Category: Blogging

New Year Blog Plans and Survey

Posted January 6, 2021 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Blogging, Holidays / 0 Comments

 

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So long, 2020! Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out! 😉

I’m SO psyched for the new year. After spending the past four years publishing two books, having two babies, and moving to a new house, 2020 was gonna be my “rest year.” Let’s all take a moment to have a hearty laugh over that one. 😂😂😂

 

New Year Blog Plans

This year, I’m committed to taking it easy. No big project plans (not right now, anyway). However, there is ONE thing I really want to make happen: the return of full menus on the blog! If you’re new around here, you may not know that I used to make a recipe every week (each Book of the Month got a 4-course meal). With all the big projects and life changes that came my way, I decided two years ago to reduce my blogging schedule to 1 recipe/month.

It was definitely the best decision at the time, but now it’s starting to feel limiting. Plus, doing a 4-month recipe series on fiction-inspired cookbooks showed me that I could definitely pull off 2 recipes/month without feeling too stressed.

So here’s my plan: a new recipe every 2 weeks, a new book every 2 months. Each book finishes with a 4-course meal just like it used to, but in 2 months instead of 1. This will give me a chance to return to the format I love while still taking it easy.

 

Survey

Although I have no huge project plans, I’ve got some ideas for smaller changes/additions I’d like to make to the blog. Some are ideas for non-recipe posts that might pop up intermittently when I have time; others are user tools I’d like to add, provided you guys think you’ll find them valuable. I’d love to get your input on the stuff I’m considering, so I’ve shared a survey below. Thank you in advance to everyone who chooses to participate. I love hearing your feedback!

 

Update to January Blog Plans

Posted December 26, 2019 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Blogging, Book of the Month Recipes, Holidays / 0 Comments

 

 

Hello, folks! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Just checking in to do a post-Christmas update to January blog plans, then I’m off to thoroughly enjoy a relaxing cup of tea and downtime with the kids. 😊

As many of you may recall, I’ve chosen Hans Christian Andersen as my next recipe inspiration, and I’m taking a poll to determine which of his stories I should make recipes for (you can vote here—poll closes January 1st!). I’ll make recipes for whichever 3 stories get the most votes, and I’ll post 1 recipe per month in January-March. Lots of you have been voting, which is amazing! Thank you! 😀

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On Advent and Hans Christian Andersen: My Plans for 2020

Posted December 1, 2019 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Blogging, Holidays / 0 Comments

 

 

Hello, folks! Happy 1st day of Advent. My manuscript deadline fast approaches (Jan. 1st—EEK!), so I’m taking a day to relax before crunch time begins in earnest. This morning I’m enjoying the first tea from the Adagio Teas Advent calendar I got for my birthday and basking in the calming glow of a candle I scent-mixed myself at RiverFront Candle Co. a couple months ago while visiting my sister. The candle is a mix of bourbon, burnt sugar, and leather, and I named it “Brûlée and Books.” ^.^ Here’s to one last quiet morning before I dive deep into book edits! * clinks glasses with you from across the internet *

In the spirit of a new season, I wanted to reflect on the year a bit, share blog plans for the future, and give you a chance to weigh in on my first few recipes of 2020.

With a new baby, new house, and another cookbook to finish, this year has been one of blessings and chaos. Although it was my original plan to go back to my old posting schedule next year (1 recipe/week), I think I really need to take a breather. I’ve decided to stick with the new 1 recipe/month schedule for 1 more year. Hopefully I’ll be able to go back to creating full menus after that (there are so many more I’d like to do!).

I also want to take next year to think about the future of the blog as a whole. With two small children and two books to promote, I don’t want to stretch myself too thin, but I also don’t want to abandon a blog that has been a vital creative outlet and skill builder for me for the past 6 years. This may mean changing the focus and format of the blog in the future, perhaps pivoting to focus on integrating cooking into homeschooling or experimenting with historical cooking techniques and ingredients in the modern home. I may create a survey about this next year to gauge your interest on different subjects. As much as I want to take the blog in a direction I’m passionate about, it’s also important to me create content that has value to you. After all, I’m not just talking to myself out here! 😉

But enough seriousness. It’s time for some fun stuff! Do you remember last January when I did a Grimm’s Fairy Tales menu and let everyone vote on which fairy tales to use? Next year, I’m doing it again, but this time with Hans Christian Andersen! I’ve posted a poll below (plus others on Twitter and Facebook) where you can vote on which Andersen tales you’d like to see me make recipes for. The polls will be up the entire month of December, and you can vote in each poll once, giving you a total of 3 votes. At the end of December, I will tally the votes and make recipes from the top 3 winners. Since I will continue posting once a month, the recipes will go up Jan-March.

Cast your vote, dear readers! May the best fairy tale win. 🙂

What Hans Christian Andersen story should I make a recipe for in 2020?
  • The Ugly Duckling 34%, 41 vote
    41 vote 34%
    41 vote - 34% of all votes
  • Thumbelina 14%, 17 votes
    17 votes 14%
    17 votes - 14% of all votes
  • The Little Mermaid 14%, 17 votes
    17 votes 14%
    17 votes - 14% of all votes
  • The Snow Queen 14%, 17 votes
    17 votes 14%
    17 votes - 14% of all votes
  • The Emperor's New Clothes 8%, 10 votes
    10 votes 8%
    10 votes - 8% of all votes
  • The Steadfast Tin Soldier 8%, 9 votes
    9 votes 8%
    9 votes - 8% of all votes
  • The Red Shoes 7%, 8 votes
    8 votes 7%
    8 votes - 7% of all votes
Total Votes: 119
Voters: 81
December 1, 2019 - January 1, 2020
Voting is closed

NOTES:
- It is possible to vote for multiples (but no more than 3).
- If you decide to add a new fairy tale to the list, be sure it's from Andersen and not Brother's Grimm.
- If you change your mind, don't worry! The poll is set up so you can change your vote if you want.

