Remember this little contest I mentioned a month ago? Well, the results are in today and... my name is on the list! The good list. The list of 1000 authors whose pitch was good enough to get them into phase two. Frankly, I was shocked. I have confidence that I have written a great book, but my confidence that the world of agents and publishers would also find it great was eroded in the query process. A tiny bit of confidence has now been restored. In case you're curious, here's the pitch (up to 300 words were allowed) that worked for me:
When she doesn’t get a place in a Mexican study abroad program,
Rachel anticipates another summer working at a coffee shop - until an
opportunity to spend a month with a family in Turkey drastically changes
the course of her summer. This intercultural coming-of-age novel is
full of exotic tastes, summer heat, promises, and love. In a summer
village on the western coast of Turkey, you’ll meet Rachel, who doesn’t
know what she wants; Aylin, who doesn’t know if she wants the one who
wants her; and Leyla, who knows who she wants, but doesn’t know if
she’ll get him. Love and romance are secret pleasures in the summer
village, which only make them more exciting.
Can coffee grounds tell
your future? Will fate bring you to your soul mate thousands of miles
from home? Would the evil eye dare stop two souls on their paths to
each other? Travel with Rachel on her journey far from the comforts of
home, to a place that will captivate her and leave her changed forever.
Secrets
of a Summer Village is a novel in which modern, middle-class Turkish
culture is seen through the eyes of an American teenager. In the 91,075
-word novel, Rachel learns that many aspects of Turkish culture are
different than her own, but that family, friendship, and love are
universal
Maybe you noticed that there is no period at the end of paragraph three of the pitch. Apparently, it wasn't enough to get me thrown out of the contest!
The next step involves a 3000-5000 word excerpt. That may sound like a lot of words, but it's not when you consider that the book is just over 91000 words long. About 5% of the book in my case. And the catch is that it has to be the first three-to-five-thousand words, not your favorite excerpt. That said, it makes perfect sense. First, a potential reader reads your back cover, which would certainly not be longer than 300 words. Then, they stand at the bookstore (or read online) the first few chapters before they decide whether or not they want to buy the book.
I am pretty nervous about this stage, but thrilled I got into it. Are the first 5000 words of my book enough to make a reader want more? We'll find out around March 20th...
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Not MY book club
I barely slept on Wednesday night. The reason? I was invited to the
book club of an acquaintance, who had arranged that her book club read
my book for their February meeting. I. was. nervous. I have taught at
least a thousand days worth of (language) classes, I've spoken before
dozens at professional conferences, and was not nervous about any of
that. Yet I was kept up at night in anticipation of sitting with around
10 women - three of whom I know - to talk about my book. There is
something about sharing my writing with others that scares me, and I
don't know why. I suppose that I like my book even though I realize it
is not the Great American Novel. I do think that the fact that it is
self-published rather than backed by a traditional publisher could have
something to do with it. It's just me and my book. Hoping people read
it. Hoping people like it.
It took me a good hour to shake off my nervousness. My acquaintance - and I say this because as lovely and kind and fun as she is, the book club hostess is not a good friend of mine because we just haven't had that much time to get to know each other. And yet she went to all this work to organize this. She got the books for everyone, she had them over to her house, she prepared lovely food (and amazing cupcakes), and was one of the most gracious hostesses I've ever met. People can just be so nice! I read all the bad and sad headlines of awfulness in the world, but really there are incredibly nice and friendly people in the world. And they were at this book club meeting.
A hundred questions were asked - is the book autobiographical? Why is the main character half Chinese? How long did it take me to write the book? How much research did I do? How does self-publishing work? How many copies have I sold? Did I take writing classes? I tried my best to answer them all.
So they have read my book, learned about the writing process, the publishing process, they drank wine, ate food, chatted with their friends... it was a lovely evening. One of the people I do know who was a part of the club sent me an e-mail saying that I had done a good job answering the questions (whew!) My only, teensy tiny wish that was not fulfilled is that I didn't get a good sense of how they liked the story. A few of them made it clear that they had, but the vast majority didn't. I asked them if they would write me reviews on Amazon. There haven't been any new reviews since the book club, but I keep checking... then maybe I'll get a better idea of what they thought.
What an exciting, different experience. Thanks Bridget!!!
Exhale...
