I recently talked on the phone with an aspiring cookbook author who reserved one of the spots in my upcoming Cookbook Camp. And she had a great question for me- so I wanted to pass this along to you too. She asked, “So, what would you say are the top 5 things an aspiring cookbook author does wrong in writing a cookbook?”

Wow. This was a great question. But, since I knew the answer so I dove right in. Here’s what I said:

1. They give all their great content away for free on their food blog.
2. They assume they need an agent before they find a publisher.
3. They submit a full cookbook manuscript to a publishers.
4. They spend very little time building their platform.
5. And the #1 mistake: they write their manuscript first.
6. I know there are only supposed to be 5, but I thought of one more: they sit back and wait to be noticed or found by a publisher. They aren’t proactive.

Anyway, I hope this helps you too. It’s important and your dream of writing a cookbook is important. So, you should be starting on the work of writing your cookbook, right? Right! And then you need to use 2012 as the year to take action on getting your cookbook published.

Like I said above, the spots in my upcoming Cookbook Camp are filling up. If you are interested in getting your cookbook on the road to publication, learn more at www.cookbookcamp.com. I am still accepting applications. Don’t keep doing the same things wrong. In Cookbook Camp I’ll give you all of my essential ingredients to writing a cookbook that I’ve learned from being a cookbook editor and cookbook author.

This week is my favorite week of the year. It’s officially winter, the Christmas season is in full swing, the kids are out of school, and my days are different. The best part too is that this is true for most everyone. To celebrate I’d like to share my list of 175 simple wintertime pleasures. If you can’t get in the spirit of the holiday season, or if you’re looking too far ahead to 2012, take some time to sit and reflect on this list. Maybe you might want to even work on your own list. Every year when I read this it makes me smile. I hope you enjoy it.

1. A blank page
2. A clean bill of health
3. A dad and son headed out to run errands
4. A drive through Kentucky back roads
5. A dusting of snow that won’t melt
6. A few priorities for the week
7. A fresh notebook
8. A freshly bathed dog
9. A freshly vacuumed rug
10. A good tear jerker
11. A hard day’s work
12. A hilarious movie
13. A hot shower
14. A job well done
15. A juicy homemade burger
16. A Kroger card for a school family in need
17. A Midnight train to Georgia
18. A new pen
19. A new recipe
20. A new white shirt
21. A nice, wide, smile
22. A note from a friend
23. A photograph that catches a sideways glance
24. A pizza party
25. A pleasant-scented candle
26. A quiet house on Christmas eve
27. A roaring fire in the fireplace
28. A sleeping child
29. A warm pair of socks
30. A young boy with a new watch
31. Accomplishing a task long overdue
32. Aged Gouda Cheese
33. An a ha moment
34. An Aeropress coffee maker
35. An awake child
36. An emergency fund
37. An emphatic yes or no from a child
38. An evening wine and cheese party
39. An organized book bag
40. An unexpected hug
41. Another writer’s perspective
42. Automatic coffee pots
43. Baking Spritz cookies
44. Baking while snow falls
45. Bing and David singing “Little Drummer Boy”
46. Bourbon-barrel ale
47. Ceramic Santas my Aunt Eileen painted
48. Chap Stick
49. Checking something off my list
50. Chili Con Carne
51. Christmas spirit candles
52. Clementine tangerines
53. Constant Comment tea
54. Dave Brubeck
55. Dinner with my sisters and my mother
56. Doing a little bit at a time
57. Dreams
58. Driving the back roads
59. Dusted tabletops
60. Eighty’s music
61. Energy
62. Fingerprint-less kitchen cabinets
63. Freedom to live with intention
64. Fresh Christmas tree
65. Fresh laundry
66. Fresh smelling shower gel
67. Fresh, whole ingredients
68. Frost on the rooftops
69. Getting up early
70. Good health
71. Gratitude and humility
72. Hair falling softly around my daughters face
73. Hand lotion
74. Happy school-aged and high-school-aged kids
75. Having a plan
76. Having the pots and pans cleaned up before dinner is ready
77. Hearing a first grader read
78. Honey bell oranges
79. Hot chai tea with milk and a dash of sugar
80. Hot green tea to warm my hands
81. Hot tea and shortbread
82. Hot, hot water to wash dishes
83. Ice on the trees
84. King Rat nutcracker
85. Knowing I can accomplish a task
86. Krohn Conservatory Winter flower show
87. Lazy mornings at home
88. Leaving a secret note for someone
89. Lentil soup in the slow cooker
90. Less is more
91. Limestone walls in Central Kentucky
92. Lip balm
93. Listening to a good radio interview
94. Listening to children in the kitchen with their father
95. Listening to children play the piano
96. Listening to my kids jump out of a dark place to scare their siblings
97. Living in the present so as not to regret the past nor fear the future
98. Love and compassion
99. Making plans for a summer vacation
100. Morning quiet time
101. Music filling the air
102. Music in the house
103. Music on the mp3
104. New stamp designs
105. Not wanting more
106. Old Saturday Night Live reruns
107. Oven-fries dusted with fine sea salt
108. Packing delicate Christmas ornaments in tissue paper
109. Peppery red wine
110. Planning home-cooked meals before the5:00 what’s-for-dinner emergency
111. Playing pick-up-sticks
112. Potstickers and sauce
113. Powdered sugar dusted doughnuts
114. Putting up the Christmas tree
115. Reading a book that makes me ponder
116. Reading cookbook manuscripts
117. Readingin the morning
118. Reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond
119. Roasting a leg of lamb with mustard, garlic and herbs
120. Routine
121. Shopping for the perfect gift
122. Silent time to pray
123. Snow boots
124. Snow days
125. Snow falling gently
126. Snuggling on the couch and watching a movie
127. Soft Pashmina scarf
128. Soft, clean hair
129. Sour Cream Coffee Cake
130. Spicy red wine and lamb chops
131. Sports “letter” jackets
132. Staycations
133. Staying up late
134. Stepping out for a breath of fresh air
135. Stockings hung by the chimney with care
136. Stone coasters
137. Sun shining through the snow
138. Sunday afternoons
139. Surprise gifts
140. Taking down the Christmas tree
141. Taking the kids out to the local coffee house for a treat
142. The best male cook I know
143. The Boss
144. The first cup of coffee in the morning
145. The longest night of the year
146. The love from a dog
147. The quiet of a snowfall
148. The realization I have everything I need
149. The realization there’s very little I want
150. The smell of a fresh Christmas tree
151. The smell of fresh baked ginger cookies
152. The sounds of children sledding
153. The way someone who loves you folds the laundry
154. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
155. The writing of Thomas Merton
156. Thinking about a new book to read
157. Time to read
158. Time to write
159. Twinkling white lights
160. Vacuumed corners
161. Vaseline on chapped lips
162. Visiting with high school friends
163. Waking up without the alarm
164. Washing dishes while looking out the window
165. Watching a movie as a family
166. Watching children build Legos
167. Watching the kids shake the wrap gifts under the tree
168. Watching a child stir a pot of soup
169. When enough is enough
170. Whole-grain toast and marmalade
171. Winter clothing sales
172. Wrapped gifts for someone in need
173. Writing cookbook proposals
174. Writing letters and cards
175. Writing lists of favorite things

