A Very First Birthday
When you write a book, it’s kinda like giving birth. There’s the spark and conception of an idea, a long gestation period when the idea is taking form and shape, and finally the day when you see the completed book for the very first time. Today is the first anniversary of that special day for me…a very first birthday!
My first copy of Art of the Pie. I take this copy with me wherever I teach or speak.
One year ago today, I couldn’t believe it when I opened up the parcel that was on my front porch. I was expecting a book on apples that I had ordered and when I opened this package, my first thought was, “this isn’t the book I ordered.” Then the realization hit me that this was my book. I picked it up, started crying happy tears, and walked around in circles holding it close to my chest. It was an overwhelming moment that I will remember for the rest of my life.
The next day I hopped on a plane for the east coast to appear on QVC’s In the Kitchen with David. Another peak experience I will always remember. By the time I got home to the west coast after the show, the book was sold out on QVC, and the pre-sale orders on Amazon had pushed Art of the Pie to #32 of ALL books on Amazon…not just the baking books! OMG! OMG! OMG! was all I could say. And these were just the presales!
The official release date was October 4th, 2016. As of today Art of the Pie is in a 4th printing. It has carried me on a whirlwind adventure this year taking me to some amazing places where I’ve been able to meet special people who have shared their stories with me.
I am honored that Art of the Pie made just about every “Best of” list for 2016, was nominated for two International Association of Culinary Professional Awards, and also for the biggest award there is out there in the food world…the James Beard Awards…that’s the Oscars in the food world my friends! Plus, librarians all over the world chose it to be part of the Big Library Read Global eBook Club, and it was the inaugural pick for The Food52 Community Cookbook Club.
Never in a million years would I have dreamed that my passion for baking and teaching would have led me this far, and I am so very very grateful to all of you who have joined me on this amazing journey. Thank you for being there. Thank you for supporting my work. You mean the world to me!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Happy Birthday to Art of the Pie!
Here’s the full list of nominations, lists, and publications where Art of the Pie has appeared.
NOMINATIONS
- James Beard Foundation 2017 Nominee Baking and Desserts
- International Association of Culinary Professionals 2017 Nominee
- Single Subject
- Food Photography & Styling
- Narrative Culinary Blog
BOOK CLUB READS
- Big Library Read Global eBook Club Read
- Inaugural Read of Food52 Cookbook Club
BEST OF LISTS
- Starred Review by Publisher’s Weekly
- Food52’s Piglet Community Cookbook Pick
- Library Journal Starred Review and Best Books of 2016
- Leite’s Culinaria Best Cookbook of 2016
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution Best Cookbooks of 2016
- Eat Your Books Best Cookbooks of 2016
- Washington Post Best Cookbooks of 2016
- InStyle Best Fall 2016 Cookbooks
- Epicurious.com Best Cookbooks of 2016
- Radio Milwaukee Top 10 Cookbooks 2016
- Sunset Magazine’s November 2016 Cookbook of the Month
PUBLICATIONS
- Alaska Airlines Magazine
- Atlanta Journal Constitution
- Bake From Scratch
- Bon Appétit
- Boston Globe
- Chicago Tribune
- Cosmopolitan
- Country Woman
- Elle Decor
- Food52
- Food & Wine
- Huffington Post
- Kerrygold Blog
- KQED
- KUOW
- Le Creuset Blog
- Leite’s Culinaria
- Library Journal
- Los Angeles Times
- Minneapolis Star Tribune
- New York Times
- NPR
- OPB
- Oprah.com
- Oprah Magazine
- Pacific NW Magazine
- Philadelphia Inquirer
- QVC In the Kitchen with David
- Radio Milwaukee
- Real Simple
- Relish Magazine
- Saveur Magazine
- Seattle Magazine
- Seattle Met
- Seattle Times
- Seattle Weekly
- SimplyRecipes.com
- Spirit Magazine (Southwest Airlines)
- Sunset Magazine
- Sur La Table Newsletter
- The Mercury News
- The Splendid Table
- USA Today
- Wall Street Journal
- Washington Post
- Where Women Cook
- WNPR Faith Middleton Show
- Woman’s Day Magazine
- WWNR/NPR
- Zagat
All of the accolades and recognition are so well deserved- this book is a MUST for anyone thinking about making pie whether it be a novice or a professional baker!! Love every page of this book!!’
Thank you so much Gloria!
What a wonderous, irreplaceable moment to open a parcel and see that it’s your book. Brought tears to my eyes. You traveled a true long and winding road to this well deserved success. Many congrats!
And the road continues to unfold before me! Thank you so much, Lynne.
New chapters new journey
No haters here!!😉💞
Got it! Thank you so very very much, Birdie!
WOW! Well deserved recognition, Kate!
Thank you so much Betty!
A beautiful book . A remarkable woman. Thank you for sharing your life this past year 🤗
You are so kind, Patricia! I’ll be back at Bob’s in September. Maybe we can get together.
Kate, all of your hard work has paid off and you are so deserving of all the honors. You’ve been such an encouragement to so many and I have to say I love “Art of Pie” and it has been written with heart and soul!
Congratulations!
Thank you Connie! It truly was a labor of love.
