Crown Publishing

Ask the Jewelry Experts: What inspired you to begin designing jewelry?

cgorga — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:45 +0000

Every creative entrepreneur has to start somewhere, and successful jewelry designers and authors Nancy Alden, Stephanie Wells, and Scott David Plumlee are no exception. Before they became known for founding multi-million-dollar jewelry businesses, adorning celebrities, and teaching sold-out workshops, how did some of our favorite jewelry experts learn their skills and start designing? Their answers might surprise you as these experts take us around the world, from Egypt to the Caribbean, and look back on the beginnings of their jewelry-making journeys.

NANCY ALDEN, author of Simply Gemstones, Simply Pearls, and Simply Stunning Jewelry:
I apprenticed to a leading American jeweler when I was seventeen years old and worked primarily with sterling silver and gold. I started doing more beadwork after the Hunt brothers tried to corner the silver market, and silver went from about $5 to nearly $50 per ounce in a very short period of time. At that time, I was also living in the West Indies, and in that warm weather, it seemed more natural to wear beaded jewelry rather than metals.

STEPHANIE WELLS, author of The Earring Style Book:
I started creating jewelry about eleven years ago, when I was designing and manufacturing yoga clothing. I was also newly engaged, and for a pre-honeymoon, my fiancé (now husband) and I went on vacation to the Sinai Desert in Egypt. We were staying with a Bedouin tribe and were constantly getting hustled by very clever, adorable 8-year-old Bedouin girls, who would challenge us to games of backgammon. If they lost, they would give us a free piece of jewelry they were trying to sell. If we lost, we had to buy one from them. Needless to say, we lost every time and wound up with about five seed bead necklaces.

Back in the U.S., I wore one of the necklaces as a belly necklace while selling my yoga wear, and I immediately sold it for about $45. I realized I could make necklaces similar to the Egyptian ones and sell them along with my clothing. With the money from my first sale, I went to a bead store, where I felt as if I had been transported into a magical land of color, shape, and beauty. I bought some beads, learned about crimp beads and clasps from the woman behind the counter, and have been communicating my ideas through wire and stone ever since.

SCOTT DAVID PLUMLEEM, author of Handcrafting Chain and Bead Jewelry, Chain and Bead Jewelry Geometric Connections, and Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections:
In 1995, I was working on a BFA degree in ceramic pottery at the Appalachian Center for Crafts in Tennessee. After taking an intro course to metal jewelry, I was hooked on sterling silver as a medium and never looked back. When I finally discovered the proper-sized jump ring to assemble a Byzantine chain, I realized that I had stumbled across the perfect mobile craft.

Abandoning the fluorescent lights and hum of the jewelry studio, I would wander into the forest to sit under a tree and enjoy the quiet, meditative process of assembling a chain with a pair of pliers, without any need for electricity, a hot torch, or a structured studio setting.

I dropped out of college and backpacked around the Americas, working on cruise ships and private yachts as a chef, and, with this portable craft, I assembled silver Byzantine chain bracelets to bribe border guards, barter for anchorage fees, and charm a few pretty ladies. I visited every Caribbean and Pacific beach along the way. Swaying in a hammock through the midday heat, looping link upon link, I made bracelets that were often claimed before they were even finished.

Afterwards, the New Psychological Thriller by Rosamund Lupton

kwalton — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:43:46 +0000

Rosamund Lupton’s thriller debut Sister was a huge RIFer favorite, and Read It Forward is delighted to share her highly anticipated follow-up, Afterwards.

The New York Times compared Rosamund Lupton to Kate Atkinson, Patricia Highsmith, and Ruth Rendell, calling Sister “both tear-jerking and spine-tingling.”

But don’t just take the New York Times’ word for it! We all know that a recommendation from a friend is the best way to find a great new read.

Your fellow RIFers are smart, voracious readers like you, and they have great things to say about Sister.

Read an excerpt and check out these great RIFer Reader Reviews of Sister by Rosamund Lupton!