A few months ago I was invited to be a speaker at a local library. We talked about seasonal cooking (my other favorite topic in addition to cookbooks). After my talk I was signing books and taking to the attendees when I struck up a conversation with a lady named Susan. She started asking me questions about how I got my cookbook published. Susan didn’t look so happy. She had written a cookbook manuscript and had spent a lot of time and money testing recipes and writing the book, but had yet to get it published. Her voice got shaky and she said, “You know, this writing thing was supposed to be my passion. But now, I feel hopeless. I’m ready to give up.”

My heart went out to Susan. She is like many aspiring cookbook authors. (Maybe even like you?) She’s working so hard and has even written her manuscript! She’s not seeing much return on her efforts.

I used to be there, too. I dreamt of writing my own cookbook, but had to figure out on my own how to get there. Which is why I talked more to Susan and gave her some advice about writing cookbooks. I told her how to find a publisher, that she really didn’t need to submit her full manuscript, and then we discussed ways to find an agent. Her energy began to shift. I could see it, she actually smiled! “Thanks for giving me my passion back”, she said. I smiled too. We had connected over our passion – writing cookbooks.

This is why I’m writing to you today. Maybe you’re like Susan, wanting to figure out how to keep your dream of writing a cookbook alive? Or, maybe you just want someone to “show you the way” in this world of writing cookbooks? Either way, it’s imperative that you learn more about the process of writing a cookbook, what’s needed and what’s not.

I can really help aspiring cookbook authors like you. I can save you time, and help get your cookbook on the road to publication. I’ve edited cookbooks, written my own cookbook, and I know through trial and error what the whole process takes and it doesn’t start with writing a manuscript.

I’m offering a special cookbook coaching program starting in early 2012. This one-time-only program is all about writing cookbooks – and we cover the Essential Ingredients For Writing A Cookbook, plus more. This will help you get your cookbook on the road to publication, plus you won’t feel so isolated and alone.

Since I’m currently hard at work on my writing and consulting business, the space in this cookbook coaching program is limited and at this time available through application only. So you’ll need to act quickly. If you’re ready to go, don’t wait. If you want to save time and have someone walk you through the process of writing a cookbook, you need my help.

