Cookbook Love Podcast

Welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I have a fun episode called the Ins and Outs for 2026. This episode was inspired by the Ins and Outs list I did last year and focuses on things I did in 2025 that I want to do again, and new stuff I want to try. The outs are things I don't want to bring forward into the new year that no longer serve me, or don't help me live the life I want to live, or that use my precious time and life thinking, feeling, or doing. 

Things We M...

Hello and Happy New Year to everyone! Welcome to 2026 and to a new year of podcast episodes.  Today, we kick off the new year with a brand new episode with registered dietitian, naturopath doctor, and intuitive eating counselor Jenn Huber. Jenn is the author of Eating to Thrive During Menopause, and on today's show, we talk all about:

How not being able to use HRT prompted Jenn to learn about nutrition and menopause

Jenn's experience writing a nutrition cookbook that isn't a diet book

The "5 Key Ingredients" framework and how it shaped the r...

Hello and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings to all! Today I share a message of peace and our shared love of cookbooks.

For this special holiday episode, I share some holiday cookbook recommendations, a wintertime story, and the music of Daniel Kantor and the St. Olaf Choir. 

Things We Mention in This Episode:

Advent: Festive German Bakes 

Christmas at River Cottage

The Way of the Wolf: The Gospel in New Images by Martin Bell

Night of Silence by Daniel Kantor

Today, I'm delighted to welcome Gesine Bullock-Prado to the podcast. Gesine is a pastry chef, cookbook author, and television personality whose work is rooted in an approachable, farm-to-table way of cooking and living. She is the owner of Sugar Glider Kitchen and the author of the beautiful new cookbook, My Harvest Kitchen.

In this conversation, we talk about Gesine's embrace of homesteading, her philosophy of what she calls The Gentle Harvest, and the rhythms of cooking in step with the seasons. We move through My Harvest Kitchen chapter by chapter, exploring the ideas, recipes, and sensibility behind...

Today, I am excited to have an interview with Laura Klynstra. Laura Klynstra is a senior art director for Revell Books and a freelance graphic designer and photographer. Previously, she worked as an art director at Hyperion Books and at HarperCollins Publishers in New York City. She is the author of The Homemade Pie Cookbook: 100 Pie, Tart, and Galette Recipes for Every Season. 

On the show today, we:

Dive into cookbook art direction for traditional publishing and self-published books

Laura's journey from idea to published cookbook

Three parts to every pie a...

Today on the podcast, I'm joined by Diane Kochilas. Diane is a New York Times Bestselling Author and host of five seasons of the acclaimed PBS show My Greek Table. In her new book, Athens: Food, Stories, Love, Diane takes readers on a culinary tour of Greece's most-visited city: Athens. 

Having lived in Athens for over thirty years, Diane has witnessed enormous social and culinary changes all around her. Today, the kitchens of Athens overflow with new creative energy while international ingredients fill the markets. Culinary influences on the Athenian table from around the globe are well-represented w...

Today on the podcast, I'm joined by Rachel Riggs, author of In Good Health. As a former specialty food shop owner, Rachel's life dramatically changed due to chronic illness. Refocusing her work toward healing, she started developing anti-inflammatory recipes rooted in her California sensibilities.

Rachel now lives with limited stamina and, despite that, wrote her cookbook with a focus on celebrating what's possible, flavorful, and aligned with her healing. Her mission is to inspire readers to transform their health and well-being through modern, vibrant food that excites the senses, rejuvenates the palate, and liberates readers from outdated...

Today on the show, I'm joined by Michele Pettinger, a certified running coach, fitness nutrition specialist, and functional nutrition counselor. As the owner of P3Running, Michelle blends run coaching with nutrition education for athletes of all ages, helping young runners understand how food supports performance, recovery, and long-term well-being.

However, before we begin, I'd like to share a free resource with you. If you are a food, nutrition, or culinary pro and you want to share your expertise in a published cookbook, one thing a publisher will want you to have is a platform. This is...

In today's episode, I'm pleased to welcome mother–son cookbook author team Jyoti and Auyon Mukharji, authors of Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook from an American Kitchen.

Before we dive in: If you are ready to start your own cookbook project with clarity and direction, The Creative Cookbook Blueprint is available for a few more days. This resource provides a structured path to begin organizing your recipes, shaping your stories, and moving toward a publishable cookbook. Details are linked in the show notes section below.

Heartland Masala is a vibrant, richly illustrated celebration of Indian ho...

What begins as a handwritten recipe or a note in the margins of a cookbook can become the seed of something much bigger. In today's episode, we explores what every writer needs to write and how your words can do more than fill a page. They can feed both your readers and your business.

You'll also hear about a free resource to spark your creativity: 👉 100 Ways to Turn Your Recipes and Writing Into Revenue: a guide packed with ideas to help you transform your recipes, writing, and creativity into meaningful income.

If you've ever wondered how...

Hi everybody, and welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Last week, we talked about the traditional publishing team and the real benefits of working with a publisher — how editors, designers, and marketers help bring a cookbook to life. This week, I'm sharing Part 1 of my three-part Publish Your Cookbook Masterclass, called Navigating the Publishing Industry. In this first session, we're tackling one of the biggest challenges cookbook writers face — figuring out how to navigate the publishing world. If you've ever thought,

"I don't know where to start."

"I'm afraid of choosing the wron...

✨ Before we get started, an exciting announcement! ✨

Are you a food, nutrition, or culinary professional dreaming of publishing a cookbook? Right now we are in the middle of our Publish Your Cookbook Masterclass. In this free masterclass, we are discussing the shortcut most aspiring authors miss — how to publish your cookbook without writing your book first. You'll discover how to position yourself as the author publishers want right now and follow the exact steps to land your first book deal. Don't miss this opportunity to watch this on-demand class (like Netflix)!  👉 Register at publishcookbooks.com.

