So, what's next?

Dear Friends and Fans of On the Rocks,

I hope you are staying cool during this crazy heat wave. The title of this post is what gives every writer the feeling of dread. “So, what’s next for you?”

The first time I was asked this question was months before On the Rocks was available for sale. After all the heavy lifting finishing the manuscript, finding an agent and a publisher, and then going directly into 24/7 book marketing and heavy travel, I’ve wanted to answer, “I dunno, maybe sleep?”

However, I politely dodged the question for almost a year being vague about what’s next. Part of me was just too busy to focus on the next thing, but part of me was annoyed that I hadn’t figured it out yet. The cherry-on-top of it all was that my agent left the agenting business. Not only did I have to figure out my next project, but I also needed to go back into the sea-of-no-return to find a partner to work with me. Anxiety-provoking at best.

Well, as you know from a previous post, the agent thing figured itself out. In the process, the project thing did too. Part of this was the new agent, but most of this was all of you. I have been amazed and equally humbled at how much you all have embraced our foodie-based experiential events. Inevitably, every time we have one, the same question comes from the audience, “So when’s the cookbook coming out?”

You asked (repeatedly) and I decided to finally listen. I am excited to announce that my next project will be a narrative-driven cookbook with family recipes and Primadonna fare. The project (if it sells) won’t be out for quite a while, but I wanted to let you all know, it is in-the-works.

Where can you see us in the immediate future?

Pittsburgh, we are closing out the month with you for our last public event this Thursday, June 27th from 6-7 pm at the Robinson Township Library. No pre-registration is required for this, but we do recommend that you come a few minutes early to grab a seat. The librarian expects it to be a full house. Ruthie and I are a definite for this one. My parents are a strong possibility as well.

Other cool stuff!

I was invited to a cool Food Network Stars event at the American Dream Mall this past week. It featured a cooking demo by Chopped Judges Amanda Freitag and Marcus Samuelsson in honor of Amanda’s new cookbook. We then ate at Marcus Live!, Marcus’s NJ restaurant. It was amazing to get this invitation and to see that hospitality is alive and well in some places. The service was extraordinary as was the food. You know I don’t give these compliments out lightly today. It’s things like this that remind me how far we’ve come in the past year as a result of On the Rocks. (In the second photo, I’m in the front row behind Amanda’s head). There may be more to share about this soon. ;)

Lastly, here’s a couple of past event photos here in NJ.

Kinnelon Library (Kinnelon, NJ) 6/13/24 6:30-7:30 pm

Crane’s Mill Retirement Community (West Caldwell, NJ) 6/19/24 2-3 pm.

With gratitude,

Maria C. Palmer :)