Everything Cookbooks

Kate and Molly chat with food stylist extraordinaire, Mariana Velásquez about their past working together, her career path and how she finally felt prepared to write her debut book, Colombiana. She describes the process of choosing the best agent for the project, how the pandemic altered the end result and where she starts the development of her recipes. She talks about some unique formatting choices, "maximalism" and the beauty of collaboration before sharing advice for others embarking on a similar journeys. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsMariana VelásquezWebsiteInstagramBuenlimón RadioCasa VelasquezGentl and HyersCartagena de Indias en la Olla by Teresita Ronan De ZurekVisit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showColombiana by Mariana Velásquez

Molly, Andrea, Kristin and Kate answer listener questions about recipe attribution, testing and self-publishing. The hosts reflect on the episodes and topics that have stuck with them during this first year of podcasting and share what they are looking forward to in 2023. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsKristin's Cookbook Proposal BootcampFood52 Forum@wildfolklore on InstagramEpisode 29: Finding Your Voice with Tori RitchiePre-order Italian Wine by Kate Leahy Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showLavash by Kate LeahyUnforgettable: The Bold Flavors of Paula Wolfert's Renegade LifeEver-Green Vietnamese by Andrea Nguyen

Kate leads today's discussion all about the holiday season; its joys, its tribulations and its desserts. Molly, Andrea and Kristin join in with memories, advice and ideas for traditions (to keep and to avoid), dishes, wine and favorite cookies. Finally, each host shares the book they plan to dive into this holiday season. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsKristin's Cookbook Proposal BootcampDining with the Dead by Mariana Nuño Ruiz and Ian McEnro Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showHoliday Cookies by Elisabet Der NederlandenBaking for the Holidays by Sarah Kieffer100 Cookies by Sarah KiefferSavor by Fatima AliOn the Himalayan Trail by Romy GillA Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George SaundersLincoln in the Bardo by George SaundersA Gentleman in Moscow by Amor TowlesHow to Write a Mystery from The Mystery Writers of America

Andrea and Kate talk with chef and food writer Andy Baraghani about his debut cookbook and the varied career experience that prepared him to write it. He explains how he injects his personality into his recipes, who he writes for and the influences of his work. He shares the successful self-imposed rule for recipe writing he had while at Bon Appétit, the intricate process of title writing as well as how his identities inform his work. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsAndy BaraghaniWebsiteInstagramEssay: “I Hid Who I Was for So Long, Until I Became a Cook” Bon Appétit RecipesSaveur: Behind the Story: Bringing Iran HomeKristin's Cookbook Proposal Bootcamp Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showThe Cook You Want To Be by Andy Baraghani

Molly and Kristin speak with writer JJ Goode about his career path, collaborating with chefs on cookbooks and what draws him to his projects. He discusses some past work, how he organizes his To Do list and his advice for others who want experience with co-authorship.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsJJ Goode's WebsiteTaste ColumnKristin's Cookbook Proposal Bootcamp Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showPok Pok by Andy Ricker and JJ GoodeMission Vegan by Danny Bowien and JJ GoodeA Girl and her Greens by April Bloomfield and JJ GoodeState Bird Provisions by Stuart Brioza, Nicole Krasinski , and JJ GoodeTitles by JJ Goode

Kate and Kristin talk with lead agent and co-owner at The Ekus Group, Sally Ekus, about her career path, what she brings to the table for her clients and peek into a day in her life. Sally shares a wealth of knowledge including what she looks for in potential clients, how agents help careers, the key items in a query emails and the homework authors should do before reaching out to agents. 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 DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsThe Ekus GroupInstagramWebsiteSubmission RequirementsSally EkusInstagramSelf Paced Course: How to Write a Cookbook(Use the code TEG22 at checkout to get $200 off).Facebook group: How to be a Cookbook AuthorAssociation of American Literary Agents Mentorship ProgramWomen's Media GroupThe Red Truck Bakery Farmhouse CookbookFirst Generation Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

Andrea and Kristin talk with Eric Kim about his intensely personal and remarkable book, Korean American. He shares his inspirations and motivations for the essay format, how he wrote his family as characters and the potential and limits of memoir writing. He talks about the idea of authenticity in food, what goes into naming recipes and the unpredictability of a viral recipe. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsEric KimWebsiteInstagramNew York Times Column"When I Came Out to My Parents, Kimchi Fried Rice Held Us Together" on Food52Food52 Recipes Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showKorean American by Eric KimRisotto with Nettles by Anna Del Conte

