choose from, which is what I did because of copyright issues with the one I had intended to use. But once you go through the process, it’s easy.
Any plans for a future cookbook?
Yes, my next cookbook is already underway. The focus of this one is make-ahead meals that can be prepared and frozen then thawed and cooked when needed. It will also have more crockpot meals.
Where can readers purchase your cookbook on Amazon?
https://www.amazon.com/Cyndys-Antiques-Recipes-Cyndy-Haines/dp/1099904463
Thanks, Cyndy, for taking the time to answer my questions. I’m looking forward to trying out some of the recipes soon!
Life As I know it 