Tag Archives: kickstarter

Kickstarter 2: German Cookbook & English Reprint!

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Grow the Global Veg Scene! The Lotus and the Artichoke - Painting, JPM in kitchen

The Lotus and the Artichoke is back on Kickstarter to crowdfund the German edition of my cookbook, and to help fund the next English printing this Spring. Join the adventure and help make it happen!

In 2012 my first Kickstarter project The Lotus and the Artichoke – Vegan Cookbook was successful with the help of over 360 amazing backers from around the world. In December, the first edition was printed: 1000 copies in full color, featuring over 100 recipes and more than 90 full-page, mouth-watering photographs. The Lotus and the Artichoke quickly became an international sensation!

Because of the costs involved in printing a book of this quality and complexity, I am asking for your help. Hundreds of enthusiastic backers made my first book possible – even with the doubling of project expenses to upgrade the cookbook format and production, and to ship all rewards international priority airmail.

I’m almost ready to print the German edition…
and re-print the English edition!

UPDATE (Feb 1)

We’re nearly 25% of the way to our goal of $8500, and 50 backers have joined the effort! The Lotus and the Artichoke was selected as a KICKSTARTER STAFF PICK on the very first day!

UPDATE (Feb 24)

SUCCESS!! The project is now 105% funded and still growing!

UPDATE (Feb 26)

The project is now 117% funded. 25 hours to go!

UPDATE (Feb 27)

DONE DEAL! 139% funded, 414 backers, $11,888 in 30 days! We passed 3 additional funding goals:

  • 2nd Funding Goal: NEW STICKERS ($9500) Success!!
  • 3rd Funding Goal: NEW PROMO CARDS ($10000) Success!!
  • 4th Funding Goal: NEW T-SHIRT Design ($11,500) Success!!

The Lotus and the Artichoke - Vegan Cookbook - Front & Back Cover

The Lotus and the Artichoke cookbook:

  • 216 pages of tantalizing recipes, photographs, tips and tricks
  • 100+ vegan recipes inspired by world travel and over 20 years of dedicated kitchen experiences
  • 90+ full-color, full-page, delicious food photos
  • Stories & photos from my travels to nearly 40 countries
  • Cool, custom artwork: Hand-carved blockprints & miniature paintings
  • Easy to follow layouts, description, and details on how to prepare delicious and stunningly beautiful meals
  • Perfect for your kitchen and complementary to any cookbook collection
  • Great as a gift to friends, family, colleagues, travel pals, partners

Vegan Cookbook - Veganes Kochbuch - Tattoo Banners Art - in English & auf Deutsch

Why publish a German edition?

  • In 2001, I made Berlin my home. I want to give back something meaningful to the community, city, and country where I live and work.
  • After dedicating years to learning German, what better way to show my appreciation than publishing a book in the language?
  • Interest in vegan cookbooks and the vegetarian culinary scene in Germany have grown impressively in the last ten years.
  • To improve awareness of vegan cooking and international cuisine to the worldwide German-speaking public: in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and other countries.

Sweet Rewards for your contributions:

  • The Lotus and the Artichoke eBook (PDF) in English or German: $5
  • A personal postcard to you from my next adventure: $10
  • A signed cookbook (English or German), eBook, stickers & more, with world shipping! $30 / $35
  • T-Shirt & signed cookbook (English or German): $50
  • Limited edition artwork, tote bags, a 5-course Berlin dinner party… and more!

Kickstarter Rewards - Vegan Cookbook - Stickers Bookmarks Blockprint Tshirt

The Lotus and the Artichoke Vegan Cookbook ebook PDF - For iPad, Kindle Fire + other ereaders and tablets

What are others saying about
The Lotus and the Artichoke?

Testimonials Collage - What Others Are Saying About The Lotus and the Artichoke

“I was a thousand kinds of excited for The Lotus and the Artichoke! Now I can say: rightly so! There are over 100 recipes with photos, all sorted by continent. In each chapter Justin writes about his travels and the inspiration for the recipes. A fantastic idea – it fires up my appetite at least as intensely as my urge to explore far-off places!”
– Sarah Kaufmann (Germany), author of Vegan Guerilla

“Because it’s a thrill to flip through the book and travel to other countries through the many different recipes. Because even though the dishes are exotic, the ingredients can be obtained without going around the world. Because the recipes are made with fresh vegetables, herbs and spices… Because you feel the passion and excitement that Justin had while traveling and composing this book.”
– Franziska Schmid (Germany) Veggie Love

“Justin has an unmatched knack for veganizing both popular and obscure dishes from around the world. In The Lotus and the Artichoke, he demonstrates his flair for international cuisine with over 100 easy and flavorful recipes spanning the globe. All the mouth-watering food photos and riveting travel stories he includes are the icing on the cake.”
– Chef Amber Shea (USA), author of Practically Raw & Practically Raw Desserts

