Everything Cookbooks

Latest Episodes:

31: Catch an Agent’s Attention with Sally Ekus [re-release] Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

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 a query emails and the homework authors should do before reaching out to agents. Finally, she tells us her thoughts on proposal designs, where voice matters most and the one question she urges potential authors to ask themselves before getting started.

Hosts: Kate Leahy + Andrea Nguyen + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

The Ekus Group

Sally Ekus

Instagram
Self Paced Course: How to Write a Cookbook
Facebook group: How to be a Cookbook Author

Association of American Literary Agents Mentorship Program

Women's Media Group

The Red Truck Bakery Farmhouse Cookbook

First Generation

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02: Do You Need an Agent [re-release] Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

Molly starts out today's episode with an interview with Rica Allannic, a literary agent with editorial 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 the right one and some things to consider at various stages of a cookbook author's 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 Donnelly

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

Rica Allannic

Rica Allannic on IG

David Black Literary Agency

Publisher Marketplace - “Quick Pass” link for $10 day pass

IACP membership for networking

The Lisa Ekus Group

Equity at the Table

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Ruffage by Abra Berens

54: Cookbook Ideas: Where it all begins [re-release] Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

Molly, 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 Nguyen

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

Episode 1: Should You Write a Cookbook?

Episode 2: Do You Need a Cookbook Agent? with Rica Allannic

Heidi Swanson

I’ve Made Everything from Gnocchi to Mapo Tofu in My Camper Van’s Kitchen

By Ali Slagle

Episode 50: Telling Your Story in a Chef Cookbook with Vishwesh Bhatt

Get Saucy

The Pleasures of Cooking for One

Savoring Spices and Herbs

Article about the Ski Town Aprés Ski Cookbook success

Association for Dressing and Sauces

Cooking for One by Judith Jones

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Good & Cheap by Leanne Brown
Back Pocket Pasta by Colu Henry
The New Sugar & Spice by Samantha Seneviratne
Salad for President by Julia Sherman
Priya's Kitchen Adventures: A Cookbook for Kids by Priya Krishna

121: The Burnout Episode Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

We've noticed that 'burnout' is seeming more and more prevalent these days so Kate, Kristin, Molly and Andrea are using the final episode of Season 6 to speak all about it. They discuss how to identify it, how it manifests for each of them and share some ideas on what to do about it. They speak about how the blending of life and career as freelancers can exacerbate feelings of constantly being 'on', perfectionism and excessive people pleasing along with the pressure to constantly be creating content. They talk about some of the ways they notice burnout looming and the 'rebellious' activities, tips and resources they use to combat it. See you in the Spring for Season 7!

Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

I was a bestselling recipe writer - then burnout killed my appetite for food, and life. This is how I found my way back by Meera Sodha
On Politics of Attention in 2025 by Alicia Kennedy

Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

120: The Realities of Photographing Cookbooks with Clay Williams Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

Kristin and Molly speak with photographer Clay Williams about the financial realities and logistics around cookbook photography. Clay shares what he wishes authors knew before embarking on the photography portion of their book and what spurred his viral Thread about the finances behind photoshoots. He speaks about assuming the role of project manager, unexpected expenses, his typical workflow and the essential roles on a set. He shares why he continues to be interested in cookbook photography, his artistic approach to projects and what has and hasn't changed about the industry since he started.

Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

Clay Williams

Website
Instagram
The Thread that started it all

Crystal Wahpahpeh

Black Food Folks

Episode 41: Writing a Bestselling Cookbook in Your 80s with Emily Meggett and Kayla Stewart

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My America by Kwame Onwuachi
Roots, Heart, Soul, by Todd Richards
Gullah Geechee Home Cooking by Miss Emily Meggett
Vegan Soulicious: Plant-Based Island Cooking by Charlise Rockwood

119: Jenny Rosenstrach on Cookbooks That Chronicle Family Life Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

Molly and Kristen speak with Jenny Rosenstrach about her family focused approach to food writing. She talks about her long running dinner diary, how her first book was a real time project and what went behind the decision to continue working around that theme. She explains why she includes a 'hook' in her recipes and how she landed on her unique recipe structure as well as the idea of a 'text test' for writing instructions. She shares her approach to recipe development, how she's built an audience with her relatable, inviting voice and the reasoning behind her relaxed approach to photography. Finally she tells us the book she will never write and leaves us with a bit of advice for aspiring food writers.

Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

Jenny Rosenstrach

Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

Dinner a Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach
Weekday Vegetarians by Jenny Rosenstrach
Weekday Vegetarians get Simple by Jenny Rosenstrach
The New York Times Cooking No-Recipe Recipes by Sam Sifton
That Sounds So Good by Carla Lalli Music

118: Nicola Lamb on Writing the Book You Want to Read Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

Kate 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.

Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

Nicola Lamb

Episode 74: Crafting a Drinks Book with Danny Childs

Episode 102: Lara Hamilton of Book Larder

Episode 31: Catch an Agent's Attention with Sally Ekus

Episode 94: Insights from Literary Agent Lori Galvin

Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

Sift by Nicola Lamb
Advanced Bread and Pastry by Michel Suas
Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat
On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee
How Baking Works by Paula Figoni

117: Joe Yonan on Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

Molly and Andrea speak with Joe Yonan, the Food and Dining Editor at the Washington Post, about his new book, Mastering the Art of Plant Based Cooking. As they discuss the idea behind creating an authoritative resource, Joe explains why he wanted to write this particular book and concentrate on this topic as a cuisine instead of a lifestyle choice. He shares why he wanted to shift the narrative around this often polarizing topic and how he used his lifetime of experience and expertise to create it. We get a behind the scenes glimpse into its creation including project management, recipe testing, time management and cover process as well as how he went about creating a consistent voice with multiple contributors.

Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

Joe Yonan

Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking by Joe Yonan
Cool Beans by Joe Yonan
Eat Your Vegetables by Joe Yonan

116: Emily Weinstein on What Makes a Good Recipe Jan 08, 2025

Show notes

Kate and Andrea speak with the editor in chief of New York Times Cooking, Emily Weinstein, about all things recipe writing and recipe curation for the new book Easy Weeknight Dinners. They chat about what makes a great recipe, what are missteps, if there is a formula and all the formatting considerations involved in writing recipes. Emily talks about curating this collection, the idea behind the book, avoiding 'dull and dutiful recipes' and why they decided to bring the NYT comment section into print form. Finally, she shares her thoughts on upcoming home cooking trends and a quick tease of future projects.

Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

Emily Weinstein

New York Times Cooking

Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show

Easy Weeknight Dinners by Emily Weinstein
The New York Times Cooking No-Recipe Recipes by Sam Sifton
Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz

115: Cookbook Trends Jan 01, 2025

Show notes

Happy New Year! Molly, Kristin, Kate and Andrea take a look at the past year in cookbooks and share their thoughts on the trends they predict for 2025. They discuss how the pandemic affected the cookbook market, how they see production costs and finances changing and share some insights from editors and agents about what publishers are looking for in 2025 (hint: platform!). They talk about speciality markets, single subject expertise, branded and restaurant books before sharing a few teasers of our upcoming season.

Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen

Editor: Abby Cerquitella

Mentions

110: Sarah Fennel on bringing an online platform to the page

Attention Economy Substack

The Dinner Plan Podcast

Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show