It took me a good hour to shake off my nervousness. My acquaintance - and I say this because as lovely and kind and fun as she is, the book club hostess is not a good friend of mine because we just haven't had that much time to get to know each other. And yet she went to all this work to organize this. She got the books for everyone, she had them over to her house, she prepared lovely food (and amazing cupcakes), and was one of the most gracious hostesses I've ever met. People can just be so nice! I read all the bad and sad headlines of awfulness in the world, but really there are incredibly nice and friendly people in the world. And they were at this book club meeting.
A hundred questions were asked - is the book autobiographical? Why is the main character half Chinese? How long did it take me to write the book? How much research did I do? How does self-publishing work? How many copies have I sold? Did I take writing classes? I tried my best to answer them all.
So they have read my book, learned about the writing process, the publishing process, they drank wine, ate food, chatted with their friends... it was a lovely evening. One of the people I do know who was a part of the club sent me an e-mail saying that I had done a good job answering the questions (whew!) My only, teensy tiny wish that was not fulfilled is that I didn't get a good sense of how they liked the story. A few of them made it clear that they had, but the vast majority didn't. I asked them if they would write me reviews on Amazon. There haven't been any new reviews since the book club, but I keep checking... then maybe I'll get a better idea of what they thought.
What an exciting, different experience. Thanks Bridget!!!
Exhale...
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Begging for Feedback
There's an awful lot of waiting involved when you write a book. Whether you self-publish or not, you have to wait for proof copies, wait for reviews, wait for feedback... But unless you are a famous person, you have to ask for reviews, from readers and from review organizations. They do not come knocking at your door asking to review your book. You have to ask THEM to review it, and you also have to send them free copies of it. And so that is precisely what I am doing...
Midwest Book Review - On the weekend, I finally received a review from the well-respected Midwest Book Review. The organization only reviews less than a third of the books for which reviews are requested, so I was excited and smiling when I received the review from them. Without revealing too much, let's just say that it was a positive but problematic review. It had a major error. I have the right to use the review, which has some very favorable sentences that would be good for marketing purposes, but it didn't feel right because of the flaw. So I wrote to them and pointed out the error. I thought I might never hear from them again, but the next day I received a letter from the editor, who apologized and said he'd look into it with the reviewer. I don't know if I'll hear from them again. But given that they are a reputable organization, I really hope that I do.
Kirkus Reviews - Meanwhile, I decided that one review is not enough. I may or may not receive a review from Publishers Weekly via the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, and rather than wait for that and for the Midwest Book Review to get back to me, I decided to order a review from Kirkus Reviews. You have to pay for these reviews, unfortunately, but it in no way guarantees a good review. It is a highly respected company, and it has to stand by its reviews. Once I receive the review (probably late April - more waiting), I'll have the option of making it public. If it's bad, I don't have to have it posted on their website. I predict it wont' be giving me five stars, but if it's mostly good, I will post it.
IndieReader.com - Finally, I sent my book for review to IndieReader.com. Their reviews are free, but there's no guarantee your book will get reviewed at all. With the Midwest Book Review, I knew I had a 1 in 3 chance, but with IndieReader, I haven't a clue what the odds are. Still, worth a try.
In the end, I care far more what readers think of my book than what professional reviewers think. However, good reviews from professional reviewers could potentially get me more readers, so it's a necessary evil. If you have read my book and would like to review it, please do so on the Amazon of your choice. You can use a secret pen name if you want your review to be anonymous!
Midwest Book Review - On the weekend, I finally received a review from the well-respected Midwest Book Review. The organization only reviews less than a third of the books for which reviews are requested, so I was excited and smiling when I received the review from them. Without revealing too much, let's just say that it was a positive but problematic review. It had a major error. I have the right to use the review, which has some very favorable sentences that would be good for marketing purposes, but it didn't feel right because of the flaw. So I wrote to them and pointed out the error. I thought I might never hear from them again, but the next day I received a letter from the editor, who apologized and said he'd look into it with the reviewer. I don't know if I'll hear from them again. But given that they are a reputable organization, I really hope that I do.
IndieReader.com - Finally, I sent my book for review to IndieReader.com. Their reviews are free, but there's no guarantee your book will get reviewed at all. With the Midwest Book Review, I knew I had a 1 in 3 chance, but with IndieReader, I haven't a clue what the odds are. Still, worth a try.
