Today is the official publication date of our book, “Food Lovers’ Guide to San Antonio.” It is the product of about 2 ½ months of writing furiously last fall, meeting interim deadlines from our publisher, Globe Pequot Press, discussing what would be listed, why and why not. It involved many, many telephone calls, sudden leaps into cars to zip down to the South Side to sample posole or to the North Side to take in some sushi. Some of the places we’d not been to for quite a long time, and we wanted to be sure that a certain puffy taco we’d praised to the skies was still that good. Friends, colleagues and SavorSA readers had good suggestions; Facebook and Twitter were other sources.
It was hard work on a short deadline. In other words, there was no time to indulge in that bane of all writers — procrastination.
Will we get rich? Not a chance. Do we care? Not really. For any writer, holding a published book with his or her name on the cover is (at least the first time) reward enough. But the book is really more than that. It’s our chance to share with you where you can go in town for exactly what you’re looking for, whether you’re in need of great pizza on the West Side, an African yam for a recipe you’re making or a bakery on the Northeast Side for a birthday cake that tastes homemade. We especially hope you make great use of it, as you explore the culinary wealth of our city and area.
After we finally sent the completed manuscript, in one gigantic Word file at midnight before the deadline day, we celebrated with a (small) pitcher of homemade margaritas. Of course, the work was not finished by a long shot. Edits and cuts (more than we’d expected) had to be made. We twice had to proof the manuscript as it was sent back from editors (who were, without exception, wonderful to work with). As a first book-writing experience for both John and me, it went pretty smoothly.
“Food Lovers’ ” is now at Costco and Barnes & Noble stores in the Texas section. It’s available on amazon.com and bn.com and will also be turning up in other stores in San Antonio. As for book signings, we’ll keep you posted, through SavorSA.com, our Twitter account @mysavorsa and Facebook.
Send us suggestions, criticisms and anything else you would like to discuss to us on Twitter, or to our emails: griffin@savorsa.com or walker@savorsa.com.
Congratulations! This is on my must-have list!
Thanks, Carryn. Hope you’ll like it and be able to use it. Also, make suggestions for 2nd edition! (Enjoy your Tweets – was it you who recommended “Thin Ice”? Netflix is sending!) BW
We hope you get a great deal of use out of it and some wonderful meals in the future.
Congratulations and I can’t wait to get my copy. I take a group of ladies out to lunch once a
month and this will help planning our trips. Thanks for you trouble and for any pounds gained!
Thank you Marianne. John and I hope you find plenty of good ideas, and let us know what you discover! BW
It was fun packing in sometimes five meals in a day, and yes, there were a few pounds gained in there. But it’s one of the sacrifices we’s happy to make to help you out.
John and Bonnie,
Congratulations! I can’t wait to read through it.
Kind regards,
Cindy
Thanks for us! Appreciate any feedback — let us know if we missed your favorite hole-in-the-wall! BW
Thank you. Hope you get some great use out of it. There are some wonderful meals to be had out there.
Hooray! Very much looking forward to a signing.
Travis
Hi Trav – there will be signings! Look for them posted on Twitter and on the website. Hope you like the book. It was fun to do! bw
Thank you so much. Hope it leads you to many happy meals and brews.
Long deserved kudos to both of you. I know it was a very busy time for both of you BEFORE you had the book to do. They made the right choices for authors!
Just in time for everyone to get one for that new San Antonio resident or to send back to your friends elsewhere when they ask, “Is there anything good to eat there?”
Thanks. It was a bit hectic putting it together so quickly, but it helped to have you out there rooting for us and offering your support.
I can’t wait to read it. Best wishes to you.
Thank you. Have fun eating your way through all areas of SA.
Thanks, Gary. We hope you discover some new favorites!
Congratulations ! I can”t wait to see it.
Thank you, Marcia. I hope you enjoy exploring more of the city’s fine food opportunities.
Congratulations! I now have a copy and am really enjoying it. I’m also getting very, very hungry!
Let us know what you think of the new places you try. And have fun exploring.
I bought my copy today. Thanks for all your hard work.
Congratulations friends…picked up a copy and have already been to two of your recommendations – what’s next?????
There’s a city of fun places waiting for you.
Congratulations, Bonnie and John. I know it was a labor of love, as well as an intense time for both of you. What’s next?
Thank you, Carol. It had to happen quickly — but you’re right, it was fun and we’re proud of the result. Hope you enjoy it!