ROSAMUND LUPTON ’s bestselling debut novel, Sister, is now available in paperback. Her highly anticipated follow-up, Afterwards, will be in book stores everywhere on April 24, 2012. She lives in London with her husband, two children and Tango, a large ginger cat.

Visit Rosamund on RosamundLupton.com and learn about her top 10 favorite books.

We’re giving away copies of Afterwards well in advance of its April 24, 2012 release, which means you could be among the very first readers in the U.S. to enjoy this thrilling story. As always, fill out the form below to enter for your chance to win a copy. Here’s what’s in store if you’re a lucky Read It First winner of Afterwards:

There is a fire and they are in there. They are in there.

Black smoke stains a summer blue sky. A school is on fire. One mother, Grace, sees the smoke and runs. She knows her teenage daughter, Jenny is inside. She runs into the burning building to rescue her.

Afterwards, Grace must find the identity of the arsonist and protect her children from the person who’s still intent on destroying them. Afterwards, she must fight the limits of her physical strength and discover the limitlessness of love.

But wait, there’s more! If you’ve ever received a book from Read It Forward, we want to hear from you!

We’re gathering SuperRIFers – Read It Forward “superfans” who Read It First and Pass It On. SuperRIFers love to read and share what they read online.

To thank you lovely big-mouthed members of our community, we’re giving SuperRIFers automatic advance access to some of our most popular books. That means more great reads, more often, shipped for free right to your door!

Become a SuperRIFer! Here’s how it works:

1. Write a 250-500 word review of a book you received from Read It Forward.

2. Post your review on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or Goodreads.com.

3. Email us a link to your review, a photo of you, and a 50-word bio to readitforward@randomhouse.com with the subject line “I’m a SuperRIFer.”

Note: entries missing a link to a posted review, a photo, or a bio will not be eligible, so please make sure you submit everything. We will confirm your SuperRIFer status via email and will let you know what fabulous book we’re sending you, with our thanks! We can’t wait to hear from you.

RIFer Reader Reviews: Sister by Rosamund Lupton

kwalton — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:48:06 +0000

Rosamund Lupton’s bestselling thriller Sister was a huge hit among RIFers, and we’re delighted to share her new novel, Afterwards, with you. Visit our Read It First post on Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton and enter for your chance to win a copy of this highly anticipated follow-up. Be among the first to read Afterwards well before it lands in book stores on April 24, 2012.

Sister was an instant bestseller in the U.K. and quickly climbed the bestseller lists in the U.S. as well. The New York Times compared Rosamund Lupton to Kate Atkinson, Patricia Highsmith, and Ruth Rendell, and called Sister “both tear-jerking and spine-tingling.”

But don’t just take the New York Times’ word for it! We all know that a recommendation from a friend is the best way to find a great new read. Your fellow RIFers are smart, voracious readers like you, and they have great things to say about Sister. Here are some excerpts of just a few of the amazing reviews RIFers shared with us (click the RIFer’s name to read the full review).

“The love between Beatrice and Tess is so tangible. Sister had me guessing until the end. -Tammy H

“A deeply affecting and well-written tale that takes the reader step by step through one sister’s journey to find the truth and to find forgiveness. -LA Musing

“I admire the love between Beatrice and Tess as much as I do Lupton’s ability to convey it through her writing.” -Sylvia

“Written in the form of a letter to the narrator’s missing sister, Rosamund Lupton’s debut novel Sister is wonderfully written and very captivating. It works remarkably well on two separate levels. On the one hand, the book is a solid, fascinating thriller which kept me hooked as I tried to unearth the mystery. On the other, it is a beautiful, touching account of loss and the bonds of sisterhood and family.” -Betty-Anne

“This book was a fantastic read: well-written and suspenseful. It was hard to put down. The main characters were so well-developed that they made you care about them.” -Anne M

“What a powerful story of the bonds of sisterhood!” -Jennifer B

“Full of suspense: yes. Compelling: yes. And when I thought I had figured out the ‘twist,’ it twisted one last time and left me with my mouth hanging open and tears running down my cheeks. Nicely done indeed.” -Tina W

