Showing posts with label eBook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eBook. Show all posts

Monday, December 19, 2011

The Best Stocking-Stuffer of the Season–Craig’s Grape Adventure!

Craig's Grape Adventure on Devices

I will admit that stuffing an eBook in a stocking may present some challenges – I have yet to find a stocking that holds electrons well.  You may want to print the cover, sign it with some best wishes from Santa, and add it to the gifts.

If you do not yet have a copy of Craig’s Grape Adventure – Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew, you have plenty of time with guaranteed delivery before Christmas – and no shipping charges!  To top it off, your copy is available for whatever you care to donate.  My model of giving away these 500 pages of culinary joy in exchange for a donation you pick has exceeded my expectations.  Everyone has been very generous.

Just click on the donation button in the upper right corner, pick an amount, and you will shortly have your copy readable on the iPad, iPhone, Kindle, computer, or any other device that can display a PDF file.

Whether or not you get your copy of Craig’s Grape Adventure – Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew, I hope you have a wonderful holiday.  Eat well, and drink better.

Merry Christmas,

Craig

Thursday, November 17, 2011

New All-Clad Pots and Pans – I am Speechless

All-Clad Stainles Steel Pots and Pans-3Thanks in part to your generous donations for Craig’s Grape Adventure – Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew, I was able to purchase a new set of All-Clad pots and pans.  I guess it makes sense to reinvest in the kitchen and wine rack (I need to invest in some new lighting too…keep donating).  I bought them on sale – 20% off an already discounted price, and am now left speechless as I admire these stainless steel beauties.  Is there something wrong with me? 

All-Clad Stainles Steel Pots and Pans

No cooking, no wine (until later), no recipes.  Just photos of my new best friends.  Enjoy the photography.

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In vino veritas, buen provecho.

Craig

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Craig's Grape Adventure - Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew – Official Release of the eBook

You can now have Craig’s Grape Adventure with you all the time!  Craig's Grape Adventure - Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew is now available in eBook form.

Before I get into all the promotional goo – all the great reasons you should have a copy of this book – I will start with the details of how to get your copy.  Easy stuff.

1.       Click on the “Donate” button up to the right – throw me a bone – or a bunch of bones.  There is no set price for this book.  You name the price.

 

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2.       Send me an e-mail at craigcorl@yahoo.com to let me know you have donated and would like your copy.

3.       I will send you a link to download the file.

4.       Follow the instructions below for putting the book on your iPhone, iPad, or Kindle.

5.       Read, cook, have a glass of wine, and enjoy.

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When I ask Chef Sue out for an evening that includes a movie, it is always a love story.  Transformers, Cowboys vs. Aliens, Abduction, Contagion, Drive, Killer Elite, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, 300, Green Lantern, Gladiator, Batman, all romances.  Like these movies, this book is a love story.  It is also filled with perilous tales from the kill zone we know as the kitchen, psychological thriller elements, and an ample serving of explosions and expensive special effects.  I promise.

But wait, there is more.  I would not call this a cookbook, but yes, there are recipes.  Lots of recipes – nearly 100 tantalizing creations to fit any mood and any palate accompanied with nearly 50 wine pairings.  But if you want to call it a cookbook, have at it.  One of my objectives is breaking the cookbook mold.  First, as a photographer, I hope you find plenty of pleasing photography designed to bring the food to life.

Layered over the beautiful photography and recipes are stories about the food.  Not history, or the origins of food, but real stories you can relate to.  Along with the wine pairings and stories you will read about why a particular wine was selected, and why it worked or did not.

This book also breaks the traditional “cookbook” mold by virtue of its electronic format.  You will find this a convenient advantage as you prop your laptop, iPad, iPhone, or Kindle on the counter and prepare your next great meal.

With links to all the recipes finding the next recipe is just a touch or click away.

The eBook format works well because the book will always be with you, and finding the recipe is as easy as pointing to the pairing you wish to create.  And of course, the book is filled with great photography for those of you who sadly prefer to look at great food rather than eat it.  Any way you look at it, it will be a fun read.

