So You Want to Be A Cookbook Author?
A Resources Webinar by @cookbookdivas
“As of October 2021, year-to-date sales of baking cookbooks were higher than the previous year by 42%.Baking book sales showed a strong YoY growth trend over the 10 previous years.“
https://wordsrated.com/nonfiction-book-sales-statistics/
“Nielsen BookScan data shows that cookbook sales in the US grew 8% year-on-year between 2010 and 2020, with sales numbers boosted even further by the pandemic.”
Books
The Complete Recipe Writing Guide: Mastering Recipe Development, Writing, Testing, Nutrition Analysis, and Food Styling, by Raeanne Sarazen (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2023)
The Food Encyclopedia: Over 8,000 Ingredients, Tools, Techniques and People, by Jacques L. Rolland and Carol Sherman (2006)
The Food Stylist’s Handbook: Hundreds of Media Styling Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Chefs, Artists, Bloggers, and Food Lovers, by Denise Vivaldo and Cindie Flannigan (Skyhorse, 2017)
The Food Substitutions Bible: 8,000 Substitutions for Ingredients, Equipment and Techniques, by David Joachim (Robert Rose Books, 2022)
How to Photograph Food: Compose, Shoot, and Edit Appetizing Images, by Beata Lubas (Running Press, 2020)
The Joy of Writing a Great Cookbook: How to Share Your Passion for Cooking from Idea to Published Book to Marketing It Like a Bestseller, by Kim Yorio (Page Street Publishing, 2015)
On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen, by Harold McGee (2004)
Picture Perfect Food: Master the Art of Food Photography with 52 Bite-Sized Tutorials, by Joanie Simon (Page Street Publishing, 2021)
The Recipe Writer’s Handbook, by Barbara Gibbs Ostman and Jane L. Baker (Harvest, 2001)
Recipes Into Type: A Handbook for Cookbook Writers and Editors, by Joan Whitman and Dolores Simon (1993)
Story on a Plate, by Gestalten (2019)
Substituting Ingredients: The A to Z Kitchen Reference, by Becky Sue Epstein (Sourcebooks, 2010)
Will Write for Food: Pursue Your Passion and Bring Home the Dough Writing Recipes, Cookbooks, Blogs, and More, by Dianne Jacob (Hachette Go, 2021)
Blogs and Websites
Ekus Group Literary Agents
https://ekusgroup.com/services/literary-agency/
Food Photography Blog
https://foodphotographyblog.com/
The Green Apron Company
https://greenapron.com/blog-home/
Articles
The Breakdown of a $60,000 Cookbook Advance (Kristin Donnelly)
https://www.kristindonnelly.com/journal/2022/4/7/the-anatomy-of-a-cookbook-deal
Cookbook Proposal FAQs, by Kate Leahy
https://kateleahy.com/blog/2021/5/2/cookbook-proposal-tips
Do You Want to Write a Cookbook? Here Are Some Great Resources to Get You Started (Blackbird Cookbooks)
Eight Tips for Writing a Cookbook, by Oh My Dish!
https://ohmydish.com/blog/8-tips-for-writing-a-cookbook
The Financial Realities of Writing a Cookbook, by Hummingbird High
5 Cookbook Writing and Publishing Resources, by Kate Leahy
https://kateleahy.com/blog/2021/5/13/cookbook-writing-resources
5 Critical Cookbook Marketing Strategies, from Author Marketing Experts
https://amarketingexpert.com/2018/10/10/5-critical-cookbook-marketing-strategies/
Five Myths About Writing a Cookbook, by Green Apron/Maggie Green
Five Things Writing a Cookbook Taught Me About Cooking, from TheKitchn
From World Records To Lasting Legacy: Lisa Ekus’ Impactful Career In Culinary Literature, from Forbes
How Do I Know if I’m Getting a Good Cookbook Deal? (Eater)
How to Develop and Write a Recipe, from Mike Bakes NYC
https://mikebakesnyc.com/how-to-develop-and-write-a-recipe/
How to Find an Agent For Your Cookbook, by Kristin Donnelly
https://www.kristindonnelly.com/journal/2023/5/8/how-to-find-an-agent-for-your-cookbook
How To Get Your Cookbook Published, According To A Literary Agent Who Specializes In Them, from Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelkramerbussel/2019/02/28/how-to-get-your-cookbook-published/
How to Get Your Cookbook Published, by Penguin Books
https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/company-article/how-to-get-your-cookbook-published
How Much Money Do Cookbook Authors Make? By Heather Maclean
http://www.heather-maclean.com/heathermacleancooks/how-much-do-cookbook-authors-make/
How to Pitch Your Cookbook Idea, by Institute of Culinary Education