“Really didn’t want it to end and was twisted up in it as others have stated! Passed it on to two friends after I finished, and they loved reading it also.” -Barbara P

Sister by Rosamund Lupton – Excerpt

ROSAMUND LUPTON read English Literature at Cambridge University. After a variety of jobs in London, including copywriting and reviewing for the Literary Review, she was a winner of Carlton Television’s new writers’ competition and was selected by the BBC for a place on their new writers’ course. She was also invited to join the Royal Court Theatre’s writers group. Before becoming a novelist, she was a script-writer for television and film, writing original screenplays. Her debut novel, Sister, is now available in paperback. The highly anticipated follow-up, Afterwards, will be in book stores everywhere on April 24, 2012. She lives in London with her husband, two children and Tango, a large ginger cat.

Visit Rosamund on RosamundLupton.com and learn about her top 10 favorite books.

Ask the Experts: Advice for Aspiring Knitwear Designers

cgorga — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:55 +0000

Are you thinking about taking the leap from following patterns to designing your own? Some of the best-known knitting and crochet insiders share their thoughts and best tips for young designers on breaking into the business, improving your skills, and finding inspiration.

LILY CHIN, author of Lily Chin’s Knitting Tips and Tricks and Lily Chin’s Crochet Tips and Tricks:
Educate yourself not only in the specific crafts of knitting and crochet but also in art, color, and visual language. Continuing adult education is so important, and many fashion and art schools have night classes. You can also take valuable classes at conferences such as Stitches or the Knit and Crochet Show.

JIL EATON, author of Jil Eaton’s Knitting School:
The best way to break into designing is to submit designs to all the fabulous knitting magazines we have today. Vogue Knitting, Knit Simple, Interweave Knits and Knitter’s Magazine are the perfect places to start.

SALLY MELVILLE, author of Warm Knits, Cool Gifts and Mother-Daughter Knits:
Knit what you wear or what the people around you are wearing. That often means designing simple garments, but simple garments teach us the skills of drafting, finishing, and writing that serve us well when we move on to more complex stuff.

LORNA MISER, author of The Knitter’s Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn and Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting:
Go to a wholesale trade show, such as TNNA (The National NeedleArts Association) show. There is nothing as inspiring as a trade show with professional designers, publishers, editors, and yarn companies to help you dive into that world.

Publish something in a magazine or book, or through a yarn company. The experience will help you hone your skills and learn how the business, with real tech-editors and test knitters work. It’s important to understand the standards of the “real world.”

WENDY D. JOHNSON, author of Wendy Knits Lace, Socks from the Toe Up, and Toe-Up Socks for Every Body:
Open your mind—you never know what might inspire a new design. Some of my designs are the results of simply doodling on graph paper, while others are created because I perceive a need. I derive inspiration from many sources: nature, people-watching, music, and even tangles of wires under my desk. View the world as a source of potential knitting patterns and you’ll be surprised how many jump out at you from everyday life.

CLARA PARKES, author of The Knitter’s Book of Socks, The Knitter’s Book of Wool, and The Knitter’s Book of Yarn:
Cultivate swatching as a daily meditation. Pick a different yarn every morning and take it for a stroll through your favorite stitch dictionaries. Clear your mind of any preconceived notions about what you should do with the yarn, and by all means let go of any pressure to produce a brilliant design right off the bat. Give yourself permission to relax and doodle for a while. The more you do this, the happier and more confident a designer you’ll become.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

kwalton — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:24:44 +0000

Fans of The Art of Racing in the Rain, get ready for a memoir that Garth Stein calls “stunning . . . an incredible journey, both inward and outward.” Many other bestselling authors have great things to say about Cheryl Strayed’s memoir Wild, praising its unflinching portrayal of a truly remarkable journey.

Read It Forward favorite Pam Houston, author of Contents May Have Shifted and Cowboys Are My Weakness, says Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail “is a big, brave, break-your-heart-and-put-it-back-together-again kind of book. Cheryl Strayed is a courageous, gritty, and deceptively elegant writer. She walked the Pacific Crest Trail to find forgiveness, came back with generosity – and now she shares her reward with us. I snorted with laughter, I wept uncontrollably; I don’t even want to know the person who isn’t going to love Wild. This is a beautifully made, utterly realized book.”

