Shows
Everything Cookbooks94: Insights from Literary Agent Lori GalvinKate, Kristin and Molly speak with agent Lori Galvin about her long career in the food media space. She shares what spurred her decision to move on from editorial work and how agenting required on the job learning and an entrepreneurial approach. She talks about learning to trust in her own taste, why she enjoys working with both fiction and non-fiction titles and the changes she is seeing in the cookbook sphere. After touching on proposals, comp titles and platform building, Lori gives some advice to authors looking for their own agents and what she in particular looks for...
2024-06-1240 minEverything Cookbooks93: The Secret of Cooking with Bee WilsonMolly and Kate talk with prolific writer Bee Wilson about her new cookbook, The Secret of Cooking. Bee explains how she uses her past experience as an academic in her food writing to showcase its breadth beyond restaurants and recipes and what inspired her to write this cookbook. She shares why she settled on a thematic structure for the book, the recipe writing and testing process along with her varied influences and resources. She talks about bringing the joy back into cooking and why she believes that the golden age of home cooking is still to come.
2024-06-0551 minEverything Cookbooks92: Ruth Reichl on WritingKate and Molly speak with Ruth Reichl, an icon and authority in the food media world, about her breadth of writing experience - restaurant reviews, cookbooks, memoirs, articles and even tweets- and her new book, The Paris Novel. Ruth shares why food is a universal framework, her inspirations for this novel and the process of working with a new editor. She talks about being a "writer who hates writing" and how this process differed from others as well as how she accesses memories to include specificities in her scenes. Finally, she shares her advice to push into the unknown...
2024-05-2949 minEverything Cookbooks91: The UX of Cookbook DesignKristin, Molly and Kate tackle cookbook design from a usability perspective. They point out design decisions that authors should consider: packaging and cover design, typeface and font legibility, photographs on matte vs gloss paper and much more. They share their own opinions, experiences and preferences on the elements that enhance or detract from a user's experience of the book and, because there's much more to say on the topic, tease a part two.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsDebbie Berne In...
2024-05-2239 minEverything Cookbooks90: When a Health Issue Impacts Your Food Writing with Phoebe LapineKristin and Molly speak with cookbook author Phoebe Lapine about finding pleasure in restrictive diets and her new cookbook, Carbivore. Phoebe shares what led her down a food focused career path, how she learned while blogging and how a health diagnosis pulled her down a different path than originally planned. She talks about writing recipes that keep comfort and pleasure in mind, synthesizing data to communicate science to her reader and why her driving force is "healthy hedonism". She also discusses the concept of a "search term book", the importance of sub-titles and how she balanced blogging, social media...
2024-05-1554 minEverything Cookbooks89: Insights From Cookbook Editor Sarah Kwak of HarvestMolly and Kristin speak with Sarah Kwak, a senior editor at Harvest an imprint of Harper Collins, to find out what the editing process is like. Sarah shares how she ended up at her current role, the focus Harvest has for cookbooks and what authors should keep mind regarding their proposal assembly before submission. She discusses her thoughts on comp titles, overcoming past book sales, multifaceted ways to grow a platform and what compels her to spend over two years working on a specific project. Finally, she talks about trends in the food world, the changes in the economy...
2024-05-0835 minEverything Cookbooks88: On Being a First-Time Cookbook Author with Michelle BraxtonKristin and Kate discuss author Michelle Braxton's turbulent publishing journey for her new book, Supper with Love. She shares the story behind the "organic" growth of her food career, how she balances social media creation, blogging and book writing with a separate full time career and how the book idea came about. She talks about committing firmly to the book's concept, why she chose her publisher and the tumultuous publishing process that include her editor leaving and the imprint closing. Finally, she discuses who her audience is, why she creates the sorts of recipes she does and her tips...
2024-05-0140 minEverything Cookbooks87: Publishing Confidential with Kathleen SchmidtKate and Kristin speak with Kathleen Schmidt, an industry veteran with years of experience in editing, publishing, marketing and public relations and now author of the newsletter Publishing Confidential. Kathleen shares her extensive career path, what her focus is as a freelancer and the origins of her newsletter along with what keeps her writing. She talks about the differences between marketing and PR, her dedication to an author centric approach and walks listeners through a hypothetical scenario of book promotion. Finally, she discusses what authors should focus on, thoughts on Authors Equity, the idea of a digital surrogate and...
