I met Craig Fear in a business networking group, and after we became housemates, we also became great friends. While we no longer even live in the same state, we remain close. Craig was a skilled nutritional therapist when I met him, and he transitioned into food writing and blogging. He now has three cookbook titles to his name, the most recent being New England Soups from the Sea, published by Countryman Press. Craig is meticulous. His recipes are delicious and promote good health. I was pleased to be a taste tester for many of the recipes in the latest book. And while I did not help Craig with his manuscript, I did edit the impressive proposal that got him the agent who connected him with Countryman Press. In this first of two blogs, Craig talks about how he became an author, and he tells us about his new book. In the second blog, he also discusses the differences between self-publishing with Amazon and having a publisher now. (Food photos in this blog are by Lynne Graves.)

Craig Fear, food writer and cookbook author 

What is your background in the food industry?

I started out as a nutritional therapist and consulted with clients with digestive issues for many years. During that time, I created a blog and started writing about digestive health. This morphed into creating recipes, so I was doing both for a while. Then I wrote my first cookbook based on soups for digestive health issues. I started growing my blog audience and slowly transitioned into being a full-time food blogger, food writer, and cookbook author. I stopped meeting with clients several years ago. 

What inspired your writing and books?

One of the foods I promoted to my clients was bone broth, which has a lot of medicinal value for the gut and soothes the gut lining. That’s why our grandparents used to give us chicken soup when we were sick; it has a lot of immune-boosting qualities. I was seeing so much benefit when people would consume these broths that I decided to write a cookbook with some of my recipes. That was back in 2015. My first cookbook was called Fearless Broths and Soups. I didn’t think I was going to write another cookbook, but I traveled to Southeast Asia and fell in love with the cuisine. I had the chance to go back to Thailand a second time, and I studied the cuisine and then wrote The Thai Soup Secret. 

Tell us about your most recent cookbook. What does it offer in terms of recipes?

New England Soups from the Sea includes 80 seafood soup recipes. I decided to write it because, in almost any New England-area restaurant, if they serve seafood soups, 99 percent of them will only offer you New England clam chowder and lobster bisque. Those are delicious. I love them, and everybody loves them, but I knew just from growing up in the Northeast and living in New England and exploring New England cuisine, that there were a lot more worthy recipes. I wanted to bring back these old-school recipes and show people how much you can do with seafood. I’d say half the recipes are maybe old-school chowders and stews, but half are soups and stews I created and had fun with in my kitchen. I teach people how to make different stocks and broths with seafood that can be really creative and have fun. 

How did you develop the recipes in your book? How did you decide which recipes to use?

I researched existing soups, chowders, bisques, and stews and started testing those recipes in my kitchen, putting my own spin on them. I tested them. I also had people test them for me. I even had a few tasting parties where I would have people come over, and I would make anywhere from five to seven different types of soups. I asked for feedback on what they liked, didn’t like. Then eventually, I settled on 80 recipes. What is important to me in addition to the recipes is connecting people with local New England seafood. I want to encourage people to purchase seafood that is local to them. That’s kind of an important message in the book. It’s about soups and supporting seafood that is caught and raised the right way on a small-scale sustainable level. All around the country, we aren’t really buying local as much as we could be and should be. A lot of people are only aware of a handful of different species. Maybe four or five that they’re comfortable with. I wanted to show people that there is a lot more beyond, for example, shrimp, salmon, cod. 

How does your knowledge as a nutritional therapist enhance your books and the information you can offer readers/cooks?

I understand the nutritional difference between doing it yourself and buying store-bought brands. When you make broths yourself, you’re creating a superior product that is nutrient dense and flavorful. I took that knowledge into seafood, which is not as understood. Making fish stock is something I have been doing for years, but very few people do it at all. So I brought my own experience into the seafood realm. 

Next week: The pros and cons of self-publishing with Amazon versus publishing with a traditional publisher. 

The post Learning from a Cookbook Author who has Self-published with Amazon and Recently Published with Countryman Press appeared first on Beetle Press.

FLORENCE—John Sheirer of Florence, a prolific author of fiction and memoir, has published a new collection of linked short fiction, “Stumbling Through Adulthood,” and he will launch the book at Forbes Library in Northampton on Tuesday, August 10 at 6 p.m.

The rain date for the free and public event is Thursday, August 12, same time. 

“Stumbling Through Adulthood” carries the Janice Beetle Books imprint and is available on Amazon.

The book is a collection of stand-alone stories with characters who are linked, meaning they reappear like subtle surprises and rekindled connections. The book shines a light on Sheirer’s compassionate and often quirky characters and their intimate experiences, all with a backdrop that is clearly modern-day America and its recent, volatile culture.