Have you e...

✨ Before we get started, an exciting announcement! ✨
If you're a food, nutrition, or culinary professional dreaming of publishing a cookbook with a traditional publisher, join me for the Publish Your Cookbook event starting Monday, October 20, 2025.

In this free training, you'll learn the shortcut most aspiring authors miss — how to sell your cookbook concept before writing the entire manuscript. You'll discover how to position yourself as the author publishers want right now and follow the exact steps to land your first book deal. Don't miss this opportunity!  👉 Register at publishcookbooks.com.

A quick shout-out to Mari, a lo...

✨Before we get started, an exciting announcement ✨
If you're a food, nutrition, or culinary pro and you dream of being published by a traditional publisher, I want to invite you to my upcoming Publish Your Cookbook event where you will learn the shortcut most aspiring authors miss when publishing their cookbook. You'll discover how to position yourself as the author publishers want right now, and the exact steps to land your first book deal. This is an opportunity you won't want to miss. Head to publishcookbooks.com to register for the event. 

Today I'm joined by award...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I'm excited to talk to you about one key tool in the life of most cookbook authors, and that's an email list. Part of the reason I want to talk about this is that there is a misconception that we have to chase publishers and agents. But what I've found to be true in my own life, in the lives of my students, and in the lives of the authors I've talked to on the show is that publishers and agents are looking for a food, culinary, or nutrition...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I'm excited to have an interview with Stephanie Hansen. Stephanie is the host of the Emmy-award-winning TV show "Taste Buds with Stephanie", blogger at Stephanie's Dish, and radio host of The Weekly Dish and author of True North Cabin Cookbook Volume Two: Seasonal Recipes From a Cozy Kitchen. Stephanie hails from Minnesota and spends her summers entertaining in her cabin on True North Island in Minnesota. Today on the show, we talk all about cabin cooking and entertaining, Stephanie's seasonal favorite recipes to welcome guests and feed people the...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. I just finished enrolling new students into Cookbooks on KDP and wanted to share something with you based on my conversations with aspiring cookbook authors. When I talk to successful cooks, bakers, dietitians, chefs, and others who have a ton of kitchen experience to share, I hear them say things like: "I don't have time." "I'm not techie enough." "Do I need an audience first?"  "I'm not a dietitian". But underneath those words is something we all face, what I call Doubt Soup. In this episode, I explore how doubt s...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today on the Cookbook Love Podcast, I'm sharing what I call the hidden beginning of publishing. Over the years, we've talked a lot about the types of publishing — self, traditional, and hybrid — and we've heard from hundreds of authors who've chosen each of those paths. But behind the scenes, there's another part of the publishing journey we rarely talk about: the inner life of a cookbook author, and that's what we're going to talk about today. Publishing isn't just about producing a book. It's about letting the love you already live...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today, I'm joined by Camille Beckstrand of Six Sisters' Stuff. What began in 2011 as a way for six sisters to stay connected after leaving their childhood home has grown into one of the top family-friendly recipe websites on the internet. With a focus on simple, approachable meals, Six Sisters' Stuff has become a trusted source for millions of families worldwide.

Their latest cookbook, 30-Minute Meals with Six Sisters' Stuff: 100+ Quick and Easy Meals the Whole Family Will Love!, brings their signature family-first approach into the kitchen with more...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "I'm not really an expert… who am I to write a cookbook?" or conversely "They're not really an expert…who are they to write a cookbook? You're not alone. For years, publishers, editors, and agents acted as gatekeepers, deciding who was "qualified" to write a cookbook.

But times have changed.

In this episode, I'll walk you through:

The old gatekeepers who kept most voices out of publishing

How traditional publishing is shifting and why publishers now want...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today on the podcast I share three questions that came up during Recipe Week LIVE 2025: how to ethically adapt recipes, how to move from passive learning to active doing, and how to price a self-published print cookbook on Amazon with confidence.

Today on the show, I share:

Adaptation & attribution: Why ingredient lists and basic processes aren't generally copyrightable and how your expression (voice, headnotes, tips, stories, history, technique rationale) creates protectable originality. Simple, honest "inspired by/adapted from" credit keeps you on solid ethical ground.
<...

Before we get started, there's still time to take advantage of the final two days of Recipe Week LIVE 2025 happening now through August 15, 2025. This live event is for anyone who wants to turn what they cook or bake every day into publishable recipes. Sign up here for Recipe Week LIVE 2025. 

Today I'm excited to have an interview with Holly Capelle. Holly is a home cook, food preservationist, lifestyle artist, and advocate for sustainable living. She is the founder of @bigfamilyliving, an online community for people who preserve, create, cook, and garden. Holly is the author of the n...

Welcome to the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I'm excited to have an interview with Ellen Kanner. Ellen Kanner is the author of Miami Vegan: Plant-Based Recipes from the Tropics to Your Table and the award-winning book Feeding the Hungry Ghost: Life, Faith and What to Eat for Dinner. She writes about the intersection of food, culture, community, and wellness for outlets including HuffPost, VegNews, and Edible South Florida. Ellen is a vegan advocate and culinary instructor, and the creator of the Substack newsletter Broccoli Rising. As a fifth-generation Miami native, Ellen lives with her husband in where else? Beautiful...

Welcome to the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today, I talk about a question I hear all the time: How do I get my recipes ready for a cookbook? Recipes are the heart of any cookbook. They are what set our books apart from other works of non-fiction. They're not just instructions on paper; they're a combination of creativity, story, and trust. So if you are writing your recipes for publication, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I'll walk you through the five stages of recipe writing: ideation, development, writing, testing, and publishing. These stages form the...

