August 31st
2007
If somebody would have told me, that the spontaneous idea of setting up a food blog back in 2005 would change my life in so many ways, I would have laughed it off and called him or her crazy. Heck, I didn't even know, if I'd still be blogging after a few months. But to my own surprise I did and blogging became an integral part of my life. My passion for cooking and good food expanded to writing about food and food photography, our travel destinations we started choosing by food preference and not so much by weather and beaches. Soon freelance projects were knocking on my door, not to mention all the passionate people I had the pleasure to meet along the way.
Yet I felt utterly astonished when I got contacted by a British publishing house last year. They inquired if I'd be interested in writing a cookbook for them. I'd be lying if I said that the thought of writing a cookbook hadn't crossed my mind before, but it was more of an idea lingering in the back of my head, nothing really tangible and nowhere near a representable book concept. But a spark was lit and I soon came to the conclusion, that I had my very own perception about what should be in my book. My ideas - so I had to learn - were not mainstream enough for the publishing houses that got in touch with me. I wasn't in a rush and declined, being the die-hard that I sometimes am.
Until one day in March. A Gräfe und Unzer editor had contacted me and we discussed the possibility of publishing a cookbook together on the phone. Gräfe und Unzer is not only Germany’s largest cookbook publisher, coincidentally (or faith?), their headquarters are a mere 10 minutes walk away from our doorstep. A casual meeting was scheduled and to my huge surprise, their editors weren’t put off by my unconventional concept at all. In fact, they were delighted! If this sounds too easy to be true, you're right. This was no shortcut to signing a book deal.
The following months flew by, refining the overall concept as well as working on various mood boards to demonstrate the look & feel of my book that became more and more alive. Think of large black, but empty cardboards, eagerly waiting to be filled with photography, text, layout examples and recipes. The presentations went flawless and after the final meeting with the board, they offered me a contract. A contract that not only comprises the manuscript and (food) photography, but the book’s layout as well. Could it be any better?
The book is scheduled to hit the shelves in Autumn 2008, in both a German and an English version and I cannot tell you how lucky I feel to work with this wonderful group of spirited people. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but expect more details on the book over the upcoming months... I'll keep you posted.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for your continuing support and interest in delicious:days! And thanks for joining me on this new challenge :)
“Es muβ jetzt doch bald wahr sein, daβ ich berϋhmt bin.” (ref.: Café Dukatz) It had to be...it had to be!!! Nicky, CONGRATULATIONS! The only thing that I hate about this is having to wait a full year to hold that lovely, delicious work of art in my hands. It's a beautiful thing when one finds her calling, and so, enjoy breaking this new trail in your life. All our best to you in this adventure! S & D
Congrats.. that is truly wonderful!
Congratulations! That is wonderful news!
Congratulations, will be eagerly awaiting the finished product!
Oh my God!! I just knew this would happen some day! I'm so happy for you Nicky, this is great feat, and a very well deserved one at that too.
Congrats once again, now I can't wait to get my hands on it.
Congratulations. I am truly inspired by your content and how you've handled your presence. The photography and storied content is fabulous. I too am in pursuit of the dreams your starting to fulfill. Good luck. Can't wait to check out the book on the stands. Check me out when you have a moment—would love your thoughts.
Congratulations!! This is wonderful news. I have been in love with your blog for a long time now, but this is my first comment :) I am a graphic designer and my absolute dream is to do the layout for a cookbook one day!
I am happy for you ... as if I knew you! The book is already on my Christmas wish list!
Wauw ! Sounds great. Too bad we have to wait a whole year ! I think you really deserve it. The site always looks great and so are your articles/recipes. I think the book will be a big succes.Especially when the layout will look anything like this site.Good luck.
I knew it! I knew it! Congratulations! So anxious to know more...
Wow, congratulations - I cant wait to have this on my book shelf! Best of luck with the production.
Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Ich wünsche dir viel Erfolg. Gibt's da auch ein Rezept mit Mastix ;-)
Wow!
Ich werde das Buch sicher glücklich in mein Regal stellen und mich freuen die Autorin irgendwie zu "kennen".
