Shows
Nourishing Creativity with Chef Carla Contreras (formerly Show Up Fully)Creative Vitamins: Somatic Tools for Authentic Alignment in a Chaotic World with MEgan Moseley“Authentic alignment is the place where your intuition, your heart, and your voice all come together.” — Megan MosleyThis episode is your invitation to explore how creativity doesn’t have to be confined to work, it can flow through conversations, routines, parenting, and the ways we show up for others. I’m joined by Sally Ekus, cookbook literary agent, Substack writer, mother, and improv performer who leads who heart, humor, and honesty.Sally reminds us that creativity can come in many forms: Securing publishing deals for authors she works with, answering questions mid-walk during her “Huff and Puf...
2026-01-3019 min
Nourishing Creativity with Chef Carla Contreras (formerly Show Up Fully)Inside Nonfiction Publishing: Creativity, Boundaries, and Book Deals with Literary Agent Sally Ekus“Sometimes boundaries are messy, but they are rooted in a lot of thought, intention and goodwill.” — Sally EkusThis episode is your invitation to explore how creativity doesn’t have to be confined to work, it can flow through conversations, routines, parenting, and the ways we show up for others. I’m joined by Sally Ekus, cookbook literary agent, Substack writer, mother, and improv performer who leads who heart, humor, and honesty.Sally reminds us that creativity can come in many forms: Securing publishing deals for authors she works with, answering questions mid-walk during her “Huff and Puf...
2026-01-2318 min
The Perfect BiteSally Ekus's Perfect Bite | Inside the World of Cookbook Publishing & Food MediaWhat does it really take to get a cookbook published today? I sat down with Sally Ekus, lead of and senior literary agent at The Ekus Group (now a division of JVNLA), to explore the intersection of food, publishing, and entrepreneurship.Sally has spent over 16 years representing cookbook authors, chefs, food writers, and culinary thought leaders, helping them bring their unique stories and recipes to print. She shares how publishing has evolved from the days of Julia Child and Emeril Lagasse to the era of TikTok food creators, Substack writers, and BookTok trends.
2025-08-2856 min
All Things Book MarketingFrom Kitchen to Bookshelf: The Changing Recipe for Cookbook SuccessIn this episode, host and Smith Publicity Vice President Corinne Moulder chats with Sally Ekus, a senior literary agent at JVNLA, about the evolution and specialization of the culinary publishing market. Sally shares her journey growing up in the world of cookbook publishing, her expertise in representing culinary authors, and the shifts in the industry toward niche, hyper-targeted cookbooks. They also discuss the importance of leveraging backlists for ongoing success, the impact of platforms like Substack on the publishing industry, and the future trends in culinary and nonfiction publishing. The episode provides valuable insights for authors...
2025-08-1335 min
Everything Cookbooks135: The Manuscript is In. Now What? with Martin SorgeMolly, Kate and Kristin speak with Martin Sorge, the winner of The Great American Baking Show, about his debut cookbook while he is still in the thick of creating it. Martin talks about getting started on his baking journey, the role the show played in his career and what he's taken away from the experience before diving into the process of developing, pitching, testing and writing his cookbook. He shares specific pain points of the process, his approach and then turns the tables onto the hosts as he asks them for advice and insights as he begins this new...
2025-07-0245 min
Dishing with Stephanie's DishSally Ekus is the "Not So Secret Agent"Stephanie:Hello, everybody, and welcome to Dishing with Stephanie's Dish, the podcast where we talk to cool people in the food space. We talk to a lot of cookbook authors, and today I'm excited to talk to Sally Ekus. She is a literary agent, which, if you've written books or you're trying to get a book published, you know how important the agent process is. She leads a boutique culinary and lifestyle division via @JVNLA and is the lead agent at the Ekus Group. Did I get it right?Follow Sally’s Substack Newsletter Not So...
2025-06-1326 minEverything Cookbooks128: Memoir Writing with Sutanya Dacres of Dinner for OneKate and Molly speak with podcast host Sutanya Dacres about her debut memoir, Dinner for One, which was inspired by her podcast of the same name. Sutanya shares how her 'anti-fairytale' led to a show and a book, how she developed her writer's voice and her thoughts on what makes a memoir and why her book is unique to the 'American in Paris' lexicon. She describes how finding the arc of the story lies in choosing the right focal points before sharing the challenges inherent in writing about real events and people and how living in Paris has shifted...
