The cookie policy
I know this is going to sound weird, but if you’re not used to that from me by now, I can’t help you.
First, by way of background, I’ve spent a large portion of my life being a chubette (get it? A “large” portion? I am so clever). And finally the thing that broke me free–both mentally and physically–was this policy I have now of eating only when I’m hungry, and then eating only and exactly what it is my body wants.
Which means at around 11:00, when I was craving something bready or cheesy or I wasn’t quite sure what, I took myself out to some of the specialty food shops along the waterfront here in San Francisco, and asked myself as we went into each shop, “Is it this? Is this what you want little body?” And she kept answering, “Nope, nope,” and until we got to this tiny restaurant where there were chickens rotissering behind the counter, and all these hot foods laid out so scrumptiously, and my body said, “Oh, yes, please.”
And so we sat outside watching the ferries come in, and ate exactly four thick slices of herbed sweet potato, a large spoonful of ratatouille, and an equally pleasant serving of homemade macaroni and cheese.
SO happy, my body and I.
And then it wanted some decaf coffee from Peet’s, with just the right amount of half-and-half, but still it wasn’t finished.
“Cookie.”
“What kind?”
“You know what kind.”
Because ever since I went off of chocolate last year, my treat of choice has been white chocolate macadamia cookies. There’s a Wild Oats up the street from me that always has them on hand, and so every time I pick up groceries there, I need to have a cookie.
So anyway, today, apparently, I needed that cookie and needed it badly enough that I was willing to wander from bakery to deli to coffee shop back to bakeries looking for a w.c.m. cookie. Nothing else would do. I was so committed to this policy of giving my body exactly and only what it wants, I ended up walking around for an hour and fifteen minutes until I found one.
My little body is very satisfied.
And now for the second aspect of the cookie policy:
Two years ago I was at the Romance Writers of America annual conference in Reno, and heard New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann give a speech the thrust of which was, “You are the cookie.”
Specifically, her point was this: when you, the author, are out on a book tour, you need to figure out what people expect to get out of the experience. In effect, figure out what the cookie is. For some people, the cookie is getting customers into the store to buy books. For others, the cookie is getting to meet their favorite author. But bottom line is you are the cookie.
For some reason that really hit home with me. Because it’s easy to forget in any interaction that it’s not just all about you. The other person needs to feel good about the experience, too.
And so part of my thinking in preparing for this book tour of mine this week is how I can make sure I stay well-rested and relaxed so that each new set of people in each new city gets the fresh cookie. Not the stale, crumbly, unsatisfying cookie, but me, fresh out of the oven.
Which is why I went through that whole process today of walking around ntil I found the food I needed. And why I put myself to bed at a reasonable hour last night, and then got up early this morning to go to the hotel’s yoga class (which, by the way, kicked my butt. Whenever I switch out of my own predictable style and try something new, I’m amazed by how stiff and awkward I can be. But I don’t care–love yoga even when it’s totally humbling).
So there you have it, my personal, secret, two-prong cookie policy, out there for any of you to either think, “Hm, like it,” or, “She just gets weirder the more we know her. Security!”
Ta-ta for now.
Technorati Tags: The Cookie Policy, Author Book Tours, Author Tours, Book Tours, Suzanne Brockmann, Writing, Publishing
March 19th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
I’m a Girl Scout Cafe Cookie. I want everyone to enjoy me with their favorite coffee drink…
I think.
And by me, I mean my writing.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
That’s right, Heather, BE the cookie.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
I’m just in awe at your self-control, Robin. If I had to walk around for an hour and fifteen seeking The One True Cookie, I would have already sampled every Not The One True Cookie in my path. (Maybe something needs to change.)
You remain an inspiration, strange or not. And really, who could call security on a cookie post? Everyone loves cookies!
And while we’re comparing ourselves to cookies, I’d have to say I’m a Girl Scout Samoa. (Is that how you spell it?) It’s sticky and sweet and complicated.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Miri, not to start a quarrel with Heather and her GS Cafe Cookie, I happen to agree with you that the Samoa is the finest GS cookie ever made. Close second is the Thin Mint, conveniently packaged in those long sleeves, two per pack. Which means one sleeve must be one serving, right? That’s how I always treated it.
But now white chocolate macadamia is indeed the One True Cookie for me. Check back in a few months–it may be something different by then. Whatever my little body wants. After all those years of being mean to her, now she gets to be the boss.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
My hotel leaves a nice package of Pepperidge Farm Alyssa Milano cookies for me each time I arrive.
That’s so sweet of them.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Patrick, I had to read that one twice.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Your cookie post reminded me of this infamous Buffy speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGBbBSQJ6F0
March 19th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
I am the Chocolate Chip cookie when I cannot be the Thin Mint.
But I am confused, how can you be off chocolate and still eat a white chocolate macadamia cookie? I know technically white chocolate isn’t chocolate, but it’s still made with cocoa butter so…
March 19th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Samoas are God’s gift to the universe. I’m not entirely sure that the creation of Earth, of man, of man that discovers fire and then cooks, of woman that gives birth to girl who grows up to be Girl Scout, was not engineered for the express purpose of finding a way to make for the universe the samoa/caramel delite cookie.
And, you were in Reno? Oh, alas and alack, we were as two ships passing in the night…
March 19th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
D elzey, I don’t know what to say about the white chocolate thing. All I know is I was feeling far too enslaved by regular chocolate, and I just didn’t like how it made me feel anymore. So it had to go. I still go through periods where I don’t have any sugar at all for the same reason, but right now I feel like having sugar, and white chocolate is the drug of choice. There’s no science to this, just my own weirdness.
Diana, some day you and I will be in the same city at the same time and will be aware of it, and maybe there will be Samoas involved. Ya never know.
March 20th, 2007 at 7:21 am
I applaud your attitude toward food! I wish I had the self-awareness to do that.
I was never a fan of Samoas until I got old enough to get over the texture of the coconut, and now they’re absolutely the BEST.
March 20th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Robin that was an excellent story on so many different levels!! First of all, after all that walking, you probably burned off all those cookie calories (which is always awesome)! Second, I get that way with sushi! Sushi is my crack! Sometimes I just have to have it and if I don’t I am miserable! Third, I love Suzanne Brockmann! She is my most favorite romance author!!!! I have two dreams for my life! The one is to be in a movie with Samuel L. Jackson (I love that man!) and the second is to be the heroine of a Suzanne Brockmann novel!!! It’s always good to dream, right? =)
March 20th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Thanks for that opening line, which made me laugh out loud.
March 20th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
“Sushi is my crack,” Ha! Christen, good luck on your Samuel L. and Suzanne dreams. You never know.
Jules, yay. Glad to know I can geek out with you.
Katie, speaking of crack, I’m sorry you had to start loving Samoas. Now you will never be free.
March 20th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
I had sushi for lunch!! =)
March 20th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Okay, I’ll admit it: I’m NOT a cookie freak. But I do love sushi. And that reminded me of the “nice thing I did for myself” this week. While my husband and son went to see “The 300,” I brought home $25 worth of sushi and a bottle of wine and watched a movie all by myself. Wee-ha! I even licked my fingers and ate every last sliver of thinly-sliced fresh ginger.
And now, after your post, I see what it all meant: “I am the spicy tuna roll.” Of course!
Great post, Robin! I say: Keep walking until you get what you want!
March 21st, 2007 at 7:18 am
Sara… we could be sushi soulmates!
March 21st, 2007 at 12:19 pm
i’m definitely coconut macaroon. either ya love ‘em or ya hate ‘em–no in between. and even if you love them, they hurt your teeth.