Readers watch some protagonists grow through various stages of life and gain depth and texture as they age, mature, and adapt. The stories offer poignant moments, deft turns of phrase, and insight into the human mind and spirit, and they bring with them realism, failure and triumph in life, work, relationships, ethical conundrums, and politics.

Sheirer has taught writing and communications at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, Connecticut, for 28 years. He is also a longtime columnist for the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Learn more at JohnSheirer.com.

Sheirer is the author of dozens of titles that cross many genres. “Growing Up Mostly Normal in the Middle of Nowhere,” is John’s memoir on growing up in Central Pennsylvania on a farm. “Loop Year,” focuses on John’s experiences in hiking the same trail for an entire year, and he describes the work as an environmental and anthropological study. 

In his Gazette column, John writes about politics and framed three books around that theme, including 2020’s “Positively Toward the Negative,” a collection of his recent Gazette columns. The Libby books, for children and adults, include “I Like Sticks!” and “The Alpha Dog Alphabet.”

John’s recent fiction includes “Too Wild: Flash Fiction,” a collection of very short stories; “Uncorrected,” a short suspense novel on a prison escape; and “Fever Cabin,” the fictionalized journal of a man isolating himself during the pandemic.

Here’s what some early reviewers have had to say about Stumbling Through Adulthood:

“A clever, witty, and intoxicating collection that will leave readers staggering with delight,” Jacob M. Appel, author of “Einstein’s Beach House.”

“John Sheirer is a master storyteller,” Susanne Davis, author of “The Appointed Hour.”

“John Sheirer creates intense and masterful portraits of his widely varied characters’ deeply personal worlds,” Sherri VandenAkker, writer, director, producer of “My Name Was Bette: The Life and Death of an Alcoholic.”

The post Prolific Valley Author to Launch New Collection appeared first on Beetle Press.

My summer intern, Olivia Greeley, a student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, interviewed my friend and fellow author Judith Kelliher this week about the publication of Judy’s book, “A Wartime PhD: One soldier’s story of Vietnam and learning to live again.” The book tells the story of Judy’s brother Bobby’s two tours in Vietnam. The conversation between Olivia and Judy appears below.

Olivia: What was your original reasoning for wanting to share your brother’s story through this book? 

Judy: It started when my brother and I read the book “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption” by Laura Hillenbrand, which shares a soldier’s unbelievable story of survival. Ironically, at the time, I had no idea that Bobby and I were both reading it but as I read, I realized I had never had a conversation with my brother about his time as a soldier in the Vietnam War. He had served two terms when I was very young (around 8 years old), and it was never something my family talked about, because of how hard it was for Bobby. The book was really my inspiration to sit down and have that chat with my brother. Originally, it was going to be an interview that I would write up, with zero intention of sharing it to the public, but rather for Bobby to have for himself. It was after the conversation began that we both realized Bobby had a real story to share and one that could help a lot of people struggling the same way Bobby did after returning home. That was when I made the switch from the interview to writing my book. 

Olivia: Is “A Wartime PhD” like any other book that you’ve written before? 

Judy: Even though I’m a writer, this is actually my first book! My background is in journalism, so I am used to writing for newspapers. 

Olivia: What was the biggest difference between writing a book and writing for a newspaper? 

Judy: First of all, I was always used to interviewing strangers for my articles. This time I was interviewing and writing about my brother, someone I look up to very much. The other difference was that the writing style itself is very different. I was used to writing quick, punchy language that caught the reader’s attention right away. The biggest difference of all was how afraid I became almost halfway through my writing process. I was afraid that no one would want to read it and even worse, that I wouldn’t do my brother’s story justice. I had felt these fears before in past projects but nothing at this intensity. I started making up excuses to not write and kept pushing it off. It wasn’t until I attended the Women and the Art of Risk Conference in Holyoke with a few colleagues, that I had my writing epiphany. There was a panelist there that was sharing a story about a client she had who was a writer, but they had become so afraid of failing that they no longer wanted to continue. This story resonated with me immensely, so after, I spoke with the panelist and shared with her my similar thoughts and feelings. She said to me, “celebrate how far you’ve come and how much you have written, not that you have not finished.” That was the epiphany I needed to keep going. 

Olivia: What has it been like to have your book out in the world? 

Judy: It ended up taking six years to finish the book, mostly because of the fear I just talked about, so right now it feels very relieving. It’s wonderful to know that people struggling with PTSD, or any mental battle at all, can read this book now and feel that they can overcome this challenge with the help of family, friends, and professionals – there is redemption and they can come out on the other side, just like Bobby. Overall, after so long, it feels remarkable. 

Olivia: What is some feedback you’ve been receiving on “A Wartime PhD”? 

