Category Archives: Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies

My E-book for 25% Off – July 2019 SALE

Would you like to
GET MY E-BOOK FOR 25% OFF???

I am pleased to announce that I just enrolled my “Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies” e-book in the 11th annual Smashwords July 2019 SALE!

From July 1st through July 31st you will be able to purchase my e-book for 25% Off Of The Usual Price through Smashwords*.  It’s a great time for summer treats in the northern hemisphere and winter treats in the southern hemisphere.  So as we take another spin around the solar system on this island we call Earth, LET’S GET BAKING!
*As I understand this includes the Smashwords affiliates.

https://www.smashwords.comhttps://www.amazon.comWhen the time is right go to my Smashwords ordering page or use the widget below.  If you prefer to work from a paper recipe book, there is also a great deal at Amazon.com.
It is my understanding presently that… If you purchase a paper copy of my book on Amazon you can then also download a copy of the e-book For FREE!  Keep the e-book for yourself and give the paper-book to a friend 🙂 July

I’ve Published WIDE!

make your own darn good cookiesIf you’re not already familiar, let me tell you a little about the world of self-publishing.  I’m still learning about this myself, so my details might be a little fuzzy, but here goes PUBLISH

Last October I published my recipe book on Amazon.com.  A month later I followed with publishing the e-book version.  When you release your e-book out with just one self-publishing company that’s referred to as ‘publishing exclusive‘.  When you put it out with multiple companies that’s called ‘publishing wide‘.
(This is a rather good article on publishing exclusive & wide and the pros & cons …. if you can stay awake through it.) PUBLISH

As of TODAY I have published wide! PUBLISH

smashwordsOver the weekend I uploaded my e-book to Smashwords.com.  When your manuscript is formatted correctly — that is when it meets the particulars of Smashwords — they then push your e-book product out to roughly twenty other companies**.  While I uploaded my e-book to Smashwords Sunday, 24-hours later I received noticed I’ve officially published wide! PUBLISH
(** also known as getting accepted into the Smashwords Premium Catalog)

OverDriveKobo Rakuteningram contentAnother great thing about having my e-book go out to these other e-reader entities is libraries.  Many libraries get their e-books from companies other than Amazon.  My understanding is that most draw their e-books from — chiefly — OverDrive and Kobo.  If they don’t have it already, please contact your local library and ask them to purchase a copy of my book (in addition to Amazon it should also be with Ingram) and a copy of my e-book. PUBLISH

I’m glad to be with Amazon.com, and I’m glad to be widening my net so people who enjoy other e-reader devices can access my recipes.  Just think, if I get as many sales per month with these twenty other companies as I do with Amazon right now . . . well . . . I won’t be living rich, but it would be a nice little chunk of change to bring in. PUBLISH

Just Another Magic Monday

Let’s face it — most days are just …. well …. days.  Some good stuff happens, some bad stuff happens … rinse, wash, repeat … not a big deal.  Occasionally there are days when it seems like nothing can go right — UGG! — chin up, do your best to keep moving forward.  And then, every once in a while, there are days where Everything Just Seems To Go RIGHT!  For me, last Monday was one of those days …

Here’s how it went… with a little back-story

Pirate Lance English
Lance English …. Pirate! (he’s actually a nice guy)

Saturday I braved going into downtown Seattle.  In the morning I was going to participate in the St. Patrick’s parade with my S.A.M.S. Post.  The plan for the afternoon was to visit my two friends at the Emerald City Comic Convention who are moving to Toronto at the end of the month — not to mention seeing our mutual friend who’s the current Captain of the SeaFair Pirates.

Yes, it’s true … I know a pirate.

Seattle Center Monorail Space Needle
The Seattle Monorail with the Space Needle in the background

The drive down the island and into Seattle was nice.  Once at the Seattle Center, instead of taking the Monorail as I had originally planned, I opted to walk to the parade staging grounds at the other end of the city located near Pioneer Square.  The slightly-cool and slightly-warm sunny pre-Spring day begged for a walk, and it was lovely!  To be frank, as far as I’m concerned the parade was a poorly planned bust — however it was great to spend time with my fellow S.A.M.S. members and the two ladies who lead us in carrying our banner.  After the parade I was surprise-treated to lunch …

Wow, Cool, Thank You!