Kate and Molly chat with cookbook teacher, author and editor Tori Ritchie about her career trajectory and how she developed her personal writing voice after years of working on branded cookbooks. She shares insights and tips about developing a voice and the bad habits to avoid in writing before revealing a few of the writers she assigns to her students. Finally everyone shares the three words that best describe their own singular writing style.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby CerquitellaMentionsTori RitchieInstagramWebsiteHow to Write a Cookbook CourseBooksVibration Cooking by Vertamae Smart-GrosvenorMichael TwittyCrying in H Mart by Michelle ZaunerOsso Buco by Billy CollinsI Wrote a Good Omelet by Nikki GiovanniHeartburn by Nora Ephron Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showLife Is What You Bake It by Vallery LomasSix California Kitchens by Sally Schmitt

Today, Andrea tackles the topic of the ever elusive headnote with Molly, Kate and Kristin. They discuss what a headnote is, how they go about writing them and the pitfalls to avoid while composing. They bring examples of some favorites and also their pet peeves as they chat about the format, design and variety that goes into these important cookbook ingredients. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsKristin's newsletter - Mission Dinner Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showAll About Braising by Molly StevensAll About Dinner by Molly StevensEssentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella HazanEver-Green Vietnamese by Andrea NguyenGreenfeast by Nigel Slater Rice Is Life by Kristin Donnelly Silver Palate Cookbook by Julee Rosso & Sheila LukinsSlow Mediterranean Cooking by Paula WolfertSmall Victories by Julie TurshenThe Chef’s Garden by Farmer Lee Jones and Kristin DonnellyThe Taste of Country Cooking by Edna LewisWine Style by Kate Leahy

Andrea and Molly speak with recipe developer, editor, stylist and writer, Ali Slagle about her career trajectory, her debut cookbook and why she focuses on the home cook. She shares her inspiration for the book's unique format and language, the challenges she puts on her recipe writing and how she channels her voice with permission to be weird. At the end of the episode we (virtually) visit Andrea's kitchen as she makes a recipe from Ali's book, Bacon Lettuce and Tofu Stir Fry. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsAli Slagle's WebsiteAli Slagle's InstagramEat by Nigel SlateBacon Lettuce and Tofu Stir Fry recipe Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showI Dream of Dinner so You Don't Have to by Ali Slagle

Molly and Kate talk with Adam Roberts aka The Amateur Gourmet, about his career path, what he's learned from working on his first two books and how he merges story with food in his work. He shares insights on voice vs tone, the role humor plays in his content creation along with stories from his earlier projects and the origin of his latest book. Finally, he shares the gospel of musical theater and a glimpse into what he is working on now. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsCooking for Mr Latte by Amanda HesserFollow Adam Roberts:PodcastNewsletterWebsiteYouTube"The Amateur Gourmet: How to Shop, Chop, and Table Hop Like a Pro (Almost)" Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showGive My Swiss Chards to Broadway by Adam RobertsSecrets of the Best Chefs by Adam Roberts

Kate and Kristin speak with food stylist, photographer and author Anna Voloshyna about her debut cookbook, Budmo!. Anna shares how the war in Ukraine has affected her and her family as well as why she focused so much on joy in this book. She explains what she discovered about her own history while writing, how she got into food and her favorite dishes from the book. She shares some tips about the book writing process as well as what surprised her the most and her advice for people starting out their own cookbook journeys. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsAnna VoloshynaInstagramWebsiteYouTubeTori Ritchie's Course: How to Write a CookbookCreative Live Food photography classesOmnivore Cookbook Store Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showBudmo! by Anna Voloshyna

Kate and Molly chat with the founding editor of Food52 and the brains behind their Genius Recipes, Kristen Miglore. Kristen shares her career trajectory before becoming Food52's first employee and the inception of the "Genius Recipe" concept. She explains how she injects her own voice into the writing, what makes a recipe "genius" and how she keeps up the passion for her work along with a recent dish she keeps coming back to. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsBest American Recipes SeriesGenius Tapes PodcastFood52 Genius Recipes Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showFood52 Genius Recipes: 100 Recipes That Will Change the Way You CookFood52 Genius Desserts: 100 Recipes That Will Change the Way You BakeFood52 Simply Genius: Recipes for Beginners, Busy Cooks & Curious PeopleFood52 Big Little Recipes by Emma Laperruque