Judy: All of the feedback really has been positive. I’ve had so many people reach out via Facebook, text, email, and in person to give their congratulations and positive remarks. Bobby and I have even received hand-written notes in the mail! A common theme in the feedback I’ve received was that readers “read it in one or two sittings” or “I couldn’t put it down!” A lot of friends of Bobby’s said they were really surprised to hear his story. The best feedback came from some of the men that Bobby had served with. He was able to reconnect with them, and they loved the story! 

Olivia: Can you provide some statistics and numbers on your book sales and orders? 

Judy: I did an initial print run of 300 copies, which has already sold out, so we have since ordered a new print run of 200. With the second run, I hope to do more promotion to expand my audience even further. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we couldn’t do a book signing or reading, but hopefully we can do that soon, with the second run. 

Olivia: What are some media interviews you have done for the promotion of the book? Do you have any favorite quotes from those interviews and stories that have been written? 

Judy: I was recently interviewed with my brother for the Wilbraham Hampden Times. It was a lot of fun to do the interview with Bobby, and I really enjoyed how the article turned out. My favorite quote from the story was, “Perhaps worst of all was hearing his internal struggle dealing with the loss of two comrades to suicide and the fight against Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which went un-diagnosed until the mid-80s and nearly cost him his marriage and a relationship with his daughters.” The writer, Tyler Witkop, did a wonderful job sharing the most important aspect of the book, which is the harsh aftereffects of the war – he really got it! Bobby and I were also interviewed by MassLive. That article has yet to be published but we look forward to its release and getting to read it ourselves.  

Olivia: What would you recommend to other authors who feel nervous about publishing their stories? 

Judy: After my experience with fear and everything I’ve learned since, my biggest piece of advice would be to understand that the fear of failure is natural especially for first time authors. If an author feels passionate about their story and feel it would be something others could learn from and be interested in reading – go for it! Now that I’m on the other side and my book is out there, I am so grateful. It’s so worth it!

The post A Q & A with a New Author on Inspiration, Feedback appeared first on Beetle Press.

I’ve always wanted to be a full-time author. I also have developed a specialty over the past five years in working with people who have a long-held desire to write a book—to show it to others as a way to say, “This is my story.”

This work—and their stories—are meaningful to me. It all gives me deep satisfaction.

After I finished reading Big Magic and penning the Christmas book for my boyfriend, a series of revelations came to me like tiny seed pods blown my way in the wind. It went like this:

• You wrote a pretty decent memoir in 30 days, Janice. That means you could write another book, and it might also be pretty decent.
• There are a lot of other people out there who could use your help, a lot of passion stories waiting to be told and handed out by clients to their friends and family.
• You could create a second business around these ideas and start to nurture it with time and attention.

That’s how Janice Beetle Books LLC was born. This second business will allow me to focus on clients who have a book in their heads and hearts. At the same time, I will continue to support businesspeople and nonprofits who need to raise awareness through PR.

My friend and colleague Val Nelson is guiding me through the creation of Janice Beetle Books. Mark NeJame, a Northampton attorney who is also a friend and colleague, is launching the LLC. My daughter’s best friend Ali Winkler created the logo. And Danaë DiNicola of Turn Signal Media is designing the website, which will feature photos by Sandra Costello.

The growth is tangible. It fills me with as much anxiety and trepidation as it does excitement. Doubts try to nestle into my psyche, but they continue to get pushed away by these unmistakable signs I keep receiving from the universe:

• When I was locked out of a website I access frequently, I had to answer a security question I created over 10 years ago. “What did you want to be, as a child?” It asked me. I summoned the answer instantly: an author. An amazing reminder, validation.
• I’ve had four new client inquiries since I started moving in the direction of Janice Beetle Books. Each prospect wants help with a book.
• After I praised the magic of Big Magic on Facebook a few weeks ago, a reader and friend, Lynn Moynahan, responded with a suggestion for another book, Daring Greatly, by Brene Brown. It’s about vulnerability and the ways in which we hide our creativity because we are afraid. Brene is teaching me that it is courageous to move forward with this idea I believe in with my whole heart. It’s better to fail while reaching for a goal than to skitter away without trying.
• A few weeks ago, I was cleaning out a packed storage space in my basement, taking the time to go through each and every tote. In one, I found every journal I’ve ever kept and a folder full of typewritten pages. I took the folder upstairs and found a body of work that was important to me at one time that I thought I’d lost as well as three published works of fiction. I did not remember that my fiction was published once, never mind three times. The affirmation made me giddy.

You can’t make this stuff up.

Signs, signs. Everywhere signs. The universe has spoken.

