I didn't know where else to post this, so here goes. I am a "cancer mom" and am happy to say our son (Hodgkin Lymphoma State 3) is wonderfully healthy, a husband and father at age 31. (He was 18 at the time of his diagnosis.)

My insanity as a mom was assuaged by writing a realistic, funny, accurate book about a teen going back to high school after having been successfully treated for Hodgkins. The profits go to HUGS in Hawaii and the Lymphoma Society. The publisher let it go out of print, and it is now rerealesed. (STARING DOWN THE DRAGON was an American Library Association selection as Best Books for Young Adults in 2004). OK, so that is one way I "give back" to the community.

Now, here's the info I don't know where to post. I am a librarian and author. I just did a community cookbook that's more of an oral history/history/photos cookbook. I know that cookbooks are a great fundraiser. I also know that if you do the self-publish route, the learning curve is steep. If anyone is doing a cookbook, email me because I'm putting up a free "how to do a community cookbook" blog. I'm hoping to save people from making the same mistakes I made and benefitng by what I learned.

I know the cookbook presses (out of Nebraska and Nashville) are quite good and put out good products. They're helpful and they have a good template. But if you want a few more tips, email me.

Aloha,

Dorothea Buckingham