Hope Edelman, author of Motherless Daughters, says “Cheryl Strayed is one of the most exciting writers I’ve come across in a long time.” Ann Hood, author of The Knitting Circle, calls Wild “unforgettable.” And Mira Bartók, author of The Memory Palace, says that Cheryl Strayed “reminds us, in her lyrical and courageous memoir Wild, of what it means to be fully alive, even in the face of catastrophe, physical and psychic hardship, and loss.”

Wild is a powerful, blazingly honest memoir: the story of an eleven-hundred-mile solo hike that broke down a young woman reeling from catastrophe – and built her back up again.

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life: to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State – and to do it alone. She had no experience as a long-distance hiker, and the trail was little more than “an idea, vague and outlandish and full of promise.” But it was a promise of piecing back together a life that had come undone.

Strayed faces down rattlesnakes and black bears, intense heat and record snowfalls, and both the beauty and loneliness of the trail. Told with great suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild vividly captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

CHERYL STRAYED is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Torch. Her stories and essays have been published in The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, Allure, The Rumpus, The Missouri Review, The Sun, The Best American Essays, and elsewhere. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Wild is published by Knopf and will be available wherever books are sold on March 20, 2012.

Visit Cheryl online at CherylStrayed.com, on Facebook, Twitter @CherylStrayed, and Goodreads. A perfect selection for your book group – download the reader’s guide for Cheryl Strayed’s memoir Wild.

RIFer fans of memoir! What’s your very favorite memoir, and why? We want to hear from you – leave a comment!

Runes Foretell the Future by Margaret Shepherd, Author of Learn World Calligraphy

cgorga — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:00:28 +0000

Runes in northern Europe and Britain were the key to understanding long before the Roman alphabet ever arrived. These letters made of straight lines have their own air of mystery, which is still evoked today by divining the future from a few runes. Used by everyone from the Druids of early England to the Dwarves of Middle Earth, runes breathe magic that you can enjoy.

Consulting the rune stones is like reading tarot cards. Several traditional systems advise you how to reach in, how to cast the stone or stones, and how to interpret them. People draw out one, three, nine, or a handful; experts disagree about whether the set of some two dozen should include one blank stone.

To inspire letter artists, Margaret Shepherd created the set of rune stones shown in the third chapter of her new book, Learn World Calligraphy. The steps given here show how to make your own stones.

Materials:
• Clay, gingerbread dough, or polymer clay
• Blunt scriber, such as a fork tine or an old ball-point pen
• Cloth at least 8” x 20” (10 cm x 50 cm)
• Drawstring cord at least 20” (50 cm)
• Optional: thinline paint marker

Rune stones:

• Roll out a slab about ½“ thick. Cut it into little rectangular tiles about 1” x 1 ½” (3 x 4 cm, or about as big as the end of your thumb).
• Scribe each tile with a different character from the chart given here.
• If you want extra contrast, press a tiny thread of clay into the groove before baking.
• Bake the tiles or let them harden. If you want more contrast after baking, darken or lighten the groove with paint. A thin-line paint marker lets you add a solid color or gold.

Bag:

• Use a piece of soft material at least 8” x 16”. (20 x 40 cm)
• Double it inside out and sew along two of the three two open sides.
• Fold over 1” (2.5 cm) along the last open edge and sew it down to make a channel for the drawstring, finishing by hand to leave an opening for the drawstring. (diagram)

Put the rune stones in the bag, draw out one, three, or seven, and see your future more clearly. The chart above provides some simple interpretations to start you off.

