Welcome to Lillian & Dave Brummet and their many books!
Lillian and her husband Dave are the team behind Brummet Media Group, high-fiving cheerfully as they pass each other on the way from checking off one item or other from their long to-do list. After moving to their dream location (in the Kootenay Region of BC, Canada), they have been methodically converting the abused lot over to the little park it has become – and in doing so have gained certification with bee, pollinator and wildlife organizations. Their home, too, has become energy efficient via the many upgrades they have done. Their business includes Dave’s music studio and percussion accessory products and graphic design work as well as numerous award-winning non-fiction books and popular blogs. Today we help them celebrate their latest book release - From One Small Garden, with over 300 delicious, nutritious recipes!
Links:
Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/lillianbrummet
Brummet's
Website: http://BrummetMedia.ca
FaceBook: http://facebook.com/lillian.brummet
Q: How many (books) bookshelves do you have in your home?
L: A walking tour through
our home and studio reveals 3 wall units upstairs, 4 shelves in the studio and
1 shelf in the kitchen - all of them filled with books. I'd guess at perhaps
6-dozen novels, and probably 8-dozen reference books ranging from photography,
music, computer programs, gardening, writing and health.
Q: Why did you feel this book needed to be written?
D: I think the times we are
living in dictate a turn towards people growing more of their own food in their
backyards. With this in mind and the fact that we have been doing exactly that
for over 30 years we felt our collection of well-refined recipes could be very
relevant and well received. We have had people showing keen interest ever since
we started the project so many years ago. Another twist of the book is that it
is not as meat-heavy as the average North American diet tends to be. As former
vegetarians, we realized a compromise is all too possible. Like the Asian style
of diet they have a small serving of protein with a lot of vegetables and rice
or noodles. The typical North American plate has a big chunk of meat with a
small portion of vegetables possibly. I always feel less energetic after a meal
heavy in protein unless I have just been on a big hike or ride and have the
need for that kind of portioning to replace what I burned off.
Q: What was your path to publication?
L: From
One Small Garden started out as a collection of recipes we
gathered from friends and family or created ourselves and over the years this
developed into 2 binders filled with recipes. We decided to systematically go
through them deciding on the best-of-the-best and organizing them for
ourselves. It helped that at the time (1998), I had been in a car accident and
was home to do this task. After we became writers and had been in the career
for a few years, we decided that this collection needed to be published. That
was some 18 years ago... and since then the manuscript has been worked on
sporadically, set aside while we took on various life challenges, business and
work projects, publishing 6 other books and renovated and landscaped 2
different homes we bought/sold. Finally in 2019, we again took up the task of
completing the cookbook project, organizing for beta testers/readers, editing,
book cover design, etc. and by early 2021 it was released.
Q: What are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer?
D: The surprise was
that the work only increases after your book is published. As a self-promoting
team we have to do everything we can to get the book to the attention of the
audience we wish to target. Of course this was different decades ago when you
might have a publishing company involved in this, but the world of books has
changed. Unless you are a big name you are going to be on your own for the most
of it and it can be intense. You need to have a well thought out plan and stick
to it in order to get noticed. Flexibility is the key – always be ready to
adapt to what ever comes your way. It will keep you pliable and ready for
anything.
Q: What is your proudest writer moment?
L: Our Trash
Talk series is probably the project that I find the most pride in.
Through this series we have influenced people all over the world to live more
proactively, consciously saving money and reducing consumption of resources,
while helping their own communities. My proudest moment came when the Recycling
Council of British Columbia presented us with an award for "outstanding
use of various media in on-going outreach work to reduce waste in our
environment" and then we were recognized as Community Heroes by the
LiveSmart BC program. Mere words cannot describe how it feels to hear from our
former radio listeners, and our readers over the years... their stories of how
we influenced them to become proactive and make a difference.
Q: What business challenges have you faced as a writer?
D: The learning of new
software and web design has been a big challenge in my end of things. There is
always something to learn in the realm of graphic design but it is a challenge
I love to take on as it only increases my knowledge and ability to do all of
our own promotional projects for all aspects of our business.
Q: What is your writer life philosophy?
L: Find a problem that affects people's lives and the health of the
planet, solve the problem and provide a step-by-step guide for others to
follow. For me, the task of making that information palatable and enjoyable for
the reader comes afterwards. Writing is a way for me to leave a positive
legacy, to make a difference for others and to have a lasting impact on the
environment.
Q: What is the wisest thing anyone has said to you?
D: My African friend and drum mentor David Thiaw once said to me: “Share the information I have given you with others to perpetuate the craft of drumming. Don’t keep it to your chest like a thing to be hoarded, but give it willingly and share it with anyone that will listen”. I take this approach with everything I write or teach my students. I founded my drum studio on the premise that absolutely everyone goes away with some tidbit of drum, percussion or music knowledge that was not known to them previously.
Q: When starting a book project do you choose the title first, or does that come later?
D: Sometimes the title might
be preconceived but usually by the time the manuscript is finished the title
has gone through a few changes. It really depends on the market you are aiming
to sell to and also what is relevant to the times. Often by the time you finish
your book maybe someone else has used a title similar to yours so you might
change it based on that.
Q: What impact do you hope this book will have on the reader?
L: I hope that people are
able to reduce food waste and enjoy a more frugal menu plan that is filled with
fresh, locally grown produce. From
One Small Garden encourages the concept of growing food, even if
it is just a few pots on the front step or a vine trellis with beans or
cucumbers growing up it, blocking the sun on the deck. It encourages
composting, and gives some tips for energy and water conservation. I hope that
people are healthier and have found ways of extending their budget based on
ideas we share in the book.
TITLE: From One Small Garden
SUBTITLE Over 300 Delicious Nutritious Recipes
AUTHORs: Dave &
Lillian Brummet
This collection of recipes is the ultimate
guide to utilizing fresh fruits and vegetables from backyard gardens to
farmer’s markets - the freshest, purest source of food we can draw from. Loaded
with lots of interesting tidbits of historical and nutritional information,
this book is more than just a recipe book - it is a way of treating yourself to
the healthy, delicious rewards of one small garden...
WEBSITE: www.BrummetMedia.ca
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://amazon.com/author/lillianbrummet
GENRE: Cookbook /
health
PAGE # 275
ASIN: B08T7YRHPN
ISBN-13: 979-8596847116
Available at:
AMAZON USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T7YRHPN
AMAZON CANADA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08T7YRHPN
This is wonderful, thank you so much Diane for featuring us on your blog :)
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