Emerald City Comic Con 2019

Catching up with my Canadian friends at ECCC involved crossing a number of fingers.  The convention annually attracts around 95,000 fans* of geek-culture — some of my people — many of whom are wearing impressive costumes that they have personally crafted.  This includes my two friends, so they blended in amid all the heroes, villains, elves, Jedi, and … well, everyone.  Also, the three of us were working with limited electronic communications that day.  Fortunately, everything worked out!  I connected with my friends in the terraced park next to the Washington State Convention Center.  By further luck and happenstance I ran into Chad — an absolute gent, a heckuva photographer, and the man who has taken among my favourite pictures of my Celtic-rock band, Nae Regrets.  As evening neared Christina, Martin, and myself hiked a few blocks away from the convention where we enjoyed dinner together before saying our fond goodbyes.  As opportunity presents, I look forward to visiting them in Toronto.
(* 2018 ECCC attendance according to Wikipedia)

But onto Monday …

The previous week I got my book, Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies, placed in its very first bookstore — The Kingfisher Bookstore in Coupeville, Washington.  That felt great — the beginning of the next state of being a published author!  Also, the owner of Kingfisher — Meg — is an absolute JOY of a person.

Coupeville Public Library
Coupeville Public Library

After a relaxing start to my Monday — delicious in part because we tell ourselves that’s not what a weekday morning is supposed to be like, especially a Monday.  Just before noon I popped over to the Coupeville Public Library.  I wanted to check the status of scheduling the presentation I’ve done with Tom Trimbath on how to self-publish books and e-books. Monday

This is when all the neat stuff began!

I was directed to speak with Debbie, whom I had already understood handled most of the presentation scheduling.  After introducing myself and explaining Tom’s and my workshop she said that she remembered reading my previous submission and wanted to get us in soon.  Somehow it came up that I m currently working on another book, and she asked what that was about.  I explained that it is a collection of Highland bagpipe sheet music featuring military and patriotic tunes and their history.  Debbie immediately asked if I would be willing to present this book.  What she didn’t know was that I had already been thinking about it but hadn’t quite broken the ice on How.  She suggested that this presentation would fit in well at the Oak Harbor library, being close to the Navy base, and that she’d like to host me at the Coupeville library around the 4th of July this year.  I am absolutely flattered to be asked — so now, all the more, I’m pushing to complete this book! Monday

As I went to leave the library — the first time — I saw one of the fellows who works at the library.  I hadn’t really seen him before, but I have heard about him — moreover, I’ve heard about what his wife and he are doing… Monday

Gabriel and Sarah Chrisman
This is one of the many great pictures on the Seattle Times article, I felt this one was the best…

Behind the library help desk sat one Mr. Gabriel Chrisman.  I had heard about his wife, Sarah, who writes books about the Victorian era.  The amazing thing is that they live their lives — not completely — much in keeping with 1880/1890s period.  I stopped to pass on to Gabriel that I was aware of his wife’s writing and that I admire what they’re doing (sadly some people don’t understand while other’s have been regrettably worse).  Our conversation turned to asking Gabriel if he might help further research a bagpipe tune I need information on for my military & patriotic music & history book.  Gabriel was intrigued by my query and asked me to send him my notes.  He was also interested in the book I’m working on and apparently can get behind hosting my presentation.  While I left at this time, we spoke into the afternoon — but that happened later … Monday

Kingfisher Bookstore Coupeville
Meg at Kingfisher Bookstore in Coupeville

When I left the library — this time around 1230 — I saw a notice about an event I had forgotten about.  Meg, the owner of The Kingfisher Bookstore was presenting a book-related topic starting an hour later.  I raced home — I needed lunch and more-presentable clothes — and I raced back!  Making it through the door just before her presentation started, I was able to let Meg know I was there to support her topic — and she met me with her immutable smile just as I had found it the week before. Monday

Meg’s presentation was fun and enlightening — and part way through took a walk a few blocks over to her bookshop.  The weather was warm and bright; we got to see more of her shop and the historic building it’s in.  I spoke with Gabriel more and also stuck around after the presentation.  Meg and I spoke about a number of upcoming things.  There’s an arts and crafts festival in Coupeville during the summer and we discussed how she might bring people into her shop.  She said she would like to host book readings and possibly small music performances and would like to feature me (see “Tom” below).  I told her that Tom Trimbath and I have talked a bit about starting to do podcasts about all-things having to do with writing, authors, bookshops (etc) on Whidbey Island.  Meg said she’d like to start a small book publishing company on Whidbey and I said that I’d like to be a part of that. Monday

