Hi friends! WOW. I am humbled and overwhelmed by everyone's comments, FB and Instagram messages, emails, and texts since my pregnancy announcement last week! Thank you for sharing in our excitement, and for allowing me to be honest about some of the ups and downs of the first trimester. I'm feeling SO much better this week - with my energy and appetite back, it's hard to believe that I was so sick just a few weeks ago. I feel like the fun part is just beginning...!

But now, it's time to turn my attention back to my first baby (a.k.a. my cookbook!). I can't believe it's happening so soon, but The Yellow Table cookbook is coming out again in less than a month!! As most of you know, I have an awesome publisher – Sterling Epicure – and they've printed a second edition that will be released nationwide on August 4th. There are a few small changes, but for the most part, it's exactly the same (which I'm thrilled about). You'll be able to find it at Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and a bunch of other stores. And...in the coming months, I'll be traveling to Nashville, Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Pittsburgh (and of course NYC) to do some fun book-signing events! Details and dates coming soon.

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In the meantime, if you're at all interested in buying the book – for yourself, as a gift, or for any other reason – you can pre-order a copy online at Barnes & Noble or on Amazon! Here's why pre-ordering is an awesome idea:

1) You'll get it delivered to you on August 4. And you don't have to leave your house.

2) Barnes & Noble is running a TERRIFIC sale right now: for a limited time, the book is only $15! That's literally half off of its original price!! Or if you go with Amazon, you can get free Prime shipping...so either way, it's a deal.

3) And finally, as an added incentive, if you pre-order a copy, you'll be entered in a fun giveaway! I'll be releasing details next week, so hold onto your email receipts!

Friends, can I be really honest for a minute? A few months ago, I had big ideas about how I was going to have a huge pre-sales campaign at the beginning of the summer. I mapped out blog posts and partnerships and cool incentives to offer you guys. I planned a blog redesign and all sorts of other exciting projects to coincide with the relaunch of the book. And then I got pregnant, and sick for 2 months (as I detailed in my last post), and fell terribly behind in the whole process. I've been beating myself up for not accomplishing all of those goals.

But why does any of this pre-sale stuff even matter, anyway? Because, as I've recently learned, all pre-sales count towards the book's first week of sales. And best-seller lists are all based on the first week of sales. So...if an author has a really strong first week, then there's a chance of making, say, the New York Times Best Seller List!! I know that's absolutely crazy to even hope for something so big, but I say why not at least try?! How cool would that be if a formerly self-published, Kickstarter-funded book – that you guys tested recipes for! – was to make the best seller list?!?! Regardless, the stronger the pre-sales, the more chance that bookstores order more books, that the book is reprinted, and that I'm able to create a second book. So the pressure's on!

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But after giving myself some breathing room, you know what I realized? It's OK that I'm not a book marketing genius. Everything I've done throughout this book process has been fueled by totally unconventional, grass roots efforts. This cookbook has been a community effort, supported and backed by you all. More than a perfectly executed marketing campaign, I realized that the BEST spokespeople for this book are you all, my incredible blog readers! Many of you already own a copy of my book and have told me how much you love it, and how much you've enjoyed cooking from it - sometimes even weekly! Heck, some of you have told me that the book inspired you to buy a table and throw your first (and second and third) dinner party. I love hearing these stories.

So, I'm humbly asking for your help. If you've enjoyed cooking from this book, can you help me spread the word to your friends and family?! Here's what you can do:

1) Pre-order a copy (see above for reasons why!).

2) If you already have a copy of the book, take a picture of yourself (or a family member) holding the book or cooking with it, and post it on social media with a little blurb telling why you love it. And let your friends and family know where they can pre-order a copy (with a link to either B&N or Amazon)! Hashtag your pictures #theyellowtablecookbook so I can see them – I'll share my favorites on social media, and the rest I'll add into a fun collage I'm creating to post on the blog. The first FIVE people to post on social media will receive a free Yellow Table apron!

3) Finally, tell your friends! Whether via social media, through email, or just from person to person, I'd love for you guys to let your friends know that more copies are available.

OK, now that my shameless promotion is done, I'm going to go tackle the massive pile of dishes waiting for me in my sink. I really, really hate having to promote myself or my book, but trust me, I wouldn't ask for your help if I didn't really believe in the message of this book. And I really, truly do.

Thank you, friends. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!!!

xoxo, A

P.S. I'll be back Friday with a recipe. I promise!