And here is the best part – the price.  You get to name your price.  I have yet to be disappointed.  I have sold prints, shot family portraits, shot events, and made personal and professional portraits based on this model and have been more or less fairly compensated in every instance.  Those who could not afford what might be considered “market rates” were balanced by those who were grateful enough to be generous.  I find that people want to be treated fairly and generally feel the same obligation to treat others fairly.  So until I am consistently and dreadfully proven otherwise, I plan on sticking to the “pay what you can” philosophy.

Meredith noted that most books on Amazon sell in the $10 range.  Cookbooks even more with many in the mid $20s.  She prefers that I set a price.  So here it is: One Million Dollars (with pinky in place and the voice of Dr. Evil).  Sorry Meredith.  I’m sticking with my belief that people want to be treated fairly and will do so in return.  The price remains the same – anything you want.

After you download, you can read it on your computer, iPhone, iPad, or Kindle (and maybe other devices – I have not tested others so cannot be sure).

To move files to and from Kindle:

  1. Connect your Kindle to your computer. Your Kindle should appear on your computer in the same location you would normally find an external USB drive.
  2. Use your computer's file browser to drag and drop or copy and paste the file to the “documents” folder on the Kindle.
  3. When finished, use your computer's undock, eject, or unmount feature to remove your Kindle.

To Open in iBooks

  1. Either download the file directly to your device, or download to your computer and e-mail it to yourself and open the e-mail attachment on your device.

In the upper right corner of the screen, touch the envelope with an arrow and select “open in iBooks.”

I want you to love this book, and I want you to donate according to your judgment of the value.  To help with your decision, you can download a free sample chapter.  Just follow this link.

Here are some screen shots of the table of contents.

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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Free Sample Chapter from Craig’s Grape Adventure–Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew

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As promised, Wednesday 9 November is the official release date for Craig’s Grape Adventure – Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew.  In the mean time, you are welcome to download a free chapter from the book using this link:  Craig’s Grape Adventure – Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew.

After you download, you can read it on your computer, iPhone, iPad, or Kindle (and maybe other devices – I have not tested others so cannot be sure).

To move files to and from Kindle:

  1. Connect your Kindle to your computer. Your Kindle should appear on your computer in the same location you would normally find an external USB drive.
  2. Use your computer's file browser to drag and drop or copy and paste the file to the “documents” folder on the Kindle.
  3. When finished, use your computer's undock, eject, or unmount feature to remove your Kindle.

To Open in iBooks

  1. Either download the file directly to your device, or download to your computer and e-mail it to yourself and open the e-mail attachment on your device.
  2. In the upper right corner of the screen, touch the envelope with an arrow and select “open in iBooks.”

Enjoy the free sample chapter, and be sure to come back tomorrow to get your copy of the full book.

In vino veritas, buen provecho.

Craig

Monday, November 7, 2011

Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew; the eBook is Done! (well, almost)

Chef Craig

Done!  Done!  Done!  I am very happy to report I have finished editing Craig’s Grape Adventure – Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew!  I am now enjoying a glass of wine to celebrate the occasion. 

I have just one task to complete.  This evening I am preparing Butter Poached Divers Scallops, Flounder Fillet over Pesto Fettuccini to finish the last of the photography.  Earlier today I made the self portrait you see above for the all important “About the Author” page where I get to tell you how wonderful I am.  No worries, I kept it brief.

Check back tomorrow and get your free copy of a sample chapter from the book.  Two days until the official release!

Cheers!

Craig

Friday, November 4, 2011

Smörgåsbord Food Photography - Deconstructed Crab Cake Sandwich, Truffle Macaroni and Cheese, Baked Crab, Open Faced Steak Sandwich

Deconstructed Maryland Crabcake Sandwich

I am hustling to meet my self-imposed publication deadline of 9 November for Craig’s Gape Adventure – Loving life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew.  I am on schedule and am confident I will make the date.  Just 5 days to go!

Deconstructed Maryland Crabcake Sandwich-1

In addition to the editing chores, I prepared a number of recipes that either were not photographed on the first go around, were not paired with a wine (wine pairing for each recipe will be included in the book) or the photographs were not up to my standards.  Today I am sharing several of these photographs.  The first two photographs show my Deconstructed Crab Cake Sandwich.