In the end, I care far more what readers think of my book than what professional reviewers think. However, good reviews from professional reviewers could potentially get me more readers, so it's a necessary evil. If you have read my book and would like to review it, please do so on the Amazon of your choice. You can use a secret pen name if you want your review to be anonymous!
More Reviews!
Thank you thank you thank you :)))) Authors love reviews!!
This is the first e-book I have purchased and it was perfect for my daily train commutes. Each chapter brought me to far away places to witness another's adventure in Turkey and learn about myself through my experience of the story. Once finished, I immediately wanted to share it with my teenage daughter. This book was well written and I felt transported the reader not only to Turkey, but also back in time to reevaluate the difficulties of youth. A very enjoyable and refreshing account of a cultural exchange experience. I felt compassion for the challenges of the characters while enjoying my gift of hindsight. It is written through the eyes of teenagers experiencing the world outside of their comfort zone and culture. Embarrassingly naive at times and it reminds one of a time long gone by but not forgotten. Having been to Istanbul, I found the book to be a different experience than the hustle and bustle of a city adventure.
I would recommend every person, who wishes to be a voyeur in a lovely summer adventure and to share that adventure with friends, family or bookclubs, to read this book. It is nostalgia at its best, yet modern enough to actually happen to us, if we are lucky! I wish I could have read this book when I was a teenager and been that much wiser EARLIER!
_________________________________________________________________
This book is a delightful first book written by Saskia. I always especially enjoy books with an international background, and learning a little about Turkish family life was fascinating. I gave copies to granddaughters, and one immediately sat down to read it and enjoyed it as much as I did. I can't wait for her next book!
_________________________________________________________________
It is a sensitive expression of true friendship, respect and the
difficulties of becoming an adult and a parent, in two, very different
cultures. A wonderful read for anyone who appreciates travel and the
generational vs. cultural differences in life.
This is the first e-book I have purchased and it was perfect for my daily train commutes. Each chapter brought me to far away places to witness another's adventure in Turkey and learn about myself through my experience of the story. Once finished, I immediately wanted to share it with my teenage daughter. This book was well written and I felt transported the reader not only to Turkey, but also back in time to reevaluate the difficulties of youth. A very enjoyable and refreshing account of a cultural exchange experience. I felt compassion for the challenges of the characters while enjoying my gift of hindsight. It is written through the eyes of teenagers experiencing the world outside of their comfort zone and culture. Embarrassingly naive at times and it reminds one of a time long gone by but not forgotten. Having been to Istanbul, I found the book to be a different experience than the hustle and bustle of a city adventure.
I would recommend every person, who wishes to be a voyeur in a lovely summer adventure and to share that adventure with friends, family or bookclubs, to read this book. It is nostalgia at its best, yet modern enough to actually happen to us, if we are lucky! I wish I could have read this book when I was a teenager and been that much wiser EARLIER!
_________________________________________________________________
This Christmas as one of her gifts to me, my Oma gave me this book. I am
13 years old (using my mom's account for this)and found 'Secrets of a
Summer Village' an enjoyable read. I learned a bit about Turkish culture
and found the character of Rachel highly entertaining...I had a hard
time putting this book down.Now I wish to go on a trip like Rachel and
share experiences. I love the cover and was inspired by how Saskia self
published the book. Wow.
________________________________________________________________
As one who travels, I love to read about different cultures. After reading "Secrets of a Summer Village," I found myself longing to be in this delightful place. The book is so descriptive that I could almost feel the sunshine and warmth of the Aagean Sea, as well as the warmth of the Turkish people.
During Rachael's visit, she discovers cultural differences, and also many similarities to the values from which she was raised.
It would be wonderful if more young people could experience a summer of discovery and adventure similar to Rachel's.
The next best thing to actually being there is reading this book.
Because of the extremes portrayed by the news media, the word "Muslim" has become a dirty word.
This book can help to change that stereotype and open one's mind to acceptance of others. For this reason, and also because the story is delightful and entertaining, I would recommend it to young and old alike, and would like to see it on a suggested school reading list.
________________________________________________________________
I was thoroughly entertained and engaged by Secrets of a Summer Village.
