a grateful bistro

Exhale. I finished my book. It's been many years coming, painful and joyous many times over. 

The book has morphed several times. Alon Shaya, author of Shaya, will never know me or just how much energy he fed me when mine was wavering and so very low. I didn't know how to take the reader on this journey with me that started based on evenings with two friends, then expanded to a book club, was halted by a death that tested me like nothing else, brought back to life as a modest pseudo bistro with southern roots but deeply felt leanings toward all things Italian. Sounds like a wordy mess.

I realized though, that Shaya's journey was an unusual path from Israel to Philadelphia in his youth, as an adult opening a regional Italian restaurant in New Orleans then returning trips to Israel returned him to his culinary roots and in The Big Easy he also opened an Israeli influenced Creole restaurant. Food gave him new life just as it did me! If he could bring his experiences together in a way that made sense, then I could also. I think I accomplished that. 

But now, here I sit feeling all dressed up with no where to go.

The chances of getting published are so very slim. It is just a fact. I have no trail of even the smallest crumbs for anyone to follow: no social media stamp, no prior book published, no credentials in the world of words or food, and as is often the key that opens doors, I have no contacts.

I am not interested in self-publishing, and even if it was my option I couldn't afford it. The book is 300+ pages chock full of glorious photos, yet another reason that publishers likely won't risk an unknown.

So how is it that I'm still so happy about my situation? 

Truthfully, as simple as the explanations are that prop up most sayings, I do believe and always will that it's about the journey, not the destination. Mine has been a humbling, beautiful, and rich experience.

Doesn't mean I'm giving up. I'm so proud of this book; it is really, really good and worth pursuing however winding the path ahead may be.