What started out as a bit of joke for some fishing and hunting friends, has blossomed into a cottage industry for author Tim Murphy.
"I wrote 'Flannel John's Hunting & Fishing Camp Cookbook' for my friends. They would show up at deer camp or fishing with beef jerky, cheese and a case of beer. Aside from the olfactory assault, the camp needed something a bit more substantial. The guys needed ishes that were easy to make that wouldn't take long to prepare. Let's be honest, we (men) can lack patience and focus."
Since October 2012, Murphy has written seven "Cookbooks for Guys." The two latest titles are "Flannel John's Tailgating Grub & Couch Potato Cookbook" ($9.95) and "Flannel John's Single Guy Cookbook" ($7.95).
"The Tailgating book is for the football fanatic. It's great food for the parking lot at the stadium or the recliner in the man cave. It's also the biggest I've written in terms of recipes. The Single Guy Cookbook is aimed at recent grads, single dads or guys just kicked out of their parents' basement. Every recipe in that book is six ingredients or less. It's perfect for the beginning cook," said Murphy.
But is Flannel John the co-author?
"Flannel John is a character based on a few old hunters I knew. I wanted to honor their spirit and what they taught me. He is also part Babe Winkelman, Ted Nugent, Red Green, Grizzly Adams and crusty mountain man. I have written six Flannel John books with another four planned. The next one, "Flannel John's Hearty Bowl Cookbook - Soup, Stew, Chili & Chowder" will be out the first week of October.
The first book, Flannel John's Hunting & Fishing Camp Cookbook, cracked Amazon.com's "Top 1%" Sales category within a month of release.
Three more Flannel John titles followed the debut including Flannel John's Woods and Water Cookbook - Critters, Fritters, Chili and Beer in February 2013, Flannel John's Pirate Galley Cookbook - Coastal Cuisine and Maritime Meals from Oceans, Lakes and Rivers in April 2013 and for the backwoods, rustic soul there was Flannel John's Mountain Man Cookbook - Frontier Food from the Hills, Country and Backwoods in May 2013.
He also released his first "non-Flannel John title this summer called "The Tube Steak Boogie Cookbook - A Celebration of Hot Dogs, Sausage, Brats & Kielbasa."
"That book paid tribute to the hot dog stand of my youth, and adulthood, that I visited frequented for over 30 years. It was in the south suburbs of Chicago. The comparable dining spot I've found is a fish & chips spot in Astoria, Oregon called the Bowpicker," said Murphy.
"Willie's Wee Nee Wagon was always my first stop when I came home from college or returned for the holidays to see family. In 2009, Willie's acquired a new owner, a new name and a different brand of hot dogs. I went there once and it just wasn't the same. But I have some great memories. Willie's had been around since 1955, first a metal food trailer, then they constructed a building in the late 1970's. I am a bit of a fanatic about the place. I still have two of the paper bags from old orders. They must be ten to fifteen years old. One is framed and hangs in my kitchen, proudly emblazoned with Willie's motto - We Relish Your Bun."
Why cookbooks for guys?
"I didn't see anything written for men, especially beginner and novice cooks," said Murphy.
"The first book covered comfort food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, deserts and drinks. It was aimed at hunters and anglers but it's great for campers and RVers."
Future releases include "Flannel John's Winter Cabin Cookbook" in late October and a rock and roll themed title, his tenth book, called "You Cook Me All Night Long" in November.
Tim Murphy is a graduate of Western Michigan University. This 23-year radio veteran spent 17-years hosting morning radio shows in several Michigan cities including Holland, Muskegon, Traverse City, Saginaw and Houghton plus Fargo, North Dakota, Stevens Point, Wisconsin and Ketchikan, Alaska. Murphy has had a long career as a freelance and comedy writer. His work has appeared in dozens of outlets including Backwoods Home Magazine, The Porcupine Press U.P. Magazine, National Lampoon, The Traverse City Record Eagle and ABC Radio Network. He lives in Seaside, Oregon with his wife LisaMarie Costanzo.
All seven of his books can be found at Amazon.com and at www.flanneljohn.com. They are $7.95 except for the Tailgating book which is $9.95. For additional information on the books or to inquire about wholesale book pricing, contact Tim Murphy at (701) 238-1775 or at shamrockarrow@gmail.com or like him on facebook.