-Margaret Shepherd

Press Release: One Girl Cookies by Dawn Casale & David Crofton

sboyles — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:18:38 +0000



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jill Browning/Clarkson Potter Publicity

212-572-6182/jibrowning@randomhouse.com

“In your hands you hold our story and all of the yummy things that have filled our life and many others lives with delight. Hopefully, as you turn the pages and make the recipes, you will be reminded of your own sweet, lucky story as well.” —From the Introduction to One Girl Cookies

ONE GIRL COOKIES

Recipes for Cakes, Cupcakes, Whoopie Pies, and Cookies from Brooklyn’s Beloved Bakery

By Dawn Casale & David Crofton

The One Girl Cookies bakery in Brooklyn, NY, started as just that: one girl making cookies. Dawn Casale left her job as an accessories manager at Barneys New York to dive into the sweeter side of life—and her beautifully made seasonal cookie collections were an instant hit. ONE GIRL COOKIES: Recipes for Cakes, Cupcakes, Whoopie Pies, and Cookies from Brooklyn’s Beloved Bakery (Clarkson Potter; on sale January 10, 2012) shares the delectable treats from this beloved Brooklyn bakery with a devoted following.

Perfect for dessert lovers looking for something unique, ONE GIRL COOKIES showcases not only delicious heirloom recipes and family stories—many passed down for generations—but also incorporates new sweets with fresh, seasonal flavors. Many cookies are named for someone special: Lucia (Espresso Caramel Squares with White & Dark Chocolate Swirl) is in honor of Dawn’s beloved great grandmother; and Lana (Bittersweet Chocolate Sandwiches Filled with Raspberry Preserves) is named after Dawn’s favorite teacher, who was a little bitter but mostly sweet. Dawn’s family life and bakery are inseparable; it is only fitting that when she hired David Crofton, a professional baker, to help expand the business, she found the love of her life—a sweet side story in this charming book.

Together in ONE GIRL COOKIES, Dawn and Dave share the shop’s most popular recipes, including:

COMFORT COOKIES: Old-Fashioned Graham Crackers with Turbinado Sugar; Orange Butter Drops with Shredded Coconut; Buttermilk Tea Cookies with Lemon Glaze & Poppy Seeds; Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies; Raspberry Coconut Oat Bars

PARTY GIRL COOKIES: Espresso Caramel Squares with White & Dark Chocolate Swirl; Apricot Jam-Filled Almond Butter Cookies; Winter Spice Cookies Sandwiches with Orange Cream; Lemon, Olive Oil, & Almond Biscotti; Honey-Nut Bars on an Almond Crust

CAKES: Classic Angel Food Cake with Passion Fruit Drizzle; Meyer Lemon Layer Cake with Lemon Curd, Lemon Buttercream, & Flaked Coconut; Southern Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting; Rich Chocolate Cake with Salty Dulce de Leche & Hazelnut Brittle

WHOOPIE PIES & CUPCAKES: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple Spice Filling; Chocolate Whoopie Pies with Peppermint Filling; The Best Vanilla Cupcakes with Mocha Buttercream

PIES & TARTS: New York State Maple Pecan Pie; Fresh Pumpkin Pie with Salty Roasted Pepitas; Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with Spiced Oat Crumble; Apricot, Honey, & Pistachio Tart; Rosemary Pear Tart with Almond Crust

Known for their beautiful, personal gift packaging incorporating old family photos and grosgrain ribbon, Dawn and Dave also give tips and ideas for making and wrapping custom presents for any occasion. With 70 mouthwatering recipes and 50 color photographs, ONE GIRL COOKIES will become a cherished addition to every passionate baker’s kitchen.

# # #

DAWN CASALE and DAVID CROFTON are the owners of One Girl Cookies bakery in Brooklyn, New York, which has been featured in the New York Times, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Real Simple, among other publications. They live in Brooklyn with their son, Nate. They are planning to open a second location of One Girl Cookies in Brooklyn in early 2012. For more information, visit them at www.onegirlcookies.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

ONE GIRL COOKIES

Recipes for Cakes, Cupcakes, Whoopie Pies, and Cookies from Brooklyn’s Beloved Bakery

By Dawn Casale & David Crofton

Clarkson Potter/Publishers

On Sale January 10, 2011 • ISBN 978-0-307-72048-1 • Price: $22.50

Also available as an eBook

For more information on the book, please contact:

Jill Browning, Clarkson Potter Publicity, at 212-572-6182 or jibrowning@randomhouse.com.

www.OneGirlCookies.com

Press Release: The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needleman

sboyles — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:03:33 +0000



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jill Browning/Clarkson Potter Publicity

212-572-6182/jibrowning@randomhouse.com

“Decoration can be life-enhancing. It can make dinner parties more fun, kids happier, relaxing easier, talks more intimate, guests at ease. And to think decorating is often considered frivolous. Making a charmed and happy home is a noble endeavor!” —Deborah Needleman, from the Introduction

THE PERFECTLY IMPERFECT HOME

How to Decorate & Live Well

By Deborah Needleman

Illustrations by Virginia Johnson

Deborah Needleman, editor in chief of WSJ. Magazine and founding editor and creative mastermind behind domino magazine, is a renowned expert on style and design. She has seen all kinds of homes—from the grandest to the coziest—and believes that the most stylish ones are just as comfortable as they are beautiful.

Now, in THE PERFECTLY IMPERFECT HOME: How to Decorate & Live Well (Clarkson Potter; on sale November 1, 2011), Deborah highlights the 80 essentials everyone needs to create a well-loved, truly lived-in home. Deborah’s unique approach focuses not on the things themselves or what they look like, but on how they contribute to our happiness. And the good news: it only takes a few well-considered items to change the feel of a space. All of the essentials are brought to vibrant life through Deborah’s witty, informative descriptions and through famed illustrator and textile designer Virginia Johnson’s gorgeous and playful watercolor images—commissioned just for this book.

Featuring a mix of inspiring spaces from world-famous tastemakers (Yves Saint Laurent, Brooke Astor, Kate and Andy Spade) and interior designers and friends (Jacques Grange, John Stefanidis, Albert Hadley, Rita Konig, Miles Redd, David Netto), THE PERFECTLY IMPERFECT HOME shows how to add style, expression, and beauty to your home, and to make everyone in it feel glamorous, relaxed, and well-cared for.

Some featured chapters include:

PLACES FOR CHATTING: Here Deborah explains how to choose furniture—from cozy armchairs and upright chairs to inviting sofas and stools and benches—that will make everyone feel relaxed and welcome.

A BIT OF QUIRK: All homes need a little quirkiness to show that you don’t take decorating (or yourself!) too seriously. This chapter covers irreverent and unexpected decorating items like accidental furniture and pictures by children.

COZIFICATIONS: Deborah highlights the need for rugs, textiles, pattern, even a bit of ugly color—all of which add dimension to a room and contribute to a cozy, warm, and welcoming living space!

A DOTED-ON BEDROOM: The bedroom should be the most comfortable, welcoming, and indulgent room in the house. A big bed, excellent linens, pillows, and a bedside command table are all integral to a doted-on bedroom.

A SENSE OF HISTORY: In this chapter, Deborah discusses decorating with sentimental objects from your life and treasures from diverse cultures, traditions, and periods, such as ethnic textiles, pottery, crafts, antiques, and faded rugs.

Styling tips and simple how-tos help you put these pieces together, from creating vignettes on a side table to arranging furniture to mixing textile patterns, and an extensive resource list reveals Deborah’s favorite sources for items large and small.

According to Deborah, the point of decorating is to create the background for the best life you can have. And the key is to understand that every home is a work in progress—and that imperfection is not only liberating, but essential for real style and a well-loved home.

# # #

DEBORAH NEEDLEMAN is the editor in chief of WSJ. Magazine and creator of the Off Duty section of the Wall Street Journal. She was the founding editor in chief of domino magazine and coauthored domino: the book of decorating. Deborah was named a “Top Talent to Watch” by Women’s Wear Daily, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times and Slate.

VIRGINIA JOHNSON’s illustrations have appeared in a series of books by Kate Spade and on her own textiles carried in more than 100 stores, including Anthropologie, Barneys, Liberty of London, and Net-A-Porter.