2024-04-2447 minEverything Cookbooks86: Culinary Activism and Cookbooks with Lelani LewisKate and Molly speak with Lelani Lewis, a London born food stylist and culinary activist of Grenadian and Irish heritage now based in Amsterdam. Lelani shares how homesickness spurred her into a culinary career through pop-ups, where the idea for her debut cookbook came from as well as why she chose this title. She speaks about her desire to share the colorful, diverse nature of Caribbean food alongside its dark history and what she hopes readers will get from reading her book. She talks about working with a Dutch publisher, the unique editing and translation process, how she settled...
2024-04-1738 minEverything Cookbooks85: A Juneteenth Cookbook for Kids with Alliah Agostini and Taffy ElrodMolly and Kristin dive into the territory of kid-lit in this talk with Alliah Agostini and Taffy Elrod, authors of The Juneteenth Cookbook. Alliah and Taffy discuss how they both got involved with the project, how they worked together and the goal they had of bringing the celebration of Juneteenth to life with food, history and family activities. They talk about the family representation in the book, the recipe development process and what went into all the extras inside. Alliah and Taffy both speak about tapping into their inner child while writing, what it was like working with their...
2024-04-1038 minEverything Cookbooks84: Do We Need Cookbook Reviews?Molly, Kristin, Andrea and Kate tackle the topic of cookbook criticism, spurred on by recent online conversations. They discuss what it could look like, its importance and what the lack of rigorous criticism means for cookbook publishing. They talk about the unique obstacles to reviewing cookbooks, the elements reviews should highlight and why we need to be wary of echo chambers. Our hosts speak on the idea that this genre isn't taken as seriously as others, what that means for cookbook quality and share what they specifically want to see in a good cookbook.Hosts: Kate Leahy +...
2024-04-0338 minEverything Cookbooks83: A Niche Cookbook That Sold 350K+ Copies with Shelly WorcelKristin and Molly speak with author and blogger Shelly Worcel about breaking into speciality markets and writing niche, single subject cookbooks. Shelly speaks about growing her skills while blogging, how she was tapped to write her highly successful second book, and how her open mindset allowed a natural escalation of her brand and career. She shares the pitching process, how photography and styling fits into her workflow and how she is able to keep each new project fresh. She talks about marketing her books as "gifts", how she keeps merchandising in mind during the writing and the upcoming project...
2024-03-2743 minEverything Cookbooks82: Craft Books for Cookbook WritersKate talks with Kristin, Molly and Andrea about the challenges faced when beginning a writing career and the resources they use to help improve their writing skills. They discuss which interest came first, the writing or the food, how reading with a critical eye can help one move beyond the basics and why it is vital to always keep the reader at the forefront. They each share the specific books and tools they turn to for guidance, inspiration and exploration as they constantly look to advance their craft.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
2024-03-2042 minEverything CookbooksBONUS Re-release: 01: Should You Write a Cookbook?To mark our 2 year anniversary, we're re-releasing our very first episode! Kate leads today's discussion on the most important question to ask before you sit down to write your cookbook: Should you write a cookbook? Molly, Andrea and Kristin share their individual journeys as authors and provide some insights into what goes on behind the decision to move forward with a project. They chat about the importance of hustle, platform and studying the elements in your favorite cookbooks as well as some of the books they decided against creating. Finally, Molly shares a Tip of the Week a...
2024-03-0939 minEverything Cookbooks81: “Do we really test all the recipes?” Season 4 Wrap-UpAndrea, Molly, Kristin and Kate sit down to wrap up another incredible season of the show: taking listener questions, highlighting our top takeaways and hinting at the upcoming Season 5. They discuss how they individually approach recipe testing, what they learned about community this season and take time to celebrate the recent World Central Kitchen fundraiser and the evolution of our Insider Series. Thank you for your support and stay tuned for future episodes in the coming weeks!Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions...
2024-02-0732 minEverything Cookbooks80: From Co-Author to Bestselling Solo Author with Adeena SussmanKristin and Kate speak with cookbook author Adeena Sussman about her career, her new book and what its like working with Chrissy Teigen. A self described "late bloomer" Adeena shares her experience collaborating on over a dozen books, how she got her start and what she learned on the job as she hustled her way into food media. She talks about how she sees herself and her audience, what shabbat means to her and how she views social media recipe development. Finally, she discusses the value she sees in book events, how she stays organized and what her next...
2024-01-3154 minEverything Cookbooks79: Collaborating with Family on a Cookbook with the Wang SistersMolly and Kristin speak with the Wang sisters, Stéphanie, Patricia Ho-Yi and Caroline, about their new cookbook, Asian Vegetables and its recently released English edition. They discuss how the idea for the book came about and how they decided to tackle it as a team using their various skill sets as a gardener, dietician and musician. They share their collaboration process, how they divided the labor and what themes they were passionate about including in this all-in-one gardening guide, memoir and cookbook. They talk about crafting one voice, the translation process and design choices including a special connection w...