Ich bin mir sicher es wird ebenso fantastisch und ansprechend wie Ihr Blog!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch schon jetzt
aus Aachen,
Christine
Congrats on the book deal! That sounds so exciting - I'm very keen to hear more - and all - about your unconventional cookbook!
Yey! This is SO cool! Now I have another clanger up my sleeve: "You know, this cookbook author I had breakfast with..."
Well deserved, no doubt! Congratulations!:)
Congratulations - how exciting!!! Look forward to finding out more about the book as it all comes together
Hi, this is WONDERFUL!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Hope you will be keeping us up-dated on the project. We didn't realise that the project was this "close" when you told us. Regards from Vienna, Erika and Georg
awesome! congratulations! :)
There´s no more to say than well deserved!
wonderful. congratulations. great news for you. great news for us who will be expecting the book :)
Ah when it comes to doing something you love with fiery passion, great things are bound to happen. I believe it's never a coincidence, only a matter of time!
I'm glad you guys found a match in Gräfe und Unzer and I sincerely wish you all the very best! Will be looking forward to it!
Wow Nicky! Congratulations. I can not wait to hear more about the whole process.
Herzlichen Glückwunsch, das ist ja eine tolle Neuigkeit! Und viel Spaß und Erfolg bei der kommenden "Arbeit", die sicher leichter von der Hand geht als manche andere. Ich freu mich schon darauf, das Ergebnis in Händen halten zu können!
Brilliant, congratulations!
[...] 2008 von Gräfe und Unzer erscheint auf Deutsch und Englisch das Delicious-Days-Kochbuch, laut Nicky nach ihrem eigenen Konzept, mit ihren eigenen Fotos, und sogar das Layout macht sie selbst. Ganz [...]
Herzlichen Glückwunsch auch aus der Nähe von Tübingen! Begeisterung, Fleiß und Herzblut haben sich hierja mal richtig ausgezahlt! Ich werde mit Sicherheit nach dem Buch Ausschau halten, wenn es dann erschienen ist! :)
That is fantastic - congratulations. I can't wait to get my hands on this book! Fall of 2008 - I can't wait!
Congratulations! I can't want to see what your non-mainstream cookbook ideas are. How refreshing it will be!
Wow, that's such amazing news Nicky! Congratulations, and do tell us more!!
Congratulations! You deserve every bit of the wonderful things about to happen. Enjoy!
Wow! I'm so happy for you--congrats and good luck!
Hey, this is great! We have been waiting for this for ages - so another year doesn’t matter. Congratulations, especially for the letter-photo-design-deal. All the best for this work.
Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Wird vorgemerkt -- und natürlich später auch bestellt.
Congratulations Nicky. That's beautiful news to hear. Enjoy it.
And so now you've got us all intrigued about your 'unconventional' concept! Many many congratulations!
I am thrilled and so excited to see your book! Hopefully it will be available Stateside! I follow your blog out here in California and it always inspires me to take pictures of my food (however mundane) and experiment with new foods. My spaetzle maker awaits me!
Congratulations! I love your blog and the way you write and describe things, I also love the accompanying pictures. I can't wait to have your book! I hope it will be available here in Chile.
Congratulations! I`m very happy for you. I can´t wait to see it!
Congratulations! That's so great. :)
Congratulations!! I feel so privileged to have been a reader of your gorgeous blog for a long time now. I look forward to buying the English copy of your book. Wish you all the best in your venture.
Fantastic news! I'm so happy for you and can't wait to order my copy! I'm sure it will be fabulous!
Is it too early to pre-order a copy.
I can't wait!
Wow, this is really impressive. As I was reading and you said that you were going with a German publishing company, I was apprehensive about it, we really need that English version, so glad to hear that you'll do both. What a big job! Bon courage.
That's great news! I'm just as excited about the design as I am about the drool-worthy photography and recipes.
Cheers!
p.s. will i still have to do antispam math questions in your book? ;-)
This is totally deserved! I've been reading your blog right from the start and find it very inspiring. Can't wait for the book, I'm sure it will be a big hit :))
congratulations! that is fantastic news and I look forward to seeing a beautiful inspired book.
Félicitation cordiale! C'est fantastique! J'adore ton blog trop bien fait!!