All you have to do is visit Cookbook Camp and let me know you’re interested. I will write you back and send you an application.

If you have the dream of writing a cookbook but wonder where to start, how to find a publisher, whether there’s money to be made, or if you need an agent, then you need to keep reading. As a cookbook editor and cookbook author I have experienced cookbook writing from both sides of the fence. Because of these experiences it’s not unusual for aspiring cookbook authors ask me questions about writing cookbooks. It’s funny, but in answering their questions I soon realized how much I enjoy helping others with their cookbook writing questions. For example, a food blogger who worked with me felt unclear and confused about her cookbook concept. After we reviewed together my Essential Ingredients For Writing A CookbookTM the “light bulb went on.” Her cookbook concept became crystal clear. She was thrilled and confident about moving forward with her cookbook project.

We all know there are several ways to get a cookbook published. But, the problem is that there aren’t many places that an aspiring cookbook author can turn to get their cookbook writing and publishing questions answered. In fact it seems that during the pre-publication stage of writing cookbooks there’s just not much support out there leaving aspiring cookbook authors feeling frustrated, isolated, and confused.
For these reasons, and for a limited time in early 2012, I am offering a new cookbook coaching program. This program contains a combination of group and private coaching calls, and if you so desire, assistance with writing a solid cookbook proposal.

Everyone who signs up for one of the cookbook coaching programs will receive support and lots of checklists and assessments about whipping their cookbook into shape. More importantly, aspiring cookbook authors who participate will feel supported as they are given the direction and confidence they need to move forward with their dream cookbook project.
In the end, participation in this cookbook coaching program will save you time. In this day and age where everything moves so quickly this is key because it’s possible that someone else is out there working on a cookbook with the same concept you want to write about. Now is the time to stop trying to answer all the cookbook writing questions on your own. Now is the time to get some direction and focus in your cookbook writing project.
So, here’s the rub:

I’m currently hard at work on my own writing and consulting business, and because of the nature of the program, and the personal interaction we will have, space is limited. To get a spot you’ll need to act quickly because I don’t know how many times next year I will offer this particular cookbook coaching program. To learn more all you have to do is send me an email at info (at) greenapron (dot) com let me know if you are interested. I will then send you all the details. I sincerely hope you will join me. It’s going to provide the direction you need and boost your confidence so you move forward with your cookbook project.

PS: I have a feeling this program will fill up quickly. I’ve never offered a program quite like this before and am not sure how many times it will be offered next year. And I’m giving away all my checklists and assessments to whip your cookbook into shape. You might want to hit reply now, before I change my mind. Smile!

The weather here in Kentucky has been sort of warmer over the past few days. This morning we even had some fog. When I returned from taking my son to high school I noticed there were 3 newspapers laying on our front walk. Three, count ‘em, three papers. I walked over, picked them up, and brought them in the house. I wondered why we subscribed if we’re not taking the time to read them, much less bring them in the house, but know that it’s important to get the daily paper. Why? We like to work the Jumble, read the Dinette Set cartoon, review the obituaries, and catch up on the local news. It keeps me in touch with what’s going on outside my house.

After all 3 newspapers were safely inside, I  took off my coat, and did what I do every morning: start a load of laundry, clean up the kitchen, and make myself a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of green tea. After I eat my breakfast my work day begins. Today I start like every other day with 3 tasks before me. One was updating my blog, so here I am. The other two revolve around plans for my upcoming cookbook coaching program called Cookbook Camp. The other doing some work for one of my clients. No matter how hard I try, I keep thinking about the next few weeks and how I look forward to spending time with my family over the upcoming Christmas holiday. The Best Male Cook is busy at work too, but if all goes well he’ll be take vacation time the week after Christmas. The kids trickle out of school for their vacations starting next week. I also look forward to seeing my sisters and brother over the Christmas holiday, and their growing children. We gather for a meal and white-elephant gift exchange the day after Christmas and it’s always full of laughs and wonder about what’s in the box I’m about to open.

Down time is  good for me. I get to enjoy my work days without huge looming deadlines. Surprisingly, I still cook a lot, but we’re trying some new foods. The YoungAprons want to learn how to make, cream puffs and have a chocolate fondue party. I’m going to make some different Christmas cookies this year, although I always make a batch of Oven-Baked Chex Mix which is still the most popular recipe and most-visited post on this blog.

It’s safe to say that because I spend a lot of time in my kitchen, I also spend a lot of time with my hands immersed in hot, sudsy water. For many years I lived with the consequences – dry knuckles, split and chipped nails, and the constant chore of drying my hands after each dip in dish pan.