2024-01-2440 minEverything Cookbooks78: Co-Authoring a Cookbook Series with Darra GoldsteinMolly and Kate discuss serialized cookbooks with author and professor, Darra Goldstein. Darra explains how the idea for the series came about, how the writing team was assembled and the inspirations behind the project. She shares the obstacles that arose as they released two books at once, as well as the relentless schedule this involved. Finally, she speaks on the necessity of switching up her writing voice from academic to author, the hurdles of the design process and where the next installments are in the pipeline.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenE...
2024-01-1747 minEverything Cookbooks77: Politics, Food and Cooking with Clarissa WeiAndrea and Molly talk with Taipei-based journalist and author, Clarissa Wei about her debut cookbook, Made in Taiwan and the inclusion of politics in food writing. Clarissa speaks about her career's origins and how her frustration with the outdated coverage of Taiwanese food in media compelled her to write this book. She shares how her journalistic background informed the project, how she worked with the various members of her team and her strategy for weaving in the history with the technical side of cooking. She discusses how she used her writing voice in this format and what she hopes...
2024-01-1050 minEverything Cookbooks76: Totally Achievable Zero Waste Cooking with Irene and Mei LiKate and Kristin speak with sisters Margaret and Irene Li about their new book, Perfectly Good Food, and the concepts of shopping your kitchen and foraging your fridge. They discuss the idea behind the book, how they approached its unique structure and landed on its fun, friendly tone and created its flexible recipes. They share how they divided the work of writing and what is next for them.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Food Waste FeastFoo...
2024-01-0347 minEverything Cookbooks75: Food Trends: Do They Matter When You Write a Cookbook?In our last episode of 2023, Kate, Kristin and Molly discuss food trends and how they apply to the cookbook world. Whether it's butter boards, nacho tables, "girl dinner" or baked potato bars these stunt foods can loom large yet die quickly in the public consciousness. They discuss ideas on identifying trends, how to capitalize on them and the importance of keeping a variety of demographics in mind when working on "trendy" topics. Finally, we list some things we're looking forward to in 2024. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Ce...
2023-12-2737 minEverything Cookbooks74: Crafting a Drinks Book with Danny ChildsKristin and Molly speak with Danny Childs about his new beverage book, Slow Drinks; its origination, proposal stages and how the pandemic affected its creation. Danny shares his background in ethnobotany, how he altered his writing voice from academic to narrative and the process of making these recipes adaptable to non-local foraging readers. He talks about the book's photography, illustration and design process, the books that inspire him and the new business venture he is starting.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella Me...
2023-12-2043 minEverything Cookbooks73: Writing For the Culture with Klancy MillerKate and Kristin speak with Klancy Miller about her magazine and upcoming book: For the Culture: Phenomenal Black Women and Femmes in Food. She speaks about writing the book she wanted to read when she was younger, how the idea came about and how events in 2020 influenced it. She shares how it evolved from proposal to book, why she included recipes and the ups and downs of its interview format. Finally, she talks about the decision to use illustrations, her self-funded book tour and what is next for her personally and professionally. Hosts: Kate Leahy + M...
2023-12-1352 minEverything Cookbooks72: Nichole Accettola and Malena Watrous on Co-Authoring Scandinavian From ScratchKate and Molly get into the nitty gritty of collaborations with Nichole Accettola and Malena Watrous as they discuss their new book, Scandinavian From Scratch. They share how the book came about, how they began to work together and the process they followed so each could bring their own strengths to the project. They talk about the book's unique organization, creating a writing voice, the on-location photography shoot and the most difficult part of the entire process before sharing a few final words of advice for anyone looking to establish their own successful writing partnership. H...
2023-12-0650 minEverything Cookbooks71: Building Your Instagram Following with Ara ZadaKate and Kristin speak with Ara Zada all about content creation and becoming a social media influencer. Ara shares his decision to pursue a large following and grow his platform as well as how a health scare motivated this choice. He describes a day in his life and the full time requirements of this work as well as the mental toll it can take due to its instant nature, algorithm changes, comments, trolls, monetization strategies and banned content. He talks about the inter-relatedness of his book to his online presence, how he evolves his content over time and a...