The characters are well-developed, particularly Rachel who is
literally transformed during her summer in Turkey. Will there be a
sequel, Ms Akyil? As an American, I particularly enjoyed being immersed
in Turkish culture and glad to see that traditional customs are being
carried out. The experiences and friendships of the teenagers present
dilemmas that all teens face in any culture. Ms. Akyil has portrayed
the challenges in a forthright fashion and I think there is a strong
moral backbone. I have given the book to several of my friends who have
teenage children and they couldn't put the book down.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
As one who travels, I love to read about different cultures. After reading "Secrets of a Summer Village," I found myself longing to be in this delightful place. The book is so descriptive that I could almost feel the sunshine and warmth of the Aagean Sea, as well as the warmth of the Turkish people.
During Rachael's visit, she discovers cultural differences, and also many similarities to the values from which she was raised.
It would be wonderful if more young people could experience a summer of discovery and adventure similar to Rachel's.
The next best thing to actually being there is reading this book.
Because of the extremes portrayed by the news media, the word "Muslim" has become a dirty word.
This book can help to change that stereotype and open one's mind to acceptance of others. For this reason, and also because the story is delightful and entertaining, I would recommend it to young and old alike, and would like to see it on a suggested school reading list.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
This book is a delightful first book written by Saskia. I always especially enjoy books with an international background, and learning a little about Turkish family life was fascinating. I gave copies to granddaughters, and one immediately sat down to read it and enjoyed it as much as I did. I can't wait for her next book!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
contests to apply for!!
Here, you (and I) can find the 2012 competitions for independently published books!!! Already applied to the first one :)
https://www.createspace.com/en/community/docs/DOC-1822
https://www.createspace.com/en/community/docs/DOC-1822
Another self-published to publisher-published story
Being self-published is wonderful in many ways, but there's some attraction to having a major publisher take on your book. I'm not entirely sure why this is, given that new authors still have to take a large part in the promotion of their books. I think I would still like mainstream publishers to publish my book. It's good to know that it happens - I wonder if in the future this is the way it will always happen?
http://www.fearfuladventurer.com/archives/5940
http://www.fearfuladventurer.com/archives/5940
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest
Tomorrow, I'm going to enter my novel into the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. They are accepting 5000 entries per genre, which means that if I manage to enter (maybe 5000 people will manage to get their applications in before I do), I won't have much of a chance of winning.
Each category has 2 grand prizes, and three first prizes. There are a total of 500 second prizes, and 2000 third prizes for the entire contest. I do not have high chances of getting any prize, and yet I'm going to enter anyway. I have nothing to lose, everything to gain, and even if I make it past the first elimination round, I'll feel good.
In round one, they read the pitch (up to 300 words), and advance the top 1000 entries to the next round. So I have about a one in five chance of making it to round two. If I don't make it past the first round, I'll be a bit sad, I think, but I'm going to try anyway. Round I ends on February 21st. Wish me luck :)
Each category has 2 grand prizes, and three first prizes. There are a total of 500 second prizes, and 2000 third prizes for the entire contest. I do not have high chances of getting any prize, and yet I'm going to enter anyway. I have nothing to lose, everything to gain, and even if I make it past the first elimination round, I'll feel good.
In round one, they read the pitch (up to 300 words), and advance the top 1000 entries to the next round. So I have about a one in five chance of making it to round two. If I don't make it past the first round, I'll be a bit sad, I think, but I'm going to try anyway. Round I ends on February 21st. Wish me luck :)
Thursday, January 19, 2012
A gift from a stranger
If you want to give a gift that costs you nothing and brings great pleasure to its recipient, write a book review of a book you enjoyed. It doesn't matter if it's a world-famous author or a completely unknown author. Writers want their stories to be read. The following is a review of my book that someone posted on Amazon. I've never met her and never communicated with her - 3 degrees of separation here. She is a friend of my brother's girlfriend, and my brother gave her the book to read. She is the first person to write a review of my book on Amazon.com. Thank you, Susan D. Wylie, for such a kind and thoughtful gift! (I would have been pleased even if I hadn't been given five stars.)
