You Can Say You Knew Me When

What would you do if you got an email purporting to be from a very well-known and well-respected person, inquiring about hiring you? You'd assume it was a scam, right? So did I. And I was wrong.

The other day I got an email from one Michael Ruhlman, who very interestingly has the same name as that famous writer/chef who gave us The Elements of Cooking, Ratio, Ruhlman's Twenty, and more  (oh, and for those who prefer to explore the world of cooking via TV, who was also a judge on Cooking Under Fire, Next Iron Chef, and Iron Chef America). The Michael Ruhlman in the email said that he was looking for a cookbook copyeditor for a new project, and would I be interested? Ha Ha Ha. Like I was born yesterday! Why don't I just send you my bank account PIN right now?

But then I looked at the return email address, and it was the same one that the real Michael Ruhlman uses at his website.

Gulp.

So I replied, tentatively. How did you find me? And it turns out that he Googled "cookbook copyeditor," and lo and behold! The first thing that came up is this interview with me for the Copyediting blog! My email isn't there, but my blog URL is, and from there he found my email address.

Here's the deal: Michael wrote a short, single-subject* cookbook, and his wife (and food photographer extraordinaire) Donna convinced him to self-publish it to the Kindle, as a kind of experiment. But for that he would need to find a copyeditor on his own ... and that's where I come in! Yes, after some emailing back and forth to get to know one another and discuss the project, it's a go! Really! I'm downright giddy.

*I've been sworn to secrecy. No, I won't tell. I said NO.

Comments

[Mir]

OMG I love Michael Ruhlman so much (please tell him his granola recipe is the only one I ever use, I'm sure he'll care). That's awesome, Karen!!

[Elena]

That's incredible! Good for you!

[scott]

Brilliant. I liked Ratio.

[Marlaerwin]

Wow, congrats!! What a cool gig.

[ruhlman]

giddy. but what if you fuck up?!!!

[Karen]

Oy. That's the spirit! ;)

[amy]

Karen, congratulations! How exciting!!! LOVE him, love his books, and I know you'll do a stellar job--he's lucky you said YES.

[TwoBusy]

Honestly, that's terrific. Congrats!

[Erin Brenner]

Congratulations, Karen! I'm thrilled that Dawn's Copyediting post played a small part in your getting the gig. Yah!

[Tonya Watkins]

Very cool! Congratulations!

[A Facebook User]

Well, that IS exciting! Congratulations! I especially enjoyed the heartening comment by "ruhlman," above.

[Wendy]

Ugh. That "A Facebook User" post is from me, but I guess if I don't give Typepad all the permissions, I don't really get to use stupid ol' FB or Typepad here. Anyhow, that IS wonderful news, Karen!

[jo]

Go yoU!!!

[Janeen]

That's so cool! Congratulations!

[Sandy]

Excellent! A casebook study in how to market yourself over the web... in the most genuine, non-icky way. Wonderful.

[Sharon]

Congrats! His website is great!

[Katy]

This is so exciting for you, but also very exciting for the growth in self-publishing! So cool, congrats!

[Kelly]

Fantastic! What a wonderful opportunity - better than legal texts!