Enjoy the photography, and check back this weekend for a pre-publication free chapter from Craig’s Grape Adventure – Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew.

Truffle Macaroni and Cheese

Truffle Macaroni and Cheese

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Baked Crab

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Baked Crab-1

Open Faced Steak Sandwich

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Open Faced Steak Sandwich

In vino veritas, buen provecho.

Craig

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

eBook Count Down to Release–Craig’s Grape Adventure Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew

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My generous crew of volunteer editors have completed their work.  Thanks Steve and John!  The release of Craig’s Grape Adventure – Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew is mere days away.  Between now and the end of the weekend, I will make the final edits and will release the book next week.  What the heck, let’s pick a date:  Wednesday, 9 November.

There you have it…I have set the gauntlet and I must therefore produce by next Wednesday.  I will announce the release next Wednesday, you can make your donation via the donation button at the top of the blog page, send me an e-mail at craigcorl@yahoo.com, and I will send you a link to download the book and add it to your favorite book reader (that accepts PDF such as a Kindle, iPad, or iPhone) or computer.

If you want to be the first in line and care to preorder, just send me an e-mail, and I will send you the link as soon as the book is ready to go (which may be before Wednesday!)

In vino veritas, buen provecho.

Craig

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew–Craig’s Grape Adventure the eBook to be Released in November!

Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew

I am very happy to report the publication of “Craig’s Grape Adventure – Loving Life with a Skillet and a Corkscrew” remains on schedule for an early November release.  Two good friends, Golf Buddy Steve and Photography Buddy John, volunteered to give the draft a critical editorial look.  I really appreciate their valuable and generous contribution to the book.

Golf Buddy Steve admitted to being distracted by the content – all the romance, comedy, and special effects forced him to read passages multiple times so he could focus on editing rather than the drama of this page turning psychological thriller.  Overstatement?  I will let you be the judge.

I received numerous wishes for success with this book and plenty of notes from people far and wide noting their anticipation of publication.  Thanks for your kind words.  There was one comment that caused me to pause.  Good friend Meredith emphatically stated she did not like my pricing model (see my post Craig’s Grape Adventure–the eBook is Coming in Time for Christmas!)  Meredith is not comfortable with my “name your price” model. 

Meredith noted that most books on Amazon sell in the $10 range.  Cookbooks even more with many in the mid $20s.  She prefers that I set a price.  So here it is: One Million Dollars (with pinky in place and the voice of Dr. Evil).  Sorry Meredith.  I’m sticking with my belief that people want to be treated fairly and will do so in return.  The price remains the same – anything you want.

I will be shamelessly promoting the book again soon, so standby for more details on the release date.  Tell your friends!

In vino veritas, buen provecho.

Craig

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Craig’s Grape Adventure–the eBook is Coming in Time for Christmas!

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Great news friends!  I recently decided to turn “Craig’s Grape Adventure the blog” into “Craig’s Grape Adventure the book.”  And better yet, the book will be available for Christmas.  I am already well into the writing, and am closing in on 350 pages of this compelling love story.  By the time it is complete, you will be treated to at least 400 pages of action packed entertainment (listen, the kitchen is a dangerous place), intrigue and culinary drama sure to match any psychological thriller on the best seller list.

Honestly, I am very excited about this project and believe the e-book format is perfect for a book like this.  You will be able to load the book on your iPad, iPhone, laptop, or Kindle, take it to the beach or the kitchen, open a bottle of wine, and enjoy or cook – or both.

The eBook format works well because the book will always be with you, and finding the recipe is as easy as pointing to the pairing you wish to create.  And of course, the book is filled with great photography for those of you who sadly prefer to look at great food rather than eat it.  Any way you look at it, it will be a fun read.

And here is the best part – the price.  You get to name your price.  I will be accepting donations (see the button in the upper right area of the blog).  By sending a donation of your choosing, you will receive the book along with instructions on loading the book on to your favorite device (as long as it is a laptop, iPad, iPhone, or Kindle).  Easy stuff, and at a price you cannot argue.

Stay tuned for the official release.  I’m pretty sure I will not let you miss the opportunity to get your copy.

In vino veritas, buen provecho.

Craig