2023-11-2955 minEverything Cookbooks70: Native California Recipes and Stories with Sara Calvosa OlsonKristin and Molly speak with Sara Calvosa Olsen about her new cookbook, Chími Nu’am and its inspiration, creation and message. Sara shares her food writing journey, thoughts on the title and cover and how the pandemic altered the book's approach and voice. She discusses why she calls it "an inconvenient cookbook" and what it was like working with her publisher and learning photography for its images. Finally, she talks about the best advice she received, the concept she returns to in times of doubt and the themes she wants to communicate with this work. Host...
2023-11-2243 minEverything Cookbooks69: Writing a Menu Cookbook with Amy ThielenMolly and Kate speak with writer Amy Thielen about her new cookbook, Company; its menu format, its inspiration and how its voice differs from her earlier works. She describes confronting her own created persona, why she feels it is important to highlight the bittersweetness in life, and who she writes for. She also discusses the delays with this book, working with her editor, stylist, and photographer, as well as her system for recipe writing, tracking, and testing. Finally, she shares her intimate approach to food writing and what she is working on now. Hosts: Kate L...
2023-11-1551 minEverything Cookbooks68: A Cookbook from the Tuscan Countryside with Giulia ScarpaleggiaMolly and Kristin talk with Tuscany based blogger, teacher and cookbook author Giulia Scarpaleggia about the concept of cucina povera and creating a community in two languages. She shares her career journey, the differences in publishing in Italy versus the U.S. and how her passion for writing and cooking developed hand in hand. She speaks on the recipe testing process, her translation method, dealing with one star reviews and the version of Italy that was important for her to showcase in this book. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEd...
2023-11-0838 minEverything Cookbooks67: Latinísimo by Sandra GutierrezKristin and Kate speak with food columnist and author, Sandra Gutierrez, about her career path and her newest cookbook Latinísimo, an almost 600 page tome about the cuisines of 21 Latin American countries. She shares her love of challenges, what its like working with a university press and why she wanted to write this specific book. She discusses behind the scenes experiences of proposal writing, recipe creation, research, photography, unexpected hiccups and more before sharing some final advice for aspiring writers.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella
2023-11-0147 minEverything Cookbooks66: Becoming Your Own Publisher with Katie ParlaKate and Molly discuss all things self-publishing with writer, tour guide and (new) publisher, Katie Parla. She shares what motivated her to do some data investigation into her previous cookbooks and ultimately how she decided to start her own publishing company for her newest cookbook, Food of the Italian Islands. She talks about lessons learned, experiences with finding and working with her self assembled team and what is next for Parla Publishing. Listen for her thoughts on touring smaller cities, her recipe development process and why she encourages aspiring authors to nerd out on the numbers.
2023-10-2547 minEverything Cookbooks65: Podcasting about Cookbooks with Brian Hogan StewartKate, Molly and Kristin speak with fellow podcaster Brian Hogan Stewart, of the Salt & Spine podcast. They chat about his career path, the origins of the show and how it has evolved since it began. Brian shares how his journalistic background and love of cookbooks led him to podcasting, how he learned the technical side of things and how he fits it all in his busy schedule. Finally, he describes what goes into a good interview, shares some advice for aspiring podcasters and also what kind of shows he hopes to hear in the future. H...
2023-10-1848 minEverything Cookbooks64: 'Do Only the Cool Kids Get Book Deals' and Other Community QuestionsWe are kicking off Season 4 with an episode dedicated to listener questions. Molly, Kate, Andrea and Kristin share their insights on everything from time management, "the cool kids club", design planning, building brand awareness and their love for librarians. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella Publishing Confidential SubstackEpisode 38: Finding Your People with Carla Lalli MusicEpisode 49: Cookbook Media Coverage with Bonnie BenwickEpisode 55: Making a Documentary-Style Cookbook with Matt RodbardEpisode 11: Understanding Cookbook Design with Ali...
2023-10-1148 minEverything Cookbooks63: On Rejection and RecoveryToday all four hosts sit down to discuss the realities of rejection. They share their own experiences with being turned down along with advice and tips on how to turn that into a learning strategy. They talk about what to keep in mind while waiting for responses, the pain of silent rejections and how they deal with negative comments and bad reviews. Finally, they encourage writers to know their "why", ask questions, build community and to become experienced instead of embittered (with a dash of rejection revenge!).Everything Cookbooks will be back in October with more episodes!
2023-08-2343 minEverything Cookbooks62: Single Subject Cookbooks with Martha HolmbergMolly and Kate talk with Martha Holmberg, author and former publisher and food editor, about writing single subject cookbooks. She describes her career journey, how she decided to write her first cookbook and what the greatest job of her life was. She shares how her voice and style has evolved, how to make a deep dive into a subject feel complete and the way she switches from editorial brain to writer brain. Finally she talks about the experience writing solo vs. as a co-author and the tip she wants each home cook to do.Hosts: Kate Leahy +...