ABOUT THE BOOK

THE PERFECTLY IMPERFECT HOME: How to Decorate & Live Well

By Deborah Needleman; Illustrations by Virginia Johnson

Clarkson Potter/Publishers

On Sale November 1, 2011 • ISBN 978-0-307-72013-9 • Price: $30

For more information on the book, please contact:

Jill Browning, Clarkson Potter Publicity, at 212-572-6182 or jibrowning@randomhouse.com.

Press Release: Mexican Made Easy by Marcela Valladolid

sboyles — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:38:15 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                                                                                          Contact:

Jill Browning/Clarkson Potter Publicity

                                  212-572-6182/jibrowning@randomhouse.com

Caroline Bubnis/The Door Marketing Group

646-340-1769/caroline@thedooronline.com

“When it comes to authentic Mexican cuisine, Marcela Valladolid is the real deal. Her flavors will tantalize you. Her techniques will put you at ease.” —Bobby Flay

MEXICAN MADE EASY

Everyday Ingredients,

Extraordinary Flavor

Marcela Valladolid

On her popular Food Network show, Mexican Made Easy, Marcela Valladolid shows how simple it is to create beautiful dishes bursting with bright Mexican flavors. Now, Marcela shares the fantastic recipes her fans have been clamoring for in MEXICAN MADE EASY: Everyday Ingredients, Extraordinary Flavor (Clarkson Potter; on sale September 27, 2011).

A single mom charged with getting dinner on the table nightly for her young son, Fausto, Marcela embraces dishes that are fun and fast—and made with fresh ingredients found in the average American supermarket. In MEXICAN MADE EASY, she shares the tricks and stories that comprise her cooking life, from making homemade flour tortillas (not as hard as you might think!) to reinventing one meal’s leftovers into a new creation for your next meal (yesterday’s roast chicken becomes tomorrow’s flautas!).

Some featured recipes in MEXICAN MADE EASY include:

APPETIZERS AND SMALL BITES: Chipotle-Garbanzo Dip; Homemade Queso Fresco with Jalapeño and Cilantro; Shrimp and Avocado Salad; Chicken Flautas; Skirt Steak Quesadillas

TACOS AND TORTAS: Slow-Cooked Carnitas Tacos; Braised Marinated Skirt Steak Burritos; Pork and Salsa Tortas; Shredded Chicken in Peanut-Sauce Tacos; Carne Asada Cheese Tacos

ENTREÉS: Stuffed Poblanos with Walnut Sauce; Mexican Meatloaf with Salsa Glaze; Chicken in Easy Adobo; Cilantro Scallops; Garlicky Buttered Baja Shrimp; Sweet Ancho Chiles in Black Bean Salsa; Chiles Rellenos; Corn and Poblano Lasagne; Chipotle-Plum BBQ Ribs with Brussels Sprout Slaw

SIDES AND SALADS: Steak and Wilted Spinach Salad with Serrano-Mint Dressing; Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Tangerine-Rosemary Vinaigrette; Creamy Mexican Corn; Potato-Achiote Croquettes; Roasted Baby Red Potatoes with Chipotle Butter; Crimini Mushrooms Stuffed with Chard

DESSERTS: Coconut Flan; Mexican Chocolate Bread Pudding; Pineapple-Cajeta Empanadas; Bananas Tequila Foster; Strawberry Rompope Shake; Banana and Cajeta Layered Crepes

DRINKS: Cucumber Martini; Pineapple-Vanilla Agua Fresca; Mexican Hot Chocolate; Warm Winter Punch; Chia Lemonade; Citrus Spritzer

With 100 make-at-home recipes and 80 sumptuous color photographs, MEXICAN MADE EASY brings all of the energy and fresh flavors of Marcela’s popular show into your home. As Marcela implores in the Introduction, “Have fun! It is only food, after all, and it just needs to taste good to you and your family. So experiment, explore, and enjoy!”