“Take a trip across the globe without even leaving your kitchen with Justin’s gorgeous new vegan cookbook, The Lotus and the Artichoke! It contains page after page of mouth-watering pictures and recipes from countries all over Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.”
– Bianca Phillips (USA), author of Cookin’ Crunk – Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South

“The Lotus and the Artichoke is a must have for great vegan recipes from all different cultures. Whether you’re living the life in paradise or trapped in the middle of the zombie apocalypse, these recipes will make you feel as if you traveled to the unique places that inspired them.”
– Jon & Chris (USA), The Vegan Zombie

“The Lotus and the Artichoke is a gorgeous new recipe compedium… (it) dazzles with over 100 exotic recipes culled from time spent in over 40 countries. Unlike most cookbooks on the market, it doesn’t skimp on the visuals. It’s got pictures! Lots and lots and lots of full-color, full-page, mouth-watering pictures!”
– Emily Rems (USA), Managing Editor, BUST Magazine

“The Lotus and the Artichoke is bursting at the seams with innovative, healthy, and seriously flavorful inspiration. What a diverse and exotic arsenal of recipes from around the world… I want to try absolutely every recipe!”
– Frances Prema Harjeet (USA), Lila Blog

“The Lotus and the Artichoke is a great source for delicious vegan dishes from all over the globe.” “Mouth-watering food photography!” “If you are looking for creative vegan recipes, this is the place!”
– Dani & Jess (Germany/USA), Globetrotter Girls

“Judging by the photos and awesome recipes I’ve seen, this is a must-have in your kitchen collection. I’m especially excited because there’s such a focus on world cuisines.”
– Paul Jarvis (Canada), author of Eat Awesome

“Justin has traveled across half the world and back… His recipes are intense! He selects the very best of culinary specialties from all over, and whips up something totally fresh and unique. You’re always surprised… never disappointed!”
– Marko Streitenberger (Germany), CLIMA

Vegan Cookbook Kickstarter - JPM in the kitchen with books

Why I need your support:

  • Help fund the first printing of the German cookbook
  • Support the second printing of the English cookbook
  • Provide backing for international shipping expenses
  • Enable me to fairly compensate my professional translator, Julia
  • Share the inspiration, experience, and adventure with everyone!

How you can help:

  • Show your support with a pledge on Kickstarter!
  • Pick a great reward and sponsor generously!
  • Share the Kickstarter project (http://kck.st/X8mwU4) with your friends and followers on Facebook & Twitter.
  • Comment on my recipes on the website www.lotusartichoke.com (+ leave comments on this post!)
  • Subscribe to the website newsletter for free recipes straight to your inbox
  • Like my Facebook page – follow the regular updates, enjoy and comment on the photos and features
  • Follow me on twitter: @lotusartichoke RT my tweets, spread good words

Kickstarter at 108% – New Goals

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JPM in the kitchen - Vegan Cookbook Kickstarter 105% funded! New Goals!

Yesterday, The Lotus and the Artichoke – Vegan Cookbook on Kickstarter passed the initial funding goal of $6500 and sped on to 105% funding. Currently, we’re at 108%… and going strong!

UPDATE October 10: We’re now over 200% funded and have less than 24 hours to reach our final goal of $14,000!

Words can hardly express my excitement and intense gratitude. That’s why I made this little painting for the occasion!

Because we’ve gotten our initial amount in pledges, the project is a definite GO, the first printing of the cookbook is possible. We still have another 19 days to bring in more funds for our extended goals. There’s still time for more pre-orders of the cookbook and selecting other cool rewards and project perks.

 SUCCESS! GOAL: $8,000 – GET STICKY!

  • All rewards at $25 and above will include a pack of 8 awesome, artsy The Lotus and the Artichoke stickers.
  • Starting Now: Any backer who increases their pledge $3 or more also gets a sticker pack!

 SUCCESS! GOAL: $10,000 – ÜBER-VEG!

  • I will add 5 new, vegan German recipes to the cookbook
  • This chapter will be included in the first edition of the cookbook and ebook scheduled to ship in December 2012.
  • A bigger, better cookbook with even more delicious recipes, mouth-watering photos, fun stories, and cool art.
  • All rewards to German addresses will get FREE shipping.
  • Already added shipping? I’ll give you some great extras so you’re über-happy!

 SUCCESS! GOAL: $12,000 – BANGKOK & BEYOND!

  • I will add 5 new, vegan Southeast Asian recipes to the cookbook. More fun from my travels and culinary adventures in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
  • These recipes will be included in the first edition of the cookbook and ebook scheduled to ship in December 2012.
  • The cookbook gets even better, even tastier, and even bigger!

