Explore every episode of the podcast Everything Cookbooks
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101: Pumpkin Spice and Hot Takes | 18 Sep 2024 | 00:45:42 | |
We're back and starting off Season 6 with grab bag of topics with all our hosts. Kristin, Molly, Kate and Andrea discuss the pros and cons of the (potentially overfull) Fall cookbook season and how to emotionally prepare but keep expectations realistic on pub day while prioritizing celebration. We share our insights and experiences on contracts, printed errors, correction pages and wade into some existential territory as we discuss optional ingredients in recipe writing before diving back into one of our favorite topics, platform. Finally, we talk about the the current cookbook trends we're loving, upcoming releases we're looking forward to and court some potential controversy with our thoughts on pumpkin spice. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions The Bojon Gourmet Pumpkin Spice Mix Cookbook Chronicles: The Science and Art and of Recipe Development, by Martin Sorge If Desired, by Joy Manning The Truth About Platform, by Kathleen Schmidt
52: Matt Sartwell of Kitchen Arts and Letters 100: Advice from Our Listeners and Season 5 Wrap-Up 42: How to Write Recipe Titles 93: The Secret of Cooking with Bee Wilson 69: Writing a Menu Cookbook with Amy Thielen
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| 100: Advice from Our Listeners and Season 5 Wrap-Up | 31 Jul 2024 | 00:43:32 | |
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
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| 91: The UX of Cookbook Design | 22 May 2024 | 00:39:10 | |
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 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
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| 03: Cookbook Proposal Writing Tips | 30 Mar 2022 | 00:43:05 | |
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.
Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions
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| 02: Do You Need a Cookbook Agent? | 23 Mar 2022 | 00:48:15 | |
Molly starts out today's episode with an interview with Rica Allannic, a literary agent with editing 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 one and the things to look out for as one moves along in their 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
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 01: Should You Write a Cookbook? | 16 Mar 2022 | 00:37:29 | |
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 cookbook 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 Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| Trailer | 02 Mar 2022 | 00:01:58 | |
Welcome to Everything Cookbooks! A podcast for curious writers, readers and cooks. Hosted by four experienced cookbook authors, this show will take you behind the scenes of the cookbook creation process. Each episode is an in-depth dive into what it takes to produce a finished cookbook and is full of insights, advice, tips and wisdom. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
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| 90: When a Health Issue Impacts Your Food Writing with Phoebe Lapine | 15 May 2024 | 00:54:25 | |
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 Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 89: Insights From Cookbook Editor Sarah Kwak of Harvest | 08 May 2024 | 00:35:18 | |
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
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 88: On Being a First-Time Cookbook Author with Michelle Braxton | 01 May 2024 | 00:40:44 | |
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
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 87: Publishing Confidential with Kathleen Schmidt | 24 Apr 2024 | 00:47:06 | |
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
"Book Publishing is Broken" post "Why Authors Equity Will Work" post Episode 31: Catch an Agent's Attention with Sally Ekus The Department of Salad Substack
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| 86: Culinary Activism and Cookbooks with Lelani Lewis | 17 Apr 2024 | 00:38:00 | |
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
Using food as a tool to reconcile history | Lelani Lewis | TEDxAmsterdamSalon Episode 25: Inside a Ukrainian Kitchen with Anna Voloshyna
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| 85: A Juneteenth Cookbook for Kids with Alliah Agostini and Taffy Elrod | 10 Apr 2024 | 00:38:26 | |
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.
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 84: Do We Need Cookbook Reviews? | 03 Apr 2024 | 00:38:33 | |
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
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| 83: A Niche Cookbook That Sold 350K+ Copies with Shelly Worcel | 27 Mar 2024 | 00:43:11 | |
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
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| 82: Craft Books for Cookbook Writers | 20 Mar 2024 | 00:42:55 | |
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) Episode 69: Writing a Menu Cookbook with Amy Thielen Episode 15: Will Write for Food with Dianne Jacob
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| 99: Eat Your Books | 24 Jul 2024 | 00:41:31 | |
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
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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| BONUS Re-release: 01: Should You Write a Cookbook? | 09 Mar 2024 | 00:39:14 | |
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.