# # #

MARCELA VALLADOLID is the host of Mexican Made Easy on Food Network. Raised in Tijuana, Mexico, she attended the Los Angeles Culinary Institute and then the Ritz Escoffier School in Paris before working at Bon Appétit magazine. Her first cookbook, Fresh Mexico, was published in 2009. She lives in San Diego with her son, Fausto. Her website is chefmarcela.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

MEXICAN MADE EASY

Everyday Ingredients, Extraordinary Flavor

By Marcela Valladolid

Clarkson Potter/Publishers

On Sale: September 27, 2011 • ISBN 978-0-307-88826-6 • Price: $27.50

For more information on the book and Marcela Valladolid, please contact:

Jill Browning at Clarkson Potter at 212-572-6182, jibrowning@randomhouse.com, or

Caroline Bubnis at The Door Marketing Group at 646-340-1769, caroline@thedooronline.com.

Press Release: Easy Growing by Gayla Trail

sboyles — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:58:18 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                                                                                          Contact: Anna Mintz

212.572.6186

amintz@randomhouse.com



Learn to grow herbs anywhere and use them every day

      with 10 DIY projects and over 45 recipes!



EASY GROWING

Organic Herbs and Edible Flowers

from Small Spaces

By Gayla Trail

For more than fifteen years, Gayla Trail, the gardening expert behind the wildly popular YouGrowGirl.com, has grown gorgeous produce on her rooftop and windowsills, and in a community garden in Toronto—and she was the first gardening blogger ever to write about doing so. In Easy Growing: Organic Herbs and Edible Flowers from Small Spaces (Clarkson Potter/Publishers; February 2012; $19.99), Gayla offers guidance on growing hundreds of herbs and edible flowers at home, placing special emphasis on organic gardening in small spaces.

Chock-full of in-depth advice and tons of tips and tricks for growing in pots and maximizing yield in cramped quarters, this book will help anyone make a beautiful garden that is also useful—as Gayla shows with 10 fabulous DIY projects and more than 45 wonderful recipes using the harvest. It’s every home cook’s dream: an impromptu caprese salad made with pungent basil leaves from the garden; fish cooked with lemon and fresh dill snipped from a window box; honey infused with rose petals from a potted plant growing outside the front door. Many herbs will grow just about anywhere and require much less coddling than vegetables. Gayla starts with the basics of creating a healthy herb garden, helps readers achieve their dream style (grow a garden by color, shape, or texture), and then walks readers through everything they need to know for dozens of specific plants from alliums to violas and violets.

In addition to the herb varieties commonly seen in the produce aisle, Easy Growing presents dozens of equally accessible but lesser known herbs and flowers, including unusual plants to pique the curiosity of more adventurous gardeners (such as ‘Cinnamon’ basil, lemon verbena, and Mojito mint). Gayla also offers lots of inspiring ways to enhance meals or to preserve the harvest for future use and includes a range of recipes throughout—from savory delights to sweet treats and tasty beverages (both alcoholic and not). Experiment with new recipes, such as:



Mint and White Wine Granita

Sorrel and Potato Soup

Ramekin Frittatas

Lavender Shortbread

Orange, Rosemary, and Honey Ice Cream

Homegrown Bloody Mary Mix

Not everyone has the space or sunlight to grow a big, juicy tomato, but with only a windowbox, some potting soil, a few good plants, and Gayla Trail’s guidance in Easy Growing, anyone can create a delicious and thriving herb garden to enliven meals at home.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GAYLA TRAIL is the creator of the YouGrowGirl.com, the hit community for enthusiastic gardeners, where she has spent over twelve years sharing her experiences growing food in difficult urban spaces. She is a regular contributor to magazines and frequently speaks on urban gardening, ecology, and community at major garden events. Her work as a writer and photographer has appeared in the New York Times; O, the Oprah Magazine; Newsweek; ReadyMade; Domino; Gardening Life; Los Angeles Times; and more. She is the author of Grow Great Grub and You Grow Girl.

EASY GROWING

Organic Herbs and Edible Flowers from Small Spaces

By Gayla Trail

Clarkson Potter/Publishers

February 7, 2012; $19.99; ISBN: 978-0-307-88687-3