2023-08-1655 minEverything Cookbooks61: Writing a Second Edition with Lukas VolgerKate and Molly talk with cookbook author Lukas Volger about his career, writing journey and the process of creating a second edition. Lukas shares how he got his start in the food writing world, his experience in publishing industry and the easter eggs he includes in each of his books. He describes where the idea for a second edition of Veggie Burgers Every Which Way came from, how he approached it and what he learned from revisiting his work thirteen years later. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella
2023-08-0948 minEverything Cookbooks60: Hetty McKinnon on Writing for an International AudienceAndrea and Kristin chat with writer and recipe developer Hetty McKinnon about her career, books and inspirations. Hetty discusses how her background informs her food as well as the trajectory of her career from providing a salad delivery service in Australia to writing cookbooks in Brooklyn. She explains her thoughts on headnotes, how she stays organized and what inspires her recipes. She also shares how she has developed her writing voice, why she photographs her books and the trust she seeks to build with her audience. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen
2023-08-0255 minEverything Cookbooks59: Lerato Umah-Shaylor on AfricanaMolly and Kate talk with Lerato Umah-Shaylor, a UK based chef, food writer and cooking teacher, about her debut cookbook Africana. Lerato shares how she made her passion for food into a career and what made her want to tackle this massive topic for her first book. She discusses how she pairs stories and context with recipes, how she conducted her research and balanced structure and voice in her writing. She provides some insights on the differences between the US and UK publishing experience and the feedback she loves to get from readers.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly...
2023-07-2653 minEverything Cookbooks58: David Lebovitz on the Writing Life in ParisKate and Kristin talk with writer David Lebovitz about his career and life in France. He discusses how he went from pastry chef to food writer, how blogging strengthened his writing voice and why he pivoted to video during the pandemic. He shares his decision to write "the hardest book he ever wrote", the advice he gives to aspiring writers and his choice to move his writing to Substack. Finally, he tells us how decides what stories to tell and reveals a glimpse into a few new potential projects.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly
2023-07-1952 minEverything Cookbooks57: Alicia Kennedy on Expanding the Scope of Food WritingMolly and Kristin talk with writer Alicia Kennedy about her new book, No Meat Required, and her philosophy on food writing. She discusses the proposal, writing and publishing process and her thoughts on the structure, citations and bibliography of the book. She shares her inspirations for the cover as well as how she organizes her varied research and publishing schedule. She talks about developing her own voice, what she hopes to see in the future of food media and thoughts on recipe creation as well as her relationship to social media. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + K...
2023-07-1246 minEverything Cookbooks56: Hybrid Publishing with Vasudha ViswanathKate and Kristin discuss all things hybrid publishing with Vasudha Viswanath, the author of The Vegetarian Reset. Vasudha shares a quick rundown of the typical routes of publishing and why she chose to go down the hybrid path. She talks about the pitching process, what partnership publishers cover (and don't), the recipe development steps and how she assembled her creative and publicity team. She describes the part her book plays in her business strategy and her experience learning as she goes in the cookbook community. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: A...
2023-07-0547 minEverything Cookbooks55: Making a Documentary-Style Cookbook with Matt RodbardMolly and Kristin chat with Matt Rodbard; writer and founding editor of the online food and culture magazine TASTE, all about his career in food media. He reveals the surprising way he got started, how his collaborations came about and the documentary visual style of some of his books. He shares some ups and downs of his writing career, how he balances his many projects and his hopes and excitement for the future of cookbooks. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsMa...
2023-06-2849 minEverything Cookbooks54: Cookbook Ideas: Where It All BeginsMolly, Kristin, Kate and Andrea talk about the idea behind the cookbook. After sharing some shelved ideas of their own, they workshop submissions from listeners to highlight considerations on topic, marketability, expertise and "the hook" for each premise. They brainstorm and discuss structural considerations, format, audience appeal and comp titles to give listeners insights into the vital first step of the book creation process.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Episode 1: Should You Write a Cookbook?Epi...
2023-06-2143 minEverything Cookbooks53: From Video to Cookbook with Nick DiGiovanniKate and Kristin talk with Nick DiGiovanni about his transition from YouTube/TikTok star to cookbook author. He discusses what made him want to write, how he translated the visual into the verbal and what inspired the focus of the book. He explains how he got started in content creation, his thoughts on soup and a peek behind the scenes of the book process. Finally, he answers a few fan questions from a special podcast guest before sharing some words of advice for aspiring cookbook writers.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby...