 

Christmas News & Life Updates: Goodreads Awards and Jan. 2019 Blog Schedule

Posted December 22, 2018 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Blogging, Book Events and Tours, Holidays / 0 Comments

 

Christmas Tree With Baubles

 

Merry Almost Christmas, everybody! Today I’m putting the finishing touches on gifts and getting ready to hunker down for the last remaining weeks before we bring the Little Miss into the world. In the meantime, I’ve got some exciting life updates to share with you guys:
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THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS

As many of you may remember, my cookbook A Literary Tea Party was nominated in the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards. The winners were announced at the beginning of the month, and I’m thrilled to say I placed 4th in my category! 😀 There was some tough competition—including cookbooks from Ina Garten, Bobby Flay, and Giada De Laurentiis—so getting 4th place was really exciting for me. I flailed about it on social media quite a bit, but this is the first chance I’ve had to announce it on the blog. Thank you SO much to everyone who voted! 🙂

Pssst! If you’re looking for a last minute Christmas gift, you can still get my book before Christmas if you order through Amazon!
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NEXT YEAR’S BLOG SCHEDULE

In my pregnancy announcement post, I mentioned plans to approach next year in 3 phases: hiatus, 2 posts per month, then back to full schedule by the end of the year. I recently had a big blog-related project come up that I need to start working on ASAP, so the plan has changed some. I can’t give full details about the project yet since it’s not officially official, but I should be able to shower you all with the awesome news by early spring. 🙂

As for 2019 blog plans, I’ll still be on postpartum hiatus for January-March. I scheduled some past posts to republish on Thursdays so it won’t be a total dead zone around here, but I don’t know how often I’ll reply to comments and such. After March, my plan is to do 1 post per month for the rest of the year. With 2 kids under 3 years at home, I’m gonna need the extra time for Operation Super Secret Project! 😉

There’s a silver lining, though: you guys get to pick what I make for the monthly posts! If there’s a food you’ve always wanted to see featured on the blog, shoot me an email through the Chat with the Chef page! It can be a specific literary recipe (like, say, the Queen’s tarts from Alice in Wonderland), or if you want to see a certain book featured but don’t care which food I pick, you can tell me about that too.

And you can start sending your requests now! I want to build up as many ideas as possible before March so I have the option to work ahead (and time to read the book, if it’s one I haven’t read). So if you’ve already got something in mind, send it my way! 😀

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That’s all from me for now!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everybody!

Goodreads Choice Awards and Cookbook Events: Latest Updates

Posted November 14, 2018 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Blogging, Book Events and Tours / 0 Comments

 

 

Hi, everybody! I’m back again with more updates regarding my cookbook, A Literary Tea Party!

  • The final round of the Goodreads Choice Awards started yesterday…and I’m thrilled to say I MADE IT!!! 😀 😀 😀 Many thanks to those of you who have voted so far, and thanks again for your continued support. Since this is the final round, voting is open a little longer this time: until Nov. 26th. Goodreads will announce the winners on Dec. 4th. You can cast your vote for my book, A LITERARY TEA PARTY, in the Food & Cookbooks category here. Here’s hoping for a win, but no matter what happens, I’m just excited to have made it this far! 🙂
  • I also have an update on the book signing scheduled for this weekend. Prairie Fox Books in Ottawa, IL, the store that planned to host the event, unfortunately had to cancel due to store renovations being behind schedule. Normally I’d just reschedule for a bit later, but with my baby due January 3rd, that wasn’t really an option for me. I’m really bummed, guys! 🙁 I was SO looking forward to meeting lots of you at the event and bringing treats to share…but don’t worry, all is not lost! My late spring/early summer cooking demo at the same location is set to proceed on schedule. Yay for silver linings!

 

See you all back here tomorrow for our next recipe!
Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a Goodreads win! 😉

 

The Goodreads Choice Awards: Voting Continues!

Posted November 7, 2018 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Blogging, Book Events and Tours / 1 Comment

 

 

Hi, everybody! I took the Little Mister with me to vote in the midterms yesterday, and I gotta say he was a total champ (the free baggies of candy they were giving out to “future voters” helped too 😉 ). But now I’m ready for some FUN voting. Luckily for me, the second round of the Goodreads Choice Awards has officially begun! And my book, A LITERARY TEA PARTY, is in the semifinals! ???

Many thanks to those who voted in the opening round, and thanks again for your continued support. Voting for this round is open until November 11th. You can cast your vote here. Ten books will be eliminated in this round, so competition is fierce!

 

Here’s hoping we make it to the finals!

 

More Big Exciting News!

Posted September 25, 2018 by Alison's Wonderland Recipes in Blogging, Uncategorized / 8 Comments

 

 

I’ve hinted a few times over the past several months about some big news I wanted to share. It’s been hard to keep it a secret, since it’s been a major contributing factor to my difficulty with keeping up on blog stuff, but I wanted to wait until the time was right to spill the beans. That time has finally come, so here’s my big announcement:

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