Reading this book felt like eating humble pie - in a really good, encouraging and inspiring way. As a wannabe writer & editor, I truly appreciated Wallen's wisdom and wise-cracking. <i>How to Write a Novel in 20 Pies</i> is part cookbook, part how-to guidebook to the writing life, and part memoir, plus some fun illustrations. It starts at the very beginning (writing a novel) and ends at the publication of the novel, with 20 delicious pies along the way. (I actually haven't tried any of the recipes yet but I'd like to, as it's pie season here in the Midwest.) Humor and practicality is a great combination, and Wallen pulls it off splendidly.
My main bone to pick with this was actually the illustrations. I didn't love Emil Wilson's style of drawing people in this book - however, I did like the rest of his drawings. He has a fun, quirky style, just not one I'm a fan of when it comes to people.
All in all, I'd recommend this book to writers and authors who need a dose of encouragement and humor, with plenty of practical advise and an insider's view of publishing.

I couldn't get into this book. I loved the idea of it and the concept was cute and inviting but I'm not sure if I'm just in a reading slump or what. I found myself having to re-read the same paragraphs over and over again.

What a novel (pardon the pun) way of giving some great writing advice. I haven’t tried any of the pie recipes yet but I’ll certainly be adding some of the writing tips into my daily routine. Would recommend this book as a gift for new or improving writers.

Really enjoyed this!
I will update the review with the link to on our blog closer to publication date.

I'd like to thank the publisher Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review

Half cookbook and half writing guide, this book is also filled with delightfully illustrations and plenty of self deprecating humor. You will be inspired both to get in the kitchen and try your hand at a new pie recipe as well as to get your butt in the seat and write that novel already!

One of the most useful and unique books I've ever read. As a writer, I love the craft advice and as a baker I love the pies. The illustrations are so gorgeous and charming -- I will be investing in a hard copy of this. Highly recommended for writers, bakers, and artists. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

While I don't know that reading this book will turn me into a best-selling novelist, it's fun and full of solid, basic info every writer should know and take to heart. It's also heavy on pies, pies you make and pies as a metaphor for the writing process. Trust me, it all makes sense as you read. And, oh, lots of recipes for said pies, too.

I liked the premise of the book, a sort of not just "do as I do" type lesson but also a "don't do as I did" one. Author Amy Wallen shares what worked and didn't work for her when she set out to write her first novel. I'm a sucker for a writer with a sense of humor and Wallen has it in spades and the cartoon illustrations by Emil Wilson are cute and full of humor.

I'm not going to offer up a list of the ideas/suggestions, sorry. For that you'll need to read the book. Wallen begins with what I'll call the "I want to write a book" stage, and goes through the stages or writing, rewriting, then writing some more, repeat. Perseverance is the key, to be simplistic. One of the things I especially liked was that Wallen takes you though not just the writing process, which can be a long, solitary task, but finding and agent, query letters to said agents, and a reminder that you have to impress the whole team at a publisher, not just one overworked agent. Nor does Wallen stop there. She goes on to talk about the various "fun" post-publication events, which are also work, such as local appearances, book fairs, and being prepared for questions that an audience might ask. In other words, writing the book is just the beginning.

Bottom line, there's a great deal of solid, helpful information to be found here by aspiring writers. It will help you see beyond your dream of writing a book and give you guidance on not just what to do but what not to do. Thanks #NetGalley and #AndrewsMcMeelPublishering for sharing this helpful guide to getting published. Now, I'm feeling the urge for something sweet. Hmm, a pie, maybe?

Thanks very much to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this unique gem of a book. I love genre mixing when it works, and boy oh boy does it work here. In thinking about what I would write for this review, I realized that this book itself is essentially a pie, with three ingredients:

1) useful and heartfelt craft-of-writing advice;
2) recipes for delicious-sounding pies; and
3) cute and humorous illustrations.

I've been reading lots of craft-of-writing books lately, and many are retreads of well-worn material. Not so, here. The author has plenty of novel (ha) suggestions for wannabe authors such as myself, several of which I plan to put into practice immediately, but the book is not just a checklist of things to do. The author takes us along on the journey to publishing her first novel (and, to a lesser extent, her memoir and this very book), sharing the things she learned along the way. The prose is easy to read, conversational, and friendly.

Re: pies, I am not a pie maker, but this book had me searching for leaf lard on Amazon, so I guess I may at least give it a try. The recipes sound delicious.

Re: the illustrations, I realized while reading this that I wish that all books had illustrations. In any event, this one does, and they're wonderfully charming. Some of them should be reproduced into prints so I can hang them in my office for further writing inspiration.

I will be recommending this book to all of my writer friends and ordering a hard copy ASAP.

"You may want to throw pie in that publisher's face. But why waste a good pie?" -From How to Write a Novel in 20 Pies

3 stars

I had to read this book based on the title and illustrations alone. I needed to see how pies and novel writing were woven together, and that picture of pie was wicked cute. Let me tell you, the illustrations continue throughout the book, and they got me through some hard times. The blob like people, food, pie pie charts kept cheering me to keep going; they are absolutely adorable.

Readers might have a better time going into this book knowing it is largely part memoir, part pie recipes, and really what to do with a book after you have written it. There are some surface level sound bites of how to write a novel like 'keep writing' and how do you know when to stop editing- who knows, just keep editing it again and again while you eat pie and cry. Really, most places focus on the novel she wrote, and what she did with it. Some out-of-place student and writing group anecdotes also pop up. An editor and really a sensitivity reader probably should have been utilized in places, which is not something I thought I would ever being saying about a book about novel writing and pies, but there are numerous cringey parts. The phrase "miscarriages of books" makes an early appearance in regards to unpublished boooks, leading the way for "whore" and "slut" to be used, ending with a cameo of her teaching a Buddhism class because she once spent a month in Tibet and her husband told her too. It's a lot. Like I said, the illustrations got me through. If you go in looking for a sort of tongue-in-cheek look at the process this author went through making her book, you most likely will have a pretty good time. Some of the very few tangible tidbits of advice given, like submiting to multiple agents when they explicitly ask you not to, I don't agree with at all. I didn't try any of the recipes, mostly because I was traumatized early on after googling what "leaf lard" was; but I imagine some might find parts frustrating to use, as sometimes steps go out of order-like telling you to grease the pan after you have poured the mixture in. Good luck future writers, and pie makers. I walk away worrying I didn't give enough pies to people who have read my book (I've given out 0 pies though).

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.