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| Hope & Prayer |
Today
is 18th April. It is exactly 2 months since I started my latest
project. This book is in fact the one that I should have worked on before The Bank Cook. I guess God had a purpose for that one to be done first.
The
current project I am working on is draining and challenging. I can see the end,
but I can’t see how it is all going to happen. The project is almost like a “ministry
through food” book and linking Jesus 40 days fast to the Daniel's kind of fast.
With
the struggles and unplanned hiccups, it seems I cannot involved anyone else on
the creative process. I rely a lot on the moods of the sun to take the best
food photographs and because it is unpredictable, I cannot book anyone to help.
I can only cook when the sun is out. Photos have to be taken of dishes when
they are still fresh and vibrant.
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| Gathering tools |
The
fact that I am investing part of my salary in it doesn’t help as when the budgeted
cash runs out I have to stop until next pay day pending on my bills for that
month.
At
first I felt awkward admitting this to myself. Given the magnitude (in my mind)
of this project, I should have saved first, but…
The
low disposable income is forcing me to create the recipes, cooking, create
scene with props, taking the photographs review them, write the texts and come
up with the book concept. I am also the administrator and the accountant for
this project, which gives me the freedom to do anything at any time even if
it means cancelling my plans just because the sun hasn't shown up when I opened
the curtains.
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| Keep moving |
We are
Saturday today. This week, I went to see an independent film followed by a
Q&A. I wasn’t expecting to feel so close to the man who put it all together.
The film is called Tea & Sangria and
was written, produced and acted by an Englishman who lived in Spain for 7 years.
See the trailer here
The film
was shot in 50 days over 2 years. What Peter Domankiewicz said during the Q&A touched me. He
had written few scripts before and they all were rejected. Tea & Sangria was one of his first scripts and he loved it so
much that he decide to direct it. Peter couldn’t afford a leading man so he decide
to become the leading actor of the film. That saved on hotel bills for the
actor. He also had to change crews so many times because he couldn’t afford to
keep them on full time.
The
filming also completely depended on his finances so, when he ran out of cash
the filming had to stop. But he persisted and finally shot the whole movie in
50 days over 2 years. The film is about an English man who packs everything in
the UK to move in with the woman he loves in Spain. She, being Spanish is very
volatile and he ends up sleeping on one of her exes’ sofa while he is looking
for a job and another place to live. Some parts of the film are autobiographical,
there is a lot of swearing but, ultimately hearing the struggle behind the
making of this film is an encouragement to me.
Peter Domankiewicz had a dream, and had to make it happen.
The film will launch in Empires cinemas in the UK in the next few days… that is
one blooming achievement!
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| Dive in |
As I
continue to plod on with my project, I am not sure how is going to be received.
I am focusing on coming up with the recipes, taking the photos, writing the
texts and laying it all out on paper. To date I’ve got 30 recipes waiting to be
written. I intend to do a minimum of 70 so, technically I am half way. Once I
have written and laid out the 30 recipes I will be looking for editors and publishers.
If I don’t find one who takes me seriously, God has a plan and has just granted
me a pay rise just yesterday. That rise and the £300 I have been saving to put
towards self-publishing, will help printing the book samples. I think I could self-publish
to start with.
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| Rise in the heat |
At this
stage, I am looking at launching it all for my 40th and God willing,
it will not cost me an arm and a leg.
If it
all happens, pray that you who are following my progress since the start will
buy at least 1 copy of the book.
For
now, please pray that I don’t flap or give up as I detest the writing process.
Stay
in touch and hopefully see you on 8th December 2015 when I will shout out HERE
IT IS! While brandishing the book.
Until
then, I’d like to leave you with this: If you have a God given dream, however
big or small, start working on it. Don’t wait for that extra £, that special
job or whatever you are waiting for. Following a dream requires, prayers, courage,
strength, isolation and hope. So, set a date, pray about it and take the first
step!
Thank
you for reading. God bless. Keep dreaming and keep going.
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| This is how the finish looks like....This dish will be in the book |