Tom & Jerry, pinch
By the time I left Meg’s shop I was pretty much dancing and pinching myself just like Tom here…

Monday was MAGNIFICENT — and there’s more to come!  And since then…

  • Wednesday March 20th I received a call from Robert, a college friend of mine.  He’s in his 4th round in higher-ed, part of his foci is marketing, and he wants to do a project on my Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies book.
  • Over this past weekend I got in touch with my friend, Rick.  He loves history and is involved with curation of local early settlers with the Doc Maynard Society.  When he found out about the bagpipe sheet music and tune-history book I’m working on he said he would be interested in that and that people from his historic society would be, too.  Do I hear another presentation date in the works?

Loads of good things in the works!  Some of which has to do with presentations I’ll possibly be doing.  So that in mind, if you’d like me to present or my bagpipe sheet music and history book once it’s ready, maybe you’d do well to get on my calendar now — contact me.

My Books Now In Kingfisher Bookstore!

I am EXCITED to announce…

Yesterday I got my book, Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies, placed in the very first bookstore!  The Kingfisher Bookstore located at 16 NW Front Street in Coupeville, Washington.

The Kingfisher BookstoreI’ve wanted to get my book carried by various stores here on Whidbey Island and I was told that Kingfisher LOVES local authors.  When I called the shop on Wednesday I was told to bring my books by any time.  My response to being asked if I was local, I gave a little local-flavour and replied that I was so close I could paddle a canoe across Penn Cove to get there.  I opted to drive instead.
(PSST! I actually got it in the Oak Harbor Ace Hardware, too — they’re at 150 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.)

Meg Olsen, owner of Kingfisher Bookstore in Coupeville WA
Hey everybody — meet Meg!

Kingfisher Bookstore is located in one of the historic water-side buildings on the middle of NW Front Street in Coupeville here on Whidbey Island.  When I went in I was immediately greeted by Meg Olsen — she couldn’t be more friendly, and she is Full of ENERGY!  Soon following I met her husband, Brad — also a nice guy.  Speaking of ‘also’ — he’s also a merchant sailor and a captain with Royal Caribbean International … yeah, remember when I suggested canoeing across Penn Cove?  I wonder if I scored points with him by talking nautical-stuff …

Meg and Brad started their shop in 2018.  Formerly a liquor store, together they have made it over into a cozy and delightful bookstore.  In between talking with Meg about my book she welcomed and assisted visiting customers — during that time I had a bit of my own look around.  I was pleased to see unfamiliar books I would love to purchase and read along with authors I already enjoy (she had a hardbound Dick Francis book!).  While I was there Meg even invited a customer’s labradoodle into the shop — in fact, she laughingly demanded that he bring his dog in so she could meet it and give it scritches.

I hope Meg and Brad do well with their wonderful neighborhood bookstore and I am happy to have my book carried at Kingfisher Bookstore!

Hey, while you’re reading…

Here’s a fantastic article from when Meg and Brad Olsen started their shop in 2018.

TIME TO TAKE CARE OF SOMETHING

Something that came to my attention earlier today… FREE

Make Your Own Darn Good CookiesBefore the Fall 2018 launch of my book I redundantly and obnoxiously told everyone about a link on my website — a link where you could get FOUR FREE RECIPES that were going to be and are in my book. I found out today that not everyone caught that.

Yes — if you go to WhidbeyIslandBaking.com and look under “Products” for “Free Stuff” you can download these FOUR FREE RECIPES — better yet, OR JUST CLICK THIS LINK.

FOR FREE (or FOUR FREE)

You can download my recipes for…

Please try these recipes. Please enjoy these recipes. Please share these recipes. If you have questions about these recipes please ask me. If you don’t have questions then I did my job right in writing these recipes. If you like these, then please buy my book on Amazon. If the book is bigger than your budget, it’s also available as a save-a-tree e-book for about a quarter of the price.

ENJOY!
~ Don

PS — Thank you Rachel for bring this to my attention 🙂