Today on the podcast, I'm joined by Daen Lia — home cook, recipe creator, and the author of Garlic, Olive Oil + Everything Mediterranean. You may know Daen from her wildly popular social channels under @daenskitchen, where she shares comforting Mediterranean-inspired recipes with over 6 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Daen Lia learned to cook from her Spanish and Italian mother and grandmother. With the smell of garlic and roasted tomatoes wafting through the kitchen, Daen discovered the alchemy of a few simple ingredients: garlic, olive oil, and whatever is fresh, whether a vegetable or protein, or both. 

...

In this episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast, I'm joined by Suzanne Lenzer, food stylist, writer, and author of Peckish: Suggestions for the Sophisticated Snacker. Suzanne's approach to food and cooking invites us to consider not just what we eat, but how and why, with more spontaneity and less convention. Suzanne shares how she structured Peckish around "vessels" like On Toast, In Jars, Napkins Only, and more, making it easier (and more fun) to plan a night of grazing or to turn an afternoon snack into a small ritual of care.

In today's show we talk about: 

In today's episode, we're unpacking a concept I teach inside the Get Paid to Get Published program about defining Your Cookbook Concept. Using a powerful metaphor —the Dinner Party Analogy—we'll explore how to define what your book is really about, who it's for, what's on the "menu," and why it matters in today's publishing landscape. Today you'll learn why you, the author, are the host of your book's journey, how to identify and describe your ideal reader, and different cookbook concept types—from ingredients to holidays, what makes your book stand out in the market, and what is a comp...

Welcome to another episode of the show. Today, I'm excited to welcome Cristina Carolan. Cristina is a plant-based personal chef and author of Plant-Based Pacific, a cookbook that reflects a vibrant fusion of culinary cultures from Japan, Hawaii, and the Philippines. She's the owner of Chef Veggie, a plant-based personal chef and holistic lifestyle service. A lifelong traveler, Cristina's experiences living in Japan, visiting her mother's homeland of the Philippines, and calling three Hawaiian islands home inform every dish and story in her book.

In today's episode, we talk about:

The inspiration behind Plant-Based Pacific<...

Welcome to another episode of the podcast! Several times a year, outlets like Eater, Food Network, Epicurious, Publishers Weekly, and others publish their roundup features: What's hot in cookbooks this season? They're the pulse checks of the cookbook world and offer a lens into what's resonating now. Today on the show, we'll dive into trends in cookbooks published this spring, each tied to what cookbook buyers are craving and what publishers are publishing in Spring 2025.

Things We Mention in This Episode:

Join the waitlist for Cookbooks on KDP for September 2025

🎧 Episode 348 – Being a Cookb...

Over the years, I've coached hundreds of cookbook writers. And as a cookbook writer myself, I've noticed something: the way we write shifts with the seasons. So does the energy you all bring to your projects. Without a doubt, January and September are your power months. Something about the clean slate of the new year—or the back-to-school feeling of fall—makes it easy to say yes. The urgency feels good for a while. But urgency doesn't last.  Pressure wears you out.  And cookbook writing—at its best—is built on bringing the full you to the page, year-round. So today I...

Welcome to another episode of the show. If you have gathered recipes for years, hosted holiday parties and meals, preserved family traditions, or become the go-to source for meals in your family, then you may want to turn your recipes into something more: a cookbook. In this episode, I'm sharing 7 tips to help you move from recipe keeper to cookbook writer, everything from why calling yourself a writer matters to how your kitchen and keyboard habits create momentum for your project. If you're sitting on a goldmine of recipes, this episode will give you some food for thought to...

Welcome to today's episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast! I'm thrilled to bring you a conversation with Kasey Lobb—a self-professed food nerd, registered dietitian nutritionist, and plant-based chef. Kasey is the author of The Gluten-Free Sourdough Cookbook, a flavorful new release that brings together her personal passion and professional expertise. Her new book marks a stirring new chapter for Kasey's personal and professional journey.

Most days, you'll find her experimenting in the kitchen or tending to "Mother"—her well-loved gluten-free sourdough starter. For over 20 years, Kasey has helped clients transform their health through food, with a focu...

Today, I'm thrilled to share a conversation with none other than Meathead—one of only 40 living inductees in the Barbecue Hall of Fame and the founder of AmazingRibs.com, the world's largest barbecue and grilling website. Meathead is the author of the best-selling Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling, and he's back with a brand-new book: The Meathead Method. In this episode, we dig into what makes this book different—and how his method will change the way you cook outdoors. We also bust some big-time barbecue myths, including:

Why beer can chicken doesn't do what...

Welcome to today's episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast! I'm thrilled to bring you a conversation with a true baking powerhouse: Bobbie Lloyd, CEO and Chief Baking Officer of the iconic Magnolia Bakery @bakewithbobbie. You might know Magnolia for its world-famous banana pudding and charming New York City roots, but under Bobbie's leadership, it's grown into a global dessert destination with over forty locations worldwide.

And just in time for the unofficial start of summer, Bobbie joins me to chat about her brand-new book: The Magnolia Bakery Handbook Volume 2: Icebox Desserts. In this episode, she gives us...

Welcome to today's episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast! I'm delighted to be joined by Jessica Merchant, the force behind the wildly popular blog How Sweet Eats and the bestselling author of Everyday Dinners, The Pretty Dish, and Seriously Delish. Jessica is a full-time recipe developer and writer known for her down-to-earth approach, vibrant flavor combinations, and deep passion for all things food.

In this episode, we dive into her newest book, Easy Everyday, and explore her tried-and-true strategies for making dinner doable, without sacrificing flavor. From her game-changing "Big 3" dinner shortcuts to her 10-Minute Meal Prep...