5.0 out of 5 stars Transports you straight to Turkey,January 18, 2012
5.0 out of 5 stars Transports you straight to Turkey,
By
This review is from: Secrets of a Summer Village (Paperback)
Here's a link to the actual review: First review on Amazon.com
Monday, January 16, 2012
My First Reading
High Expectations
My expectations for my first reading of Secrets of a Summer Village were really high. I have a tendency to keep low expectations for everything as a means of avoiding disappointment. However, this time my expectations were very high because 1) this was my first reading and I didn't know any better, and 2) being the author of an English-language book and not living in an English-speaking country means that there are not a lot of opportunities out there for me to speak. Oh, and being self-published doesn't help, either.
A few friends recommended that I contact the Munich Readery, the largest second-hand bookstore in Germany which just happens to be in Munich (close to where we live). They hold readings on a regular basis, I was told, and maybe they'd even host mine. I contacted them, and established communication with one of the owners, Lisa Yarger. We went in to meet her one Saturday morning, and I brought her a copy of my book. The kids sat and enjoyed Lisa reading aloud to children, and I could definitely see myself reading in that cosy environment. Still, Lisa would need to read the book to make sure it was ok. Sure enough, she liked it well enough to offer me two possible dates - one in January and one in March. Being excited, I chose the earlier date.
BIG audience
It was this past Saturday. In retrospect, I was nervous. I don't think I slept well all week. I practiced less than I expected, but the last practice session, on Friday morning, went really well and I wrote lots of notes on the passages I would read (chosen by Lisa, who knows more about this stuff than I do). Mostly, I wrote: READ SLOWLY, and I underlined words that needed to be emphasized. Throughout the week, Lisa sendt me updates, telling me how many people had reserved seats. There were 30 available seats, and Lisa had told me that they've never had a full house before, so I was free to publicize the event to my large network. By Saturday morning, 37 people had signed up, but Lisa wasn't too nervous because in her experience, there are usually quite a few no-shows. I was very curious as to who was going to come - I knew that some friends and acquaintances had signed up, but not 37 of them.
Preparations
We had this idea that we'd sell wine by the glass, which Lisa agreed would be fine. Since we have a side business selling eastern Mediterranean wine (including Turkish wine), it seemed appropriate. I also offered to bring homemade pogaca, a pastry filled with cheese and parsley. I spent most of the day Saturday getting ready - making pogaca, making sure I didn't forget my notes, books to sell, the pogaca, wine, wine glasses, a wine opener, a CD (to play when people were entering), and one of my lucky pens (I have a few...).
Success!
I was not disappointed. The evening was a huge success! I don't know how many people came in all, but definitely more than thirty, as there was no seat for Levent and for quite a few others, who had to stand behind me. I knew some of the people there, but I didn't know most of them - I was really flattered that so many people would come to listen to me read. They were a fabulous audience. They were quiet (I was pretty worried that they'd chit chat and that my voice wouldn't carry). They laughed in all the right places (BIG relief). They asked excellent questions when I was done reading (thanks, Levent, for doing a mock interview with me before the reading!), and they complimented me on my reading. THAT was very unexpected. I think I've written a very good book, but I didn't expect that people would compliment me so much on my delivery. Quite a few people bought books and asked for me to sign them (what to write?! not so easy). Lisa said, and I quote, "for a variety of reasons, it was the most successful event we've ever hosted." Thank, you, Lisa - it exceeded all of my expectations, too :)
POGACA
Many of the attendees asked for the pogaca recipe, and I told them I'd post it on my blog. It's my mother-in-law's recipe, and I am 100% sure that it is the best pogaca recipe I've ever tried:
Dough:
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup olive oil
teaspoon salt
1 package of baking powder (5 teaspoons)
3 cups flour
Filling & finishing:
1 egg
1 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup crumbled cheese (I usually use feta-type cheese, but be creative. Would also be good with grated mozzarella, parmesan, or perhaps even blue cheese)
a sprinkle of dry dill or a few tablespoons of fresh chopped dill
a sprinkle of black pepper
sesame seeds and kalonji/nigella/black caraway seeds
---------------
For the dough, mix all ingredients together and knead well for a few minutes. Set aside and let rise 30 minutes or more (up to a few hours is fine)
Prepare the filling:
Mix together parsley, cheese, dill, egg white (save the yolk), black pepper and cayenne.
Break off walnut-size pieces of the dough and form into a ball. Squash each ball in the palm of your hand to form a round of dough. Put in a small amount of filling (a teaspoon at most) and fold over, then seal closed by pressing the edges of the half-moon together. Place pastries onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper. They can be relatively close together, as they won't expand much.
