Exciting Announcement: “We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook” Will be a Book!

“My Nonny and Aunt Rachel have been keeping a secret. But I can’t stand holding it inside anymore. It’s time to tell!” (George, Becky’s grandson, age 5)

(Becky, the Butter Lovin’ Mom)

We’ve been keeping a secret for about a month, but finally have the go-ahead to make the GRAND ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

My daughter and co-author of this blog, Rachel Randolph, and I are deliriously happy to share that we have signed a two book contract with Zondervan Publishing!

Becky, signing her part of the book contract for We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook with Zondervan Publishers.

Baby Jackson helping his mother, Rachel, sign her part of her very first book contract. A two book deal! Woo hoo!

Our editor, Carolyn McCready, is a longtime friend and one of my favorite people on the planet. Not to mention one of the most talented editors and nicest people I know. Carolyn and I (Becky) worked together on many fun projects at Harvest House Publishers, where we grew from editor/author to close friends. Those were some of my happiest days in publishing, and we are delighted to find ourselves working together again.

Carolyn McCready, longtime friend and editor for this project!

The first book is slated to have the same title as this blog, We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook, and will debut in the fall of 2013.  We’ll wait to announce the name of the second book as a future surprise.

The literary agent for this project is none other than my husband, Greg Johnson, president of Wordserve Literary Agency.

Greg Johnson, our literary agent, President of WordServe.

The first book will be about our unique mother-daughter journey thus far, our mutual love of cooking, storytelling, and laughter,  along with the challenges that our differing styles and personalities bring to the kitchen table. Rachel is a Type-A Vegan, and I am a Type-S (Scattered) Butter-Lovin’ Mama. This poses plenty of opportunities for humor, mutual understanding, acceptance and biting our tongues.

Yes, writing is a family business, and has always been, for me. I can’t believe it has almost been twenty years since I wrote my first book (Worms in My Tea & Other Mixed Blessings) with my mother, Ruthie Arnold.

The first book I ever wrote, with my mother, Ruthie Arnold, almost twenty years ago now!

My daughter Rachel was just a little girl with a curly pony tail when I began pounding the typewriter (my “office” was my bedroom closet), learning all I could glean from my mom, who was already published and a fabulous writing coach.   I love this picture taken on my birthday last year of my mom laughing in the background at something I just said.  She was not only my best coach, she was (and still is) my best audience!

Becky with her mom Ruthie, laughing in the background. Ruthie taught Becky to laugh, to cook and to write!

Little did I know that almost two decades later, I’d have more then forty books under my belt, and that my little girl would grow up into an amazing woman, wife and mother, a fabulously healthy cook, and a funny, poignant writer. Or that we’d have the incredible privilege of writing books together.

My little girl all grown up, married, a mother, and now… an author!

Today is one of those days when I am completely overwhelmed with the goodness of God. I’m grateful for all the stories that bind my daughter and I together: the stories that brought us closer through laughter, and those where we cried tears over heartaches. And the everyday stories that unfold as we chat in our kitchens sharing our mutual passion for cooking good food for those we love.

Thank you all, dear friends, for your encouragement in our journey thus far.

To celebrate the signing of the contracts, we invite you to join our new Facebook Fan Page where we will keep you abreast of book news, blog postings, and some of our favorite quotes, funny quips, and foodie or health news. If you could help us spread the word of the blog and fan page, we’d be enormously grateful, as we work to build an audience for the new book.