SO VERY HAPPY FOR YOU KATE!!…..THANK YOU FOR SUCH AN INCREDIBLE BODY OF WORK FOR ANYONE WHO HAS A PASSION FOR PIE MAKING. YOUR BOOK WILL BE PASSED THROUGH GENERATIONS.
Such kind and overwhelming words…”passed through generations.” I’m honored, Barbara.
I don’t even bake!!!! But when I saw this beautiful, amazing book, I knew I had to get it and TRY to bake. I love pies. My grandmother was a genius baker of pies and cakes and all things sweet. She tried to teach me how to make a pie crust when I was in high school and finally just told me to buy the Pillsbury in the red box!! She said this in a loving and funny way…..not critical. But I really believe I can make your pie crusts. I cannot wait to try. Thank you!!!
I know you can, Linda!
Honestly, very rarely do more than two days go by when I don’t leaf through and dream of pie. Because of your book I have made at least seventy five pies. GREAT pies,every one! I am inspired to bake FAR more than I can consume. This makes me a favored neighbor and,a FABULOUS friend!
Thank you.
Best review ever, Larry! Thank you so much my friend.
Yours is an incredible story, Kate! It’s an absolutely beautiful book and you deserve every award. I’m so excited for you.
I made your raspberry pie for my husband yesterday, but I want to eat it all myself! It could be the best pie ever! Thanks for all of your hard work.
Wonderful news Shirley! I’m delighted that you are enjoying that pie. And thank you!
I love how you were so surprised, that you thought it was another book, the wrong book, and lo and behold it was YOUR book. How fun to have it happen with such true surprise. Congratulations on a well deserved year of treats and pie. May there be many more.
It truly was one of the best surprises I’ve ever had, Amy. Thank you so much!
Kate.
You are so deserving of every thing that comes your way. . The most unpretentious famous person I have met of late. fun to hear about it all .
Best
Marilyn Allen
Marilyn- Thank you so very much and I LOVED having you in class! Kate
Kate
Your book is the most unique and moving combination of beautiful artwork, photos that entice and welcoming, inviting, unpretentious instruction. Your wordcraft, humor and pielosphy eased the angst and permited me, comfortable with baking but a novice at pie making, to produce a scrumptious feast for the eye, nose and palate.
The cover photo is riveting; a quick perusal of the pages sold me, knowing that this was the book that would finally motivate and enable me to achieve a lifelong desire, to bake an incredible pie.
The response in the press truly is amazing but not at all a surprise to those of us who have experienced the delightful book and the resultant alchemy.
Thank you for enabling a dream to come to fruition.
Ron
Ron- Thank you so much. All of this has been a dream (that I didn’t even know I had) come true!
Happy Birthday and Congratulations! My husband and kids gave me your book for Christmas last year and it was the best gift I received!
I really enjoyed your class I took a couple weeks ago. We got more than pie-making skills and tips during our class – we got confidence! “As God as my witness, I will never be intimidated by pie crust again!” Thanks Kate!
Glynda
Scarlett would be proud! 😉
I heard you on Food Schmooz in CT and had to go buy your book. I make my own lard so loved it when you also had a recipe using it in your pie dough. I love your recipes.
I really enjoyed being on Food Schmooz. Thanks for letting me know you heard it and Praise the Lard!
Also in your search and sharing of a pie blender, may I make a suggestion. On Amazon there is Kitchen Innovations Perfect Pie Blender for $14.00. It was easy to twist off 3 of the inner blades and leave 4 on for more space between blades. I like it’s handle.
I so enjoy your comments and suggestions.
I’ll take a look. Thanks!
Kate,
Your glorious book is Number One in my library of cookbooks, which now number more than 700. It’s the one I would keep to treasure if I were stranded on a desert island!
On a personal level, it has consoled me through my disappointment of not being able to attend your pie workshop this summer, and given me hope that I can make up for that next year.
Thank you for pouring your heart into this book — it shows.
Thank you so much Judi! I really hope that we’ll be able to meet next year for a workshop.
Love your book and so enjoyed being one of your “students” at the Claremont, California, demonstration in the spring! You provide so much pie making inspiration…….peaches and strawberries await on my kitchen counter to be baked into a pie this afternoon.
Thank you for coming to the Claremont session. What a great pie festival it is. Peaches and strawberries sound like a wonderful combination!
What a tremendous and wonderfully deserved year you have had, lady, and we are all so proud of you!!
Thank you so very much Jean! You saw the process along the way.
Kate, Your book has really inspired me. I was so glad to take your pie class at pie cottage in February 2017. I have a new confidence in making pie crust. I purchased the rolling pin you recommended and LOVE IT. I don’t know how I ever survived without it!
I’m delighted to hear! And, here’s the photo from the Feb 2017 class you were in.
Kate, every bit of this wonderful success is so well-deserved! Your book is wonderful – so much more than “just a cookbook” – it’s a guide for “how to be” in the kitchen… It’s a beautiful, beautiful book. Stumbling into you in the “chat room” at Future Learn when we both took the History of Royal Food course was a blessing to me. You changed my life – in a small way, granted – I could probably have lived a happy life without being able to make a pie crust, but I (and my husband) am so glad I don’t have to.
I really enjoyed that course and how wonderful it was to “meet” you there. Thank you so much for your kind words!