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To close out Season Five and celebrate 100(!) episodes, we're sharing some advice, tips and ideas from our listeners for our listeners. Molly, Andrea, Kate and Kristin discuss some of the terrific insights that our listeners have submitted to help aspiring cookbook authors and share their own thoughts on topics like: writing classes, caring the most for your project, the inevitable "dip" in the process, headnote workflow, photography ROI, self-editing and two-book deals.
Thanks so much for joining us for 100 episodes! We'll be back with Season 6 soon!
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Episode 29: Finding Your Voice with Tori Ritchie
Episode 15: Will Write for Food with Dianne Jacob
Episode 02: Do You Need a Cookbook Agent?
Episode 82: Craft Books for Cookbook Writers
Episode 01: Should You Write a Cookbook?
Episode 18: Pro Tips from Cookbook Critic Paula Forbes
Episode 88: On Being a First-Time Cookbook Author with Michelle Braxton
Episode 69: Writing a Menu Cookbook with Amy Thielen
Episode 94: Insights from Literary Agent Lori Galvin
Episode 27: When Less is More: Ali Slagle on the Art of Short Recipes
Episode 63: On Rejection and Recovery
Episode 93: The Secret of Cooking with Bee Wilson
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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Molly and Kate speak with two members of the cookbook indexing website Eat Your Books team; Jane Kelly, co-founder and CEO and Jenny Hartin, Director of Publicity. Jane shares where she got the idea to create the website, the way it works and how its grown since its inception with now over 2.5 million recipes indexed. We learn how vital the community experience of the site is and ways authors can use the site in their own work. Jenny talks about the various indexing issues that can arise, the benefits to the manual process, how she chooses which of the myriad of releases to highlight and a peek into the EYB/publisher relationship. They both share how this is still a passion of theirs, what books they've been cooking from lately and the titles they are excited about this fall. Stick around for an exclusive promo code for EVCB listeners to try out Eat Your Books for themselves!
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Eat Your Books website
2024 Cookbook Releases
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Recipe Tin Eats by Nagi Maehashi
A Thousand Feasts by Nigel Slater
Mooncakes and Milk Bread by Kristina Cho
Open Wide by Benny Blanco
Desi Bakes by Hetal Vasavada
Cook Simply, Live Fully by Yasmin Fahr
Ottolenghi Comfort by Yotam Ottolenghi
Chicano Bakes by Esteban Castillo
Bodega Bakes by Paola Velez
Milk and Cardamom by Hetal Vasavada
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Manglende episoder?
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Kate and Andrea chat with Singapore based cookbook author Chris Tan about his new book, Nerd Baker 2 and his publishing process. He shares why he wanted to revisit the world of Nerd Baker, how he keeps international readers in mind while writing and how his experience as a cooking instructor informs his work. He talks about the climate obstacles he had while writing and photographing, where his research led him and why he seeks to demystify instructions for his readers and how he goes about doing it. Finally, he shares insights into his social media approach and how his books get internationally distributed along with a few wise words of advice.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Nerd Baker 2: Tales from the Yeast Indies by Chris Tan
Nerd Baker by Chris Tan
The Way of Kueh by Chris Tan
Chinese Cooking Demystified: Sourdough Youtube video
Kinokuniya
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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Kate and Kristin tackle the topic of cookbook collaboration as they chat with Olga Massov and Sanaë Lemoine about their new book, Hot Sheet. Olga and Sanaë share a bit about their career paths, where the inspiration for this book came from and why partnering on it was the best way to go. They speak about the strengths and expertise each brought to the project, why they focused on sheet pans and go into the nitty gritty of how they worked together. Hint: spreadsheets! They talk about the recipe creating and testing process, the pre-work steps they took before embarking on the projects and advice they'd give to others interested in starting their own creative partnerships.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Olga Massov
Sanaë Lemoine
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Hot Sheet by Olga Massov and Sanaë LemoineThe Margo Affair by Sanaë Lemoine -