https://www.ice.edu/blog/how-to-write-a-cookbook-pitch-publishers
How to Promote Your Cookbook (Kristin Donnelly)
https://www.kristindonnelly.com/journal/2022/6/16/how-to-promote-a-cookbook-in-2022
How to Promote a Cookbook, from BookBub
https://insights.bookbub.com/how-promote-cookbook/
How to Publish a Cookbook, from Magnolia Days
https://magnoliadays.com/how-to-publish-a-cookbook/
How to Write a Cookbook Proposal, by Kate Leahy
https://kateleahy.com/blog/2021/4/13/how-to-write-a-cookbook-proposal
How to Write a Cookbook Proposal, by Kristin Donnelly
https://www.kristindonnelly.com/journal/2023/10/17/how-to-write-a-cookbook-proposal
How TikTok is Reshaping the American Cookbook, from The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/18/dining/tiktok-cookbook-authors.html
How to Turn Your Food Blog into a Cookbook, from Lulu.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTyj4nNquD0
How to Write a Cookbook, by Cookie and Kate
https://cookieandkate.com/how-to-write-a-cookbook/
How to Write Your Own Cookbook, by David Leibowitz
https://www.davidlebovitz.com/writing-your-ow/
How to Write a Cookbook in 9 Bite-Sized Steps, by Reedsy
https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-cookbook/
How to Write a Cookbook Proposal: The Ultimate Guide to Creating the Business Plan for Your Dream Book, by Amanda Polick
https://www.amandapolick.com/blog/how-to-write-a-cookbook-proposal
How to Write a Cookbook Revisited, by Green Apron/Maggie Green
https://greenapron.com/how-to-write-a-cookbook-revisited/
How to Write a Good Recipe: The Ultimate Guide, by Create My Cookbook
https://createmycookbook.com/blog/how-to-write-a-good-recipe-the-ultimate-guide
How to Write a Recipe Like a Professional, from The Kitchn
https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-write-a-recipe-58522
How to Write and Sell a Cookbook Proposal, by Katie Parla
https://katieparla.com/how-to-write-and-sell-a-cookbook-proposal/
How to Write a Winning Cookbook Proposal, by Andrea Burnett
https://andreaburnett.com/how-to-write-a-winning-cookbook-proposal/
How to Write Your First Cookbook, from The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jul/15/how-to-write-cookbooks
Making a Cookbook, from 101 Cookbooks
https://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/making-a-cookbook-recipe.html
Making of a Cookbook, by RecipeTin Eats
https://www.recipetineats.com/making-of-a-cookbook-part-2-the-cookbook-vortex/
Market and Sell Your Cookbooks, by Cookbook Publishers
https://cookbookpublishers.com/guide/step-7-marketing/
The Numbers Driving New Cookbook Deals (Eater)
https://www.eater.com/23071313/cookbook-deal-social-media-presence
Promoting Your Cookbook with a Virtual Potluck, by Dianne Jacobs
https://diannej.com/2012/promoting-your-cookbook-with-a-virtual-potluck/
Recipe Writing Tips, from Good Food Studio ZA
https://goodfoodstudioza.com/recipe-writing-tips
Releasing the Cookbook Author Within You, from Writers Digest
https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-nonfiction/releasing-the-cookbook-author-within-you
The Secrets of a Successful Cookery Book Campaign, from White Fox
https://wearewhitefox.com/the-secrets-of-a-successful-cookery-book-campaign/
Sizzling Marketing Ideas for Cookbook Sales, from Outskirts Press
https://selfpublishingnews.com/2023/10/05/sizzling-marketing-ideas-for-cookbook-sales/
The Struggle Cookbook Authors Face in 2022, from Tasting Table
https://www.tastingtable.com/898866/the-struggle-cookbook-authors-face-in-2022/
10 Tips for Writing Your Own Original Recipes, from Delishably
This is How Much Money Cookbook Authors Can Actually Make (HuffPost)
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-much-money-cookbook-authors-make_l_5e989ecac5b69933645e3d3c
Tips for Writing a Cookbook: Make Recipe Intros Tasty, by Kitchen Lane https://kitchenlane.com/2010/09/wanna-write-cookbookmake-those-recipe.html
Tools Needed to Write a Cookbook, by Amazing Food Made Easy
https://www.amazingfoodmadeeasy.com/info/makin-bacon/more/tools-needed-to-write-a-cookbook
Top 10 Things Any Cookbook Author Needs to Be Successful, by Joi the Cookbook
20 Best-Selling Cookbooks | The Most Sought-After Titles by Public Libraries, from Library Journal
20 Ways to Promote Your Book in 2024, by PR By the Book
https://prbythebook.com/24-ways-to-promote-your-book-or-brand-in-2024/