2025-05-1446 minEverything Cookbooks123: The Revolution Will Be Well Fed with Corrie Locke-HardyMolly and Kristin speak with Corrie Locke-Hardy about their debut cookbook, which pairs their passion for social justice activism and food. Corrie talks about their atypical path towards publication, the unique approaches of their publisher and how the 'figure it out as you go' method worked during the book's creation. Corrie shares how they balanced the various tones of the book, why they focused on the recipes they did, how they worked with the team on its production, distribution, and promotion, and the project they hope to work on in the future. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + K...
2025-04-0941 minEverything Cookbooks31: Catch an Agent’s Attention with Sally Ekus [re-release]In this repeat episode, Kate and Kristin talk with literary agent Sally Ekus. A lot has changed in Sally's professional life since we last had her on -- the Ekus Group is now part of the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, and Sally is a senior agent there. What hasn't changed is the great advice she gives in this episode for emerging cookbook writhers. We talk to Sally about her career path, what she brings to the table for her clients and peek into a day in her life. Sally shares how agents help careers, the key items in...
2025-03-0540 minEverything Cookbooks118: Nicola Lamb on Writing the Book You Want to ReadKate and Kristin speak with Nicola Lamb her debut cookbook, Sift, and writing the book you want to read. Nicola talks about her passion for baking, learning and teaching before diving into the book creation process. She shares the lengthy proposal writing process, working from her Substack and a post-it wall, the importance of trusting your team and the resources she used while writing. She also speaks on the differences in releasing a book in the US versus the UK, some insights into the Americanization of the project and some astute advice for enjoying the everyday process....
2025-01-2252 min
93.9 The RiverLocal activists Elizabeth Silver & Christina Maxwell: this election needs you NOW.7/16/24: Mayor GL Sciarra: national politics, schools & the override. Comedy Quiz w/ Maddy Benjamin, Scott Braidman & Sally Ekus: fun with fireflies. Smith prof & Ms. Magazine editor Carrie Baker: Project 2025 & the abolition of our rights. Local activists Elizabeth Silver & Christina Maxwell: this election needs you NOW.
2024-07-1614 min93.9 The RiverSmith prof & Ms. Magazine editor Carrie Baker: Project 2025 & the abolition of our rights7/16/24: Mayor GL Sciarra: national politics, schools & the override. Comedy Quiz w/ Maddy Benjamin, Scott Braidman & Sally Ekus: fun with fireflies. Smith prof & Ms. Magazine editor Carrie Baker: Project 2025 & the abolition of our rights. Local activists Elizabeth Silver & Christina Maxwell: this election needs you NOW.
2024-07-1629 min93.9 The RiverComedy Quiz w/ Maddy Benjamin, Scott Braidman & Sally Ekus: fun with fireflies7/16/24: Mayor GL Sciarra: national politics, schools & the override. Comedy Quiz w/ Maddy Benjamin, Scott Braidman & Sally Ekus: fun with fireflies. Smith prof & Ms. Magazine editor Carrie Baker: Project 2025 & the abolition of our rights. Local activists Elizabeth Silver & Christina Maxwell: this election needs you NOW.
2024-07-1617 min93.9 The RiverMayor GL Sciarra: national politics, schools & the override7/16/24: Mayor GL Sciarra: national politics, schools & the override. Comedy Quiz w/ Maddy Benjamin, Scott Braidman & Sally Ekus: fun with fireflies. Smith prof & Ms. Magazine editor Carrie Baker: Project 2025 & the abolition of our rights. Local activists Elizabeth Silver & Christina Maxwell: this election needs you NOW.
2024-07-1626 min
Questions to Hold with Casey CarrollUnpacking Partnership: Letting partnership evolve with Sally EkusJoin us for a conversation with Sally Ekus (she/her), where we discuss what it means and looks like to let partnership evolve alongside our life and business needs and desires.Sally Ekus is a Senior Literary Agent at JVNLA where she spearheads The Ekus Group, a boutique culinary division specializing in cookbook and lifestyle titles. She represents a wide range of culinary, health, wellness, and lifestyle talent, from first-time cookbook authors to chefs, restaurant owners, professional food writers, bloggers, online creators, and journalists. On the non-culinary side, Sally represents books about caregiving and parenting...
