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Kristin leads today's discussion all about the cookbook proposal, sharing her own first experience with the process. Molly, Kate and Andrea each describe their own firsts as well as how they format their more recent versions. They review all of the elements that go into a proposal, the three vital things to highlight, how long the process can take and how a project can morph as it leads into its first draft. Finally, a listener's salt based SOS leads to many strong opinions and some helpful tips.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Heidi Swanson’s blog post on her cookbook proposal process
Kate Leahy’s blog post on the elements of a cookbook proposal
Katie Parla’s blog post on how to write (and sell) a cookbook proposal
Diane Jacob’s website is also a great resources
"Recipe into Type" book
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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In this repeat episode, Kate and Kristin talk with literary agent Sally Ekus. A lot has changed in Sally's professional life since we last had her on -- the Ekus Group is now part of the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, and Sally is a senior agent there. What hasn't changed is the great advice she gives in this episode for emerging cookbook writhers. We talk to Sally about her career path, what she brings to the table for her clients and peek into a day in her life. Sally shares how agents help careers, the key items in a query emails and the homework authors should do before reaching out to agents. Finally, she tells us her thoughts on proposal designs, where voice matters most and the one question she urges potential authors to ask themselves before getting started.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
The Ekus Group
InstagramWebsiteSubmission RequirementsSally Ekus
InstagramSelf Paced Course: How to Write a CookbookFacebook group: How to be a Cookbook AuthorAssociation of American Literary Agents Mentorship Program
Women's Media Group
The Red Truck Bakery Farmhouse Cookbook
First Generation
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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Molly starts out today's episode with an interview with Rica Allannic, a literary agent with editorial experience. Then, Kristin and Kate share how they've navigated their own agent relationships while Andrea explains how she works without one. We get into the many roles of an agent, how to find the right one and some things to consider at various stages of a cookbook author's career. Finally, Andrea shares a recipe writing tip and Kate lets us know her recent favorite cookbook.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Rica Allannic
Rica Allannic on IG
David Black Literary Agency
Publisher Marketplace - “Quick Pass” link for $10 day pass
IACP membership for networking
The Lisa Ekus Group
Equity at the Table
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Ruffage by Abra Berens
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Molly, Kristin, Kate and Andrea talk about the idea behind the cookbook. After sharing some shelved ideas of their own, they workshop submissions from listeners to highlight considerations on topic, marketability, expertise and "the hook" for each premise. They brainstorm and discuss structural considerations, format, audience appeal and comp titles to give listeners insights into the vital first step of the book creation process.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Episode 1: Should You Write a Cookbook?
Episode 2: Do You Need a Cookbook Agent? with Rica Allannic
Heidi Swanson
I’ve Made Everything from Gnocchi to Mapo Tofu in My Camper Van’s Kitchen
By Ali Slagle
Episode 50: Telling Your Story in a Chef Cookbook with Vishwesh Bhatt
Get Saucy
The Pleasures of Cooking for One
Savoring Spices and Herbs
Article about the Ski Town Aprés Ski Cookbook success
Association for Dressing and Sauces
Cooking for One by Judith Jones
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Good & Cheap by Leanne BrownBack Pocket Pasta by Colu HenryThe New Sugar & Spice by Samantha SeneviratneSalad for President by Julia ShermanPriya's Kitchen Adventures: A Cookbook for Kids by Priya Krishna
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We've noticed that 'burnout' is seeming more and more prevalent these days so Kate, Kristin, Molly and Andrea are using the final episode of Season 6 to speak all about it. They discuss how to identify it, how it manifests for each of them and share some ideas on what to do about it. They speak about how the blending of life and career as freelancers can exacerbate feelings of constantly being 'on', perfectionism and excessive people pleasing along with the pressure to constantly be creating content. They talk about some of the ways they notice burnout looming and the 'rebellious' activities, tips and resources they use to combat it. See you in the Spring for Season 7!