When you've filled all the rounds, brush each one with egg yolk and
sprinkle with sesame and kalonji seeds (kalonji seeds are black - not pictured here).
Bake at 175 Celcius (around 350 F) until golden - make sure the bottoms of the poaca are also golden in color. If they are still white, they are not done yet.
These look like they are a lot of work, but they are not - that being said, they take much longer to make than they do to eat!
Pictures
Finally, some pictures from the evening:
My expectations for my first reading of Secrets of a Summer Village were really high. I have a tendency to keep low expectations for everything as a means of avoiding disappointment. However, this time my expectations were very high because 1) this was my first reading and I didn't know any better, and 2) being the author of an English-language book and not living in an English-speaking country means that there are not a lot of opportunities out there for me to speak. Oh, and being self-published doesn't help, either.
A few friends recommended that I contact the Munich Readery, the largest second-hand bookstore in Germany which just happens to be in Munich (close to where we live). They hold readings on a regular basis, I was told, and maybe they'd even host mine. I contacted them, and established communication with one of the owners, Lisa Yarger. We went in to meet her one Saturday morning, and I brought her a copy of my book. The kids sat and enjoyed Lisa reading aloud to children, and I could definitely see myself reading in that cosy environment. Still, Lisa would need to read the book to make sure it was ok. Sure enough, she liked it well enough to offer me two possible dates - one in January and one in March. Being excited, I chose the earlier date.
BIG audience
It was this past Saturday. In retrospect, I was nervous. I don't think I slept well all week. I practiced less than I expected, but the last practice session, on Friday morning, went really well and I wrote lots of notes on the passages I would read (chosen by Lisa, who knows more about this stuff than I do). Mostly, I wrote: READ SLOWLY, and I underlined words that needed to be emphasized. Throughout the week, Lisa sendt me updates, telling me how many people had reserved seats. There were 30 available seats, and Lisa had told me that they've never had a full house before, so I was free to publicize the event to my large network. By Saturday morning, 37 people had signed up, but Lisa wasn't too nervous because in her experience, there are usually quite a few no-shows. I was very curious as to who was going to come - I knew that some friends and acquaintances had signed up, but not 37 of them.
Preparations
We had this idea that we'd sell wine by the glass, which Lisa agreed would be fine. Since we have a side business selling eastern Mediterranean wine (including Turkish wine), it seemed appropriate. I also offered to bring homemade pogaca, a pastry filled with cheese and parsley. I spent most of the day Saturday getting ready - making pogaca, making sure I didn't forget my notes, books to sell, the pogaca, wine, wine glasses, a wine opener, a CD (to play when people were entering), and one of my lucky pens (I have a few...).
Success!
I was not disappointed. The evening was a huge success! I don't know how many people came in all, but definitely more than thirty, as there was no seat for Levent and for quite a few others, who had to stand behind me. I knew some of the people there, but I didn't know most of them - I was really flattered that so many people would come to listen to me read. They were a fabulous audience. They were quiet (I was pretty worried that they'd chit chat and that my voice wouldn't carry). They laughed in all the right places (BIG relief). They asked excellent questions when I was done reading (thanks, Levent, for doing a mock interview with me before the reading!), and they complimented me on my reading. THAT was very unexpected. I think I've written a very good book, but I didn't expect that people would compliment me so much on my delivery. Quite a few people bought books and asked for me to sign them (what to write?! not so easy). Lisa said, and I quote, "for a variety of reasons, it was the most successful event we've ever hosted." Thank, you, Lisa - it exceeded all of my expectations, too :)
 | |
| I don't like profile photos, but this will have to do. |
Many of the attendees asked for the pogaca recipe, and I told them I'd post it on my blog. It's my mother-in-law's recipe, and I am 100% sure that it is the best pogaca recipe I've ever tried:
Dough:
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup olive oil
teaspoon salt
1 package of baking powder (5 teaspoons)
3 cups flour
Filling & finishing:
1 egg
1 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup crumbled cheese (I usually use feta-type cheese, but be creative. Would also be good with grated mozzarella, parmesan, or perhaps even blue cheese)
a sprinkle of dry dill or a few tablespoons of fresh chopped dill
a sprinkle of black pepper
sesame seeds and kalonji/nigella/black caraway seeds
---------------
For the dough, mix all ingredients together and knead well for a few minutes. Set aside and let rise 30 minutes or more (up to a few hours is fine)
Prepare the filling:
Mix together parsley, cheese, dill, egg white (save the yolk), black pepper and cayenne.