GOAL: $14,000 – DAS KOCHBUCH!

  • We can fund the first printing of the cookbook and publication of the ebook in German. German editions will be available and shipped in March 2013.
  • All backers who choose a reward including an English copy of the cookbook (or ebook!) can also receive the German ebook FREE.
  • Any backer who selects a reward including a printed English cookbook can also get a printed copy of the German cookbook, if they increase their pledge by $15 or more.
  • New reward options for existing backers who want German cookbooks!

If you’re wondering what in the world this is all about, perhaps it’s because you haven’t visited the Kickstarter project page or seen my last post on the Kickstarter launch. Take a look and find out more about how the cookbook project and first printing is being funded.

And don’t worry, if none of this business and promotion stuff is your cup of tea… Very soon I’ll be back to posting more recipes inspired by my world travels and wild adventures and experiments in the kitchen.

I also had a guest-post at Scissors & Spice featuring a vegan North Indian Dum Aloo recipe, which will soon find a home on this site… and in the cookbook.

The Lotus and the Artichoke cookbook on Kickstarter

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Vegan Cookbook Kickstarter GO! - Justin in the kitchen

The Lotus and the Artichoke – Vegan Cookbook launched on Kickstarter today!

I can hardly contain my excitement and anticipation! These last two weeks I’ve been so unbelievably busy with the preparations for today. I’m proud to announce the project is finally live, the trailer video for the cookbook is finished and online, and we’ve officially begun the fundraising to back the first printing of The Lotus and the Artichoke – Vegan Recipes from World Adventures.

It also means that as of today, now you can place a pre-order for the cookbook – both printed and as ebook – to be sent to you in early December. Here’s where you can read more about the cookbook and the publication plans.

We have 30 days to reach our goal of $6500.

I want to be as optimistic as possible, but I need to be realistic: I cannot do this without your support.

I really hope to meet and exceed the financial goal and have enough funding to also publish the German version of the cookbook by the end of the year. I’m doing something that means a lot to me. I want it to mean something to you, too. Let’s make it a reality!

Why I need your support:

  • Help fund the first printing of the book (around $5000)
  • Enable me to invest in the cool rewards: stylish t-shirts and tote bags
  • Provide art materials used for the illustration and design of the cookbook and website
  • Give fair compensation for translation, editing, publicity and press helpers
  • Share the inspiration, experience, and adventure with everyone!

Printing books is expensive. Especially when done all nice and fancy like I do. Nice covers, nice paper, lots of full-color photo pages, and a great design. The rewards will be high-quality as well: good shirts, decent cloth carry bags. My art materials are costly: I use good stuff. The prints are done on handmade Japanese hemp paper and I use an excellent German printing ink. The acrylics for paintings are an investment.

Lastly, I do have editorial and translation help on this project. I compensate people properly for their quality involvement. For all these reasons, this project needs greenbacks.

Justin in the Kitchen - Vegan Cookbook Kickstarter Launch

What’s in it for you?

Some of my friends are telling me I’m crazy for pricing my rewards so low. Most people use Kickstarter as a way to just bring in the big bucks and rely on generosity based on that good feeling you get from being nice. I think that’s dandy, but I also want all my backers to get cool stuff and to TALK about the fun perks I built into the project.

On one end of the scale, you can throw in a few bucks and spread the word. If hundreds of people do that, it helps plenty! I’ll be grateful. Pitch in a bit more and you get a cool, personal postcard with fancy stamps from my next trip. Or pre-order the cookbook. Get a stylish T-shirt with some of my art, or get in on the fashionable Berliner hipster game with one of my cloth carry bags. Like my artwork? I’ve also got limited edition blockprints.

I also plan to introduce even more fancy rewards in the next weeks.

Hold on to your hats. There are already some BIG rewards!

Am I nuts to propose I’d go (almost) anywhere in the world on your instructions to create new recipes and artwork? Maybe. I like to think it’s a cool kind of crazy. I’m adventurous enough to accept the bare minimum in financial support to make the trip possible. Would I fly to a new location in Europe, all-expenses included, to stay with locals and learn a new cuisine and create cool new recipes for the book? Yes, I would.

How can I possibly do that for under $1000 – especially if that money’s needed for printing the cookbook? Well, I have lots of experience with traveling on a budget. Back in 2001, I spent 4 months in India and Nepal for less than $2500, including my airfare and all transportation costs. I also spent less than $1000 on a 4-week trip through Portugal, Spain, and Morocco. And it’s just the way my priorities work.

If I want to travel somewhere, I find a way to make it happen.

I’m so into the idea, I’d travel for this project and for fundraising purposes even if it doesn’t financially break even. You see, I have this belief that if you really passionately believe in something you can make it real, one way or another. I believe all things will come together when you really focus. Things fall into place, even if differently than planned. Of course, you’ve got to work hard to make it happen, too. I’ve been very busy!