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions: 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
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| 81: “Do we really test all the recipes?” Season 4 Wrap-Up | 07 Feb 2024 | 00:32:35 | |
Andrea, Molly, Kristin and Kate sit down to wrap up another incredible season of the show: taking listener questions, highlighting our top takeaways and hinting at the upcoming Season 5. They discuss how they individually approach recipe testing, what they learned about community this season and take time to celebrate the recent World Central Kitchen fundraiser and the evolution of our Insider Series. Thank you for your support and stay tuned for future episodes in the coming weeks! Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Episode 16: Listener Questions: Recipe Testing, Family Cookbooks, Agents, and Should I Use a Scale? Episode 72: Nichole Accettola and Malena Watrous on Co-Authoring Scandinavian From Scratch Episode 36: Celebrating Colombia with Mariana Velásquez Episode 74: Crafting a Drinks Book with Danny Childs Episode 79: Collaborating with Family on a Cookbook with the Wang Sisters Episode 73: Writing For the Culture with Klancy Miller Episode 77: Politics, Food and Cooking with Clarissa Wei Episode 76: Totally Achievable Zero Waste Cooking with Irene and Mei Li
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| 80: From Co-Author to Bestselling Solo Author with Adeena Sussman | 31 Jan 2024 | 00:54:02 | |
Kristin and Kate speak with cookbook author Adeena Sussman about her career, her new book and what its like working with Chrissy Teigen. A self described "late bloomer" Adeena shares her experience collaborating on over a dozen books, how she got her start and what she learned on the job as she hustled her way into food media. She talks about how she sees herself and her audience, what shabbat means to her and how she views social media recipe development. Finally, she discusses the value she sees in book events, how she stays organized and what her next book is about. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Adeena Sussman
The Little Rituals That Keep Us Going - The New York Times
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| 79: Collaborating with Family on a Cookbook with the Wang Sisters | 24 Jan 2024 | 00:40:48 | |
Molly and Kristin speak with the Wang sisters, Stéphanie, Patricia Ho-Yi and Caroline, about their new cookbook, Asian Vegetables and its recently released English edition. They discuss how the idea for the book came about and how they decided to tackle it as a team using their various skill sets as a gardener, dietician and musician. They share their collaboration process, how they divided the labor and what themes they were passionate about including in this all-in-one gardening guide, memoir and cookbook. They talk about crafting one voice, the translation process and design choices including a special connection with their photographer as well as how working on this during the height of the pandemic brought them closer as sisters. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Asian Vegetables (French Version)
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| 78: Co-Authoring a Cookbook Series with Darra Goldstein | 17 Jan 2024 | 00:47:20 | |
Molly and Kate discuss serialized cookbooks with author and professor, Darra Goldstein. Darra explains how the idea for the series came about, how the writing team was assembled and the inspirations behind the project. She shares the obstacles that arose as they released two books at once, as well as the relentless schedule this involved. Finally, she speaks on the necessity of switching up her writing voice from academic to author, the hurdles of the design process and where the next installments are in the pipeline. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Darra Goldstein
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| 77: Politics, Food and Cooking with Clarissa Wei | 10 Jan 2024 | 00:50:36 | |
Andrea and Molly talk with Taipei-based journalist and author, Clarissa Wei about her debut cookbook, Made in Taiwan and the inclusion of politics in food writing. Clarissa speaks about her career's origins and how her frustration with the outdated coverage of Taiwanese food in media compelled her to write this book. She shares how her journalistic background informed the project, how she worked with the various members of her team and her strategy for weaving in the history with the technical side of cooking. She discusses how she used her writing voice in this format and what she hopes to work on in the future. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Clarissa Wei
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| 76: Totally Achievable Zero Waste Cooking with Irene and Mei Li | 03 Jan 2024 | 00:47:48 | |
Kate and Kristin speak with sisters Margaret and Irene Li about their new book, Perfectly Good Food, and the concepts of shopping your kitchen and foraging your fridge. They discuss the idea behind the book, how they approached its unique structure and landed on its fun, friendly tone and created its flexible recipes. They share how they divided the work of writing and what is next for them. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Food Waste Feast on Instagram
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| 75: Food Trends: Do They Matter When You Write a Cookbook? | 27 Dec 2023 | 00:37:35 | |
In our last episode of 2023, Kate, Kristin and Molly discuss food trends and how they apply to the cookbook world. Whether it's butter boards, nacho tables, "girl dinner" or baked potato bars these stunt foods can loom large yet die quickly in the public consciousness. They discuss ideas on identifying trends, how to capitalize on them and the importance of keeping a variety of demographics in mind when working on "trendy" topics. Finally, we list some things we're looking forward to in 2024.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Kristin Donnelly's Cookbook Proposal Class
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| 74: Crafting a Drinks Book with Danny Childs | 20 Dec 2023 | 00:43:35 | |
Kristin and Molly speak with Danny Childs about his new beverage book, Slow Drinks; its origination, proposal stages and how the pandemic affected its creation. Danny shares his background in ethnobotany, how he altered his writing voice from academic to narrative and the process of making these recipes adaptable to non-local foraging readers. He talks about the book's photography, illustration and design process, the books that inspire him and the new business venture he is starting.
Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Danny Childs / Slow Drinks Instagram
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| 73: Writing For the Culture with Klancy Miller | 13 Dec 2023 | 00:52:06 | |
Kate and Kristin speak with Klancy Miller about her magazine and upcoming book: For the Culture: Phenomenal Black Women and Femmes in Food. She speaks about writing the book she wanted to read when she was younger, how the idea came about and how events in 2020 influenced it. She shares how it evolved from proposal to book, why she included recipes and the ups and downs of its interview format. Finally, she talks about the decision to use illustrations, her self-funded book tour and what is next for her personally and professionally.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Klancy Miller
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| 98: Writing Regional Recipes for a Global Audience with Chris Tan | 17 Jul 2024 | 00:51:42 | |
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
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| 72: Nichole Accettola and Malena Watrous on Co-Authoring Scandinavian From Scratch | 06 Dec 2023 | 00:50:41 | |
Kate and Molly get into the nitty gritty of collaborations with Nichole Accettola and Malena Watrous as they discuss their new book, Scandinavian From Scratch. They share how the book came about, how they began to work together and the process they followed so each could bring their own strengths to the project. They talk about the book's unique organization, creating a writing voice, the on-location photography shoot and the most difficult part of the entire process before sharing a few final words of advice for anyone looking to establish their own successful writing partnership.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Scandinavian from Scratch by Nichole Accettola My Mexico City Kitchen by Gabriela Camara and Malena Watrous If You Follow Me by Malena Watrous | |||
| 71: Building Your Instagram Following with Ara Zada | 29 Nov 2023 | 00:55:01 | |
Kate and Kristin speak with Ara Zada all about content creation and becoming a social media influencer. Ara shares his decision to pursue a large following and grow his platform as well as how a health scare motivated this choice. He describes a day in his life and the full time requirements of this work as well as the mental toll it can take due to its instant nature, algorithm changes, comments, trolls, monetization strategies and banned content. He talks about the inter-relatedness of his book to his online presence, how he evolves his content over time and a sneak peek into what he is working on next. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions A journey to Armenia through food: The Armenian bread that’s at the heart of every meal
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| 70: Native California Recipes and Stories with Sara Calvosa Olson | 22 Nov 2023 | 00:43:18 | |
Kristin and Molly speak with Sara Calvosa Olsen about her new cookbook, Chími Nu’am and its inspiration, creation and message. Sara shares her food writing journey, thoughts on the title and cover and how the pandemic altered the book's approach and voice. She discusses why she calls it "an inconvenient cookbook" and what it was like working with her publisher and learning photography for its images. Finally, she talks about the best advice she received, the concept she returns to in times of doubt and the themes she wants to communicate with this work. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Sara Calvosa Olson
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| 69: Writing a Menu Cookbook with Amy Thielen | 15 Nov 2023 | 00:51:45 | |
Molly and Kate speak with writer Amy Thielen about her new cookbook, Company; its menu format, its inspiration and how its voice differs from her earlier works. She describes confronting her own created persona, why she feels it is important to highlight the bittersweetness in life, and who she writes for. She also discusses the delays with this book, working with her editor, stylist, and photographer, as well as her system for recipe writing, tracking, and testing. Finally, she shares her intimate approach to food writing and what she is working on now.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Amy Thielen
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 68: A Cookbook from the Tuscan Countryside with Giulia Scarpaleggia | 08 Nov 2023 | 00:38:29 | |