Molly and Kate speak with the owners of Los Angeles based cookbook store Now Serving, Ken Concepcion and Michelle Mungcal, about the crucial role that niche independent bookstores play in the marketplace. Ken shares how his chef background informed his love of cookbooks and led to opening the store and Michelle talks about curating their space to create a specific atmosphere for their community. They speak about what titles they choose to carry, their thoughts on event formats and release schedules along with the obstacles that arise in the retail space and the ones that come with running a small business. Finally, they discuss their thoughts on self published projects and promote their new cookbook club.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Now Serving Bookstore
Now Serving Bookclub
Plantasia: A Vegetarian Cookbook Through Asia by Pamelia Chia
Tacos CDMX by Guia Domingo
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Bäco: Vivid Recipes from the Heart of Los Angeles by Betty Hallock and Josef CentenoSauces: Classical and Contemporary Sauce Making by James PetersonFlavorama by Arielle Johnson -
Kate, Kristin and Molly venture back into the user experience arena as they discuss recipe presentation in cookbooks. They highlight the need for this section to delight not distract and prioritize form over function as well as the need to write with a specific audience in mind. They discuss their thoughts as a consumer and developer on elements like: ingredients, equipment, serving size, prep time, method, sub-recipes, headnotes and bursts. Finally, they share their advice for recipe developers on things to think through and ways to research to bring clarity and individuality to their own work.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Episode 91: The UX of Cookbook Design
Episode 28: All About Headnotes
Episode 42: How to Write Recipe Titles
Episode 24: Genius Recipes with Kristin Miglore
Episode 59: Lerato Umah-Shaylor on Africana
Episode 33: Becoming the Writer You Want to Be with Andy Baraghani
Episode 93: The Secret of Cooking with Bee Wilson
Episode 88: On Being a First-Time Cookbook Author with Michelle Braxton
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Genius Recipes by Kristin MigloreBrooks Headley's Fancy Desserts by Brooks Headley -
Kate, Kristin and Molly speak with agent Lori Galvin about her long career in the food media space. She shares what spurred her decision to move on from editorial work and how agenting required on the job learning and an entrepreneurial approach. She talks about learning to trust in her own taste, why she enjoys working with both fiction and non-fiction titles and the changes she is seeing in the cookbook sphere. After touching on proposals, comp titles and platform building, Lori gives some advice to authors looking for their own agents and what she in particular looks for in an book.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Lori Galvin at Aevitas Agency
Query Manager
Episode 76: Totally Achievable Zero Waste Cooking with Irene and Mei Li
Sh*t no one tells you about writing article on Query Manager (scroll down)
Kristin Donnelly's mini-course about finding an agent
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Notes from a Young Black Chef: A Memoir by Kwame OnwuachiPie Squared: Irresistibly Easy Sweet & Savory Slab Pies by Cathy BarrowPerfectly Good Food: A Totally Achievable Zero Waste Approach to Home Cooking by Margaret Li and Irene Li -
Molly and Kate talk with prolific writer Bee Wilson about her new cookbook, The Secret of Cooking. Bee explains how she uses her past experience as an academic in her food writing to showcase its breadth beyond restaurants and recipes and what inspired her to write this cookbook. She shares why she settled on a thematic structure for the book, the recipe writing and testing process along with her varied influences and resources. She talks about bringing the joy back into cooking and why she believes that the golden age of home cooking is still to come.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Bee Wilson
WebsiteInstagramVisit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
The Secret of Cooking by Bee WilsonConsider the Fork by Bee WilsonFirst Bite: How We Learn to Eat by Bee WilsonThe Way We Eat Now by Bee Wilson50 Ways to Cook a Carrot by Bee Wilson -
Kate and Molly speak with Ruth Reichl, an icon and authority in the food media world, about her breadth of writing experience - restaurant reviews, cookbooks, memoirs, articles and even tweets- and her new book, The Paris Novel. Ruth shares why food is a universal framework, her inspirations for this novel and the process of working with a new editor. She talks about being a "writer who hates writing" and how this process differed from others as well as how she accesses memories to include specificities in her scenes. Finally, she shares her advice to push into the unknown and what she is working on next.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Ruth Reichl