Welcome to another episode of the podcast. I'm excited to be here today for an interview with Sarah Ahn. Sarah is a digital storyteller and creator of Ahnest Kitchen, where she shares and documents her mother, Nam Soon Ahn's recipes. In their new book Umma: A Korean Mom's Kitchen Wisdom & 100 Family Recipes, Sarah and Nam Soon take a deep dive into Korean home cooking along with decades of wisdom and techniques that help anyone cook like a Korean umma. Today on the show we talk all about Sarah's building of her presence online with Ahnest Kitchen, the journey with...

Welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I'm excited to have an interview with Sapna Punjabi. Sapna combines a lifelong vegetarian practice with Ayurvedic training and expertise as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. In her new book Dal Chawal, Sapna presents Indian comfort food at its finest: economical, healthy, and delicious, with 85 recipes that form the foundation of Indian home cooking. In our interview today,we talked all about Sapna's journey to writing Dal Chawal, writing a cookbook rooted in identity and wellness, her routines and habits that helped her write her book, and Sapna's tips for first-time cookbook...

If you've ever dreamed of writing a cookbook—but the book isn't here yet—you're not alone. In this installment of Being a Cookbook Writer, I'm sharing exactly what I did to move from dreaming to actually writing my cookbook. I'll walk you through the daily and weekly routines that helped me stay connected to my goal, even in the midst of a busy life. From journaling to documenting meals to typing just two recipes a day, I'll show you how small steps can lead to a finished book. If you're ready to stop waiting and start writing, this epis...

Hello and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today on the podcast I'm excited to have an interview with Steph Pixley. Steph is the deputy food editor for America's Test Kitchen's books team and culinary producer of the Cook's Country TV show. She attended the New England Culinary Institute and is most at peace when she's in the middle of a good baking project. For our episode today we talk all about ATK's new book: Baking for Two. ATK takes the guesswork out of baking on a smaller scale by reengineering all your favorite baked goods. Steph explains...

Hello and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today on the podcast I'm excited to have an interview with Jan Brandenburg. Jan is a cook, digital content creator, and pharmacist from eastern Kentucky. As a vegan and wanting to enjoy the flavors of her childhood, Jan spent years developing plant-based alternatives to traditional Appalachian dishes. Today on the show we talk about her journey from cookbook idea to publication including her favorite vegan Appalachian recipes, her tips for plant-based cooking, and her advice for anyone who wants to write a cookbook and get it published.  

Things We...

Hello and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today on the podcast I'm excited to have an interview with Diane Morrisey.  Diane Morrisey is the founder of @DianeMorrisey on Instagram. She is known for her acute sense of encouragement and humor and her easy and innovative recipes that come with a big side of "you got this" encouragement. A former caterer, Diane was also an executive at Whole Foods where she oversaw the prepared foods business and overall operations for stores in New York and Connecticut. In other words, she knows what people want to eat—and what the...

Hello and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today on the podcast I'm excited to have an interview with Kaleb Wyse. Kaleb is the creator of Wyse Guide and the author of the new cookbook There's Always Room at the Table. When Kaleb Wyse started documenting his daily life on his farm in Iowa, he didn't think many people would take notice or even care. After all, his way of life is simple, guided by the seasons—he spends his days gardening, preserving, baking, and cooking, a rhythm not all that different from that of his parents, grandparents, an...

Hello and welcome to another episode of the podcast. As I work on my next cookbook proposal, one thing that keeps coming up is that I am embarking on the long-game of cookbook publishing. From idea to a finished book, traditional publishing takes at least 18 - 24 months. That means the cookbook won't be "in my hands" for quite a while. How do you sustain the journey to a traditionally published book? That's what we're going to talk about today. 

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Build your Cookbook Author Platform

Receive a free c...

Hello and welcome to another episode of the podcast. March is birthday month here at our house and gift giving is on my mind. I love to give gifts to celebrate birthdays, especially gifts that my people want and are excited to receive. This makes me think about classes we teach and books we write and how to give people what they're hungry for instead of overthinking and creating something that they won't want or need. 

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Receive a copy of the Art of Cookbook Creation checklist

Hello and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today I gave myself the gift of time to sit and think about what I  love about cookbooks and cookbook writing. All of this has bubbled up as I think about writing a proposal for a 5th traditionally published cookbook. So if you're curious what drives this passion, listen in. And if you share this passion, which I'm sure many of you do, I invite you to join me inside Get Paid to Get Published and our LIVE 90-Day Get Paid to Get Published Accelerator. You can learn more about G...

Hello and welcome to another episode of the podcast. I taught my Get Paid to Write a Cookbook workshop yesterday and we had a great time. Today I want to share three key takeaways from the workshop that will help you think about how your cookbook can earn money for your business. So if you've ever wondered how to turn your recipes into real revenue, this episode is for you. 

Things We Mention In This Episode:

If you want to get paid to write a cookbook join us for the next cohort of Get Paid to...

Hello and welcome to the other episode of the podcast. If you want to be the kind of cookbook author that publishers are excited to work with, it's not just about having great recipes and a great book idea—it's about who you are as a writer, creator, and business partner. Today I share 7 ways to make yourself irresistible to a traditional publisher.

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Register for How to Get Paid to Write a Cookbook LIVE Workshop on Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Hello and welcome to the other episode of the podcast. Today on the podcast I share some answers to two commonly asked questions about recipe writing related to recipe inspiration, recipe permission, recipe creation, and writing recipes that are unique to you.

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Sign up here for my email list all about writing, publishing, habits, and writing routines. 

Hello and welcome to the other episode of the podcast. Right now, your cookbook might just feel like just an idea. A collection of notes, stories, and recipes that live in your head or scattered notebooks or digital files. But the moment you publish the book, everything changes. Instead of flipping through stacks of papers or trying to remember that one ingredient, you have a finished book. Your recipes and stories are in one place, beautifully organized, and ready to be used. And that's exactly what I want to talk to you about today. What changes when you publish...