Molly and Kristin talk with Tuscany based blogger, teacher and cookbook author Giulia Scarpaleggia about the concept of cucina povera and creating a community in two languages. She shares her career journey, the differences in publishing in Italy versus the U.S. and how her passion for writing and cooking developed hand in hand. She speaks on the recipe testing process, her translation method, dealing with one star reviews and the version of Italy that was important for her to showcase in this book.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Giulia Scarpaleggia
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| 67: Latinísimo by Sandra Gutierrez | 01 Nov 2023 | 00:47:51 | |
Kristin and Kate speak with food columnist and author, Sandra Gutierrez, about her career path and her newest cookbook Latinísimo, an almost 600 page tome about the cuisines of 21 Latin American countries. She shares her love of challenges, what its like working with a university press and why she wanted to write this specific book. She discusses behind the scenes experiences of proposal writing, recipe creation, research, photography, unexpected hiccups and more before sharing some final advice for aspiring writers. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Sandra Gutierrez Episode 31: Catch an Agent's Attention with Sally Ekus
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| 66: Becoming Your Own Publisher with Katie Parla | 25 Oct 2023 | 00:47:38 | |
Kate and Molly discuss all things self-publishing with writer, tour guide and (new) publisher, Katie Parla. She shares what motivated her to do some data investigation into her previous cookbooks and ultimately how she decided to start her own publishing company for her newest cookbook, Food of the Italian Islands. She talks about lessons learned, experiences with finding and working with her self assembled team and what is next for Parla Publishing. Listen for her thoughts on touring smaller cities, her recipe development process and why she encourages aspiring authors to nerd out on the numbers.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Katie Parla
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 65: Podcasting about Cookbooks with Brian Hogan Stewart | 18 Oct 2023 | 00:48:13 | |
Kate, Molly and Kristin speak with fellow podcaster Brian Hogan Stewart, of the Salt & Spine podcast. They chat about his career path, the origins of the show and how it has evolved since it began. Brian shares how his journalistic background and love of cookbooks led him to podcasting, how he learned the technical side of things and how he fits it all in his busy schedule. Finally, he describes what goes into a good interview, shares some advice for aspiring podcasters and also what kind of shows he hopes to hear in the future.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Brian Hogan Stewart
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show | |||
| 64: 'Do Only the Cool Kids Get Book Deals' and Other Community Questions | 11 Oct 2023 | 00:48:35 | |
We are kicking off Season 4 with an episode dedicated to listener questions. Molly, Kate, Andrea and Kristin share their insights on everything from time management, "the cool kids club", design planning, building brand awareness and their love for librarians. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Publishing Confidential Substack Episode 38: Finding Your People with Carla Lalli Music Episode 49: Cookbook Media Coverage with Bonnie Benwick Episode 55: Making a Documentary-Style Cookbook with Matt Rodbard Episode 11: Understanding Cookbook Design with Alice Chau Bad on Paper Podcast: How Libraries Work
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show | |||
| 63: On Rejection and Recovery | 23 Aug 2023 | 00:43:16 | |
Today all four hosts sit down to discuss the realities of rejection. They share their own experiences with being turned down along with advice and tips on how to turn that into a learning strategy. They talk about what to keep in mind while waiting for responses, the pain of silent rejections and how they deal with negative comments and bad reviews. Finally, they encourage writers to know their "why", ask questions, build community and to become experienced instead of embittered (with a dash of rejection revenge!). Everything Cookbooks will be back in October with more episodes!
