Today we’d like to introduce you to Yosmar Martinez
Yosmar, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always had a passion for food and cooking and of sharing my knowledge of cooking. For many years, I shared that knowledge through cooking classes. But I always dreamed of writing a cookbook. After having walked the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain for the first time, I decided to write a cookbook about the foods I encountered along the way. It led to the publishing of my book, Tastes of the Camino, and to the creation of my website www.whiskandspatula.com.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Writing a cookbook can be a very lonely journey. You spend a lot of time behind the stove developing recipes and then documenting the recipes in such a way that people can easily reproduce them at home. There were recipes I had to prepare easily 10 times before I felt they were ready for my readers. When you are in such a solitary environment, it is hard to stay motivated. So I ensured I was kind to myself during the process allowing myself to take more time to accomplish a certain task when needed. In addition to writing a book, there is the business of getting it published… That was a very steep learning curve as there are so many components… food photography, book design, printing, selling, etc. And with each component, there are many ways you can approach it and professionals to assist you with each task. I got played early on by one of the so called “professionals” I had hired. But I was able to learn how to better vet future professionals I would end up hiring down the road. In the end, I was very satisfied with my end product and of everything I learned along the way!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like to write about food as I like how food brings people together. I write about foods I’ve had while on my travels, ingredients I’ve discovered, and recipes I develop at home. I document all of this on my instagram (@whisknspatula) and on my website (www.whiskandspatula.com). And of course, i’m most proud of my cookbook, Tastes of the Camino, as well as all the different people I have taught cooking classes to. People that have taken classes with me and have my book, all say that when going through my recipes, its almost as if I were there by their side teaching them how to prepare the dish! And ultimately my goal is to making people comfortable in their own kitchens so they can bring loved ones together around a fabulous table of food!
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
It goes without saying that if you don’t take a risk, you won’t reap the reward. When taking a risk, you need to always have your end goal in mind but also be aware of your potential losses if you don’t succeed. If you accept what your potential losses can be before taking the risk, you will be able to move towards achieving your goal without the “potential downside” bogging you down. I for instance knew I would be spending a considerable amount of money to publish my book. Before making major expenditures, I asked myself if I would be ok losing that money if I failed. This project was so important to me that I knew I had to move forward with it and I came to terms with putting that money upfront, even when I wasn’t 100% sure I would succeed. At the end, I was able to recover my initial investment within six months!
Pricing:
- 24.99 per book plus shipping
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.whiskandspatula.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whisknspatula/