Kristin and Andrea chat with owner of Tanorria's Table, author of Staples + 5, and co-host of Black Girls Eating, Tanorria Askew, about her career path, heart for hospitality and what cooking means to her. She discusses navigating her boundaries, food deserts in her hometown of Indianapolis and the process of writing her first book. She also shares some insights on appropriation in food, the importance of putting her Black identity forward in her book, how she chose the team behind her book's creation along with some of her future goals. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsTanorria AskewBlack Girls Eating Podcast"I Used to Be a Peacemaker" essayInstagramTanorria's Tableblack.nutritionist on Instagramlatina.dietitian on Instagram Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showStaples + 5 by Tanorria Askew

Kristin starts out today's episode asking Molly, Kate and Andrea about the books that inspired them to follow this career path and how they'd define the idea of "voice" in writing. They discuss the difference between tone and voice, the tools they've use to craft their own and how to inject it into recipe writing. They reveal some writing exercises and advice on how to find and improve voice in your own writing. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsJohnny Apple / R.W. Apple Jr.The Key to Chinese Cooking by Irene KuoThe Way to Cook by Julia ChildThe American Baker by Jim DodgeTender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showJames Beard's American CookeryOn Food and Cooking by Harold McGeeHome Cooking by Laurie ColwinWriting Tools by Roy Peter ClarkThe Elements of Style by Strunk and WhiteWill Write for Food by Dianne Jacob

Today's episode is a quick update about our summer hiatus and a thank you to our listeners for tuning in and joining our community. We share some standout resources from Season 1 and the dishes and books we are planning to dive into for our summer meals. Thank you for listening and be sure to follow us @everythingcookbooks or sign up for our mailing list for updates on Season 2! Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showTomato by Claire ThomsonThe Cook You Want to Be by Andy BaraghaniArabiyya by Reem Assil

Kate and Kristin chat with the Marketing and Publicity Manager of Hardie Grant, Lorraine Woodcheke, to learn more about what goes on in the secretive world of marketing. Lorraine shares how she got started in the food and drink sphere, what her day-to-day looks like and what she loves about her job. She discusses the relationship between the sales, marketing and publicity teams, the importance of the author questionnaire and the upcoming titles she is excited for. Finally, she shares her favorite kitchen tool and some advice for aspirational marketing/publicity professionals. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Lorraine WoodchekeDanny Childs Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showBitter Honey by Letitia ClarkGiuseppe's Italian BakesPasta Grannie's Comfort Cooking by Vicky Bennison

Andrea and Molly chat with journalist and food writer Charlotte Druckman to find out more about what it means to create "good" work and how to measure success. Charlotte shares where her love of cookbooks began, the invention of the Piglet awards and how she feels about "Tastemakers". She reveals why we shouldn't take awards too seriously, her dislike of categories and the fallacy of objectivity. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsCharlotte DruckmanPigletJames Beard Foundation Award,International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) Art of Eating PrizeGourmand Cookbook Awards. Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Kitchen RemixStir, Sizzle, BakeWomen on FoodEat by Nigel SlaterGluten-Free Baking At Home by Jeffrey Larsen

Kate and Andrea chat with cookbook critic Paula Forbes whose reviews have run in Eater, Epicurious, Lucky Peach and Food52. She shares how she got started on her career path, how she selects books to review and what she loves to see in a book (hint:charts!). She describes her audience, the affect bad reviews have on book sales and how writing her own cookbook affected her critiques. Finally, she reveals some of the upcoming trends in cookbooks she is excited about. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsPaula ForbesTwitterNewsletter - Stained Page NewsTexas Monthly articlesEmail Paula at: [email protected] Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showThe Austin Cookbook by Paula ForbesBreads of the La Brea Bakery by Nancy Silverton

Molly leads today's discussion with Andrea, Kate and Kristin through the opaque world of book sales. They talk about the challenges of getting accurate numbers, NPD BookScan, frontlist vs backlist titles and what makes a book "successful". They provide insights on improving sales as authors, Amazon rankings and the dangers of constantly refreshing. Finally, Kate shares a recent cookbook she's been loving. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsEVCB # 14: How to Promote Your CookbookInternational Association of Culinary ProfessionalsThe Key to Chinese Cooking by Irene Kuo (out of print) Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showThe Wok by J Kenji López-AltDinner in French by Melissa ClarkFood in Jars by Marisa McClellan