Welcome to another episode of Cookbook Love Podcast! In today's episode, I'm joined by Marie-Pierre St-Onge, founding director of the Center of Excellence for Sleep & Circadian Research at Columbia University. Marie-Pierre is a nutritionist and a pioneer in the field of sleep health. Her groundbreaking research combines sleep and nutrition to provide comprehensive strategies for improving overall health.

We discuss:

The art and science of food and sleep

Strategies for a good night's sleep

The role of sleep in balancing hormones

Insights from her new book, Eat Better, Sleep...

Welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today I have a fun episode called the Ins and Outs for 2025. This episode was inspired by other Ins and Outs lists I've heard over the past few weeks. First, what is an Ins and Outs list? The Ins are things I did in 2024 that I want to do again, new stuff I want to try. The outs are things I don't want to bring forward to the new year that doesn't serve me anymore or don't help me get the next version of Maggie that I want to be. 

I...

As many of you know I self-published my Christmas Cookie Baking Guide in November 2024. This was my fifth published cookbook and my first self-publishing venture. It's easy for me to sit here and talk all about the book. And how the book is the fruit of the work I do every year as a Christmas cookie baker, And how I managed my time and myself to write and publish it. That's all true. But it's not the full story...and that's the topic for today's podcast.

Here's the full quote about being in the arena from Theodore...

In today's episode, I am excited to talk to you about my least productive year. I want to tell you about how this least productive year started, how I realized that it wasn't working, and what I did to tweak the "plan" so that I got the results I wanted. Also if you are interested in publishing your book of recipes and stories on Amazon in 2025 there is a link below to join the waitlist. And if you're interested in learning more about writing, publishing, habits, and writing routines I invite you to join my email list by using...

Happy New Year and cheers to 2025!

In today's episode, I am excited to welcome Heather Bell, lovingly known as Mama Bell. Heather is a mother of eight and a viral cooking and lifestyle influencer. 

With joy and love, she shares her big family way of life through stories, recipes, and the journeys of her eight children—seven of whom are adopted.

For over 28 years, Heather has been a farmer's wife, partnering with her hardworking husband on their Michigan farm, where they raise 4,000 laying hens, providing eggs to local grocery stores and restaurants.

...

In today's episode, I am delighted to welcome Heidrun Metzler. Born and raised in Germany, Heidrun grew up surrounded by a family of women who loved to bake—learning from her mother, aunt, and grandmother. After moving to the United States as a young woman, Heidrun missed German baked goods and began creating her baking recipes, blending her German roots with ingredients the best ingredients she could find in the US.

Her new cookbook, German Heritage Baking, is the culmination of over a decade of work—a labor of love to preserve and share her family's baking trad...

In today's episode, I am excited to welcome Jonathan Stevens, co-owner of Hungry Ghost Bread in Northampton, Massachusetts, and the author of The Hungry Ghost Bread Book. Jonathan approaches sourdough bread with a unique philosophy: sourdough isn't a style of bread—it is bread. His method revolves around three essential tenets: more hydration, more fermentation, and more heat in the oven.

Today on the show:

Jonathan's Philosophy on Sourdough:

Why sourdough is the essence of bread, not just a style.

Insights into his three tenets: more hydration, fermentation, and heat.

In today's episode, I am excited to welcome Elana Pearlman, author of With Love and Babka: 50 Sweet and Savory Recipes for Everyone's Favorite Braided Bread. Inspired by her grandmother's love of traditional bread, this book explores the versatility of babka, featuring doughs for every preference—from classic and chocolate to gluten-free.

Topics of Discussion:

From Cakes to Babka: Elana shares her journey from running a wedding cake business to launching a mail-order babka business.

The Publishing Path: Insights into Elana's journey of writing and publishing a cookbook, including her tips for building habits an...

In today's episode, I am excited to welcome Sarah Frison, the author of The Festive Belgian Bakery, a delightful book celebrating chocolate, biscuits, cakes, and desserts enjoyed during the holiday season. Sarah shares her insights into Belgian holiday traditions, culinary techniques, and the journey of writing a cookbook.

Topics of Discussion:

Belgian Holiday Traditions: From St. Nicholas Day in December to Candlemas in February, Sarah walks us through the festive season in Belgium.

The Art of Tempering Chocolate: Why tempering is crucial for achieving the perfect shine and snap in chocolates.

...

In today's episode, I am excited to welcome Morgan Bolling. Morgan is the the Executive Editor of Creative Content for Cook's Country and a cast member of the Cook's Country TV show. Morgan spearheaded the book When Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes in collaboration with Toni Tipton-Martin. This compelling book celebrates the ways food has sustained and empowered Southern women throughout history. This episode is a thoughtful dive into:

The Intersection of Southern Food and History: Inside Southern culinary traditions.

Behind the Book: The process of creating When Southern Women Cook and how...

In today's episode, I welcome Jessie-Sierra Ross. Jessie is a former professional ballerina turned food and lifestyle blogger. She's the creative mind behind the blog Straight to the Hips, Baby, where she shares her elegant yet approachable style of cooking, cocktails, and home entertaining.

We dive into Jessie's transition from the world of ballet to the arena of home entertaining, discussing:

Transition from Ballet to Blogging:
Jessie shares her journey from ballet slippers to blogging, detailing how her background in the performing arts shaped her approach to food and entertaining.

Building a...

In today's episode, I interview Erica Walker, one of the four sisters behind Favorite Family Recipes, a blog that has grown from a family recipe swap into a platform featuring over 1,000 recipes and reaching more than 2 million visitors each month. Erica shares insights from their newest cookbook, Most Requested Copycat Dishes: 101 Homemade Versions of Your Favorite Restaurant Recipes, along with tips on recreating restaurant-quality dishes at home.

