TheTonightbook tour for 2024 is finished.
Over 5,000 books signed.
Countless hugs and selfies.
Me (left) and Candice (right), my publicist at my publisherPan Macmillan.
Heres what went down the ridiculous, the hectic, the happy, the tasty!
Welcome back to book tour diaries!
Welcome back to the latest (final??)
instalment ofbook tour diaries!
This book tour business is serious stuff!
Heres the lowdown on what really went on.
The schedule is tight!
bound document that detailed every move for the next 5 weeks.
I jokingly tell everyone I have shower slots and toilet breaks scheduled in and Im only half exaggerating.
Me (left) and Candice (right), my publicist at my publisherPan Macmillan.
I dare not disobey her.
So I signed those book plates!
PS This is Candice, at the book launch party from a couple of days ago.
I kept insisting) and staff to assist with line management.
I love meeting people in real life!
I never would have imagined how much I would love meeting people in actual, real life!!
This for me, is the most rewarding part of making a cookbook.
Yes, its exciting to see your book in real life in shops.
But the face-to-face interaction with people who have made, eaten and enjoyed my recipes is so special.
So much food talk.
These are my people!!
I kept saying over and over again, it was like meeting people I had known all my life.
I could have gone out to dinner with anyone I met at those signings and chatted all night.
Its an odd phenomenon, one I cant explain.
Like a sense of community, we all have something in common, and everyone is NICE and FUNNY!
Short people understand!!
I really wish I cared more about fashion.
Id have done all these events in denim shorts and yoga pants, if I had a choice!
They did the cooking, I did the talking.
I couldnt have and wouldnt have done the cook show without them.
And lets face it, theyre pros at this stuff!
I wouldve forgotten an essential piece of equipment (like a stove to cook on ).
Besides, everything is always more fun with my team around.
We work hard, play hard and eat a lot!!
If youd like to learn more about what they do or get involved, just visit their their websitehere.
Why do people keep sending me Dozer peeing photos?
I received plenty of Dozer updates.
Confusingly though, there were a lot of Dozer peeing photos.
Im not sure why.
And in amongst all this, there were a bunch of interviews squeezed in.
Left to right: Stephen (RTM boss chef), some girl and her dog,JB(RecipeTin group big boss chef)
Radio, newspapers, magazines, TV, podcasts, photo shoots!
The footage of me waddling down the corridors in that foil is GOLD.
Here in Australia, the vendors selling The Big Issue receive 50% of every sale as commission.
JB, moments before he said “asshole” in front of 300 people (being “hassle” with a French accent 😂)
It is my favourite magazine!
And also, look how prominent Dozer is on the cover!
There was a party!
Stephen showing us blitzing action for salsa-verde “it’s like pesto”!
We held it at a local restaurant,Boronia Kitchen.
Its also just 5 minutes from RTM, so nice and close for my RTM team too.
Here I am, with my team!
We had a few overweight bag issues….
(It was a stinking hot 33C/91F day!)
The cake was squished and dense at best, and some layers crumbly-stale at worst.
Tiered cakes are not cheap, so I was pretty unhappy.
Unloading all our gear in the prep kitchen ahead of the show
Sorry, back to positive notes!
Think salmon version of Beef Wellington.
We were happy to be that group!
Left to right: Me, Stephen andJBat the Adelaide Central Markets. Obsessed!
Youre caught up!
And now, you are caught up!
Its 2 days after the lunch and my book launch related commitments for 2024 are largely done.
Left to right: Stephen, Herron (RecipeTin video editor), Candice (book publicist),JBand some girl.
Im back in my kitchen, yay!
Someone else can have the glitz and glamour of TV and magazines.
Im perfectly happy right here at home, with my keyboard and camera!
Book tour FAQ!
Whats the purpose of the book tour?
And I have definitely never gotten sore cheeks from smiling!
So, is there any pain from those length book signing sessions?
Ohhhhhh my throat kills from all the talking and laughing.
Candice factors that into the schedule.
We brought cake along. Lots!
I cannot BELIEVE you wore heels to the signings… ## What was your favourite part of the book tour?
Even when Im tired or nervous, the moment I see that first person, it totally lifts me.
It just makes me happy!
Least favourite part?
Having my face loaded with copious amounts of makeup and getting hair styles Im not comfortable with for TV.
Longest queue wait time?
From what we know a 5 am arrival for a 12 pm signing start.
And she wasnt even allowed in the centre until it opened at 7 am!
Longest distance travelled specifically for a signing?
ABC Melbourne TV studio
From Wisemans Ferry (far north of Sydney) to Canberra.
(If anyone trumps this, drop a note in the comment section below!
Only travel specifically for the signing counts :))
Who pays for the book tour?
Chrissy Swan show
For the book signing events at Westfield, Westfield covered these costs.
Will you be doing other cities?
There are definitely plans underway to do more Australians cities (including regional) in 2025.
I may even sneak a surprise visit in somewhere just before Christmas!
At this stage, it is unlikely that there will be overseas tours.
However, never say never.
I am always keeping an open mind circumstances could change at any time!
And my dream came true.
Ill always remember this book tour.
You and me, taking on the world!
(OK, fine, just Sydney and Canberra.
But it was a good line. )
Left to right: Hannah (RTM chef), Goh (IT manager and my brother), Dan (RTM Kitchenhand), Yumiko (Mama RecipeTin &RecipeTin Japan!),JB, me, Inggrid (finance), Herron (video editor), Stephen (RTM boss chef)
Book colour theme cocktails!
Chef Simon Sandall ofBoronia Kitchenpresenting the Salmon Coulibiac
