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Useful Tips, Interviews, and Stories to Inspire Food Writers and Bloggers

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Gluten Free Girl

After Food Blogging, Gluten-Free Girl’s Shauna Ahern says “Enough”

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Shauna Ahern gave up her blog, Gluten-Free Girl, in 2017. She made a good go of it for 12 years and her blog lives on online. Now, instead of food blogging, she works full-time as head writer at ChefsSteps. Her husband Danny stays home with her two kids, and everyone gets health insurance.

That was part of the decision to close the blog and get a job: Worrying about money. 

Her new book of essays is Enough: Notes From a Woman Who Has Finally Found It. She writes [Read more…] about After Food Blogging, Gluten-Free Girl’s Shauna Ahern says “Enough”

Gluten-Free Girl Says Blogs Don’t Matter Anymore

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shauna headshot

Shauna James Ahern pioneered her food blog in 2005, and while she’s keeping it, she’s added books, sponsored posts, video cooking classes, gluten-free flour and now, a recipe subscription newsletter.

Yes, Shauna James Ahern of Gluten-Free Girl really did say that, later on in this interview, and she has compelling ideas about why.

But first, I thought you’d like to know how her thinking has shifted as someone who has blogged about food for 11 years. We’ll start with her launch of a recipe subscription service called feeding our people, and move on to [Read more…] about Gluten-Free Girl Says Blogs Don’t Matter Anymore

Gluten-Free Girl's Marketing Mastery

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Gluten-Free Girl (Shauna James Ahern, right) and the Chef (Daniel Ahern, left), with 2-year old Lucy. (Photo by A.J. Bates.)

When a blogger launches a book, it’s a chance to capitalize on her community. Shauna James Ahern knew how to run with that opportunity when her second book came out last fall.

Despite her protestations to the contrary, the Pacific Northwest blogger excels as a marketer. She’s also a terrific writer, community builder, and generous supporter of other food bloggers and cookbook authors.

I’ve known about Ahern for years, but got to know her personally when I took a class she taught on voice through Leite’s Culinaria. I quoted her writing tips in the revised edition of Will Write for Food, because I admire how clearly her energetic, honest, and positive voice comes through in her writing.

This post is not about her writing, though. I’d like you to know about Ahern’s marketing skills, and learn from them for when your book comes out. Ahern’s passion for building community seems to come to her naturally, and  blogging has been a perfect [Read more…] about Gluten-Free Girl's Marketing Mastery