Herzliche Glückwünsche aus der Nachbarschaft! Wir stehen natürlich gerne jederzeit als Testesser zur Verfügung ;)
Hi Nicky, Hi Oliver,
Great news that you publish a book, I guess it will be one of the first ones done for the German speaking market.
Cheers,
Thorsten
That's fantastic! You both inspire me! Congratulations!
This is no suprise! You're blog is a long-time favorite, you inspire me to try new things and I cannot wait to lay my hands on your book. All the best for you :)
na... etwas spaet aber doch: jetzt ist alles klar. ich hab deine nachricht leider erst heute gehoert, hab auch gleich angerufen aber umsonst. naja, wir reden sicher bald und bis dahin gratuliere ich schriftlich ganz herzlich... super, super, super, ich kauf natuerlich sofort ein exemplar: gibt's das denn auch "en primeur"? ;-)
this is great Nicky! congrats
[...] who runs delicious:days has announced that she is together with Gräfe und Unzer Verlag is working on her first cookbook. as you might [...]
This is great!!! Your blog has always been a feast for the eyes, I'm so looking forward to buying your book :)
[...] Blog nennt sich delicious days und die Bloggerin heißt Nicky, die zusammen mit ihrem Lebensgefährten das Kochblog betreibt. Beide leben in [...]
Wow, that's fantastic! Congratulations! With a blog this pretty, I knew it was only a matter of time before you got a book deal! :)
Wow, you definitely deserve this, especially the layout part - your website is one of the best-designed sites I know of (and I work in online advertising!!).
Congrats to you and I look forward to hearing more!
Congratulations! I am so excited for the book and happy it will be both in German and English!
That is excellent news - your blog is so stylish and inspiring, with great photos and we have enjoyed any of the recipes I have tried from your posts
Fantastic news!! Looking forward to buying it.
[...] stehen ihre Rezepte zum nachkochen nicht mehr nur im Netz sondern auch auf dem Küchentisch: The Book Deal. Thomas Gigold | Blogwelt | Lesezeichen hinzufügen bei... del.icio.us Mr. Wong Yigg [...]
Congrats! I've been reading your pretty blog for almost a year now, yes, I'm addicted! Can't wait to buy your book!
Congratulation. I would be very pleased to meet you if you organise a book event in Munich.
Hooray! Congrats! Can't wait to get myself a copy!
terrific news! your blog is one of my favorites, keep up the fab work! looking forward to the book!
Oh, it's a good news, congratulations !!!
Congratulations! I can't wait to see it. If it looks (and reads) anything like your web site I know it will be gorgeous!
that's amazing and how wonderful to be able to design it yourself too etc! I dream of a contract that will allow by designer husband to design my book and for us to style the photos together...ahhh if only! for now he'll have to stick to taking photos for my humble blog and designing new headers!
well done this is such good news!
Liebe Nicky,
ich habe Deinen Blog vor einigen Wochen zufällig entdeckt, immer mal wieder gelesen, die wunderbaren, appetitanregenden Fotos bestaunt und mir gedacht, 'da schau her, die Nicky, die kennst du auch!' Ja und nicht nur das: Die Nicky hat mir ja zum Geburtstag mal eine formvollendete Sacher-Torte gebacken!! (Fotos davon habe ich noch :-)) - Dass es bei Dir früher oder später auf ein eigenes Kochbuch hinausläuft, habe ich beim Lesen des Blogs schon geahnt. Schön, dass es jetzt Wirklichkeit wird! Ich werd's auf alle Fälle kaufen, die Sacher-Torten-Fotos vorne reinkleben und überall damit angeben, dass mich die Autorin mal "bebacken" hat ;-)
Allerliebste Grüße aus Deiner früheren Heimat Stadtamhof
Beate
Very, very happy for you. Your site has been a great inspiration and I'm looking forward to see your work in print. Fantastic.
[...] “richtige” Bücher herausgegeben wie Claudia von FoolforFood, oder arbeiten daran, wie Nicky und Oliver von delicious days. Aber auch ein Gelegenheitsblogger freut sich mit seiner Frau, wenn ein [...]
Nicky,
Congratulations on the book deal. I am anxious to see your concept come to life. If it is anything like this blog, the result will be spectacular.
