Welcome To The Funnybone Kitchen Website
The Funnybone Kitchen Book Launch Campaign
Greetings to all,
and thank you for visiting my basic Funnybone Kitchen website. My name is Peter McDaniel, and right now this website will just contain the information that is on my Indiegogo fundraising page, which I have put together to get my book Funnybone Kitchen published. Once that gets underway, I will greatly expand this website and add many helpful things that citizens, parents, and other health activists will use and enjoy.
The Inspirational Mission:
The purpose of this funding campaign is to launch my new book Funnybone Kitchen: Replanting Ourselves In A Living Food Culture, Rebuilding Vibrant Health With Wise Discernment and Functional Learning, and Reclaiming our Potential In An Imperfect World.
You can click here to read sample sections of chapters,
and click here to send you back to the Indiegogo page to donate to the campaign.
Note: The rewards are the same, but the descriptions on this website are slightly longer because of the limitations of the text in the Indiegogo page.
The book will be especially appreciated by citizens in all industrialized countries that are interested in sustainable farming, organics, community supported agriculture, alternative health care and education, media and advertising manipulation, corporate responsibility and accountability, environmental issues, and community building. Parents and families will also be pleased with its innovative viewpoints and practical approach to this topic.
The book was inspired by my mom, Patricia, who died of breast cancer complications in 1991, but whose courage, kindness, and integrity have brought forth a larger mission that she would be proud of. She was a single hardworking teacher who raised three children, and held her composure through all the challenges of her life. I have devoted myself to this book because it is infinitely worthwhile to honor her humanity and struggles, and to bring her inspiration forward in the form of a much more fun, comprehensive, and poetic health education than has been available before.
About The Book:
At first glance it might seem like the last thing we need is another book of this kind, but Funnybone Kitchen fills a unique and large chasm in the plethora of books dealing with food and health issues. It is the first health book to highlight alternative education principles and bring back the independent learning initiative that has been stripped from too many citizens. It uses a combination of personal experience, stories, science, and common sense to empower people to bring book information to life, and instills internal motivation to actually do something with data instead of leaving it inert. It is the first book of its kind to use enough data and statistics to be helpful, but to also instill better discernment and judgment using more than the limitations of science. It offers reminders on major issues, but explains them in a voice that gives people new ways of understanding them. It also uncovers various new corporate and government ploys that derail our learning, and supplies new angles to stop these diversions and damage. It is also one of the first books to bring an artistic flavor to what is too often a mere academic subject, and removes the boredom people often associate with nonfiction books. Above all, it provides a tangible reward for our efforts, and reawakens our sense of wonderment and appreciation for our bodies and souls that seek fulfillment and longevity in their time on earth.
But of course, these are just my own opinions. The ultimate test of any book does not rest with authors, the media, professional reviewers, or even publishers. It rests with ordinary citizens, parents, and children who either enjoy a book and embrace it, or pass it over. So I encourage everyone who might have an interest to take a look at sections of the chapters below and see for yourself. I think you will find many things in it that will please you, and that you have not seen before.
You can click here to read sample sections of chapters,
or click here to send you back to the Indiegogo page to donate to the campaign
My Passion For This Project
I’m the right person to write this book for a number of reasons. I was lucky that my mom that was a primary grades teacher, and allowed me to learn in novel ways, but I have also developed many diverse and desirable viewpoints that go beyond public education. These come from my long interest in creative learning environments and tools, natural foods and health, my formidable experience in nonprofit citizen education campaigns, my propensity to ask unorthodox but imperative questions, my ability to engage people in critical self-awareness and evaluation, and my research and commitment to simplify difficult issues and subjects into palatable language. But maybe most importantly (in comparison to some authors), is that I have an outgoing nature and love social and educational interaction with people of all ages and dispositions.
Pick section chapters to check out:
- The Landscape Of Learning
- Fat and Oil Fear
- Community Supported Agriculture
- The Celebration Place
- Reclaiming Our Learning and Good Judgment
- Supportive Thoughts and People
Fortunately, the book is already finished, and it is not, as some sincere but fledgling self-published books are, an undeveloped project. It has evolved and been nurtured over years of time, and has had several professional editors, including Scott Edelstein, a respected and experienced Minneapolis-based editor, publishing consultant, and author work on it. It has also had input from health care professionals and ordinary people of every stripe, and these are all things that I think everyone will appreciate. I’ve made great sacrifices to get the book where it is today, but despite the strenuous efforts over the last year, the final push out of the nest has remained out of reach. So now I come to the dedicated people who are the core of the Indiegogo funding campaigns to help. Just like sensible CSA farms everywhere who ask for financial help to make the upcoming season a successful one, grassroots funding for this endeavor will provide the strongest form of support, and it is the most democratic way to ensure that citizens who want access to this kind of book can be a part of making it possible.
