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Jade Pearls and Alien Eyeballs: Interview with Emma Cooper

I had a lot of fun interviewing Emma Cooper yesterday about her e-book, Jade Pearls and Alien Eyeballs, as part of her virtual book tour.

Update 21st April 2015: Emma has released a print edition of Jade Pearls and Alien Eyeballs, which is available to buy from Amazon.

Emma’s book explores unusual edible plants: their histories, the people who forage for and cultivate them, and practical guidance for growing and using these curious foods yourself.

During the interview we discussed oca, chayote and salep; the pleasures and challenges of cultivating uncommon edibles; strange eating experiences like chewing gravel; encounters with dog’s balls; mouth-fizzing textures; and inventive uses such as coconut clothing.

The conversation is full of practical tips, amusing anecdotes and genuine enthusiasm for adventurous eating. It runs for just over 30 minutes and includes plenty of laughter. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we did.

Jade Pearls and Alien Eyeballs Interview

Press the play arrow below to listen from this page.

Or right-click the link below to download the interview to your computer.

Emma Jade Pearls and Alien Eyeballs Interview mp3

The music used during the interview is by Nobara Hayakawa and is licensed under Creative Commons.

To purchase Jade Pearls and Alien Eyeballs

You can buy Jade Pearls and Alien Eyeballs from Smashwords, where a preview is available. The book is offered in several formats, including PDF for readers without an e-reader. The introductory price was $2.99 USD and was set to rise to $3.99 after the publication date.

The book is also available through a number of major retailers and reading platforms, including Barnes & Noble NOOK Store and iTunes in both the UK and US stores.

Reviews, readings and interviews

You can find Emma’s other tour stops and coverage on a range of blogs and podcasts, where she discusses the book, reads excerpts and is interviewed about growing and cooking unusual plants.

  • All Things Bright & Beautiful
  • Japan Farmers Markets — interview part 1
  • Japan Farmers Markets — interview part 2
  • Japan Farmers Markets — review
  • The Alternative Kitchen Garden Show
  • The Backyard Larder
  • The Cats Tripe
  • The City Planter
  • The Garden Deli
  • The Road to Serendipity
  • Veg Plotting
  • Weeding the Web

For more information about Jade Pearls and Alien Eyeballs and Emma’s other writing, visit her blog.