Exciting news for us - the Great Big Veg Challenge is being turned into a book. A short while ago the publishers, Vermillion, who are an imprint of Random House contacted us. After months and months of stress ( I now have enormous respect for people who write books for their living) it is gradually becoming a reality and will be on sale from July 3rd 2008. This is the front cover that came through the post recently. Freddie read the quote at the top and muttered "....or she is bonkers."
Meanwhile we are munching our way through the alphabet as normal...our next stop will be S for Samphire which I was amazed to find in a local fishmongers.
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ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!!! And welcome to the world of book production (hope it hasn't been too horrible and you've got a kind well organised editor).
ReplyDeleteAnd look :-O the covers got purple peas on it LOL !!!!
Will Freddie be doing book signings?
Celia
xx
mmmmmm.... samphire - tastes of the North Norfolk salt marshes, hope you're serving it with Cromer Crab.
Celia
ReplyDeleteThe purple peas - of course you are right!! Not that we have eaten any - there are far too rare!
Freddie will I suspect like the idea of book signing.
Yes I have a very kind editor who has been very supportitve through the whole process.
PS the phantom comments by oil are you arent they....
Sorry about that - the laptop is playing up so my husband has been using my studio computer for emailing his heating oil syndicate members! And I forgot to sign in as Magic Cochin - oh no! I messed up the GBVC comments list on the day they're showing off their new jacket!
ReplyDeleteCelia
x
PS: I like how marketing has gone for pink and purple to lull the vegphobic into a sense of security and before gently introducing greens!
We dont mind - we don't do pristine at the Great Big Veg Challenge!
ReplyDeleteI know - the pink and purple is rather soothing - before the green bites your head off. Thre will be lots of lovely photos and illustrations along the way.
Congratulations! What a wonderful achievement!
ReplyDeleteWell done! That's great news. The book looks fab, I may need to add that to my list of things to get.
ReplyDeleteNow, who else can I buy it for that won't take it as in insult to their cooking abilities - no reflection on your book I hasten to add, it's just some of my friends seem to have recently decided that every time I serve them a dinner made with fresh ingredients I'm having a dig at them for not always buying organic. Not to mention what happens when I serve a - gasp - homemade dessert!
Tell you what, I'll also put in a request for the book in my local library - see if they'll get it in.
Congratulations Charlotte. This is really exciting news for you and your family. Your bloog has turned into a movement to get their children to eat their veggies:D
ReplyDeleteMushy peas, weren't these one of the vegetables that Freddie hated most? If so, complete irony for them to be on the cover! The book looks gorgeous, Charlotte, many congratulations to you and that handsome son and lovely daughter of yours! Who knew that the Refrigerator of Shame would turn into a book?!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteAlanna -
ReplyDeleteMushy peas he STILL hates - but he likes pea soup and pea pesto and most of all petit pois muffins...but you are right - peas were his nemesis.
Bellini Valli - Thank you. I can see it now - families marching on the streets of London brandishing vegetables.
Moonwaves - Thanks about the library idea - I hadnt thought of that - yes please!
Gretchen Noelle.
We still have a lot of eating and writing to go! Though I do feel like its the homeward strech now.
Congrats! It *is* a fabulous idea. Much better than grinding veggies into bits and hiding them. ;)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Your great idea and determination really deserves to be put in a book.
ReplyDeleteI'm SOOOO proud of you all! It has been a delight to help out along the way too. I really cannot wait to see it. Superb cover. I'm really excited! Even with man flu.
ReplyDeleteBit early I know but I've a S for Squash recipe up on the Blog. I've lots more up my sleeve. Oh, and I love samphire. I've a recipe if you want one.
Congrats again
Dave x
Congratulations! Well done you.
ReplyDeletecongratulations!!
ReplyDeleteIf you want samphire - head to Mersea Island near colchester in essex - grows in abundance there!! make sure you take time to visit the Company Shed for some super seafood at the same time!!
meant to ask - is it interactive? like a work book so to speak..... if not maybe a though for another publication?
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I'm sure I've said it before, but I think you, Freddie and Alex are all doing a wonderful job and are a great inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to learn about samphire; I've never heard of it before, possibly because I'm Canadian.
Congratulations! Fantastic news! I know how stressful it can be to get a book to publication stage, but it's worth it in the end, and very exciting.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! This is an exciting adventure you are on. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWow! That's super news--congrats to you all. I know you'll inspire millions to get veg into their kids.
ReplyDeleteHeck, I've been thinking about trying this with my husband, who is quite a veg-o-phob.
More congratulations from me.
ReplyDeleteI haven't commented here much but I've been following your journey closely and being encouraged to branch out and try a wider variety of vegetables myself.
And I'm happy to see that the release date makes it a birthday present for me!!
Commonplace Iris - Thank you for following our journey and enjoying it. And its great that you have a summer birthday!
ReplyDeleteMrs W - I have a few people who have emailed me saying they have introduced their husband to the Great Big Veg Challenge. he won't be alone....widening your food repertoire can happen at any time in life!
Karen - Thanks. By the way I have been looking or rather drooling at the images of your chocolate brownies on your blog....I sometimes think it would be such fun just to do a Great Big Cake Challenge!!