You can scroll down further for more information on outreach, collaborations, programs, surveys, testimonials, the future, and about me.
What the money will be used for:
All the pieces are in place to move forward and let this book fulfill its mission except the final funding. My goal for the project is $9,500, and it includes a few extra things that are important for a book launch. Funding will be used for getting the book prepared for Create Space publishing and outreach, both for print book and ebook versions, including for other ebook formats (not just Amazon kindle). This will include a final proofread, cover design, layout, indexing, printing of sufficient copies to be sent to me to offer at workshops, talks, etc., fulfillment of supporter rewards, mailing, the website launch, taxes, and indiegogo fees. Additionally, while making a book available to Indiegogo backers is a great thing, writing a book of this kind without any plan for sharing it beyond a limited scope is the same as not allowing a seedling’s roots to be watered, take hold, and grow on their own. Without reasonable availability, significant outreach by an author dedicated to sharing a book’s mission, and enough follow up, over 90% of all books published—even ones that have something worthwhile to say and that are released by reputable publishers—often fade away in a year, most in less than two. It is therefore imperative that this book campaign include a small amount of professional consulting, occasional car rental (I have been a bicycle commuter for the last 4 years), gas, some budget motels for regional outreach and travel, and a newer laptop (used is adequate enough) to replace my ancient ibook. These are all minimalist needs to successfully share a book’s message through the first seasons of growth.
I’ll be springing into action on the day the funding campaign ends. I plan to set a publishing date as soon as possible, and will send out the books to Indiegogo supporters in double-quick time. When the money raised surpasses the goal I will undertake more outreach, and be improving and adding website tools and video, educational materials, and offerings. I’ll also be publishing new books which are already written, you can read more about them in “The Future” section below. All of this will show how much I truly appreciate my supporters, and I’ll go out of my way to give everyone my dedicated commitment and the good books that my supporters believed in from the start.
The Last Step:
I’d like you to be a part of the Funnybone Kitchen book by taking the last step. I’ve personally covered over 98% of the work, time, and expense already, so if you give the book that last little push, I promise to build your support into something you will be proud of. The Internet can be a good resource for learning and sharing, but with everything else I’ve had to do, I’ve not had time to be very involved in social networking sites, blogs, or other Web outreach yet. I’m trying to do more of these things, but if supporters can send emails and electronically connect others to take up some of the slack to share the book’s messages so I can focus my primary energies on book completion and preparing for outreach, I give you my word that I will not let you down on my end. Won’t you join me?
Supporter Rewards
$5 A thank you in thought
$15 one downloadable e-book
$35 one signed paperback copy, U.S. shipping included
$50 one signed paperback copy, international shipping included
$65 one e-book, and one signed paperback copy, international shipping included
$125 one e-book, 1 signed paperback copy, one hour of mentoring in your kitchen (Twin Cities, MN area), thank you in book, personal call.
Note: The extra books under the next categories can be used as personal gifts, educational tools, or a part of a larger mission, and can be sent to whomever you like, either individuals, students, sustainable farms, organizations, schools, appropriate small businesses, health care professionals, other earnest affiliates, or libraries. For all funding levels of $125 and above, I will also send you an email outline and a more detailed sneak peak at new books to come. These are not just conceptual ideas, I have three additional books completed already.
$250 (limit of 10 slots available) 4 e-books, 4 signed paperback copies, and one 2-hour workshop for your family (or friends), (within Twin Cites, MN metro area), thank you in book, personal call, and will take a helpful tip of yours or something you have learned, and put it into book with the credit going to you (if appropriate and has not already been covered).
$550 (limit of 10 slots available) 8 e-books, 8 signed paperback copies, one 4-hour workshop at your home, school or organization (within 2 hour drive of Twin Cities, MN), thank you in book, personal call, will take a helpful tip of yours or something you have learned, and put it into book with the credit going to you (if appropriate and has not already been covered), your school or organization’s pertinent information put in the resource section of the book.
$850: (limit of 5 slots available) 12 e-books, 12 signed copies of paperback, one 6-hour seminar for your group or organization in MN, WI, ND, SD, or IA, thank you in book, personal call, will take a helpful tip of yours or something you have learned, and put it into book with the credit going to you (if appropriate and has not already been covered), your pertinent information put in resource section of book, and 2 hours consultation with your school, organization, or nonprofit to see how I may be able to help your organization become more sustainable and efficient, or incorporate the FK mission to help you.