The Ugly Truth About Writing a Cookbook, by Just Crumbs
https://justcrumbs.ca/the-ugly-truth-about-writing-a-cookbook/
The Weirdness of Cookbook Sales and Promotion, by Andrea Nguyen
https://andreanguyen.substack.com/p/the-weirdness-of-cookbook-sales-and
Would You Write a Cookbook for Next to Nothing? (NY Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/01/dining/cookbook-publishing.html
Writing a Cookbook Proposal, by 101 Cookbooks
https://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/writing-a-cookbook-proposal-recipe.html
Podcasts and Podcast Episodes
Behind the Scenes of the Cookbook Publishing Process with Sally Ekus, from Food Blogger Pro
https://www.foodbloggerpro.com/podcast/cookbook-publishing-process/
A Chat with Cookbook Editor Susan Friedland, by David Leibovitz
https://davidlebovitz.substack.com/p/podcast-a-chat-with-cookbook-editor
The Cookbook Love Podcast
https://greenapron.com/cookbooklove/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cookbook-love-podcast/id1435533489
Cookery by the Book Podcast (ended, but you can still listen to old episodes)
https://www.cookerybythebook.com/
How to Promote Your Cookbook, from Everything Cookbooks
https://www.everythingcookbooks.com/episodes/14-how-to-promote-your-cookbook
The Ins and Outs of Writing a Cookbook, by Rachel + Liz Moody
https://rachlmansfield.com/podcast/episode-11/
So You Want to Write a Cookbook, Part 1
So You Want to Write a Cookbook, Part 2
The Taste Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/@taste8915/
What’s it Really Like to Write a Cookbook? By Food and Friends Podcast
https://www.foodfriendspodcast.com/episodes/writeacookbook
Write That Cookbook!, by Husbands That Cook
Write Your Cookbook Without Being Overwhelmed, by Eat Blog Talk
https://eatblogtalk.com/amandapolick/
Writing a Cookbook, from Season & Serve Blog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBEPGUCIT-M
YouTube Channels
The Bite Shot
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBiteShot
Phood
https://www.youtube.com/@PHOOD
Replica Surfaces
https://www.youtube.com/@replicasurfaces
YouTube Videos
Cookbook Author Eric Kim On Inspiring Recipe Development, by Taste Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWhC5UbMRtk
Cookbook Author Jules Sherred and A New Way to Write Recipes, from Queries, Qualms and Quirks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27lFCVghjSo
Cookbook Photography with Donna Crous, by The Bite Shot
https://www.youtube.com/@PHOOD
Behind the Recipe – Developing a Recipe, from Glen and Friends Cooking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjXETyU51BQ
Food + Product Photography: How to Master Depth, by Replica Surfaces
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qen3eAtFPEY
How to Develop and Write Your Own Recipes – Pro Baker Advice, from Curious Cat Bakery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGzCQUcC3Ac
How to Easily Develop a Recipe Book PDF with Canva by Learning With Greg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRss0ktsVcw
How to Get a Cookbook Deal as a Food Writer, by Food Blogger Pro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic_Ahpkvldk
How to Write and Publish a Cookbook, by Cooking with Selina
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp6CSpXxgUg
How I Wrote and Self Published my Cookbook, by The Bare Pantry Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sElbP3vE0dQ
How Much Do Cookbook Authors Actually Make? By Chef Jenny Dorsey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLZ_O7CIARk
How to Write Original Recipes, by The Baker’s Almanac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Oe35-Om7M
Making Cookbooks and Are Recipes Copyrighted or Patented? By Stephen Peel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1XHaTXHWUE
Make Your Own Cookbook, by Lulu Press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2SLNKuRWIU
Photographing Cookbooks, by The Bite Shot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_F6hLu8nIM
So You Want to Write a Cookbook? From the James Beard Foundation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiEXoTtjeIU
They Say Anyone Can Write a Cookbook, so I Did, by Alexis Gabriel Ainouz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXpPdDQPIAI
END