Five Steps To Getting A Cookbook Deal

1. Five Steps To Get A Cookbook Deal When Ovenly was established in the year 2010 we first started thinking about writing books. A senior food editor approached us about writing a series of cookbooks. (Imagine something called Bar Snacks Galore next a display of Whirley pop popcorn poppers and snack boxes in Crate & Barrel). The idea was to be published without Ovenly being mentioned. We were still working in building our brand and the idea of a book that didn't include any promotion of our logo or name was not a good idea to us. But the fact that a major publishing company was interested in the work of a couple of barely established entrepreneurs indicated that our innovative recipes were a real possibility for market We contacted Brettne Bloom of Kneerim, Williams & Bloom to get a literary agent's take on the whole idea. Ovenly was an excellent idea and a corresponding book. Choose an agent who believes in you, and also listen to their advice. You should shop around to find an agent if you would like to publish your work traditionally. Although they may cost you a percentage of your advance, a professional can negotiate a better price for you than you could ever negotiate on your own. An agent who is able to sell books is a great choice. (Check their client list prior to signing the contract!) A good agent has faith in your work, stays focused and doesn't make a fuss about publishing or the viability of your ideas. An experienced agent will lead to more informed decisions as you gear up for a book deal, Cookbook Reviews. Create a compelling idea for the novel you'd like to create. The more detailed your proposal, the better the chance you'll sell it. A typical proposal will comprise one to two chapters with five to ten fully-researched recipes, a bio , and photographs that illustrate the theme of the book. Make sure you are clear about the purpose of the book, what stories you want to tell, and what kind of recipes that you will be sharing. Be clear about the format of the book. Meet other cookbook authors. When we started writing the proposal, we started asking ourselves many questions. What elements are most likely to attract attention from publishers? What kind of images best represent our brand and the book we are looking to sell? What creative controls can be included in an agreement? What are fair royalties? What were the issues with traditional publishing? If we were to negotiate a deal, we wanted to be prepared as we could; we surmised that networking with other experienced cookbook writers was a good method to learn. We spoke with the most people we could and their suggestions were invaluable. Begin building your social media networks...starting right now. Our relative inevitability is one of the major challenges in selling the book. Numerous publishing houses shared the same view with our agent: We are awed by the brand's look and personalities,

2. the recipes are original and stunning, but Ovenly isn't a household name with enough followers. We were turned down by a lot of the established cookbook publishers. A robust social media platform can help you sell your proposal. When your book hits the shelves, it'll become an important marketing tool. Don't let rejection get you down. We believed in the book we were writing , and so did our agent. However, this didn't mean we would receive a book deal from the first publisher who saw our proposal. It was actually rejected over and over until we considered putting it on hold to discuss the idea until we had a more established brand. Brettne who is an amazing salesperson, had the great idea to go to Harlequin to present our idea. Harlequin is not a known brand for its high-end cookbooks, but it was keen to reach a wider public. Be ready for rejection. But don't let it get you down.