Beautiful. Hard work and play always pays off.
Whole, I've been a silent fan for a while now, I adore every bit of what you do here, as you stated everything falls into place, congrats a zillion times over. I can't wait to get my hand on a copy.
Now that is tre cool. Congrats! Can't wait to see it on the shelves soon. This just gives me more hope to become a better cook.
What excitement! Congrats. I will be anxiously awaiting more news on the deal.
That is so cool. From blogging to book author...wow!!!
Thats great. I'm writing a book on photography, and will use your site as an example of great images. Send me the name of your publisher! Best of luck.
Absolutely wonderful news! Congrats!!
Congratulations! I know a number of prominent foodie bloggers have book deals now, but I've not been tempted by them till now. Yours will definitely go on my Amazon wishlist :-)
oh my goodness--congratulations!!!
when i get your book, when it arrives in canada, i will sit for a while and devour it with the eyes, because beauty is, well, it just is guaranteed, then i'll feast on the new book smell, then run my hands over it, then truly indulge my senses when i get to create out of it. what a dream come true for you and ultimately us!
may all go as smooth as icing on a chocolate cupcake...
from one nicky to another
Hooray!!! What wonderful news. I am so happy for you. Lots and lots of congratulations from over here!
EXCELLENT!
And good for you sticking to your own concept rather than adjusting to other's ideas of who you should be.
I'm sure it will be BEAUTIFUL!!
carolg :)
thats wonderful news! enjoy the process! your blog is beautiful and a pleasure to read, and im sure your book will be the same!
That's terrific! I'll be eager to buy a copy (in English, as the only German words I really know are the names of foods!), so please share with us where it can be found.
Until then, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you (and to hope the book is sold in America).
Many congrats! It must be something else to have so much control over so much of the book, excellent job!
This is good news for others who also want to have so much creative control over their own cookbooks/foodbooks.
After reading your blog its no wonder that everyone is eager to get their hands on your book. What an excellent blog full of so many wonderful creations....Di
Wheeeee, i'm gladly joining the hundred people in congratulating you,- you truly deserve the contract, get ready for world fame! :)
Congrats, this is awesome! I'm going to preorder it as soon as it becomes available!
Nicky this is splendid, I'm so happy for you. I was just in a bookstore yesterday here in Hannover and spotted all the cookbooks and thought of you and the first thing I wondered was when would I someday see a delicious days cookbook. So I hopped on your blog today after being absent for a few months and viola! you have big news for us and you'll soon be an author. This is absolutely wonderful, but not surprising at all as this blog NEEDS to be a book!
Best of luck! Enjoy the ride - I'll buy the book when it's out for sure!
xo
Holly Becker
Nicky & Oli - this is absolutely fantastic!
I know you would hit the bestseller list with this :-)
Will it be sold in Brisbane? I hope so. Otherwise, don´t forget to save me a copy - even if you have to send it personally. Okay? Promise? Hugs & Kisses.
What an amazing opportunity. I am constantly amazed by the things blogging has put into motion for me. Congrats to you! Very, very well deserved!
Kudos- it's been a dream of mine to have a book some day.
It's no surprise that they contacted you - it's great to see people with talent getting published! Thanks goodness for web based publishing too...
Wow, what a wonderful experience, I have just started my foodblog for 2 months and do not know where I will land and if I can keep it up. It's my first time surfing your blog. Similar to you I found blogging allows me to combine my food interests and photography together at one place.
[...] die Foodbloggerin mit der coolsten Website (Time Magazine) ging vor einem Jahr ein Traum in Erfüllung, als sie einen Buchdeal vom grössten Kochbuchverlag Deutschlands angeboten [...]
Danke für Dein großartiges "Kochbuch" (eigentlich trifft es dieses Wort nicht genau, es ist soviel mehr!) - es war mein schönstes Weihnachtsgeschenk und ist unübertroffen das beste Kochbuch in meiner Sammlung! Es macht Lust auf Kochen, Probieren und vor allem LEBEN!
Grüße aus Köln nach München,
Julia
That's wonderful news Nicky and Oliver! Can't wait to see the finished product; I'm sure it will be stunning.