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
I was a bestselling recipe writer - then burnout killed my appetite for food, and life. This is how I found my way back by Meera SodhaOn Politics of Attention in 2025 by Alicia Kennedy
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman -
Kristin and Molly speak with photographer Clay Williams about the financial realities and logistics around cookbook photography. Clay shares what he wishes authors knew before embarking on the photography portion of their book and what spurred his viral Thread about the finances behind photoshoots. He speaks about assuming the role of project manager, unexpected expenses, his typical workflow and the essential roles on a set. He shares why he continues to be interested in cookbook photography, his artistic approach to projects and what has and hasn't changed about the industry since he started.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Clay Williams
WebsiteInstagramThe Thread that started it allCrystal Wahpahpeh
Black Food Folks
Episode 41: Writing a Bestselling Cookbook in Your 80s with Emily Meggett and Kayla Stewart
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
My America by Kwame OnwuachiRoots, Heart, Soul, by Todd RichardsGullah Geechee Home Cooking by Miss Emily MeggettVegan Soulicious: Plant-Based Island Cooking by Charlise Rockwood -
Molly and Kristen speak with Jenny Rosenstrach about her family focused approach to food writing. She talks about her long running dinner diary, how her first book was a real time project and what went behind the decision to continue working around that theme. She explains why she includes a 'hook' in her recipes and how she landed on her unique recipe structure as well as the idea of a 'text test' for writing instructions. She shares her approach to recipe development, how she's built an audience with her relatable, inviting voice and the reasoning behind her relaxed approach to photography. Finally she tells us the book she will never write and leaves us with a bit of advice for aspiring food writers.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
WebsiteInstagramSubstackCup of Jo column
Jenny RosenstrachVisit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Dinner a Love Story by Jenny RosenstrachWeekday Vegetarians by Jenny RosenstrachWeekday Vegetarians get Simple by Jenny RosenstrachThe New York Times Cooking No-Recipe Recipes by Sam SiftonThat Sounds So Good by Carla Lalli Music -
Kate and Kristin speak with Nicola Lamb her debut cookbook, Sift, and writing the book you want to read. Nicola talks about her passion for baking, learning and teaching before diving into the book creation process. She shares the lengthy proposal writing process, working from her Substack and a post-it wall, the importance of trusting your team and the resources she used while writing. She also speaks on the differences in releasing a book in the US versus the UK, some insights into the Americanization of the project and some astute advice for enjoying the everyday process.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Nicola Lamb
WebsiteInstagramKitchen Projects NewsletterBibliography
Episode 74: Crafting a Drinks Book with Danny Childs
Episode 102: Lara Hamilton of Book Larder
Episode 31: Catch an Agent's Attention with Sally Ekus
Episode 94: Insights from Literary Agent Lori Galvin
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Sift by Nicola LambAdvanced Bread and Pastry by Michel SuasSalt Fat Acid Heat by Samin NosratOn Food and Cooking by Harold McGeeHow Baking Works by Paula Figoni -
Molly and Andrea speak with Joe Yonan, the Food and Dining Editor at the Washington Post, about his new book, Mastering the Art of Plant Based Cooking. As they discuss the idea behind creating an authoritative resource, Joe explains why he wanted to write this particular book and concentrate on this topic as a cuisine instead of a lifestyle choice. He shares why he wanted to shift the narrative around this often polarizing topic and how he used his lifetime of experience and expertise to create it. We get a behind the scenes glimpse into its creation including project management, recipe testing, time management and cover process as well as how he went about creating a consistent voice with multiple contributors.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Joe Yonan
WebsiteInstagramWashington Post Column
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking by Joe YonanCool Beans by Joe YonanEat Your Vegetables by Joe Yonan
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Kate and Andrea speak with the editor in chief of New York Times Cooking, Emily Weinstein, about all things recipe writing and recipe curation for the new book Easy Weeknight Dinners. They chat about what makes a great recipe, what are missteps, if there is a formula and all the formatting considerations involved in writing recipes. Emily talks about curating this collection, the idea behind the book, avoiding 'dull and dutiful recipes' and why they decided to bring the NYT comment section into print form. Finally, she shares her thoughts on upcoming home cooking trends and a quick tease of future projects.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Emily Weinstein
WebsiteInstagramFive Weeknight Dishes NewsletterNew York Times Cooking