$1950: (limit of 5 slots available) 20 e-books, 20 signed copies of book, 1 full day seminar anywhere in the continental U.S., thank you in book, personal call, and will take a helpful tip of yours or something you have learned, and put it into book with the credit going to you, (if appropriate and has not already been covered), your pertinent information put in resource section of book, half-day consultation with school, organization, or nonprofit to see how I may be able to help your organization become more sustainable and efficient, or incorporate the FK mission to help you, and wholesale prices for book purchased for resale.
$3500: (limit of 5 available) 20 e-books, 20 signed copies of book, 1 full day seminar anywhere in English-speaking Europe, thank you in book, personal call, and will take a helpful tip of yours or something you have learned, and put it into book with the credit going to you, (if appropriate and has not already been covered), your pertinent information put in resource section of book, half-day consultation with your school, organization, or nonprofit to see how I may be able to help your organization become more sustainable and efficient, or incorporate the FK mission to help you, and wholesale prices for book purchased for resale.
Estimated reward delivery date for books: July/August 2013
I plan to publish the book as soon as possible after funding. Some mentoring rewards and personal appearances will be able to be scheduled before the book delivery, and some will be after. This will be determined by both my schedule and that of the supporters. All of them should be able to be completed within six months after publication.
I thank you for your support and for being interested in this project even if you cannot financially contribute. Even unknown acts of support and kindness can be felt, and they do matter. Here is a list of other things you can do to help:
- Mention this project to anyone you think may have an interest in it. It can be done at work, on the bus, at home, in meetings, or in other places. At the very least, there are only three words that people need to remember: Indiegogo, and Funnybone Kitchen.
- Send a short email to your friends, working associates, or neighbors, and include a link to this Indiegogo page.
- Embed this Indiegogo link into your email signature, and put this page link on the homepage of your website.
- Write a short post in any community forums or electronic outreach that you partake in, and include a link to this project.
- Write something on your own blog, or post something on other blogs you follow. Include the link to this project, and encourage people to support it with a contribution.
- Post this Indygogo page link on linkedin, facebook, or other outreach pages and encourage people to support this project with a contribution.
- Include this link on your Twitter tweets, and encourage people to support it and make a contribution.
Future Book Availability
Since traditional trade book publishers focus on health care celebrities or people with gigantic followings already in place from numerous business endeavors or national recognition, this book with be published independently. Additionally, since industry trade distributors and wholesalers have very little interest in independently published books until they have sold many thousands of copies, the distribution will be handled by Amazon and the small publishing company I am starting, linked to the funnybonekitchen.com website. People will be able to purchase books securely online, by calling to place an order, or by going to specific locations or websites of organic food companies, educational nonprofits, health organizations, and other online retailers which will be chosen as book retailers. I will have copies to sell wherever I go, at workshops, seminars, and other places, and people will also be able to purchase from local independent bookstores in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, and other areas, that choose to order the book for resale.
Outreach Activities
Over the last ten years there have been health book authors who have gotten some good information out to readers, but as we have seen with so many food and health books whose messages fade out with a trend or simply languish from lack of a message that can sustain itself over time, book information by itself is not usually adequate to prompt enough people to make the changes they want. The reason people become involved is because of enthusiastic interaction with others with similar mindsets and ideals, and that zeal naturally spreads to others over time. Personal outreach is therefore much more important than most people realize. To address this I plan to be as active as possible and build support person by person, family by family, and group by group. This momentum of functional health knowledge and participation is growing every year, and by adding my voice to those who have gone before me, I will set our improving food culture on an even firmer foundation. I will therefore support other groups and individuals with complementary missions as much as I can, and in addition to the book, I will be active in the following three areas:
Collaborations
I plan to energetically collaborate with groups and individuals to find new ways of getting people to learn together synergistically, and these relationships will create bonds to build healthy communities with a permanent strength of purpose. These collaborations will bring innovative health education programs and services to parents, alternative learning environments and schools, community leaders, outdoor and homeschool advocates, and other conscientious organizations and individuals. I’d like as many people as possible to work with me to share the message of the book, implement the programs, and improve each group’s own unique projects and programs. Some of the benefits to people I work with will include book sale proceeds, teaching and workshops, superlative representation for the organization’s or school’s mission, as well as ongoing support. And because all of this has implications far beyond American soil, I’d like to extend the outreach internationally.