2023-06-1433 minEverything Cookbooks52: Matt Sartwell of Kitchen Arts and LettersMolly and Kate talk with Matt Sartwell of Kitchen Arts & Letters, the New York City bookstore specializing in food and drink. As the managing partner, Matt shares his deep knowledge of bookselling with us as he discusses his career path, insights for cover, page (and spine!) design along with insights for aspiring authors. He tells us how he decides what to put on the shelves, the nitty gritty of ordering and returns as well as what books he hopes to see released in the future.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella
2023-06-0744 minEverything Cookbooks51: Photographing a Cookbook Using an iPhone with Susan SpungenKristin and Molly speak with Susan Spungen, food stylist, recipe developer, author and founding food editor at Martha Stewart Living, about her new cookbook and its unique photography method. Susan discusses her career path, how she pairs visual inspiration with recipe development and the diaristic tone she created for her latest book, Veg Forward. She describes the process of shooting the book alone with her iPhone and why she wanted to create a vegetable (not vegetarian) book for everyone.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions
2023-05-3153 minEverything Cookbooks50: Telling Your Story in a Chef Cookbook with Vishwesh BhattMolly and Kristin talk with Vishwesh Bhatt, James Beard Award Winner for Best Chef in the South, about his new cookbook I Am From Here. He discusses the origin of the book, what makes it unique and the team that helped create it. He shares his philosophy on food and stories as well as insights into the ideas behind the title, chapter divisions, recipe development and testing. Finally, he gives some advice for others embarking on similar projects and what he wants people to come away with after reading. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin D...
2023-05-2437 minEverything Cookbooks49: Cookbook Media Coverage with Bonnie BenwickKate and Molly speak with Bonnie Benwick, journalist and former deputy editor of the Washington Post food section, about the changes she's seen over her career in food media. Bonnie talks about her time at the Post, her views on recipe testing/testers and what she thinks is lacking in cookbook reviewing today. She shares what elements make up a good cookbook, her thoughts on recipe writing, design, sidebars, sub-recipes and much more. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsBonnie Be...
2023-05-1745 minEverything Cookbooks48: Abi Balingit on Learning as You GoMolly and Kate talk with debut cookbook author, Abi Balingit about her whirlwind publishing journey, during which she juggled a full time job and roommates. She shares the origins of her blog, her inspirations and process along with how she worked within her book's tight timeline. She showcases her abundance mentality as she describes honoring her family's food, finding her audience and pinpointing the creative vision she had for the book before chatting about what is next.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions...
2023-05-1054 minEverything Cookbooks47: Self Publishing Cookbooks with Nick FauchaldKate and Kristin talk with Nick Fauchald, founding editor of Tasting Table, creator of Short Stack Editions and the co-author of many cookbooks. Nick shares his career path, love for the design and tangible artistry of cookbooks and how some of his projects came together. He describes how he chooses his work, the ups and downs of self publishing and the importance of role definitions within a project. Finally, he shares tips, advice and self reflecting questions for anyone thinking of self publishing a cookbook. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: A...
2023-05-0343 minEverything Cookbooks46: Andrea Nguyen on Ever-Green VietnameseToday Kristin, Molly and Kate chat with prolific cookbook author (and EVCB co-host) Andrea Nguyen about her inspirations, career path and her newest cookbook: Ever-Green Vietnamese. She talks about where the book idea came from, how it evolved and what the hardest recipe to get right was. She also shares the challenges of this book, how her family influences her work, the ways her approach to writing and promotion has evolved over time and why she loves the pantry section.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions
2023-04-2656 minEverything Cookbooks45: Dorie Greenspan on Being DorieMolly and Kristin talk with prolific cookbook author Dorie Greenspan about her career, process and longtime creative partnerships. She explains her abundance mentality, how parameters can beget creativity and the struggles, benefits and lessons she experienced writing multiple cookbooks and working as a co-author. Finally, Dorie shares how vital editing is and her advice for aspiring writers. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsDorie GreenspanWebsiteSubstackInstagramFacebookTuesdays with DorieSweet TimesCafé Boulud CookbookChocolate Desserts by Pierre HerméButter (Short Stack)Baking Chez Moi by Dori...
2023-04-1943 minEverything Cookbooks44: Cookbooks and Money, Part IIPicking up where last week's episode left off, Kate gets more in depth about the money side of the business with Kristin, Andrea and Molly. They share past mistakes and how they each tackle budgets, groceries, receipt management, expenses and more. They also discuss outside costs, tax know-hows and the exposure economy along with advice on how side hustles, anchor gigs and outside food work can help build a sustainable career. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions The Anatomy of a Coo...