It’s not all daydreams and visualization exercises over here! I do my homework, too, when it comes to the practical and rational aspects of making a dream materialize. Stuff like moving abroad, learning languages, crossing continents, and launching creative enterprises.

(Details on rewards and project backing at the cookbook’s Kickstarter page)

What others are saying about The Lotus and the Artichoke:

What people are saying about my vegan cookbook and food blog

“The Lotus and the Artichoke is a great source for delicious vegan dishes from all over the globe. We love how the detailed recipes are presented along with a personal story from Justin, plus mouth-watering food photography. If you are looking for creative vegan recipes, this is the place!”
– Dani & Jess (Germany/USA), Globetrotter Girls

“Judging by the photos and awesome recipes I’ve seen, this is going to be a must-have in your kitchen collection. I’m especially excited because there’s such a focus on world cuisines. I definitely support this project and you should too!”
– Paul Jarvis (Canada), author of Eat Awesome

“This is a book that will open your mind to new tastes, new lands, and new adventures. I’m really looking forward to making these recipes with my family and teaching my young children about how our simple food choices can have such a profound impact on our health, the lives of animals, and our planet.”
– Kristen Palana (Italy), Aura’s House & Veggie Propaganda

“I’ve had the chance to get to know Justin over the past few months in Berlin. If you spend just a short while talking with him, you’re guaranteed to come away feeling better about yourself… and the universe. His passion for life and interest in travel and food is palpable. And trust me: his cooking is delicious… and I’m not even vegan!”
– Adam Groffman (USA), Travels of Adam

“Justin has a true passion, talent and love for sharing beautiful vegan cuisine from around the world. He’s introduced me to so many incredibly delicious dishes and flavours that I had never experienced before. I highly recommend The Lotus and the Artichoke to all food lovers!”
– Jennifer Vega (Canada), Sweet On Veg

“I met Justin in Nepal way back in 2001. We quickly discovered a shared obsession with vegetarian world cuisine and began swapping travel stories of exotic dishes we’d had in foreign countries. As a vegetarian chef myself, I really enjoy when fellow veggies “get” international cuisine. We’ve spent years bouncing ideas off one another and evolving recipes. I’m excited that Justin’s committed his ideas to paper – I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on this cookbook!”
– Vincent Campellone (Ireland), Inside Job Catering

“I’m proudly supporting Justin’s The Lotus and the Artichoke because he’s a fellow traveler following his dream and sharing his passion with the world. The food pics leave me drooling!”
– Niall Doherty (Ireland), Disrupting the Rabblement

“Justin ist durch die halbe Welt gereist. Seine Rezepte sind einfach die Wucht! Er sucht sich aus allen Spezialitäten nur das Beste raus und mixt es zu etwas ganz eigenem, besonderem zusammen. Man wird immer überrascht und nie enttäuscht!”
– Marko Streitenberger (Germany), CLIMA

“This is a must-have cookbook for any lover of good food, art, travel, and adventure. I had the good fortune of experiencing Justin’s cooking while in Berlin a few years ago. Many adventures and fabulous meals later comes the perfect culmination of Justin’s passion for living and sharing the good life creatively. I am looking forward to making these recipes for my family and having a fresh selection of exciting vegan recipes for parties and potlucks!”
– Christine Donley (USA), Diary of an Art Luvah: Art and Culture around the Globe

What other people are saying about The Lotus and the Artichoke vegan food blog and cookbook

How you can help:

  • Show your support with a pledge! Remember: everything helps and Kickstarter is ALL or nothing. Let’s all win! Pitch in a few bucks, or…
  • Pick a great reward and sponsor generously!
  • Share my Kickstarter page with your friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter. Be proud of your support!
  • Subscribe to the website newsletter for free recipes straight to your inbox
  • Like my Facebook page – follow the regular updates, enjoy and comment on the photos and features
  • Follow me on twitter: @lotusartichoke RT my tweets, spread good words
  • Contact me for more information about interviews, guest blog posts, feature articles, and other publicity + promotion!

Kickstarter Campaign – This Summer!

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Behind the Scenes: Sketches - The Lotus and the Artichoke

Okay, so I’m totally busy researching and creating and sketching for my Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds for the first print of the cookbook The Lotus and the Artichoke. I plan to have my video, logo, promotional artwork and descriptions ready to go in the next weeks. I’m already thinking up lots of cool rewards for sponsors– ranging from postcards to blockprints to signed books to t-shirts and tote bags! I’ll probably even include some big rewards, too!

If you have experience with Kickstarter and have some tips for me, please email me or msg me on Facebook. Of course, leaving some comments here is a good start, too. Thanks!