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"I wrote 'Flannel John's Hunting & Fishing Camp Cookbook' for my friends. They would show up at deer camp or fishing with beef jerky, cheese and a case of beer. Aside from the olfactory assault, the camp needed something a bit more substantial. The guys needed ishes that were easy to make that wouldn't take long to prepare. Let's be honest, we (men) can lack patience and focus."
Since October 2012, Murphy has written seven "Cookbooks for Guys." The two latest titles are "Flannel John's Tailgating Grub & Couch Potato Cookbook" ($9.95) and "Flannel John's Single Guy Cookbook" ($7.95).
"The Tailgating book is for the football fanatic. It's great food for the parking lot at the stadium or the recliner in the man cave. It's also the biggest I've written in terms of recipes. The Single Guy Cookbook is aimed at recent grads, single dads or guys just kicked out of their parents' basement. Every recipe in that book is six ingredients or less. It's perfect for the beginning cook," said Murphy.
But is Flannel John the co-author?
"Flannel John is a character based on a few old hunters I knew. I wanted to honor their spirit and what they taught me. He is also part Babe Winkelman, Ted Nugent, Red Green, Grizzly Adams and crusty mountain man. I have written six Flannel John books with another four planned. The next one, "Flannel John's Hearty Bowl Cookbook - Soup, Stew, Chili & Chowder" will be out the first week of October.
The first book, Flannel John's Hunting & Fishing Camp Cookbook, cracked Amazon.com's "Top 1%" Sales category within a month of release.
Three more Flannel John titles followed the debut including Flannel John's Woods and Water Cookbook - Critters, Fritters, Chili and Beer in February 2013, Flannel John's Pirate Galley Cookbook - Coastal Cuisine and Maritime Meals from Oceans, Lakes and Rivers in April 2013 and for the backwoods, rustic soul there was Flannel John's Mountain Man Cookbook - Frontier Food from the Hills, Country and Backwoods in May 2013.
He also released his first "non-Flannel John title this summer called "The Tube Steak Boogie Cookbook - A Celebration of Hot Dogs, Sausage, Brats & Kielbasa."
"That book paid tribute to the hot dog stand of my youth, and adulthood, that I visited frequented for over 30 years. It was in the south suburbs of Chicago. The comparable dining spot I've found is a fish & chips spot in Astoria, Oregon called the Bowpicker," said Murphy.
"Willie's Wee Nee Wagon was always my first stop when I came home from college or returned for the holidays to see family. In 2009, Willie's acquired a new owner, a new name and a different brand of hot dogs. I went there once and it just wasn't the same. But I have some great memories. Willie's had been around since 1955, first a metal food trailer, then they constructed a building in the late 1970's. I am a bit of a fanatic about the place. I still have two of the paper bags from old orders. They must be ten to fifteen years old. One is framed and hangs in my kitchen, proudly emblazoned with Willie's motto - We Relish Your Bun."
Why cookbooks for guys?
"I didn't see anything written for men, especially beginner and novice cooks," said Murphy.
"The first book covered comfort food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, deserts and drinks. It was aimed at hunters and anglers but it's great for campers and RVers."
Future releases include "Flannel John's Winter Cabin Cookbook" in late October and a rock and roll themed title, his tenth book, called "You Cook Me All Night Long" in November.
Tim Murphy is a graduate of Western Michigan University. This 23-year radio veteran spent 17-years hosting morning radio shows in several Michigan cities including Holland, Muskegon, Traverse City, Saginaw and Houghton plus Fargo, North Dakota, Stevens Point, Wisconsin and Ketchikan, Alaska. Murphy has had a long career as a freelance and comedy writer. His work has appeared in dozens of outlets including Backwoods Home Magazine, The Porcupine Press U.P. Magazine, National Lampoon, The Traverse City Record Eagle and ABC Radio Network. He lives in Seaside, Oregon with his wife LisaMarie Costanzo.
All seven of his books can be found at Amazon.com and at www.flanneljohn.com. They are $7.95 except for the Tailgating book which is $9.95. For additional information on the books or to inquire about wholesale book pricing, contact Tim Murphy at (701) 238-1775 or at shamrockarrow@gmail.com or like him on facebook.
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