About Favorite Family Recipes

In today's episode, I'm excited to have an interview with Rose Levy Beranbaum. Rose is a legendary baking expert and author whose books have been translated into multiple languages, including Mandarin, Czech, Russian, and Spanish. Known as the "diva of desserts" and "the most meticulous baker who ever lived," Rose has published thirteen award-winning books, including The Cake Bible, Rose's Heavenly Cakes, and Rose's Christmas Cookies.

Today, we dive into the exciting release of the 35th Anniversary Edition of The Cake Bible, which Rose has fully revised and updated with her husband, Woody Wolston. This edition brings...

In today's episode, I'm excited to have an interview with Sonja Overhiser, one of the creative minds behind the award-winning blog A Couple Cooks. Along with her husband Alex, Sonja has built a global following for their healthy, plant-based recipes and expertise in cocktails. Their work has been featured in Food & Wine and The Washington Post, and their blog receives millions of visitors each month. We dive into their journey from fast food to cooking from scratch, the growth of their blog, and the behind-the-scenes process of pitching and reconfiguring their book idea to land a publishing deal. Sonja...

Welcome to this special announcement edition of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

Do you want to turn your recipes, stories, and memories into a beautiful keepsake cookbook?

I am hosting a bootcamp from Monday, November 4th - Thursday, November 7th at 11:00 AM EST called From Kitchen to Keepsake Bootcamp.

Don't wait any longer to create the cookbook you've always dreamed of. This bootcamp gives you the structure, support, and tools you need to turn your favorite recipes and stories into a keepsake you'll be proud to share. Let's make this the year you...

In today's episode, I'm excited to bring you an interview with Jessica Battilana. Jessica is the staff editor at King Arthur Baking company and the co-author of The Big Book of Bread. Along with Martin Philip and Melanie Wanders, Jessica helped write and create their newest book that offers a comprehensive collection of over 125 bread recipes for bakers of all levels.

During our conversation, Jessica shares insights into the King Arthur Baking Company, the inspiration behind The Big Book of Bread, and what it was like to collaborate on a cookbook for such a renowned brand. We...

In today's episode, I'm excited to interview Ryan Alvarez and Adam Merrin, the duo behind the popular blog Husbands That Cook. Since 2015, Ryan and Adam have been cooking together in their cozy kitchen in Eagle Rock, California, and their blog has earned numerous accolades, including being a finalist for Saveur magazine's Best How-To Cooking Blog Award and a nominee for Taste Talks' Best Food Blog Award.

Their debut cookbook Husbands That Cook was published in 2019, and now they're back with their latest release, That Takes The Cookie, which hit shelves on November 12, 2024. This beautifully designed book offers 85...

Welcome to another episode of the podcast! Today, I'm joined by Kiano Moju. Kiano is a Kenyan-Nigerian American recipe developer, producer, director, video host, and the author of her new book, Afri Cali: Recipes from My Jikoni.

Kiano's culinary identity is a unique fusion of her Kenyan and Nigerian heritage, her upbringing in California's diverse food culture, and her experiences traveling abroad. You may recognize Kiano from her time as a creative video producer at BuzzFeed's Tasty, where her recipe videos garnered over 100 million views. Since departing from BuzzFeed in 2019, Kiano has launched her own media company a...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I have an interview with Caitlin Prettyman. Caitlin is the creator and photographer behind the popular food blog "Kalefornia Kravings". Catlin loves sharing fun, vibrant recipes that are full of flavor and made with better-for-ingredients. Being a born & raised San Diegan, she is mostly known for her easy-to-follow recipes utilizing fresh local ingredients found on the California Coast. In our conversation today we talked about Caitlin's new cookbook, Fast & Fresh Cal-Mex Cooking that provides a fresh California spin on Tex-Mex cuisine using an array of nourishing vegetables, fresh herbs...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I have an interview with Diana Goldman. Diana Goldman is a chef, food photographer, and culinary educator based in Boston. She is the creator of Beantown Kitchen and author of the new cookbook Plants for You. Diana teaches all about plant-based cuisine and shares her passion for wholesome, flavorful food which shines through in every recipe she makes. In our conversation today we talk all about Diana's journey writing a cookbook, her success with orchestrating testing with over 50 recipe testers for her book, her tips for going PRO as...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I have an interview with Tue Nguyen. Tue is a Vietnamese chef and one of the fastest-rising stars in the culinary space. Since graduating from culinary school and beginning her content creation journey, Tue has showcased her skills through social media as well as sold-out pop-ups, which led her to partnering with the h.wood Group to open her restaurant DiDi in Los Angeles. In our conversation today Tue and I talked all about her new cookbook Di An, The Salty, Sour, Sweet and Spicy Flavors of Vietnamese Cooking...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I have an interview with Anne Byrn. Anne is a New York Times bestselling food writer and author. Her books include the ever-popular Cake Mix Doctor, A New Take on Cake, Skillet Love and her newest book Baking in the American South. In this beautiful book Anne shares the stories and recipes from bakers all over the South - past and present, near and far, seen and unseen, all to answer the question, what makes southern baking so special? During our conversation today Anne and I talk all about...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I have an interview with Gerry Romano and Katelin Maidment. Gerry and Katelin are self-published cookbook authors, and graduates of the spring 2024 session of Cookbooks on KDP. Gerry is a retired magazine editor and the author of More Means Merrier: The Romano-Altman Family Cookbook and Katelin is a Registered Dietitian and author of Recipes for Longevity: Over 70 Recipes and a 4-Week Longevity Meal Plan Designed to Slow Cognitive Decline. During our conversation Gerry, Katelin, and I talked all about their decision to publish a cookbook, what they learned about...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I have an interview with cookbook author and food writer Yasmin Fahr. Yasmin is a recipe contributor to New York Times Cooking, Food 52, and the Kitchn and is the author of three cookbooks. Her newest book, Cook Simply, Live Fully, is an ode to flexible, flavorful recipes for any mood. During our episode, Yasmin shares her philosophy and recipes for cooking and feeding ourselves well through real life's inevitable ups and downs as well as some unique features of the book. 