2023-04-1232 minEverything Cookbooks43: Cookbooks and Money, Part IKate discusses the money side of cookbooks with Molly, Andrea and Kristin. They each share what they wish they knew before starting out, lessons learned from past projects and what makes them choose to work on a book or not. They share insights on opportunity costs, cash flow timing, working with or without an agent and the difference between an auction and a preempt. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly +Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books men...
2023-04-0537 minEverything Cookbooks42: How to Write Recipe TitlesKate talks with Molly, Andrea and Kristin all about recipe titles. They share what makes one stand out, what is an immediate veto and how these have evolved over the years. They discuss the importance of indexing, the challenge of translation and how grammar, structure and formatting are used in titling along with some of their own that they'd like to revisit. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsGourmet CookbookBoston Cooking School / Fanny Farmer SeriesCook it in a CasseroleCooking Bold and Fea...
2023-02-2245 minEverything Cookbooks41: Writing a Bestselling Cookbook in Your 80s with Emily Meggett and Kayla StewartKristin and Andrea chat with Emily Meggett, the matriarch of Edisto Island, and her co-author Kayla Stewart about their book Gullah Geechee Home Cooking. Ms. Emily shares her love for Edisto Island, the long journey to create the book and the mentors that inspired her along the way. Kayla describes the particular challenges of writing this book and recording the recipes along with advice for others who choose to work on similar projects. Finally, Ms Emily tells us how she wants the book to tell the story of food and flavor in America. Hosts: Kate L...
2023-02-1541 minEverything Cookbooks40: Snackable Bakes with Jessie SheehanKate and Molly talk with Jessie Sheehan, "the self-proclaimed queen of easy-peasy sweets", about her varied career path, how she got into baking and what entices her about a recipe. She shares how the pandemic and social media contributed to creating her unique voice, her advice for writing with a co-author and how to avoid the dreaded "happy robot voice". She describes how she worked on an abbreviated timeline for this book and teases a future one. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella M...
2023-02-0856 minEverything Cookbooks39: Toya Boudy on Storytelling Through RecipesMolly and Kate dive deep into the journey and person that is chef/writer/artist/activist/culinary ambassador (and more), Toya Boudy. She shares how her talents as an artist and wordsmith, along with the interwoven nature of life, resulted in her latest cookbook, "Cooking for the Culture". She discusses her creation process, the unconventional schedule for the book and her family's contribution as she explains her mission to build community and empower the artist inside. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions
2023-02-0136 minEverything Cookbooks38: Finding Your People with Carla Lalli MusicMolly and Andrea talk with author and former Food Director at Bon Appétit, Carla Lalli Music, all about the voice in the void and finding an audience. She discusses her career path, performing as herself and her thoughts on social media along with the advice she received that helped create her unique writing voice. She shares some insights on economy in recipe writing, style sheets and self-editing and how to fill up the inspiration bank. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella Menti...
2023-01-2554 minEverything Cookbooks37: Managing a Voice of Authority with Kenji López-AltMolly and Andrea talk with Kenji López-Alt, author and Chief Culinary Advisor for Serious Eats, about creating and maintaining a voice of authority. He shares his career path, where his interest in food got started and the work that has influenced his own. He describes the relationship he has with his followers, how (or if) to curb enthusiasm while doing topic deep dives and a glimpse inside the creation of his best-selling books. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin DonnellyEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsKenji Lópe...
2023-01-1852 minEverything Cookbooks36: Celebrating Colombia with Mariana VelásquezKate 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 Cer...
2023-01-1144 minEverything Cookbooks35: Listener Questions, 2022 Reflections and the Year AheadMolly, 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 t...
2023-01-0433 minEverything Cookbooks34: What We're Cooking For the HolidaysKate 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 Cookb...
2022-12-2124 minEverything Cookbooks33: Becoming the Writer You Want to Be with Andy BaraghaniAndrea 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 MentionsAn...
2022-12-1444 minEverything Cookbooks32: Co-Authoring Cookbooks with JJ GoodeMolly 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 Ric...
2022-12-0744 minEverything Cookbooks31: Catch an Agent's Attention with Sally EkusKate 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.
2022-11-3039 minEverything Cookbooks30: Making a Moving Cookbook Memoir with Eric KimAndrea 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 Ric...
2022-11-2342 minEverything Cookbooks29: Finding Your Voice with Tori RitchieKate 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...
2022-11-1649 minEverything Cookbooks28: All About Recipe HeadnotesToday, 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...
2022-11-0941 minEverything Cookbooks27: When Less is More: Ali Slagle on the Art of Short RecipesAndrea 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: Ab...