2024-07-0236 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 min
Building Unbreakable BrandsSuccession by the Book: Interview with Sally Ekus of the Ekus GroupGrowing up, Sally Ekus had a unique childhood—one that simmered with the legacy of culinary media. Yet, when it came time to take over the family business, she found herself navigating a path she hadn't originally planned to follow. In our conversation with Sally, she shares her personal story of transition, revealing how she embraced leadership and infused the company with a vision for the future. We discuss the blend of tradition and innovation, how the Ekus Group has stayed true to its roots in a rapidly changing media landscape, and the essential ingredients for maintaining a brand de...
2024-03-1836 min
Brunch & Learn PodcastEP: 93: The Basics of Cookbook Publishing with Sally Ekus, Senior Literary Agent, The Ekus GroupAbout Sally: Sally Ekus is a Senior Literary Agent at JVNLA. She leads The Ekus Group, a boutique culinary and lifestyle division that in January 2024 merged with JVNLA after a long history between the two literary agencies. Sally represents a wide range of culinary, health, wellness, and lifestyle talent, from first-time cookbook authors to seasoned chefs, RDs, professional food writers and bloggers, and internet and YouTube personalities. From concept to contract, she has brokered over 300 book deals with top publishers including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and numerous indie publishers. To honor The Ekus Group’s...
2024-02-2242 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 min
The Art of SwayCooking Up Success: Navigating the Evolving World of Food Media with Sally from Ekus GroupExplore the hidden ingredients that shape the world of cookbook publishing with host Danielle Wiley and her guest Sally Ekus from Ekus Group. Sally is a prominent literary agent in the culinary world, and her refreshing transparency in the publishing industry brings a candid perspective on book advances, behind-the-scenes editorial work, and the (often confusing!) role of an agent. Join the conversation as they unpack the dynamic evolution of food media, from timeless cookbook publishing to the new age of social media influencers. Delve into the intersection of influence and authenticity — and find out how a robust online presence an...
2023-10-0940 min
Eat Capture Share - a podcast for food bloggersHow to find a cookbook agent!In today's BONUS episode (111) of the EAT, CAPTURE, SHARE podcast, I'm talking with culinary, literary and talent agent Sally Ekus. We delve into the fascinating details of what literary agents look for in cookbook authors and their proposals, and Sally answers the question everyone wants to know: does your social media following impact your chance of signing with an agency! This insider chat will tell you all you need to know about how to land the cookbook deal of your dreams. Here's what else you can expect from today's episode... Sally introduces herself.
2023-04-2645 min
The Fabulous 413Don't let the Pigeon cook the booksWe all need a bit of reprieve from Tuesday's kerfuffle. So we dig into some books instead!
NYT bestselling author, opera composer, and Kennedy Center education artist in residence, Mo Willems shows us his latest art exhibit, Wrecked Shapes. And we celebrate the 20th anniversary of perhaps his best known character: Pigeon.
Then we head to Hatfield, where the largest collection of cookbooks resides! At least that's according to the Guinness Book of World Records, and its winner Lisa Ekus let us run rampant among its tomes while telling us how the massive assortment came...
2023-04-0649 min
Keep On Cookin'57 - How to Write a Cookbook with Sally EkusSally Ekus is the lead agent and co-owner at The Ekus Group, a full-service culinary agency specializing in Literary and Talent representation. She represents a wide range of culinary, health, wellness, and lifestyle talent, from first-time cookbook authors to seasoned chefs, RDs, professional food writers and bloggers, and internet and YouTube personalities. From concept to contract, she has brokered over 300 book deals with top publishers including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and numerous indie publishers. Sally speaks all over the country about publishing trends and agenting, and facilitates workshops that combine the agency’s groundbreaking media training pr...
