Cookbook Love Podcast

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

But times have changed.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through:

The old gatekeepers who kept most voices out of publishing

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

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

Today on the show, I share:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In today's show we talk abou...

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

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

In today’s episode, we talk about:

The inspir...

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

Things We Mention in This Episode:

Join the waitlist for Cookbooks on KDP for September 2025

🎧 Episode 3...

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

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

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

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

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

Why beer can chicken do...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thin...

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

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

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

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Build your Cookbook Author Platform

Receive a fre...

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

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Receive a copy of the Art of Cookbook Creation checklist

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

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

Things We Mention In This Episode:

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

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

Things We Mention In This Episode:

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

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

Things We Mention In This Episode:

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

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

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

We discuss:

The art and science of food and sleep

Strategies for a good night’s sleep

The role of sleep in balancing hormones

Insights from her new book, Eat Be...

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

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

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

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

Happy New Year and cheers to 2025!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today on the show:

Jonathan’s Philosophy on Sourdough:

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

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

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

Topics of Discussion:

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

The Publishing Path: Insights into Elana’s journey of writing and publishing a cookbook, including her tips for buil...

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

Topics of Discussion:

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

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

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

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

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