2022-11-0244 minEverything Cookbooks26: Blogs, Books and Broadway with Adam Roberts, the Amateur GourmetMolly 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 Ce...
2022-10-2645 minEverything Cookbooks25: Inside a Ukrainian Kitchen with Anna VoloshynaKate 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: K...
2022-10-1949 minEverything Cookbooks24: Genius Recipes with Food52's Kristen MigloreKate 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 MentionsBes...
2022-10-1244 minEverything Cookbooks23: Talking Entrepreneurship, Cooking, and Identity with Tanorria AskewKristin 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 St...
2022-10-0548 minEverything Cookbooks22: What Does it Mean to Craft a Voice?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...
2022-09-2844 minEverything Cookbooks21: What We're Cooking During Summer BreakToday'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 cop...
2022-08-0313 minEverything Cookbooks20: Cookbook Marketing and Publicity with Lorraine Woodcheke of Hardie GrantKate 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 + A...
2022-07-2743 minEverything Cookbooks19: Do Cookbook Awards Matter? | Charlotte DruckmanAndrea 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 Cul...
2022-07-2044 minEverything Cookbooks18: Pro Tips from Cookbook Critic Paula ForbesKate 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 Ce...
2022-07-1339 minEverything Cookbooks17: Making Sense of Cookbook SalesMolly 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...
2022-07-0645 minEverything CookbooksBonus: Jenna Kutcher on Finding Your Voice and Selling Your WorkMolly 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 Ce...
2022-07-0121 minEverything Cookbooks16: Listener Questions: Recipe Testing, Family Cookbooks, Agents, and Should I Use a Scale?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
2022-06-2950 minEverything Cookbooks15: Will Write for Food with Dianne JacobMolly 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 Wr...
2022-06-2229 minEverything Cookbooks14: How to Promote Your CookbookKate 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 cop...
2022-06-1546 minEverything Cookbooks13: Talking Cookbook Photography with Yossy ArefiKristin 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 c...
2022-06-0825 minEverything Cookbooks12: Photographing Your CookbookKristin 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 (An...
2022-06-0146 minEverything Cookbooks11: Understanding Cookbook Design with Alice ChauMolly 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
2022-05-2521 minEverything Cookbooks10: Working with Your Cookbook Design TeamMolly 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 Bo...
2022-05-1844 minEverything Cookbooks09: Cookbook Editing Tips from Jennifer SitAndrea 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
2022-05-1113 minEverything Cookbooks08: How to Survive a Cookbook EditAndrea 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...
2022-05-0441 minEverything Cookbooks07: How Michelle Tam Makes Visual RecipesAndrea 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
2022-04-2736 minEverything Cookbooks06: Getting Your Recipes in Shape with Tina UjlakiKristin 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 Vis...
2022-04-2025 minEverything Cookbooks05: Getting Started Writing Your RecipesKate 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
2022-04-1342 minEverything Cookbooks04: Let’s Make a Cookbook DealAndrea 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 DonnellyE...
2022-04-0633 minEverything Cookbooks03: Cookbook Proposal Writing TipsKristin 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 Donnelly
2022-03-3043 minEverything Cookbooks02: Do You Need a Cookbook Agent?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 ...
2022-03-2348 minEverything Cookbooks01: Should You Write a Cookbook?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.
2022-03-1637 minEverything CookbooksTrailerWelcome 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
2022-03-0201 min
Book Larder PodcastCommunity Episode: Food during QuarantineIn this episode, we've gathered some stories from our community telling us how they've used food to help cope with these last few months under lockdown. Thank you to everyone who sent us a voice memo and shared their experience with us.
2020-06-1011 min
Spilled MilkIntroducing Dire DesiresDire Desires: Life Lessons from Classic Erotic Thrillers. Coming soon from the creators of Spilled Milk.
Matthew Amster-Burton and Molly Wizenberg, co-hosts of the hit comedy podcast Spilled Milk, team up with movie buff/producer Abby Cerquitella to scour Hollywood’s sexiest—and usually stupidest—movies for lessons in how to live, love, and get laid as much as Michael Douglas did in the 90s.
Season 1 covers six erotic classics, including Indecent Proposal, Body Heat, and Disclosure.
Support Spilled Milk Podcast!Molly's SubstackMatthew's Bands: Early to the Airpor...
2020-05-1101 minBook Larder PodcastIntroducing Book Larder PodcastThe podcast from Seattle's community cookbook store will launch in May 2019. Listen in on live author talks, conversations and events that take place in our store's kitchen.
2019-05-0801 min