Rosie - Thanks for your encouragement. It is as you say stressful but I am know feeling really excited by the prospect of seeing it on sale in shops!
Vincci - Thanks. I hope you will enjoy reading about samphire even if you can't buy it in Canada. Any Canadians out there reading this who might know if it does sell there? It is pretty rare to find in the uK - apart from certain times of the year when it is in season and growing in parts of the coastline.
Mamabird - Yeh I dont think grinding vegetables into food and hiding them is the greatest approach to changing a child's attitude towards their food. Part of a range of strategies you might try - but not the central one..
Sylvie - Again, thank you. I really appreciate your kind encouragement.
David Hall - I just read your fanatastic article in the BBC Olive Magazine about Pan Haggerty or Heggerty (!)
I like the idea of cooking with lard and goose fat - I know Freddie will like it! Oh and re Samphire I want to serve it with Crab 0 so tips please!
Dulwich Mum - Thanks...and ditto to you. Does your son like vegetables...?
Jenny - Mersea Island - I will remember to go there at Samphire time - do you know when the season starts there? Its in a few months isnt it...
And re the book - the format is in part a story, the narrative of our journey and also a recipe book and also lots of tips about what we found out worked in terms of teaching Freddie ( and Alex who is our best best taster and food-labeller) to enjoy a wider range of food. Its all the things that we have really learnt and loved to eat. And lots of photographs and illustrations. I like what you say about a workbook - a more interactive approach. Maybe the next book....! ( if Im lucky)
Wow - Congratulations! given your dedication with this challenge, I think it's definitely deserved.
ReplyDeleteSo is it a recipe book, or a book of how it was done?
Can't wait to see it when it comes out!
Congratulations. i've been wanting to drop by, ever since you came to my blog , but i got so tied up. U have a wonderful blog here .
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. I can't wait to see it in the shops. Plus it is the perfect solution to my annual "what to buy my friends with small children for Christmas problem" - this year I can just bulk buy!
ReplyDeleteIf you want another suggestion for "s" I have a receipe for Sweet Potato (or Kumara) soup on my blog. I can't wait to see how you use Samphire, I have no idea how to use it.
This is a great achievement for you, well done. I am new to your blog so I am not fully aware of what the Great Bid Vegetable Challenge is, but I can identify with the challenge of eating vegetables. I have no kids, but my other half, well the list of vegetables he doesn't like is endless! x
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! What fantastic news for you. Is Freddie excited to be on the cover?
ReplyDeleteWow! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI can only hope that one day my trash will end up in print, too ;)
Congratulations - I figured it was only a matter of time before there was a book, but I'm pleased to hear it really has happened. Don't let those successes get to your heads, though - there are plenty more vegetables to eat! ;)
ReplyDeleteIn Greece I was served samphire in a salad with olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper. It can be a bit squeeky chewing which might be good or bad, depending on Freddie's perspective!
ReplyDeleteWell done Charlotte and Freddie! I am very, very proud!
ReplyDeleteHave you written entries for the letters you haven't blogged about yet? Or is the book a cliffhanger, leaving us waiting for TGBV II: S-Z ?
ReplyDeleteMarianne - The squeakiness was poplular - reminded Freddie of asparagus which he liked...We also cooked it in olive oil or butter with salt and pepper. DELICIOUS!
ReplyDeleteGilab. No the book won't be a veggie cliffhanger - the whole alphabet will be there. We have had to get a little ahead..but it is a mad process of cooking and writing!
Holler - Thanks. Your encouragement has played a part in our alphabetical vegetable munching!
Annemarie, I know I know - Noone ever told me when we started hoe many thousands of vegetables there were out there. We are humble in the presence of allthese veg!
Scott - Its brill, not trash - your blog is fabulous. And well worth ending up in print. Good luck
Meg - He is pleased but I dont think he really appreciates what it means yet. When he sees it in our local bookshop he will be impressed!
Louise - Well there are quite a few adults joining in to add to their list of vegetables
Kai - Will look out for your soup recipe when we reach S for Sweet potato. Thank you..
x
Kate and Kajal - Thank you for coming by. How did you take that gorgeous photo of you and the chocolate?
Schmoof - Thanks. It is a bit of a hybrid - a lot to do with our journey - the ups and downs. But also a recipe book. It is a bit of both. x
Well done Charlotte and Kids!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBravo Charlotte! Will it be available here in the US?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the book! A friend geared me toward this website and what a wonderful concept! I love these ideas!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Marvellous news! I will definitely purchase at least 2 copies. Let's hope your publisher makes it available in Canada (or on Amazon). JD :-)
ReplyDeleteLovely GBVC,
ReplyDeleteI so wish that my pair would eat vegetables for me. They love to make me beg!
Oh, that's brilliant news! I can't wait to get a copy! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat great news ... I'll be looking for the book. I've enjoyed following the veg challenge on your blog and have even tried some of your recipes.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the book, that is very exciting news.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I'm so excited for you!
ReplyDeletecongragulations!!
ReplyDeletei love your book,it has given me some great ideas when cooking for the children i care for.
hopefully you guys will embark on a great big fruit challenge book sometime soon