Things We Mention In This Episode Duration: 00:43:00

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I have an interview with LeAnna Smith. LeAnna is the owner and executive creative director at Weller Smith Design. She has over 22 years of experience in design and publishing. At Weller Smith, LeAnna helps her clients with branding, publishing, and custom products like websites and cookbooks. During the interview, LeAnna and I discussed the main paths to cookbook publishing, her work in custom cookbook publishing, the benefits of custom publishing, and how to know if custom publishing is for you. 

Things We Mention In This Episode

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I have an interview with John Kanell. John is a former middle school math and science teacher with a knack for breaking down complicated problems. In 2015 he turned his attention to the kitchen and began creating content that empowers and inspires home cooks with his founding of Preppy Kitchen. Preppy Kitchen is now a nationally known cooking and baking destination where John used his decades of homegrown experience to provide knowledge and resources to create memorable recipes. For our interview today, John and I talk about his new book...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. But before we get started, I want to talk for a minute for those of you who have recipes that you have collected or written that you want to publish in a book. Did you know that with a few simple tools, you can easily format and publish your book in about 3 months? This is exactly what I teach in my course Cookbooks on KDP. I help food bloggers and recipe collectors learn how to format and publish their recipes in a book using Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing platform. So...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, on the podcast, I have an interview with Renato Poliafito. Renato is a James Beard-nominated pastry chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, designer, and entrepreneur living in Brooklyn, NY. After a career in graphic design and advertising, Renato traded in his laptop for an apron. In 2005, he opened the Red Hook flagship location of Baked, kicking off a culinary renaissance in the waterfront neighborhood and leading the wave of the new Brooklyn food movement. After more than a decade, Renato left Baked to get in touch with his roots. In 2019, he...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today is part 2 of Shine Up Your Recipes. I started last week with questions about development, writing, testing, confidence about your recipes being yours and not just repeats, and the number of recipes to include in a book or cookbook submission. Today, I will answer more questions about organizing recipes, photos, and anecdotes, gathering recipes and deciding on a theme for a book, developing a practice for recipe development and writing, and discussing portion sizes. 

Things We Mention In This Episode

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Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. For the next two episodes, I am going to help you shine up your recipes by answering your most common questions about recipes: development, writing, testing, confidence about your recipes being yours and not just repeats, and the number of recipes to include in a book or cookbook submission. 

Things We Mention In This Episode

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Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I have an interview with Georgina Hayden. Much to my excitement, this is not Georgina's first time on the podcast. We had Georgina on the show back in Episode 222 for her book Nistisima, and this past Lent, I used Georgina's book as an example of how people eat during Lent in the Orthodox Church during Episode 284. Today, Georgina is here again, and I have the pleasure of talking to her about her newest book, Greekish. Georgina grew up above her grandparent's Greek-Cypriot taverna in London. She is a food...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I had an interview with Jennifer Gomes. Jennifer is a Master Food Preserver, the Perfectly Preserved podcast host, and the author of The Pressure Canning Cookbook. When Jennifer set out to write a cookbook, she thought she was going to write a book about water bath canning. But the publisher returned to her and asked if she would write a book about pressure canning instead. Listen in as we discuss pivoting our concept for our cookbook, writing about a niche topic, the goal of daily consistent actions to promote...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I had an interview with Julie Evink. Julie is the creator of the popular food blog Julie's Eats and Treats, which reaches millions monthly. She is known for no-fuss recipes that use pantry staples yet are bursting with flavor. In our time together, you'll hear all about Julie's new cookbook, her journey from blog to cookbook, the building of her brand and blog, and how she published a cookbook that contained not only recipes from her blog but many exclusive recipes as well. 

Things We Mention In T...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today I have an interview with Phoebe Lapine. Phoebe Lapine is a food and health writer, chef, speaker, and the voice behind the award-winning blog Feed Me Phoebe. She is the author of 4 books, including the recently published book Carbivore, a cookbook with 130 recipes to stop fearing carbs and embrace comfort food you love. As an advocate for autoimmune disease and finding food freedom despite chronic illness, Phoebe's work has appeared in Food & Wine, Marie Claire, SELF, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Mind Body Green. During our interview, Phoebe and I talked...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I have an interview with Food TV Executive Producer Karen Katz. Karen has worked on food television shows in various competition, lifestyle, documentary, reality, children's, and music/variety programming. She just completed her first book, GETTING SAUCED—How I Learned Everything I Know about Food from Working in TV, a memoir about her life behind the scenes in TV working with some beloved chefs: Emeril Lagasse, Julia Child, Bobby Flay, and Buddy Valastro, to name a few. Today on the podcast, Karen and I discuss why she wrote her me...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today is our 300th episode! In preparation for this, I listened to Episode 263 when I celebrated the end of my 5th year of podcasting last September. I talked a lot about the ROI and the tangible benefits of having a podcast, from the people I've met to the books I've been exposed to and received in the mail to the new students who have entered my programs. These are all amazing external benefits and I fully expect these to grow over time. For today's podcast, I reflect on something called...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today on the podcast, I'm excited to have an interview with Debbie Berne. Debbie is a professional book designer and has been designing books for over 20 years for publishers of all sizes, working on projects for authors, editors, agents, poets, artists, chefs, gardeners, and musicians. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Debbie took an interest in how book design interacts with the editorial side of making books, and the result is her new book, The Design of Books: An Explainer for Authors, Editors, Agents, and Other Curious Readers, published by The University...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today on the podcast, I'm excited to have an interview with Amy Myrdal Miller. Amy is an award-winning dietitian, culinary nutrition expert, and public speaker. Amy is the president of Farmer's Daughter Consulting and was the collaborator on the 4th edition of Cooking a la Heart with Linda Hachfeld. Cooking a la Heart was first published in the early 1990s by Apple a Day Press and has sold well over 100,000 copies during its publication, from a comb-bound book to this new version with 500 easy and delicious recipes to help make...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. I've talked a lot about traditional and self-publishing on the podcast. I've noticed recently that some beautiful cookbooks aren't traditional or self-published but hybrid or custom-published. Today, on the podcast, I have an interview with Georgie Hockett. Georgie is the Marketing Director at Flashpoint Books. Georgie joined Girl Friday Productions (the parent company) in 2018 as a marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in media and magazines. At Flashpoint, Georgie's passion for helping authors achieve their unique version of success makes her a client favorite, and her support of her...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. When working with people who want to write a cookbook, many hold themselves back from the idea of traditional publishing. So what is traditional publishing? Traditional publishing is book publishing, where you write the book, and a publisher publishes it for you for free, and you make royalties off the book's sales. So, to help you understand more about traditional publishing, I want to share three myths about traditional publishing so that you can see what traditional publishers do for us and what's possible for your cookbook project.