Molly and Kristin have a quick chat with surprise guest, Jenna Kutcher. Jenna is a photographer, podcaster, entrepreneur and her debut book "How are you Really?" is available now wherever books are sold. She shares her approach to writing, her thoughts behind the "why" of ambition and some of the strategies behind her unique approach to promoting her debut. She also explains how she honed her writing voice and the role food plays in her life which connects back to the cookbook sphere. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsJenna Kutcher's websiteFollow Jenna on InstagramGoal Digger podcast Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show"How are you Really?" by Jenna Kutcher

On today's episode Molly, Andrea, Kristin and Kate sit down to answer listener submitted questions. They tackle everything from title choices, choosing an agent, becoming a recipe tester, stolen ideas and trusting yourself as an author. Finally, each host reveals a key concept they've learned from the last 15 episodes.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions How to Organize, Clean, and Maintain Cookbooks on WirecutterLeave us a voice memo!heirloomproject.coThe Author's GuildBlurb.com

Molly and Kate chat all things food writing with Dianne Jacob, freelance writing coach, editor and the author of "Will Write for Food". Dianne shares her career trajectory and insights into crafting the four editions of her book throughout an ever evolving food media landscape. She believes the craft of writing is foundational and tells us why some bloggers are scared of her, the importance of voice and her favorite writing exercise.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsDianne JacobWebsiteNewsletterWill Write for Food by Dianne JacobBlogIGTwitterBook Passage BookstoreDelicious Experiences: Private ClassesThe Dark Reality Behind ‘Cozy Mysteries’ Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showCaramel Pecan Roll Murder by Joanne FlukeThe Butter Did It by Phyllis RichmanBecoming a Chef by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page52 Shabbats by Faith KramerBird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Kate starts off today's chat recounting some event horror stories while Kristin, Molly and Andrea chime in with some of their own. They discuss publicity timelines, tips for getting comfortable with self-promotion and insights into how to expand an audience. They share how involved the publisher can be in book promotion, what has changed since 2020 and sing the praises of librarians and booksellers.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsJenna Kutcher Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

Kristin learns more about life behind the lens as she interviews author, photographer and food stylist Yossy Arefi. Yossy shares her career origins, her habit of self motivated learning and how she uses her food stylist talents as a photographer. She describes the unglamorous side of a shoot and provides some insights into the cover selection process before sharing the upcoming photography trends she is excited about.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsYossy ArefiBlogTwitterInstagram Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showSweeter off the VineSnacking Cakes

Kristin leads today's conversation about photography, its importance in the world of cookbooks and how it can bring a book to life. Molly, Kate and Andrea join in with their own stories of shoots gone wrong, how to find the right photographer, what all is included in the photo budget and the (sometimes contentious) cover image selection process. Finally, Molly shares a book all about the evolution of food media through the years.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions"Dare to Cook Photo-Free (And Love it So Much More)" by Andrea Nguyen Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showEntertaining by Martha StewartSeason by Nik SharmaThe Food Lab by Kenji Lopez-AltFeast for the Eyes by Susan Bright

Molly gets more insight into the cookbook design process as she talks with Alice Chau, former Senior Designer at Chronicle Books and now independent designer and art director. Alice shares what her first step into a project is, how to balance various inputs and all the elements to juggle when creating the look and mood of a cookbook. With a unique educational background, she shares how she got started in her current career and how her other projects inform her cookbook design inspiration.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsAlice Chau “Share Your Road”Alice’s Instagram Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

Molly leads the conversation about the design process, one of the more mystifying stops on a cookbook's journey to publication. With Andrea, Kate and Kristin's expertise, the discussion covers elements like trim size, typeface, bindings and paper stock as well as what to look out for in regards to form and function before revealing some personal experiences, regrets and advice. Finally, Andrea shares one of the books she refers to most often when writing.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsGrammarlyPocket Style ManualOmnivore BooksVisit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showEveryday Dorie: The Way I Cook by Dorie GreenspanSalt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin NosratMastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia ChildPho by Andrea NguyenLa Buvette by Camille Fourmont and Kate Leahy100 Cookies by Sarah KiefferOttolenghi Simple by Yotam OttolenghiFlavor by Yotam Ottolenghi

