Welcome to ERG’s weekly Author of the Week Interview! This will be a weekly feature, and I’ll be interviewing popular authors in different genres. If you have a favorite author that you’d like to see featured, make sure to tell them to contact me.
So let’s get started. I’d like to introduce you to Crystal VanTassel. She has written a manual for meal planning that can be found on Amazon for your Kindle. Let’s get to know Crystal!
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.
I am a Dallas mom blogger of all boys (twins included). I am generally exhausted but I would not have it any other way. I was created to be a mom.
I am a Dallas mom blogger of all boys (twins included). I am generally exhausted but I would not have it any other way. I was created to be a mom.
When and why did you decide to write your first book?I went from a mom of one to a mom of many what seemed like overnight. After my twins were born I needed help feeding my family- like before 10:00pm. I think often times moms over-complicate things and I knew if I was struggling with this, so were other parents. I am passionate about helping busy families get dinner on the table and overcoming the struggles of meal planning!
Tell us about your blog.
Like many moms I started blogging as a way to keep family and friends up-to-date about our life. Well, also to track all of the absolutely crazy occurrences that happen when you’re raising so many boys under one roof. Slowly my site morphed into a mommy resource and solution site where we share real easy recipes, meal planning success, activities for kids, craft tutorials, educational/homeschool resources and so much more!
Like many moms I started blogging as a way to keep family and friends up-to-date about our life. Well, also to track all of the absolutely crazy occurrences that happen when you’re raising so many boys under one roof. Slowly my site morphed into a mommy resource and solution site where we share real easy recipes, meal planning success, activities for kids, craft tutorials, educational/homeschool resources and so much more!
What makes How to Meal Plan different from other eBooks?
It breaks meal planning down in a step by step way that is not over-complicated. I help you understand that you do not have to be the most organized parent on the planet to make meal planning work for you. You’re going to walk away knowing this is something you can implement!
It breaks meal planning down in a step by step way that is not over-complicated. I help you understand that you do not have to be the most organized parent on the planet to make meal planning work for you. You’re going to walk away knowing this is something you can implement!
Are you planning on writing any other books in the near future?
Yes! My next eBook will be 21 Real Easy Recipes for Busy Families. It takes the process of meal planning one step further in building your recipe list to 21 real easy dinner solutions that meet your recipe criteria.
Who is your favorite author and book?
I really do not have a “favorite” author. I do own multiple books by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs as well as a handful by Gary Chapman. But, I would say right now, although I only own one of his books, Jon Acuff is a highly motivating author. I can see my shelves filling up with anything new he writes and gathering up his older books. I wish I could give a copy of his newest book Start to every person I meet who has a passion to succeed.
I really do not have a “favorite” author. I do own multiple books by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs as well as a handful by Gary Chapman. But, I would say right now, although I only own one of his books, Jon Acuff is a highly motivating author. I can see my shelves filling up with anything new he writes and gathering up his older books. I wish I could give a copy of his newest book Start to every person I meet who has a passion to succeed.
What book are you reading right now?
Funny you should ask. I am totally a self-help-book-kind-of-gal. I have shelves and shelves of books and I am never reading just one. I have many going at one time. And I do not always read from front to back (gasp!!). Awful I know.Here is what I am reading now:
Start by Jon Acuff (amazing book!)
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown, PhD
31 Days to a Happy Husband by Arlene Pellicane
Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl
Funny you should ask. I am totally a self-help-book-kind-of-gal. I have shelves and shelves of books and I am never reading just one. I have many going at one time. And I do not always read from front to back (gasp!!). Awful I know.Here is what I am reading now:
Start by Jon Acuff (amazing book!)
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown, PhD
31 Days to a Happy Husband by Arlene Pellicane
Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl
How did you decide on the subject for your book?
Meal planning is something I am very passionate about… so it was a no-brainer for me. I KNEW this was a topic I could help others with.What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Spare time? What’s that?
Meal planning is something I am very passionate about… so it was a no-brainer for me. I KNEW this was a topic I could help others with.What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Spare time? What’s that?
Snag your own copy of Crystal’s book How to Meal Plan: A Step by Step Guide for Busy Moms today! On Wednesday, July 10, Crystal’s book will be on sale for 99 cents! Thanks Crystal for being our Author of the Week!
Awe! Thanks so much for having me.
I love, love, love what you’re doing here on eReader Girl!
All the best.
Giggling at spare time… I feel that pain!
Chautona- glad you can relate. 🙂
I am really enjoying your site! Love the author interviews and the free books especially! I am starting a new link-up party this week for all things book and reading related on my blog, Mommynificent. I’d love to have you join us with this post and any others you’d like to share. Hope to see you tomorrow at Booknificent Thursday this week and every week!
Tina @ Mommynificent
Tina- aren’t the interviews fun?
I checked your site out, by the way. Love it!
Meal Planning is something that every busy mom needs! What a great resource!
Thanks, Jessica. I could not agree with you more.
I’ve been trying to meal plan lately, and I am Officially the Worst Meal Planner Ever…I usually get two days into my week of meals and it all goes out the window. I am going to check out his book for sure…I’ve got a system that is *kind of* working (I think…I’m only a few days in…) but I could always use some (or a lot of) help!
Carrie- meal planning really can be easy. I promise. In the book I break it down into five simple steps and share printables to help you too.
Once you have meal planning success, and you see how simple it really can be, you’ll want that success over and over again.
It really can be easy.
We mamas need all the help we can get. Thanks for putting it together for us – wish they had this class in high school!
Autumn- for real! Home Economics and Meal Planning 101.