2023-02-2854 min
No More MondaysSo You Want to Write a Book This Year?So you want to write a book this year? Well, you're in luck! Our guest for episode 90 is Sally Ekus, Lead agent and Co-Owner of The Ekus Group, a non-fiction agency and publisher, and she's here to dig deep into the world of writing and publishing. So if your new years resolution was to make some progress on that manuscript that's been collecting dust, get ready to take some notes.
2023-01-2540 min
The Food Blogger Pro PodcastBehind the Scenes of the Cookbook Publishing Process with Sally EkusWorking with a literary agent, writing a cookbook proposal, and going through the cookbook publishing process from start to finish with Sally Ekus from The Ekus Group. ----- Welcome to episode 391 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Sally Ekus from The Ekus Group about what the cookbook publishing process looks like. Behind the Scenes of the Cookbook Publishing Process As food bloggers and food creators, many of us dream about writing our own cookbooks one day. But what does it take to get a...
2023-01-1050 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 min
The Food Blogger Pro PodcastFrom Blogger to Cookbook Author (Part Two) – Preserving Family Recipes Through Cookbooks with Yvette Marquez-SharpnackWriting a cookbook proposal, finding a literary agent, and writing a cookbook with a co-author with Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack from Muy Bueno. ----- Welcome to episode 375 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack from Muy Bueno in Part Two of our From Blogger to Cookbook Author series. From Blogger to Cookbook Author Welcome back to our From Blogger to Cookbook Author series! In this two-part series, we're interviewing a few bloggers who have landed cookbook deals to learn more about how the cookbook writing...
2022-09-2044 min
Eat Blog TalkHow Cookbooks Can make you Money (+ Are you Ready to Publish?) with Sally EkusIn episode 329, Megan chats with Sally Ekus, lead agent and co-owner of the Ekus group, about different routes in cookbook publishing and her new course that covers the topic in detail. As an author representative, Sally delves into different publishing routes, including self-publishing, the role of the agent, obstacles authors currently face and tips to overcome them. The Ekus Group is a full-service culinary agency that represents a large group of diverse authors in cuisine, skin colour, topics, and techniques. An agent who is passionate about cooking, Sally helps food writers, bloggers and chef with the development...
2022-08-0439 min
Cookbook Love PodcastEncore Edition: Steps to Write a CookbookWelcome to this encore episode of the podcast. I'm excited to be here today to talk to any food & nutrition expert, expert baker, expert cook, restaurant or bakery owner, personal chef, caterer, or anyone who has recipes, stories, and solutions to share. I believe that a print cookbook is the most portable and profitable way to share your recipes, stories, and solutions. A print cookbook is a beautiful marketing tool for your business and an effective business card for yourself. Listen in as we discuss how to get started, different paths to publication, what you ne...
2022-01-2741 min
Eat Blog TalkCookbook Publishing 101 with Sally EkusSally is the co-owner of the full service culinary agency, The Lisa Ekus Group. From concept to contract, she has brokered more than 150 book deals with top publishers. In this episode she talks about things to consider when publishing a cookbook. - Do you want to hire an agent? Sally talks through the benefits of doing so. - Do you need a book proposal? You will learn why this is a good idea. - How do you land on a topic? Listen and learn! - Cookbooks take time and energy so make space for it.
2021-06-1741 minCookbook Love PodcastSteps to Write a Cookbook and Get it PublishedWelcome to another episode of the podcast, I'm excited to be here today to talk to any food & nutrition expert, expert baker, expert cook, restaurant or bakery owner, personal chef, caterer, or anyone who has recipes, stories, and solutions to share. I believe that a print cookbook is the most portable and profitable way to share your recipes, stories, and solutions. A print cookbook is a beautiful marketing tool for your business and an effective business card for yourself. Listen in as we discuss how to get started, different paths to publication, what you need to...
2020-12-0339 minCookbook Love PodcastBeing a Cookbook Writer: 6 Reasons Cookbook Writers Don't PitchWelcome to another episode of the podcast. Today we are going to talk about "not pitching". In order to become cookbook writers who get paid to write a cookbook, we have to send a publisher our idea for a cookbook. But in reality, we're not just sending our idea or cookbook concept, we're sending our belief in ourselves, our readers, and in publishing. Let's dive into a discussion of 6 reasons that cookbook writers don't pitch and therefore don't get paid to write cookbooks. And if you're wondering exactly what Cookbook Publishing VS Cookbook Printing, head over to Episode 104. T...
