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We Have Liftoff!

November 15, 2024 by Renae Wrich in category Writing

I’m thrilled to announce that my second book, Mac and Cheese in Outer Space is officially available! The book was published last week. Unfortunately, early November in an election year is not the greatest timing to be putting a new book on blast. On the other hand, it provided me more time for a soft-launch with family and friends. Big shout out to my Mom, whose quilting friends are purchasing the book in record numbers. You’re the best, Mom!

“Mac and Cheese in Outer Space”. A book by Renae Wrich.

I’m super excited to share this book with the world. It would not have been possible without my daughters, who also inspired my first book, Mac and Cheese, Please, Please, Please. Soon after MCPPP was published, they begged me to write a book about mac and cheese in outer space. I immediately blanked. How do I write a book about macaroni and cheese in outer space? In the years that followed I let the idea marinate slowly, visiting it like an old friend from time to time. It finally came together earlier this year and I could not be happier with how it all turned out.

I partnered with my previous illustrator, Winda Mulyasari, and I’m in so awe of her process and her ability to take my ideas and turn them into magical illustrations. Asking someone to illustrate the planet Mars holding a bowl of macaroni and cheese that looks like Flaming Hot Cheetos, is not for the faint of heart.

The planet Mars in “Mac and Cheese in Outer Space” by Renae Wrich

Wondering where the mac and cheese journey will go from here? My kids have already supplied the idea for the next mac and cheese book. Here’s a hint- Bring your sunscreen.

Mac and Cheese in Outer Space is available now on Amazon.com.

Please visit www.renaewrich.com to learn more.

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High School Reunions

October 15, 2024 by Renae Wrich in category Writing tagged as Childrens Lit, dreams, high school, High school reunion, Mac and Cheese

This year signifies that it’s been 20 years since I graduated from high school. I can’t believe it’s been two decades since I sat in English class dreaming of someday becoming a writer. There are so many things I’d tell my 17 year old self, but the most important thing would be that the best is absolutely yet to come.

So of course when a 20 year milestone is upon us, we are faced with the decision to either attend the reunion, or to sit at home and wonder what it would have been like to attend the reunion. I weighed the decision carefully, but ultimately I decided to put my brave girl pants on and drag my husband with me to the townie bar in my hometown to face my high school classmates.

I’m glad I went for a number of reasons, the biggest one being that it was honestly really nice to talk with people I hadn’t seen in a very long time and to make some new connections. But imagine my surprise when I walked in and discovered that reunion organizers showcased the various businesses and crafts of our class, including my book! I was so touched to see that they had purchased a copy of Mac and Cheese, Please, Please, Please to display at the event.

A big thank you to the 2004 Student Council for giving M&CPPP some love at the reunion. It seriously meant so much to me. Go Cougars!

In other news, Mac and Cheese in Outer Space is in the final stages before its release. IT’S GETTING REAL PEOPLE! I have my ISBN number, the book is currently with a layout designer, and I have my beta readers all lined up as we prepare for launch. I seriously can’t wait to share this story with the world.

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A Little Taste of Space

August 15, 2024 by Renae Wrich in category Writing tagged as Childrens Lit, Mac and Cheese, Outer Space, reading, Summer, TOG

Hello friends! How has summer zoomed by so quickly? Thankfully, my family and I have been able to sneak away from life and the softball field where we spent 90% of our summer (I wish I was exaggerating) for a little lake time.

Me sitting lakeside in Northern Minnesota with a local brew, good company, and Sarah J. Maas’ Crown of Midnight. –>

Weeks at the lake always give me the best perspective. I mean, how could it not?! It provides an opportunity to unplug from my day-to-day and focus on me, my family, and my favorite hobbies. While I didn’t get as much writing done this on this vacation as I have in the past (probably had something to do with the fabulous Sarah J. Maas), I have zero regrets about that. 🙂

One writing project that is moving along very well is my next children’s book! I’m excited to share is that the illustrations are completed!

My wonderful illustrator, Winda Mulyasari, finished the illustrations for my second children’s book over the summer and they turned out better than I ever could have imagined. The fact that she is able to take my bulleted illustrator briefing and carefully craft the images to match the crazy world inside my head completely blows me away. She’s so talented and I feel very fortunate to have her as a partner in this.

Mac and Cheese in Outer Space will be available this fall and I’m SO thrilled with how it turned out. I can’t wait to share it with the world. I have a few more boxes to check off before we are ready for liftoff, but it’s coming soon!!

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Mac and Cheese Toppings

May 15, 2024 by Renae Wrich in category Writing

As I’ve shared, I’m currently in the process of creating my second children’s book, Mac and Cheese in Outer Space. My wonderful Illustrator, Winda Mulyasari, is still working her magic to make my cheesy, outer space vision come to life. Please believe me when I tell you that the first illustrations she’s sent me are AMAZING!

While I was writing this book, I challenged myself to try and think of all the different toppings that someone could put on their macaroni and cheese. Like most kids, my children preferred the straight-up noodles and cheese when they were little. Although, I had gotten pretty good at sneaking veggies in there like our dear grandma does in my first book, Mac and Cheese, Please, Please, Please.

Now that my kids are older, their go-to topping is Franks RedHot. Personally, I’m probably more traditional in my appreciation for perfectly seasoned and buttery breadcrumbs.

These are a few of the macaroni and cheese toppings I came up with:

Hot sauce
Cracked pepper
Breadcrumbs
Ranch (I’m from the midwest)
Buffalo sauce
Barbecue sauce
Taco meat and/or sauce (does this change the dish too much?)
Bacon
Chopped up hot dogs
Chunked up chicken (especially with aforementioned buffalo sauce)
Kielbasa sausage
Flamin Hot Cheetos
Broccoli
Squash
Green onion
Rotel
MORE CHEESE!!!!!!

What are your favorite mac and cheese toppings?

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My First Author Reading

April 15, 2024 by Renae Wrich in category Writing

Cheesy greetings! While my wonderful illustrator, Winda Mulyasari, is hard at work making my crazy second book come to life, I’ve been busy checking a first off my list – My first reading!

Last month I had the opportunity to participate in my first official author reading! It was at a local daycare center my children attended years ago. I have kept in touch with a few of the teachers and the former site director, but I was floored when they asked me to come provide an “in-person field trip” for reading month. In preparation for the event, I printed off these super cute little bookmarks to give out to the kiddos at the daycare and they were a huge hit!

Luckily, my kids were still on spring break that day, so I dragged them along with me so they could visit with their old teachers and see their momma doing something rad. My oldest also served as my photographer during the event.

It was SO fun! The kiddos loved it and my heart just about BURST into pieces when the preschool class started reciting the story back to me during the reading. Many of them knew my book by heart and I know I have their teachers to thank for that!

On top of that amazingness, last weekend I vacationed up north at the family cabin that inspired me to seriously try writing romance back in 2020. It was a lovely girl’s weekend that involved wine, painting, thrifting, NCAA women’s college basketball, a brewery, and a meat raffle at the local Legion (yes, that’s a thing). I didn’t win any meat, nor did I get any writing accomplished, but it was a wonderful getaway filled with laughter and fun.