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Easy Weeknight Dinners by Emily WeinsteinThe New York Times Cooking No-Recipe Recipes by Sam SiftonDessert Person by Claire Saffitz
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Happy New Year! Molly, Kristin, Kate and Andrea take a look at the past year in cookbooks and share their thoughts on the trends they predict for 2025. They discuss how the pandemic affected the cookbook market, how they see production costs and finances changing and share some insights from editors and agents about what publishers are looking for in 2025 (hint: platform!). They talk about speciality markets, single subject expertise, branded and restaurant books before sharing a few teasers of our upcoming season.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
110: Sarah Fennel on bringing an online platform to the page
Attention Economy Substack
The Dinner Plan Podcast
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Champagne by Peter LiemThe Bean BookKing Arthur Baking CompanyThe Red Boat Fish Sauce CookbookThe Cake BibleAfricaliIslasKalaya's Southern Thai Kitchen: A CookbookThe French Laundry CookbookCoastal -
Kate and Molly speak with blogger, writer and MasterChef alum Hetal Vasavada about her atypical career journey. She shares stories and lessons learned from her time on the tv show, how she got around the limits of her contract after it aired and why it was important to foster a community. Hetal talks about the differences between book one and book two, the advice she got during recipe development and how she learned food photography skills to shoot her own books before diving into the design process. She discusses working with the designer, choosing a title, her unique brand of flavor combinations that yields dishes that have minimal effort but maximum payoff and leaves us with a few of her ideas for book number three.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Hetal Vasavada
WebsiteInstagramWould You Write a Cookbook for Next to Nothing?
Swasti Creative
Milk & Cardamom Linen Collaboration at Kaapus Co.
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Desi Bakes by Hetal VasavadaMilk & Cardamom by Hetal Vasavada -
Today things get a little bit spicy and steamy as Kate and Molly speak with debut romance writer Sarah Chamberlain. Sarah shares her experience working to "American-ize" foreign cookbooks and how she brought that food world expertise to her fiction writing. She discusses stepping into the romance world (reading and writing), the inspirations for her novel and how she landed on the cookbook details that were central to the plot and character development. Finally, she talks about the role food can play in fiction and where she sees this done well before giving us a sneak peak at her next book and some advice she has for aspiring writers in the food world.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Episode 63: On Rejection and Recovery
Sarah Chamberlain
WebsiteInstagramSusan Elizabeth Phillips
Marian Keyes
Sarah MacLean
Mhairi McFarlane
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
The Slowest Burn by Sarah ChamberlainA Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty SmithLike Water for Chocolate by Laura EsquivelMy Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead GeorgeAll-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney TaylorDial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. SutantoCrazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan -
Kristin, Andrea and special co-host Elsa chat with Priya Krishna about her fresh and unique kid's cookbook 'Priya's Kitchen Adventures'. Priya talks about approaching this project without kids of her own and why she wanted to create a physical book instead of going the video/social media route. She shares how writing for kids made her a better recipe developer, how she decided on the format, recipe titles, difficulty levels and cuisines to highlight while Elsa talks about the specifics she appreciated and enjoyed in the book. We learn about the recipe testing process and photoshoot that both involved kids and Priya talks about how she fit writing this book in with her New York Times work. Finally, she talks about the different approach to promotion that this called for and why she feels this may be her last cookbook, though hopefully not her last book.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Priya Krishna
WebsiteInstagramNew York Times
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Priya's Kitchen Adventures by Priya KrishnaIndianish by Priya KrishnaCooking at Home by Priya Krishna
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Kristin, Molly and Kate chat all about that often dreaded activity, networking. They talk about the stressors involved, their individual approaches and what they focus on to build relationships and why re-framing these as learning opportunities can help with imposter syndrome. They discuss some specific resources and advice along with some personal experiences that they've learned from to build a community of mutual support before ending with their Thanksgiving plans and traditions.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
"How to Network When You're an Introvert" by Kristin Donnelly
Episode 107: Caroline Choe on Banchan
Episode 32: Co-Authoring Cookbooks with JJ Goode