Soon I will introduce you to Janice Beetle Books and all it has to offer. I will also continue to be here to offer PR consulting and assists with writing press releases, blogs, and enewsletters.  Let me know if I can help you with a project that’s connected to your work, or your passion—or both!

The post Following the signs to a second business appeared first on Beetle Press.

EAST LONGMEADOW—Glenmeadow will present “Writing Your Life: An Author’s Tips on Crafting a Memoir” on Tuesday, May 23 from 10 a.m.-noon.

Author John Sheirer will talk about his creative writing life and his work leading English and communications courses at Asnuntuck Community College, and he’ll read from his memoirs, Loop Year and Growing up Mostly Normal in the Middle of Nowhere. Sheirer will also offer participants guidance on writing a memoir and will lead them in a writing exercise or two, using prompts he developed on his own and features in his book What’s the Story?

Sheirer has taught at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, Connecticut, for 24 years. He is the author of a dozen books, including several works for children featuring his dog Libby.

The program will be offered by Glenmeadow at Bay Path University on its East Campus in the Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center, Room 222. The center is at 1 Denslow Road.

The program is free, but seating is limited, and registration is required; call (413) 567-7800 or email learning@glenmeadow.org. Visit glenmeadow.org/events for more information.

Glenmeadow Learning is one of many free programs Glenmeadow offers to members of the wider community. And these programs represent only one facet of the life plan community’s mission to serve seniors across the region and to operate as a socially accountable organization.

Established in 1884, Glenmeadow is a nonprofit, accredited continuing care retirement community; it provides independent and assisted living at its campus at 24 Tabor Crossing in Longmeadow and expanded Glenmeadow at Home services throughout greater Springfield.

To learn more about Glenmeadow and its history and offerings, visit www.glenmeadow.org.

About Glenmeadow

In the 1800s, elderly individuals without family or means were sent to live at what was called “the poor farm.”  In 1884, a group of civic leaders raised funds among themselves and other area families and purchased a house on Main Street in Springfield’s south end. Quickly outgrowing that house, land was purchased on the corner of Chestnut and Carew streets, where a new home was constructed and opened in 1900.  In 1960, the name was changed to Chestnut Knoll, and in 1992, it began to admit men.

In 1993, the organization purchased a 23-acre parcel in Longmeadow to build a new community that would provide both independent living and assisted living in one building with various common areas.  This was a new concept known as a continuing care retirement community.  Existing residents from the old Chestnut Knoll property were moved to the new campus in 1997.  Shortly after the move, the board voted to change its legal name to Glenmeadow to coincide with the name being used by the developer of the property.

The post Glenmeadow Learning Offers Author Talk on Crafting a Memoir appeared first on Beetle Press.

LONGMEADOW—Author Ariella Cohen will read from her novel Sweet Breath of Memory in Glenmeadow Retirement’s third program in the fall education series on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m. at Glenmeadow.

In the novel, Cate Saunders starts her life over in Amberley, Massachusetts, after losing her husband to the Iraq War. Life is a struggle, and Saunder’s new job as a caregiver doesn’t pay much, but the locals are welcoming. This debut adult novel celebrates that through the sharing of stories, even the most broken among us can be made whole.

Cohen is a graduate of Barnard College, Hebrew University and the University of Michigan Law School. She has also written a young adult novel.

This program is held as part of The Springfield Jewish Community Center’s Literatour program.

Glenmeadow Retirement is located at 24 Tabor Crossing.

The program is free, but seating is limited, and registration is required; call (413) 567-7800 or email learning@glenmeadow.org. Visit glenmeadow.org/learning for more information.

Established in 1884, Glenmeadow is a nonprofit, accredited continuing care retirement community; it provides independent and assisted living at its campus at 24 Tabor Crossing in Longmeadow and expanded Glenmeadow at Home services throughout greater Springfield.

To learn more about Glenmeadow and its history and offerings, visit www.glenmeadow.org.

About Glenmeadow

In the 1800s, elderly individuals without family or means were sent to live at what was called “the poor farm.”  In 1884, a group of civic leaders raised funds among themselves and other area families and purchased a house on Main Street in Springfield’s south end. Quickly outgrowing that house, land was purchased on the corner of Chestnut and Carew streets, where a new home was constructed and opened in 1900.  In 1960, the name was changed to Chestnut Knoll, and in 1992, it began to admit men.

In 1993, the organization purchased a 23-acre parcel in Longmeadow to build a new community that would provide both independent living and assisted living in one building with various common areas.  This was a new concept known as a continuing care retirement community.  Existing residents from the old Chestnut Knoll property were moved to the new campus in 1997.  Shortly after the move, the board voted to change its legal name to Glenmeadow to coincide with the name being used by the developer of the property.

The post Glenmeadow Learning Presents Debut Novelist appeared first on Beetle Press.