Funnybone Kitchen Programs
Funnybone Kitchen programs approach the educational experience from a broader but simpler point of view. They show that books and materials, learning-by-doing, and support have to work hand-in-hand in order to have the longest lasting impact. The programs have certain basic premises that are universal and taught to all people, but they will be customized by age and other factors to be determined by the people involved. They will offer outstanding student-initiated and cooperative learning opportunities with direct interaction in gardens, kitchens, community centers, classrooms, and other applicable settings. The programs build action into all learning, create profoundly smarter purchasing and eating habits, and help people nurture the proper environments for themselves to be able to carry on their own health habits with positive results. When approached in this manner, all resources compliment each other, enjoyment of learning is greatly increased, sound decisions are made, results are seen from actions, and on-going activities are self-generating.
Educational Surveys
The purpose of the Funnybone Kitchen surveys is to bring to light the inadequacies of our current food and health education, and to show areas that we can improve learning. They are meant to offer a clear and accurate view of what people are familiar with, to track a continued level of working knowledge, guide the programs, and promote the practice of sensible healthy behaviors. The questions in the surveys are based on the premise that mere memorized data is not a complete education of any subject, especially the important subject of food education which is used in our lives everyday. The surveys give no grades or penalties, and all people involved are given a chance to voice opinions. Later surveys will show how the programs and book have helped, and what new knowledge has been gained. Like any worthwhile undertaking, they will be developed over time to ensure true learning, and the results of the surveys will be made available for all to see.
The Future
I plan to work hard to give this book a good start, and do as much as I can in the future to make it known to others. But I also have things I want to share that cannot be adequately addressed under the auspice of a single book. The societal challenges that industrialized counties like America face encompass more than just food, so the educational focus of my future books will reach out into other areas of human needs that go beyond scientific nonfiction. I have additional books, both finished and underway, which are the result of many years of work without having any or the right publishing options, before this book gave me a chance to share what I have learned. So because Funnybone Kitchen covers such a comprehensive view of food and health issues, and will not require another repeat-formula follow-up book talking about essentially the same issues—an incredibly common practice demanded by most traditional publishers—I will only release revised editions when and if they are appropriate, and have something imperative to add to the original book. My other new books will include a variety of educational subjects and genres from interview books on education and elder wisdom, and new folktales and comprehensible poetry, to travel journals and posthumous work from my mom and brother Paul, two of my greatest inspirations for writing Funnybone Kitchen and other books.
They will have some common threads and a familiar voice, but they will all be framed in language that is accessible, enjoyable, and helpful. Since I believe that a variety of different languages can be used to bring important subjects to life, in addition to what authors usually do for a book like Funnybone Kitchen, I’ll also be addressing other important themes and topics through languages that have not been used to their full potential. The range of books I am planning will use each other’s strengths in a synergy of compatibility that I’ve worked my whole life to build, and I know they will spark people’s enthusiasm to discover, learn, and collaborate for many years to come. I’ll be as vigilant as I can because books are only part of the whole landscape of learning. No matter how successful any book may be, without a significant amount personal outreach and involvement, I won’t feel that any book, or myself, will have reached its full potential. I know that—for me at least—writing books is only the first step, and my ultimate goal is to bring written work to life in more vibrant, meaningful, and enjoyable ways.
About Me
I received a ND (naturopathic health) degree from Clayton College in 1992, and have researched and studied health and education subjects from many angles over the last two decades. In addition to attending many conferences, workshops, and prying into every learning avenue that I could, I’ve worked in health food stores, been a teacher and practitioner, and talked with a vast number of educators and health care people, both traditional and alternative, as well as slaving at innumerable side jobs over the years to complete book projects like Funnybone Kitchen. I’ve been writing for 25 years, and have been published in Talking Stick, Poetry Motel, Artword Quarterly and Sixth Chamber Journals, and The Austin International Poetry Festival Anthology. I’m an energetic education advocate who uses a blend of common sense, science, and storytelling to share my mission with people on food and health, functional learning, and artistic human potential. I’ve done most of my advocacy and teaching informally which has given me valuable insights into expanded learning mediums and approaches, and I’ve done as much as I can to transfer all of that experience into a readable and enjoyable format. I offer mentoring, workshops, and keynote speaking for individuals, families, schools, nonprofits, and special events, and I bring my enthusiasm and knowledge with me wherever I go. If you have any questions, or would like to contact me, feel free to do so at peterjmcdaniel {AT} gmail.com. Thanks again for your support and interest, and I hope our paths cross sometime soon.
--Peter
Click here to bring you back to the Indiegogo page to donate to the campaign
Thank you!