Episode 106: Caroline Chambers on Building a Substack Platform
IACP
Cherry Bombe Membership
How to be a Cookbook Author Facebook Group
The American Institute of Wine & Food
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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Kate and Kristin speak all things platform building and content creation with Sarah Fennel as we learn what should come first, the audience or the book? Sarah shares her definition of 'content', her path from hobbyist blogger to business owner and what areas she focused on on to build her platform. She speaks about tipping points in her career, how she balances creating persona forward vs food forward content and why she decided now was the best time to write a cookbook. Finally, she talks about shooting the photos for the book, working with her team and leaves us with some wise and inspiring advice and a hint into what she is working on next.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
MentionsSarah Fennel
WebsiteInstagramTikTok
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Sweet Tooth by Sarah FennelHungry Authors by Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry
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Kristin and Molly speak about the newest release from America's Test Kitchen "When Southern Women Cook" with its editor, Morgan Bolling, and its forward writer, Toni Tipton-Martin. This is a newer format for ATK so Morgan and Toni share its journey from idea to publication, where the concept and title came from and how late night conversations inspired its creation. They talk about working with a historical consultant, the process of balancing over 300 recipes with all of the contributing essays and how it was almost split into two volumes. They share the lessons learned for the future, how investigative curiosity is involved in both recipe development and story writing and the pride they felt in bringing the expertise of so many individuals to this project.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Southern Foodways Alliance
Cook's Country
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
When Southern Women Cook by ATK, foreword by Toni Tipton-Martin, edited by Morgan BollingJubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking by Toni Tipton-MartinJuke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice by Toni Tipton-Martin
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We're pleased to share our very first live show with all of our listeners! Kate, Andrea and Kristin spoke with Toriano Gordon and Anna Voloshnya at the Napa Valley Cookbook Fest earlier this year where they spoke about their individual cookbook journeys and career paths, the challenges that came with their projects and the ways the process felt fulfilling. They share their goals of representing and sharing the people, places and culture they came from, the importance of community and all about recipe creation, writing and naming. Finally they share a few instances of editorial pushback, their cover stories and the one question they encourage aspiring authors to ask themselves before starting their own cookbook journey.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Napa Valley CookbookFest
Episode 25: Inside a Ukrainian Kitchen with Anna Voloshyna
Toriano Gordon
Anna Voloshnya
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Vegan Mob by Toriano GordonBudmo! by Anna Voloshyna -
Kristin and Kate speak with chef, artist, teacher and writer Caroline Choe about her debut cookbook, Banchan. Caroline shares her career journey and how her teaching experience and art background informs her work today. After a confluence of events caused her to declare that she was quitting the industry, ultimately she was hired to write this cookbook and brought her personal story, family recipes and illustration skills into the project. She talks about the importance of including family photos, not compromising on the title and jumping into the brand new experience of a cookbook photoshoot as well as her dedication to prioritizing working with women and the AAPI community.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Caroline Choe
InstagramEpisode 63: On Rejection and Recovery
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Banchan: 60 Korean American Recipes for Delicious, Shareable Sides by Caroline Choe
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Molly and Andrea speak with Substack's number one food and drink writer, Caroline Chambers, about her experience building a successful following that led to the release of her new cookbook, What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking. Caroline shares how the pandemic spurred her shift from freelance recipe developer to newsletter writer in spite of past rejections of her cookbook proposal. She talks about her ethos, writing voice, building an audience, why she prioritizes instruction and how she balances realism and professionalism within the newsletter along with the most important piece of advice she has for aspiring platform builders.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Caro Chambers
SubstackInstagramPodcastWebsite
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
What to Cook When you Don't Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers
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