14 Comments
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The Moonflower Chronicles's avatar

SHUT UP YOU DID THE THING!!!! And it was hard. And I bet you wanted to burn it to the ground 1,000 times, but you did it!!!! So proud, and I cannot wait to buy my own copy!

You have spun trauma into a feast, which is no small feat.

And I have to say, the scene with Jo and her book also inspired me more than any other movie scene ever. I thought of her the very moment I held my book for the first time (the linen bound, silver embossed copy that I always dreamed of).

May your book have legs and wings to reach many hands and many counter tops. May it be sprinkled with flour and splashed with gravy bits as people try your recipes.

You’ve done it. You made magic.🎉

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Brooke Anderson's avatar

So wonderful. All of this. I essentially burned many drafts to the ground and often pondered giving up. Haha. Thankful for the grace that both of us had to resist that impulse! We might not ever have met otherwise!

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The Sweet Deep's avatar

I hear strength and resilience here. Cooking was fighting for life and joy for you. These words you’ve penned matter and inspire me. Aftertaste sounds like the perfect title after reading what I’ve read here. Rooting for you!

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Brooke Anderson's avatar

I love this. It was truly a fight and I wish more people would dignify that this is what art truly is. It's no more noble if it's easy.

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Caroline Held's avatar

Congratulations, Brookie!!! What a phenomenal feat you have achieved. I can’t wait until the day I can open and smell the fresh pages of your very own book.

Your writing today brought that Little Women scene vividly to life in my own childhood memory, as well as that bin of dress-up clothes in your upstairs cupboard.

Your honesty and vulnerability are inspiring others to pick up the pen, dear friend.

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Brooke Anderson's avatar

I almost jumped from my seat in glee bc I thought the above sentence said "pick up the PAN" lol. Pen works too!

Your feedback is always special because you were THERE.

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Caroline Held's avatar

“Pick up the pan” works even better lol! I would say both apply.

Being THERE makes reading your words all the more powerful.

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Eli Diamond's avatar

I’m so proud of you- of your honesty, grit, vulnerability, determination and commitment to your intention voice in the kitchen and on the page.

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Brooke Anderson's avatar

Love you forever El. Thank you.

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Noelle Hill's avatar

Im not crying, you are 😭

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Janelle Whitaker's avatar

Wow, tears at that last paragraph! Congratulations, Brooke, I'm so happy for you! What a beautiful journey. I can't wait to read your book.

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Haley Baumeister's avatar

<3

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Sus's avatar

Love you! Can’t wait to read Aftertaste!

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Sus's avatar

And also I relate so much to the sense my husband married a potato…or should have.

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