Break off walnut-size pieces of the dough and form into a ball. Squash each ball in the palm of your hand to form a round of dough. Put in a small amount of filling (a teaspoon at most) and fold over, then seal closed by pressing the edges of the half-moon together. Place pastries onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper. They can be relatively close together, as they won't expand much.
When you've filled all the rounds, brush each one with egg yolk and
sprinkle with sesame and kalonji seeds (kalonji seeds are black - not pictured here).Bake at 175 Celcius (around 350 F) until golden - make sure the bottoms of the poaca are also golden in color. If they are still white, they are not done yet.
These look like they are a lot of work, but they are not - that being said, they take much longer to make than they do to eat!
Pictures
Finally, some pictures from the evening:
 |
| Levent, my sweet husband (who inspired the book) and me |
 |
| The audience, before I read. |
 |
| The captivated audience (and one lady who is removing her sweater). |
 |
| Here's Levent with the wine, talking to an audience member. |
 |
| And here's his business partner, Ralph. |
 |
| And here I am, signing a book. This is one reason I did not just publish digitally. It is just so cool to autograph a book. |
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Author Reading!
On January 14th, which is now just over a week away, I'll be reading from my book at a local bookstore. I'm really excited - and nervous - about it. I've practiced reading some passages aloud, and it's much harder than I thought it would be. I'll be practicing daily from now until the reading, and hopefully I'll be ready on the day.
Here's a screenshot of the announcement of the reading on the bookstore's website:
And here's the full text of the announcement:
If you plan to come, don't forget to send an e-mail to the above address (and let me know!)
Here's a screenshot of the announcement of the reading on the bookstore's website:
And here's the full text of the announcement:
Can
coffee grounds tell your future? Will fate bring you
to your soul mate thousands of miles from home? How
will you know if it's him? Would the evil eye dare stop two
souls on their paths to each other?
Join us on Saturday, 14 January at 7 p.m. when Saskia E. Akyil reads from her novel, Secrets of a Summer Village. Teenagers and grown-ups alike will delight in the story of Rachel Guo, a seventeen-year-old American who accepts a last-minute invitation to spend a month with a Turkish host family on the Aegean coast. This intercultural coming-of-age novel is full of exotic tastes, summer heat, promises kept and broken, and love. Rachel learns that many aspects of Turkish culture are different than her own, but that family, friendship, and love are universal.
A reception following the reading will feature Turkish wines for sale and homemade pogaca (a Turkish pastry with cheese and parsley) on the house. This event is free, but reservations are required. To reserve a seat, please email store@themunichreadery.com.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Saskia E. Akyil has a B.A. in International Studies from Emory University and an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) from the University of Minnesota. She has worked as a community college ESL professor for immigrants, as a state program administrator for displaced homemakers, and as a Spanish-language medical interpreter. In 2005 she moved to Munich, where she and her husband have two sons. In 2011 she self-published Secrets of a Summer Village.
Join us on Saturday, 14 January at 7 p.m. when Saskia E. Akyil reads from her novel, Secrets of a Summer Village. Teenagers and grown-ups alike will delight in the story of Rachel Guo, a seventeen-year-old American who accepts a last-minute invitation to spend a month with a Turkish host family on the Aegean coast. This intercultural coming-of-age novel is full of exotic tastes, summer heat, promises kept and broken, and love. Rachel learns that many aspects of Turkish culture are different than her own, but that family, friendship, and love are universal.
A reception following the reading will feature Turkish wines for sale and homemade pogaca (a Turkish pastry with cheese and parsley) on the house. This event is free, but reservations are required. To reserve a seat, please email store@themunichreadery.com.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Saskia E. Akyil has a B.A. in International Studies from Emory University and an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) from the University of Minnesota. She has worked as a community college ESL professor for immigrants, as a state program administrator for displaced homemakers, and as a Spanish-language medical interpreter. In 2005 she moved to Munich, where she and her husband have two sons. In 2011 she self-published Secrets of a Summer Village.
If you plan to come, don't forget to send an e-mail to the above address (and let me know!)
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