Andrea dives further into the editing process during her interview with Jennifer Sit, Executive Editor at Clarkson Potter which is an imprint of Penguin Random House. With over 12 years of experience working with both new authors and household names, Jennifer shares her insights into the author/editor/publisher dynamic and how she approaches these relationships to ensure a successful book. She tells us her favorite part of her job as well the best way to start out a project.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella Jennifer SitVisit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

Andrea leads today's deep dive into the editing stage of cookbook creation. Molly, Kate and Kristin each share their rituals, processes and insights as they discuss the different kinds of editing, how much leeway authors have and how to cope when tensions rise. We hear some personal editing woes and saves as well as learn all the final small yet essential elements that go into a polished end product. Finally, Kristin shares her recent favorite cookbook.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions:Saltie: A Cookbook by Caroline Fidanza and Anna Dunn, is sadly unavailable through our shop at Bookshop.org but you may find it at other retailers.More on binaural beats here. Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

Andrea learns more about the visual side of recipe writing as she talks with Nom Nom Paleo's Michelle Tam. Michelle shares how her work is a family affair, the process of designing the unique format of her recipes and how her previous career influences her current one. She explains her thoughts about unique content creation for her various platforms and how the pandemic shaped the latest project.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsStanford Continuing Education occasionally offers a food writing class Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showLet's GoReady or NotFood for Humans

Kristin gets into the fundamentals of recipe writing as she chats with Tina Ujlaki, her mentor and the former executive editor at Food & Wine magazine. Tina explains her recipe writing philosophy, how testing can be the antithesis to cooking and the what bothers her about the format's evolution. She shares her thoughts on voice, headnotes, titles and the top 3 things to do before sharing recipes with the world.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsTina UjlakiNigella LawsonNigel SlaterDavid LebovitzDorie Greenspan Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

Kate leads today's discussion about the recipe development, curation and testing that go into creating a cookbook. Andrea, Molly and Kristin each share their individual recipe writing processes and the tools used behind the scenes to keep everything organized. They discuss sticking to theme, finding your audience and what can take away from the magic of cooking as well as the juggling act of attribution and importance of recipe testers. Finally, Molly tells us about a recent cookbook that has her inspired.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsKristin's spreadsheet templateBryan FordShort Stacks Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showColombiana: A Rediscovery of Recipes & Rituals from the Soul of Colombia, by Marian Velásquez

Andrea leads today's chat about selling a cookbook and all the nitty gritty elements that go into it. Kristen, Molly and Kate share some of their own insights and lessons learned about advances, royalties, contract negotiation, and how to keep the right amount of tension there. They discuss how to gauge the value of your idea, morality clauses and what to look out for when looking over a contract. Finally, they answer a listener SOS and Kate gets the lowdown on the angst of butter measurement.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby CerquitellaMentionsAn Agent Answers: “What Should I Expect for a Cookbook Advance?”Would You Write a Cookbook for Next to Nothing? by Priya KrishnaThe Trouble with Big Deals, by Brooke Warner“9 Questions For When A Book Publisher Calls”How to Make Sure Your Cookbook Deal Is Worth It, by Sonya ChopraThe Hidden Risks of Writing a Cookbook by Sierra Tishgart Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

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 DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsHeidi Swanson’s blog post on her cookbook proposal process Kate Leahy’s blog post on the elements of a cookbook proposalKatie Parla’s blog post on how to write (and sell) a cookbook proposalDiane Jacob’s website is also a great resources"Recipe into Type" book (not avail on Bookshop.org)Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

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 DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsRica AllannicRica Allannic on IGDavid Black Literary AgencyPublisher Marketplace - “Quick Pass” link for $10 day passIACP membership for networkingThe Lisa Ekus GroupEquity at the Table Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showRuffage by Abra Berens

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 DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsJane Friedman.comHeidi Swanson's 101 Cookbooks websiteSusan Chang's Podcast: The Level TeaspoonThe 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 showTaste & Technique by Naomi PomeroyMister Jiu's in Chinatown: Recipes and Stories from the Birthplace of Chinese American Food by Brandon Jew

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 DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella