Two years ago I queried immediate family about contributing to a family book of recipes. The response was positive.

Then I dropped the plan and went on to other priorities.

About three weeks ago I got it fired up again. So I emailed everyone whose email address I have - on my mother's family side, as the cookbook is for the descendants of my maternal Grandmother, Rosa Comer (d. 7-3-1977).

My sister has sent me over 30 recipes, hers, some of my Mother's and even a few from her friends on the coast. One of my nieces sent six. My youngest uncle loaned me some of my Grandmother's original 3 x 5 recipe cards, a few with what I thought were 'lost' recipes! He also contributed a few of his own, based on Grandma Comer's original dishes. His daughter in west Texas contributed some.

Then a cousin in Florida sent two, a second cousin is going to send at least one.

My own recipes are going in the book, too. What worries me is that by number, this book looks like "Jon and Kathy's Cookbook' and doesn't have enough input from the far-flung clan. I am heavily campaigning Comer uncles to scream at their children to get me some recipes.

After all, it is going to be titled THE COMER FAMILY COOKBOOK.

It will be publish-on-demand, so anyone can order a copy or multiple copies (would make nice Christmas gifts!) once it is published. It will be available on www.lulu.com, where my two novels are available. Easy.

Easy?

Getting contributions is like pulling alligator teeth.