My Cookbook is Finally Here!
Everything I did on pub day, my launch event with Alison Roman, and going on TV
Hi everyone,
Hope you’re having a great week! I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my cookbook is officially out in the world as of Tuesday. Thank you so much to everyone who preordered the book or has come to events so far. It’s been incredibly special and energizing to meet folks in person. It makes the whole experience feel even more real and meaningful.
If you haven’t yet, you can pick up Maxi’s Kitchen at your local bookstore or order it online:
As always, thank you for your support. I’m so excited to finally share this book with you 🤍
In honor of pub week, I’m sharing a little recap of everything I did on Tuesday in New York City, which was the first stop of the book tour. I’ll also tell you about going on TV for the first time (!). It’s been such a fun and magical few days.
Behind the Scenes of Pub Day!
The buildup to pub day actually reminded me a little of the weeks leading up to my wedding. It felt like I was getting ready for a big life event. My parents flew in from the West Coast and many of my closest and oldest friends came to the launch event in New York City. In a way, it’s almost like a birthday, since it’s the day the book officially enters the world. All in all, it was such a happy, exciting day.
On pub day (Tuesday!) I started with my usual morning routine, a workout and meditation, because I wanted to be in a really good headspace for the event that evening. Then Doug and I walked to Radio Bakery, our favorite neighborhood spot, and got their focaccia sandwich and earl grey morning bun as a little breakfast treat. Like every other morning, I did my journaling while drinking my matcha. After that I went back home and posted my launch day announcement on Instagram.
Around noon, I met my parents for lunch at Sarge’s Delicatessen in Midtown East, one of our favorite delis that we’ve been going to for years. We ordered a feast of pickles and coleslaw, matzo ball and kreplach soup, kasha varnishkes, and a corned beef and pastrami sandwich on rye. After lunch I went to get my makeup done, which is always fun, and then got ready for the evening.
I’d chosen a special outfit for the launch event: a black suit jacket by Galvan, a designer I discovered when I was looking for my rehearsal dinner outfit for my wedding, paired with pants I found separately. Because they were both black, they ended up looking like a set.
In the late afternoon, I met up for drinks with my editor, the publicity team, and some of the people who worked on the book. It was so nice to celebrate together before heading over to the event.
It had been raining all day, but luckily we were only two blocks from the venue. Around 5:45pm we walked over so I could sign books in advance. My launch event was hosted by the New York City bookstore Yu & Me in partnership with the New Design High School, and it took place in their library to accommodate everyone.
As soon as I arrived, I started signing the books so people wouldn’t have to wait afterward. It was pretty surreal to see these big stacks of my book! I thought signing all 120 copies might take a while, but it ended up taking only about 15 minutes.
Then people started arriving. It was just as special as I’d imagined to meet everyone in person. Some had been following my journey for years, even before I got laid off. One woman told me she had taken the day off work and come all the way from Connecticut. I was so touched that people had carved out the time to be there.
Around 7pm the event began. My conversation partner was Alison Roman, who I’ve always looked up to. I felt so lucky that she agreed to be in conversation with me for the launch. She was engaging, funny, and thoughtful, and asked such great questions. We talked about my journey, how I got to where I am today, and learning to cook with my mom. We also discussed my creative process, what I do to recharge, and how to stay inspired when you work in a creative field. Doug sat in the front row and my mom was right behind him, so they both chimed in a bit, which made it extra sweet. Earlier in the day I’d felt a little nervous picturing myself speaking in front of more than 100 people, but once I got up there it actually felt very natural.
After the conversation, I stayed to meet everyone, personalize books, and take photos. Around 9pm the building closed and we all had to head out. Doug and I went straight home because I had a 6am flight the next morning. We ordered a pizza, I ate a little, and then tried to fall asleep, though I was still buzzing from the excitement of the night. One thing I really loved throughout the day was hearing from friends and family who had already received the book in the mail. It was surreal knowing people were holding it for the first time and sharing their reactions.
The next morning, I met my mom at the airport and we flew to Washington, DC so I could appear at 11:45am on the Marissa Mitchel show on Fox 5.
It was so cool to be part of a live television broadcast. First they had me film a few teaser clips for the “coming up after the break” moments, where I was basically just waving at the camera. Right before the segment started, my heart rate went up a bit and I focused on my breathing to stay calm. But as soon as I started talking, it felt surprisingly comfortable and easy. We chatted about the book and the conversation flowed really naturally. (You can watch the segment here! My part starts at 48:20.)
I’ve never been on TV before, but it honestly felt like something I’d done in a past life. It also gave me a big boost of confidence. After the segment, I mentioned to Marissa Mitchel that it was my first time on TV, and she looked shocked and said, “Oh my gosh, you’re a natural. I would’ve never thought it was your first time!” The producer also came up and invited me back on the show. It was such a lovely way to start the second day of the tour and great practice for my upcoming TV segments. Stay tuned!
Then we were off to Charlotte and Chicago for the next stops!
Thank you so much to everyone who has come to an event or is planning to join on the book tour (you can still get your tickets here!). I can’t wait to hear what recipes you cook from the book and which ones become your favorites.
Wishing you a wonderful, relaxing weekend!
Love,
Maxine
I love your book! So happy it’s finally out 😆😄
It’s so nice to see your journey come to view . I love learning from your videos. You made it happen 🙌🙌