SubstackInstagramFood and Country Film
"Why I Disapprove of What I Do" by Ruth Reichl
Tumbleweed at Shakespeare and Company
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
The Paris Novel by Ruth ReichlSave Me the Plums by Ruth ReichlGarlic and Sapphires by Ruth ReichlMy Kitchen Year by Ruth ReichlDelicious! by Ruth ReichlTender at the Bone by Ruth ReichlComfort Me with Apples by Ruth Reichl -
Kristin, Molly and Kate tackle cookbook design from a usability perspective. They point out design decisions that authors should consider: packaging and cover design, typeface and font legibility, photographs on matte vs gloss paper and much more. They share their own opinions, experiences and preferences on the elements that enhance or detract from a user's experience of the book and, because there's much more to say on the topic, tease a part two.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Debbie Berne Instagram
83: A Niche Cookbook That Sold 350K+ Copies with Shelly Worcel
47: Self-Publishing Cookbooks with Nick Fauchald
66: Becoming Your Own Publisher with Katie Parla
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
The Design of Books by Debbie Berne -
Kristin and Molly speak with cookbook author Phoebe Lapine about finding pleasure in restrictive diets and her new cookbook, Carbivore. Phoebe shares what led her down a food focused career path, how she learned while blogging and how a health diagnosis pulled her down a different path than originally planned. She talks about writing recipes that keep comfort and pleasure in mind, synthesizing data to communicate science to her reader and why her driving force is "healthy hedonism". She also discusses the concept of a "search term book", the importance of sub-titles and how she balanced blogging, social media and marketing while writing the book.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Phoebe Lapine
WebsitePodcastInstagram
Carbivore pre-order freebies
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Carbivore by Phoebe LapineSibo Made Simple by Phoebe LapineThe Wellness Project by Phoebe LapineIn the Small Kitchen by Phoebe Lapine -
Molly and Kristin speak with Sarah Kwak, a senior editor at Harvest an imprint of Harper Collins, to find out what the editing process is like. Sarah shares how she ended up at her current role, the focus Harvest has for cookbooks and what authors should keep mind regarding their proposal assembly before submission. She discusses her thoughts on comp titles, overcoming past book sales, multifaceted ways to grow a platform and what compels her to spend over two years working on a specific project. Finally, she talks about trends in the food world, the changes in the economy of publishing and her advice along with the books she is excited to release this year.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Sarah KwakHarvest an imprint of Harper CollinsEpisode 09: Cookbook Editing Tips from Jennifer SitEpisode 48: Abi Balingit on Learning as You Go
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Mayumu by Abi BalingitThe Book on Pie by Erin McDowellJacques Pépin Art of the Chicken by Jacques PépinHot Sheet by Olga Massov and Sanaë Lemoine -
Kristin and Kate discuss author Michelle Braxton's turbulent publishing journey for her new book, Supper with Love. She shares the story behind the "organic" growth of her food career, how she balances social media creation, blogging and book writing with a separate full time career and how the book idea came about. She talks about committing firmly to the book's concept, why she chose her publisher and the tumultuous publishing process that include her editor leaving and the imprint closing. Finally, she discuses who her audience is, why she creates the sorts of recipes she does and her tips and advice for aspiring authors.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Michelle Braxton
WebsiteInstagram
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Supper with Love by Michelle Braxton
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Kate and Kristin speak with Kathleen Schmidt, an industry veteran with years of experience in editing, publishing, marketing and public relations and now author of the newsletter Publishing Confidential. Kathleen shares her extensive career path, what her focus is as a freelancer and the origins of her newsletter along with what keeps her writing. She talks about the differences between marketing and PR, her dedication to an author centric approach and walks listeners through a hypothetical scenario of book promotion. Finally, she discusses what authors should focus on, thoughts on Authors Equity, the idea of a digital surrogate and her current course offerings dedicating to help author demystify their publishing experience. - Please excuse the audio quality in this one!
