Dianne Jacob, Will Write For Food

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

Cookbooks

How an Author with No Platform Got Published

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Win a copy of The Palestinian Table cookbook

 

[Update: The contest is closed. Commenter Kris Diede won a copy of the book.]

It’s a story so many writers dream of: publishing a cookbook with no author platform. Not only did the author Reem Kassis persevere, but her popular book, The Palestinian Table, appeared on many “Best Cookbooks” lists for the end of the year, including New York magazine, NPR, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Independent, The National Post.

Meanwhile, back to the story. The author, Reem Kassis, approached me in 2015 to review her proposal. At that time, Reem was [Read more…] about How an Author with No Platform Got Published

Giveaway: “Best Cookbook in the World,” The Artful Baker

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Yes, The Best Cookbook in the World is a real award for The Artful Baker: Extraordinary Desserts From an Obsessive Home Baker. And you can win a copy of this $50 book by leaving a comment below.

Cenk Sonmezsoy, a Turk who started his Cafe Fernando food blog in 2006, won Best in the World at the 2015 Gourmand World Cookbooks awards. It was for the [Read more…] about Giveaway: “Best Cookbook in the World,” The Artful Baker

Blogger Gets Cookbook Deal With 1-Sentence Email

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Aquafaba intrigued Rebecca Coleman, a food blogger and social media instructor who got a cookbook deal. A few years ago, she began experimenting with the garbanzo bean water, which vegans use as an egg replacer, in recipes.

But she never even considered writing a cookbook about this trendy new food. Yet she got a contract, just by asking a question.

She did not build her online expertise and followers first. That is the usual way to get a cookbook deal. This story is an exception. Perhaps it is easier [Read more…] about Blogger Gets Cookbook Deal With 1-Sentence Email

Raghavan Iyer Moves Beyond Indian Cookbooks

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After four Indian cookbooks and a book on Asian flavors, including Betty Crocker’s Indian Home Cooking (“Talk about gender-bender! That book is still in print!” he enthuses), Raghavan Iyer branched out. As a chef who, for the last 16 years, has trained other chefs for Bon Appetit Management company about Indian and vegetarian world cuisines, Raghavan wrote a cookbook about potatoes.

Until Smashed, Mashed, Boiled, and Baked–and Fried, Too!: A Celebration of Potatoes in 75 Irresistible Recipes came out last fall, pretty much everything Raghavan did had an Indian bent. That includes his [Read more…] about Raghavan Iyer Moves Beyond Indian Cookbooks

Q&A: How Pie Guru Kate McDermott Found her Voice

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Andrew Scrivani took all the tempting photos in Art of the Pie. This shot is for Apricot Raspberry Pie.

I fell for “Piechiatrist” Kate McDermott recently, even though I had known her casually for years. I had never thought about how she found her voice. Then, while reading the introduction to her gorgeous cookbook, Art of the Pie, I read that  [Read more…] about Q&A: How Pie Guru Kate McDermott Found her Voice

How to Create a Gift Shop Cookbook

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A guest post by Nancy Bagget

Selling a gift shop cookbook can work with many culinary subjects and venues, from gourmet tea, coffee, cheese, wine and spirits to spa cuisine and country inn cooking. Almost every product or topic has a supporting trade or members’ organization. And they tend to be receptive to participation by writers in their field.

I didn’t set out to write a gift shop cookbook. Eventually I realized that if I self-published, gift shops could be an excellent way to reach and sell to a key audience.

A few years ago, I began experimenting with culinary lavender when I wrote Simply Sensational Cookies. I was bowled over by how it [Read more…] about How to Create a Gift Shop Cookbook

5 Ways to Win Over Your Cookbook Editor

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A guest post by Linda Ingroia

Producing a book is not a popularity contest. But you certainly want your cookbook editor to believe in you. She spends countless hours with you to shape your work. She’s your champion, representing you throughout the book process. It’s her job, yes, but [Read more…] about 5 Ways to Win Over Your Cookbook Editor