2020-11-0522 minCookbook Love PodcastHow Cookbook Writers Get Paid: Literary Agent Sally EkusWelcome to another episode of the podcast. Today we continue our series How Cookbook Writer Get Paid with an interview with Sally Ekus. Sally joined The Lisa Ekus Group in 2009. She represents a wide range of culinary, health, wellness, and lifestyle talent, from first-time cookbook authors to seasoned chefs, professional food writers to bloggers, and internet and YouTube personalities. Sally loves being the liaison between an author and their publisher and takes great pride in guiding authors towards their dreams of publication. From concept to contract, she has brokered more than 125 book deals with many of the top US...
2020-10-2253 min
Salt & SpineBuilding a more equitable cookbook industry won't be easy, but change is overdueWe're stepping away from our normal one-on-one author interviews this month to hold space for deeper conversations around equity and representation in food media and the cookbook industry. Stay tuned as we talk with cookbook authors, food writers, editors, podcast hosts, and the generation of young cooks and food writers.In the second episode of our Food Media Awakening series, we're taking a closer look at the cookbook industry. What issues around representation exist in cookbook publishing? How have authors and others working in the field navigated these challenges? What needs to change – and what would a mor...
2020-07-211h 04
Makin' Bacon: Serve Your Fans. Grow Your Income.Publishing a Cookbook with Sally Ekus, Literary AgentPublishing cookbooks is a natural extension of what food bloggers do. We already know how to write recipes, photograph dishes, and teach our craft. But the book publishing process can be a big, scary unknown for a lot of people. I've published 14 cookbooks and I still don't fully understand it. So today, we're going to shed light on the whole process.
Show Notes and Transcript: Publishing a Cookbook with Sally Ekus, Literary Agent
2020-04-2044 min
Inside Julia's KitchenEpisode 21: Meet Sally EkusOn the latest episode of Inside Julia’s Kitchen, host Todd Schulkin talks to literary agent Sally Ekus of the Lisa Ekus Group about this year's big cookbook trends and what makes an aspiring cookbook writer stand out. As always, Sally shares her #Juliamoment.
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2018-07-1255 min
Le vital corps Salon#0013: Pam Victor on improv, self-inquiry + being enoughPam is the author of "Baj and the Word Launcher: A Space-Aged Asperger Adventure in Communication" and, also with legendary improvisers TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi, co-author of "Improvisation at the Speed of Life: The TJ & Dave Book." A graduate of Smith College with a Master's in Education from Iona College, Pam has received improv training from iO Theater (Chicago), Annoyance Theatre (Chicago), ImprovBoston, and from Second City teachers. Pam is a nice person. She would probably like you. Talking with Pam was a total trip. The moment I learned about the women's empowerment retreat she's pl...
2017-03-221h 57
Le vital corps Salon#0010: Jamie Lee on negotiation, money + fearJamie supports the women who want to make gutsier asks, especially at work. She accomplishes this by consulting with women one-on-one and leading workshops on negotiation and equity compensation for employees. A recent analysis of her work revealed her clients achieved an average 5x return on their investment. Jamie has helped working women secure $20,000 in raises and more.Of course, we'll talk about negotiation - the fears, the stories we tell ourselves about negotiation and money, and some of the misconceptions. Jamie brings her wisdom, her experience, and her table-turning curiosity when she unexpectedly fires some questions...
2017-02-081h 20
Le vital corps Salon#0004: Sally Ekus on career zig-zags, negotiating and literally celebrating mistakesShe's also a philanthropist, a reluctant marathoner, and a dear friend. If pressed to describe her in a single phrase, I'd run some June & Johnny Cash lyrics through a Massachusetts accent generator and say she's hottah than a peppah sprout. Maybe it's because she usually has one or more hot sauces in her purse at any given time. Maybe it's her much-loved #SpiceMeSal hashtag. Or it's the radiant warmth and strength she brings to every conversation she has, including this podcast. We zig and we zag covering all sorts of topics like radical career shifts, negotiation for women, the benefits o...
2016-11-091h 05