I haven't even finished writing my book, Cut Your Grocery Bills in Half, and I'm already starting a blog about it. Why? Because I keep updating the book every time something exciting occurs and with a blog I can update it and get on with finshing the book. So, here it is: my blog that precedes the book. I'll give you information about the book as I continue to post but you may rest assured that it will be worth the wait--everyone I've talked into reading it says so.
Since I'm just getting this started, let me give you a little history that won't be in the book. I became involved in an online opportunity about a year ago that provided me with Internet advertising at a very low cost. Well, what in the world was I going to advertise? I had nothing to sell but here I was with ad space and a need for additional income. I thought and thought and thought some more and couldn't come up with anything.
One day I thought about the idea of writing a book. I've been writing for years so that wasn't a problem but what to write about? The obvious answer, the one we got in English Comp 101, is to write about what we know. So, what do I know about? I know about how to be an administrative assistant--no, how many people want to know about that? OK, I know how to be a Virtual Assistant--no, I spent a very long time and a lot of money in training to do that and I can guarantee the people at AssistU know way better than I how to tell people about that. So, that pretty much sums up my professional life. What was left? I thought some more. One day, driving home from the grocery store after a particularly satisfying shopping trip, it hit me! I know how to save money! In particular I am best at saving money at the grocery store.
There it was: my e-book! Cut Your Grocery Bills in Half was born. Now all I had to do was write the darned thing. It actually was a lot easier than I expected. With most books there is a great deal of research to be done but I had been research this since I was about 16. I've been cutting corners at the grocery store and in the kitchen for as long as I can remember and my parents did the same thing so I was learning at their knees without even realizing it.
So, a couple of months later I had over 100 pages of information, anecdotes, and even recipes to help people cut their grocery bills down to size even if they don't want to cut them in half. So, where's the book? It's coming, I promise. In fact, I'm going to commit to having it ready to deliver by the end of this year. I'll give you more information on that very soon. Right now I'm at the place where I'm editing like crazy and that's hard when I keep thinking of things I want to add, new things that have happened, a new idea for a segment I hadn't thought of before. Each time I go through the editing process I think of a few more things to add. With the blog, that problem is now resolved. I can put all those bits and pieces of information here and you can just incorporate it into the book when it comes out. I will put all the best parts of the blog into the second edition of the book. Now I can focus on that final edit without adding anything else in.
Within this process I also have to figure out how to use Adobe Acrobat well enough to make the e-book work properly. I have to add links so you will be able to jump from one place to another and find what you need when you need to find it. That takes time. I have to figure out how in the world to create a cover for it, too. At this point I'm about ready to go without a professional cover but I'm still thinking through that whole process.
What else held up production? There were a couple of things. First of all, I work full time. That's a real time thief. Then, about two months ago I realized I want to work full time at home, for me, not in someone else's office, for someone else, so I dove into creating my Virtual Assistant (VA) business with a vengeance. The e-book has taken a back seat ever since. Today, as I was carrying in my groceries (more about that in the next post) I thought, "Why in the world haven't I finished my e-book?"
So, here I am, starting a blog because I have so much to tell you that I can't put in the book if I ever plan to finish it. Goodness knows, with the price of gasoline going up the way it is, we have to save money somewhere. On a side note (I do side notes a lot), I stopped at the gas station on my way to the grocery store. It cost over $31 to fill the tank of my economy car. For crying out loud, it only has a 12-gallon tank! So, if it's costing me that much I can't even imagine what people are paying who have trucks and big cars. Actually, I could figure it out but I don't even want to go there. I comforted myself by remembering that folks in the UK are paying somewhere in the neighborhood of $8 (US) for a gallon of gas so paying less than $3 is still a bargain when I think globally. I was much cheered when my groceries cost just over half what I spent on gasoline.
Back to the subject. So, here I am. Here's the blog. I'll share more about me, my e-book, groceries, and life in general in future posts. I'll keep you apprised of the book's progress. I may even give you a snippet or two from the book so you can see some of what you will get when it finally arrives in a few months.
I look forward to hearing from you. You can comment here or feel free to send me an email any time at Cynthia@AbundantlyFrugal.com. I love to hear from people--let me know what you think should be included in a book entitled Cut Your Grocery Bills in Half. If it's not already there and I have the answer I'll incorporate it here and give you credit for the suggestion both in the blog and in the second edition. Once the book is out I'll spend more time finding great links to give you even more benefit in the savings arena.
Oh, I almost forgot! One of the things that slowed down production of the e-book is that I kept thinking of recipes I wanted to share. I finally cut off recipes in this book and have started working on the companion cookbook that will come out next year. It will be chock full of money-saving recipes as well as recipes that save a little less money but are dynamite dishes for entertaining or a special dinner for the family (I always feel virtuous spending $10 or $20 on a meal when I know it would have cost $50 or more in a restaurant). Anyway, it's going to be a fun book with at least as many anecdotes and tidbits as the first one. If you have a favorite money-saving recipe, feel free to send it to me (Cynthia@AbundantlyFrugal.com) I'll not only include it in the book but I'll include your name, anything you want to say about the recipe (where it came from, how you modify it to fit what's in the pantry, when you like to serve it, etc.) as well as a link to your web site if you have one and if it's rated G. I won't promote sites June Cleaver wouldn't promote (she's the mom on Leave it to Beaver, just in case you're too young to remember her by name).
Again, welcome, and come back soon--there will be much to share.