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Episode 19: Do Cookbook Awards Matter? | Charlotte Druckman
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 97: Teamwork=Dreamwork with Hot Sheet Authors Olga Massov and Sanaë Lemoine | 10 Jul 2024 | 00:45:52 | |
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 Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 62: Single Subject Cookbooks with Martha Holmberg | 16 Aug 2023 | 00:55:06 | |
Molly and Kate talk with Martha Holmberg, author and former publisher and food editor, about writing single subject cookbooks. She describes her career journey, how she decided to write her first cookbook and what the greatest job of her life was. She shares how her voice and style has evolved, how to make a deep dive into a subject feel complete and the way she switches from editorial brain to writer brain. Finally she talks about the experience writing solo vs. as a co-author and the tip she wants each home cook to do. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Martha Holmberg
Fifty Shades of Pâté: New Cookbooks Michael Ruhlman: The Art of the Single-Subject Cookbook Accused, Yes, but Probably Not a Killer by Harold McGee
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 61: Writing a Second Edition with Lukas Volger | 09 Aug 2023 | 00:48:10 | |
Kate and Molly talk with cookbook author Lukas Volger about his career, writing journey and the process of creating a second edition. Lukas shares how he got his start in the food writing world, his experience in publishing industry and the easter eggs he includes in each of his books. He describes where the idea for a second edition of Veggie Burgers Every Which Way came from, how he approached it and what he learned from revisiting his work thirteen years later.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Lukas Volger
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 60: Hetty McKinnon on Writing for an International Audience | 02 Aug 2023 | 00:55:26 | |
Andrea and Kristin chat with writer and recipe developer Hetty McKinnon about her career, books and inspirations. Hetty discusses how her background informs her food as well as the trajectory of her career from providing a salad delivery service in Australia to writing cookbooks in Brooklyn. She explains her thoughts on headnotes, how she stays organized and what inspires her recipes. She also shares how she has developed her writing voice, why she photographs her books and the trust she seeks to build with her audience.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Hetty McKinnon Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 59: Lerato Umah-Shaylor on Africana | 26 Jul 2023 | 00:53:24 | |
Molly and Kate talk with Lerato Umah-Shaylor, a UK based chef, food writer and cooking teacher, about her debut cookbook Africana. Lerato shares how she made her passion for food into a career and what made her want to tackle this massive topic for her first book. She discusses how she pairs stories and context with recipes, how she conducted her research and balanced structure and voice in her writing. She provides some insights on the differences between the US and UK publishing experience and the feedback she loves to get from readers. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Lerato Umah-Shaylor
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| 58: David Lebovitz on the Writing Life in Paris | 19 Jul 2023 | 00:52:21 | |
Kate and Kristin talk with writer David Lebovitz about his career and life in France. He discusses how he went from pastry chef to food writer, how blogging strengthened his writing voice and why he pivoted to video during the pandemic. He shares his decision to write "the hardest book he ever wrote", the advice he gives to aspiring writers and his choice to move his writing to Substack. Finally, he tells us how decides what stories to tell and reveals a glimpse into a few new potential projects. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions David Lebovitz
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 57: Alicia Kennedy on Expanding the Scope of Food Writing | 12 Jul 2023 | 00:46:50 | |
Molly and Kristin talk with writer Alicia Kennedy about her new book, No Meat Required, and her philosophy on food writing. She discusses the proposal, writing and publishing process and her thoughts on the structure, citations and bibliography of the book. She shares her inspirations for the cover as well as how she organizes her varied research and publishing schedule. She talks about developing her own voice, what she hopes to see in the future of food media and thoughts on recipe creation as well as her relationship to social media. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Alicia Kennedy
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 56: Hybrid Publishing with Vasudha Viswanath | 05 Jul 2023 | 00:47:37 | |
Kate and Kristin discuss all things hybrid publishing with Vasudha Viswanath, the author of The Vegetarian Reset. Vasudha shares a quick rundown of the typical routes of publishing and why she chose to go down the hybrid path. She talks about the pitching process, what partnership publishers cover (and don't), the recipe development steps and how she assembled her creative and publicity team. She describes the part her book plays in her business strategy and her experience learning as she goes in the cookbook community.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Vasudha Viswanath Episode 40: Snackable Bakes with Jessie Sheehan Episode 47: Self-Publishing Cookbooks with Nick Fauchald Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 55: Making a Documentary-Style Cookbook with Matt Rodbard | 28 Jun 2023 | 00:49:05 | |
Molly and Kristin chat with Matt Rodbard; writer and founding editor of the online food and culture magazine TASTE, all about his career in food media. He reveals the surprising way he got started, how his collaborations came about and the documentary visual style of some of his books. He shares some ups and downs of his writing career, how he balances his many projects and his hopes and excitement for the future of cookbooks.
Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions
Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 54: Cookbook Ideas: Where It All Begins | 21 Jun 2023 | 00:43:26 | |
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 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 The Pleasures of Cooking for One 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
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| 53: From Video to Cookbook with Nick DiGiovanni | 14 Jun 2023 | 00:33:49 | |
Kate and Kristin talk with Nick DiGiovanni about his transition from YouTube/TikTok star to cookbook author. He discusses what made him want to write, how he translated the visual into the verbal and what inspired the focus of the book. He explains how he got started in content creation, his thoughts on soup and a peek behind the scenes of the book process. Finally, he answers a few fan questions from a special podcast guest before sharing some words of advice for aspiring cookbook writers. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly Editor: Abby Cerquitella
Mentions Nick DiGiovanni Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
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| 96: Ken and Michelle from Now Serving Bookstore | 26 Jun 2024 | 00:42:00 | |
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 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
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