Author event and giveaway: Virginia Willis
Virginia Willis was recently in town for a Book Your Lunch event and I was lucky enough to attend. Originally from Montezuma, Georgia, Virginia has many fond memories of cooking with her grandmother and says the time spent in the kitchen with her helped foster her love of cooking. After earning a degree in history from the University of Georgia, Virginia found a job with Macy’s. When she was 24, she realized she wanted to do something else with her life and convinced Nathalie Dupree to allow her to apprentice for her. For one year, Virginia worked at Macy’s five days a week and apprenticed for Nathalie the other two. After that experience, she decided she needed to go to culinary school and attended schools in the U. S. and France.
After culinary school. Virginia lived in France for three years and did editorial projects with Anne Willan. On her return to the U. S., Virginia worked as the Kitchen Director for Martha Stewart Television and later worked for Epicurious. She lived in New York on 9/11 and after that tragedy felt it was time for her to come home to the South.
Virginia’s first book was the award winning Bon Appétit, Y’all! With her new cookbook, Basic to Brilliant, Y’all, she hoped to achieve several goals. She:
- wanted to include basic recipes and include simple ways to make the dishes more “chef inspired”
- didn’t want to “dumb down” the recipes
- wanted to use ingredients that are easy to find
Virginia told us that she loves to write almost as much as she loves to cook and it shows in this cookbook. She read the introduction at the lunch and most of the crowd teared up.
I got Virginia to autograph a copy of her new cookbook, Basic to Brilliant, Y’all for one lucky reader. The giveaway is open worldwide, but keep in mind that the measurements are U. S. (there is a conversion table in the back) and many of the recipes are inspired by the South, so some of the ingredients might be hard to find in other countries. To enter to win an autographed copy of BASIC TO BRILLIANT, Y’ALL by Virginia Willis, simply fill out the entry form. Contest is open worldwide – one entry per person, please. I will use random.org to determine the winner. Contest ends at midnight EST Tuesday, November 22, 2011. Winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 23, 2011. Comments are welcome (and appreciated) but will not get you an entry in the contest.
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I would love to win this one. You get to go to the coolest author events!
I agree with Julie – you are just so lucky!
I didn’t realize she had worked with Nathalie! I am envious of her, and of you for being able to attend this event. (Did she bring food?)
No, but the food served that day was from her cookbook. I’m glad you asked, because I forgot to mention it.
I would have loved to attend this event! It sounds like Virginia has had some amazing experiences, and I am eager to try out her recipes and check the book out. I also am really impressed that she trained with Nathalie. Great review and giveaway today!
I’m always impressed by women who have theget up and go to pursue their real passions and dreams like she did. This sounds like my kind of cookbook in that the text is as well-written as are the recipes.
Virginia sounds so interesting; this must have been a great event!
I love cookbooks that use ingredients that are easy to find. It sounds like Virginia has been living an interesting life!
Sounds like a fabulous book! I need to check it out.
I like how she has created opportunities for herself to do what she loves. Her concept for this book sounds like a good one.
I’m seriously moving down to your neck of the woods! She sounds really interesting and I would love to have lived in France!
I don’t know how I’ve missed these, but I really need to check them out…any cookbook with Ya’ll int the title needs a spot on my shelf
You have yummy events in your neck of the woods but I don’t live far from Beth Kephart….that is my only author physical contact…and I missed the event she had at a bookstore here…lol…
Fantastic giveaway. Wow!!!
Thanks for making this giveaway international.
You have such fantastic book events to go to! And great giveaway!
Thanks for offering such a great giveaway!
Love this giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win!
I trying new recipes.
Her personal story is so interesting. I like when people move and then end up back home. It’s nice (said by someone who misses her family, if not the town)
Book Your Lunch always has such interesting guests.
I’m jealous of all these great lunch with author events near you. Wonderful. Thanks for sharing them with us.
What an interesting life Ms. Willis has led. Sounds like a wonderful cook book.
I’m so excited about this one, Kathy! I am currently learning to cook and searching for related books. This one is special. I’m crossing my fingers and toes, and hope my lucky stars will shine on me.
What an interesting background she has!
I’m telling you, one of these days you’ll find me on your doorstep on a Book Your Lunch day