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Kathleen Schmidt
Public Relations ConsultingPublishing Confidential NewsletterPublishing Confidential University"Book Publishing is Broken" post
"Why Authors Equity Will Work" post
Episode 31: Catch an Agent's Attention with Sally Ekus
grossypelosi
The Department of Salad Substack
Authors Equity
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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Kate and Molly speak with Lelani Lewis, a London born food stylist and culinary activist of Grenadian and Irish heritage now based in Amsterdam. Lelani shares how homesickness spurred her into a culinary career through pop-ups, where the idea for her debut cookbook came from as well as why she chose this title. She speaks about her desire to share the colorful, diverse nature of Caribbean food alongside its dark history and what she hopes readers will get from reading her book. She talks about working with a Dutch publisher, the unique editing and translation process, how she settled on her final recipe list and her ambitious new project.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Lelani Lewis
WebsiteInstagramUsing food as a tool to reconcile history | Lelani Lewis | TEDxAmsterdamSalon
Jessica B Harris
Nijgh Publishing, Amsterdam
Tra Publishing
Episode 25: Inside a Ukrainian Kitchen with Anna Voloshyna
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Code Noir: Afro-Caribbean Stories and Recipes by Lelani LewisYou and I Eat the SameIron Pots & Wooden Spoons by Jessica B Harris -
Molly and Kristin dive into the territory of kid-lit in this talk with Alliah Agostini and Taffy Elrod, authors of The Juneteenth Cookbook. Alliah and Taffy discuss how they both got involved with the project, how they worked together and the goal they had of bringing the celebration of Juneteenth to life with food, history and family activities. They talk about the family representation in the book, the recipe development process and what went into all the extras inside. Alliah and Taffy both speak about tapping into their inner child while writing, what it was like working with their illustrator and the plans they have for the upcoming book tour.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Alliah L. Agostini
Taffy Elrod
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Highlights Foundation
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
The Juneteenth Cookbook by Alliah L. Agostini and Taffy ElrodThe Juneteenth Story by Alliah L. Agostini -
Molly, Kristin, Andrea and Kate tackle the topic of cookbook criticism, spurred on by recent online conversations. They discuss what it could look like, its importance and what the lack of rigorous criticism means for cookbook publishing. They talk about the unique obstacles to reviewing cookbooks, the elements reviews should highlight and why we need to be wary of echo chambers. Our hosts speak on the idea that this genre isn't taken as seriously as others, what that means for cookbook quality and share what they specifically want to see in a good cookbook.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Cookbooks And Criticism by Tim Mazurek
Cooks Without Borders by Leslie Brenner
Where the Heck Is All the Cookbook Criticism? by Paula Forbes
A Wine Guide for a Changing World (for Better and for Worse) in NYT
Episode 19: Do Cookbook Awards Matter? | Charlotte Druckman
Episode 49: Cookbook Media Coverage with Bonnie Benwick
Kitchen Bookshelf on Instagram
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Modern Proper by Holly Erickson and Natalie MortimerPlenty by Yotam Ottolenghi -
Kristin and Molly speak with author and blogger Shelly Worcel about breaking into speciality markets and writing niche, single subject cookbooks. Shelly speaks about growing her skills while blogging, how she was tapped to write her highly successful second book, and how her open mindset allowed a natural escalation of her brand and career. She shares the pitching process, how photography and styling fits into her workflow and how she is able to keep each new project fresh. She talks about marketing her books as "gifts", how she keeps merchandising in mind during the writing and the upcoming project she is concentrating on now.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Shelly Worcel
WebsiteInstagramVisit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Every Season is Soup Season by Shelly WorcelPlatters and Boards by Shelly WorcelTables & Spreads by Shelly WorcelVegetarian Heartland by Shelly Worcel -
Kate talks with Kristin, Molly and Andrea about the challenges faced when beginning a writing career and the resources they use to help improve their writing skills. They discuss which interest came first, the writing or the food, how reading with a critical eye can help one move beyond the basics and why it is vital to always keep the reader at the forefront. They each share the specific books and tools they turn to for guidance, inspiration and exploration as they constantly look to advance their craft.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
The Complete Recipe Writing Guide
Recipes Into Type (Out of Print)
Grammarphobia website
Episode 69: Writing a Menu Cookbook with Amy Thielen
Episode 15: Will Write for Food with Dianne Jacob
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Dyrer’s EnglishSeveral Short Sentences About Writing Smart BrevityRefuse To Be DoneFlavoramaThe Flavor Thesaurus - Volume OneThe Flavor Thesaurus - Volume TwoThe Flavor BibleHow To Write AnythingBird By BirdThe Copy BookWhen in French Love in a Second LanguageI Dream of Dinner so You Don't Have To by Ali SlagelNative American Ethnobotany by Daniel E MoermanOn Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee -
To mark our 2 year anniversary, we're re-releasing our very first episode!
Kate leads today's discussion on the most important question to ask before you sit down to write your cookbook: Should you write a cookbook? Molly, Andrea and Kristin share their individual journeys as authors and provide some insights into what goes on behind the decision to move forward with a project. They chat about the importance of hustle, platform and studying the elements in your favorite cookbooks as well as some of the books they decided against creating. Finally, Molly shares a Tip of the Week and Andrea lets us know which cookbook has captured her attention lately.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions:
Jane Friedman.com
Heidi Swanson's 101 Cookbooks website
Susan Chang's Podcast: The Level Teaspoon
The New York Times Magazine article about why dictionaries are valuable
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Taste & Technique by Naomi PomeroyMister Jiu's in Chinatown: Recipes and Stories from the Birthplace of Chinese American Food by Brandon Jew - Vis mere