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Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. When working with people who want to write a cookbook, I hear many about cookbook writers' doubts. Doubt means you don't believe cookbook publishing is possible for you for various reasons. Today on the podcast, I want to discuss cookbook writers' most common doubts and how to turn the doubt into a statement that you can work on believing to help you move forward with your cookbook project. 

Before we start, do you want to master cookbook publishing and secure an agent or publisher you love? I know t...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I'm excited to talk to you about how to persevere in cookbook publishing. The journey of writing a cookbook and getting it published is a long haul, especially when you add in the journey of marketing, promotion, and sales of your book after it's published. So why do we want to do this when we know the abysmal stats about book writing success? On today's episode I'll share the stats and offer five strategies to help you cross the finish line of your cookbook project.

Before we...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I'm excited to talk to you about how to persevere in cookbook publishing. The journey of writing a cookbook and getting it published is a long haul, especially when you add in the journey of marketing, promotion, and sales of your book after it's published. So why do we want to do this? Over my many years of working with writing my own cookbooks and working with cookbook writers, I have learned a ton, but there's one thing that we haven't talked about, and that's your why behind your...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, on the podcast, I'm excited to talk to you about my experience with writing. I am a writer and love writing and reading about writers' routines. In my life, I employ ten writing practices that ensure I put my pen to paper daily and every week in many ways. In this episode, I will share behind-the-scenes strategies and tools that have helped me write every day for over 20 years and write and publish four cookbooks in seven years.

Things We Mention In This Episode:

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Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Very excited to bring you a behind-the-scenes interview today about cookbook public relations and publicity. 

Before we dive into the show, Traditional publishers get a bad rap in a lot of writing circles. I hear them described as profit-seeking enemies who are out to steal our ideas or, worse yet, our souls. I have loved all of my publishers. They were partners in helping me create beautiful books so that I could share my recipes and stories with the world. And the team of editors, designers, layout experts, p...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today on the podcast, I'm excited to have an interview with Tara Lanich-LaBrie. Growing up near Chicago and later studying in Santa Fe, Tara's culinary style is deeply influenced by her appreciation for nature and art. Inside her company, "The Medicine Circle," Tara combines her passion for plant-inspired cooking and natural remedies. Today on the podcast, we take a magical culinary adventure inside Tara's new book Foraged and Grown and talk all about seasonal plants that inspire cooking, the use of color in food, and Tara's tips for introducing new...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today on the podcast, I'm excited to have an interview with Rowena Scherer. Rowena grew up in Malaysia and some of her fondest memories were cooking with her family. But it wasn't until she was on vacation with her children that she saw the joy on their faces while they took a cooking class, but at the same time, struggled to cut an onion. That was when she knew something had to change. As a result, Rowena left her job on Wall Street to create an experiential way to teach...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today on the podcast, I'm excited to have an interview with Chantal Secours. Chantal is a Culinary Nutrition Expert, recipe developer, and YouTuber who enjoys creating and sharing healthy plant-based and allergen-friendly treats and recipes. Her gluten-free journey started in 2015. Learning to cook and bake without top allergens was important when her son experienced multiple food allergies. Chantal is the author of the Gluten-Free, No Eggs or Dairy Bread Machine cookbook. I am proud to say that Chantal is a graduate of the 2023 cohort of Cookbooks on KDP, and the...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today on the podcast, I'm excited to have an interview with Lorraine Carlstrom. Lorraine has been interested in food and cooking for most of her life, including roles as a cook where she cooked at a backcountry cabin in the Canadian Rockies, volunteered at an organic farm, served as a leader for the Weston A. Price Foundation, and taught cooking classes. Lorraine is the author of Roo's Kitchen: Bone Broth Soups and Sourdough Sides: Nourishing Recipes Inspired by friends, family, and life playing in nature. I am proud to say...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today on the podcast, I share the pros and cons of the 3 most popular paths to publish your cookbook. So, let's dive in! Before we start, I want to talk to those of you listening who have collected family recipes that you want to turn into a book to share with your family or friends. I am offering a self-publishing course called Cookbooks on KDP. Cookbooks on KDP is a 12-week group program to help you learn step-by-step how to publish a book of recipes on Amazon. When you complete...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today we embark on a culinary journey with passionate food blogger, home cook, recipe developer, and health advocate Chay Wike, author of Kitchen Commune. In her new book, Chay draws on her years of expertise to create a cookbook that transcends traditional recipes. For Chay, it's not just about cooking; it's about creating a sense of community, health, and well-being around the dinner table. Today on the podcast, we talk about Chay's health journey, her blog and book writing and publishing journey, and her advice for cooking inclusive meals and...