Several years ago one of my personal chef clients introduced me to these blue gloves. It was these very gloves that helped me say goodbye to dishpan hands. This sweet lady had hired me to cook for her several times before and after she had hip surgery. During one of these cooking sessions she insisted that I try on her gloves as she watched me scrubbing my stainless steel baking pan with my little green scrub pad.

I never could wear gloves when I washed dishes until I wore her True Blue gloves. Other gloves didn’t fit right and quite frankly they made my hands sweat. I didn’t feel like I could grip anything I was washing, and the gloves were always made from thin, smelly latex. But not these blue gloves. I love, I mean LOVE my pair of blue gloves. They are thick, machine-washable, cotton-lined, and so easy to put on and wear. They allow me to wash my dishes in really, really hot water, and the fingers are textured so it’s easy to grip the items I’m washing.

So, if you’re still being asked “What do you want for Christmas?” put a pair of these True Blue Gloves on your list. They come in different sizes, and some colors other than blue, so plan accordingly. And did I say I love these gloves. My hands thank me. My dishes thank me. My pots and pans thank me. My French manicures even thank me. Oh la la.

(Disclaimer: I am not paid to offer this promotion.)

What is the name of your book, and who published it? When was it published?

I have two books, one which came out last year and another which is going to be published this coming April. The first is The Baby & Toddler Cookbook: Fresh Homemade Books for a Healthy Start (2010) and the second is Healthy in a Hurry: Simple, Wholesome Recipes for Every Meal of the Day (April, 2012). Both were published by Weldon Owen.

Do you have any experience writing other books, or is this your first?

The Baby & Toddler Cookbook was my first book but I have had lots of experience writing for magazines which definitely helped make the process easier.

Can you tell us how you were offered a contract for your cookbook and the working title? Was a blog a part of the contract?

My experience was a little unusual in that the publisher actually found me. They already had a concept, title and a recipe developer for the book so all I had to do was write the text. Unlike lots of other cookbooks, this one doesn’t have a blog.

Do aspiring cookbook authors need food blogs?  Or any recommendations about building a platform?

I don’t think aspiring cookbook authors need to have a blog but it certainly helps. Anything you can do to build your platform and establish yourself as an expert is a plus.

What compelled you to write a cookbook?

Before I was approached for this book a cookbook never occurred to me, but it’s one of the best paths my career has taken. Now I spend much more of my time on culinary pursuits and developing recipes, which I love.

Tell us about the process of finding a co-author for the recipe part of your book?

Even though I develop recipes for magazines, I didn’t develop the recipes for these books. The book publisher, who coordinated the project, has an incredible recipe developer, Charity Ferreira, who created all of the recipes.

Do you find the publishing industry daunting in any way?

The publishing industry has definitely become much more competitive in recent years, but that shouldn’t deter aspiring book writers. It can take many, many tries to land a contract for your dream book, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

What are your thoughts about non-Food TV network stars writing their own cookbooks?

I don’t think you have to be a food TV star to write a cookbook (although it doesn’t hurt!). RD’s have unique skills and perspectives that they can bring to the publishing industry that other culinary professionals may not have. I would also advise aspiring writers to consider working with a co-author. If you can team up with someone who has a different skill set or an existing platform it can double your chances of success.

What is your advice for an aspiring cookbook writer who is reading this interview?

Work as hard as you can to establish yourself as an expert in your niche, that will make you stand out as unique.

What will be the biggest challenge in completing your manuscript?

The time frame. I wrote both books in less than a month and a half!

What is your biggest fear about writing a cookbook?

Because of the time constraints I was very concerned about not being able to go over every last detail several times. Unusually when I write I like to edit myself to exhaustion.

Happy post-Thanksgiving to everyone! Here are some ideas to share food and kindness this holiday season.

1. Let someone cut in front of you at the grocery store.

2. Send an edible thank-you note – enclose a dark chocolate bar.
3. Take some groceries to an elderly neighbor or a neighbor with a newborn.
4. Volunteer to serve a meal or cook chili non carne for the homeless.
5. Give a larger tip than normal when you eat out.
6. Open a door for someone when they ride in your car.
7. Visit a lonely neighbor.
8. Send chocolate chip cookies to kid away at college for the first time.
9. Invite a widow or widower to a steak dinner.
10. Be polite to the employees at the deli counter.
11. Take a neighbor flowers for Valentine’s Day.
12. Bake sour cream coffeecake for a friend.
13. Listen to your kids talk while you eat a dinner of arugula pesto on pasta.
14. Watch someone’s children during lunchtime and have an indoor picnic.
15. Ask, “Can I bring you some vegetable soup for dinner?”
16. Invite someone new for coffee and scones.
17. Make a new coworker feel welcome. Celebrate with smoky spiced nuts.
18. Smile at strangers everywhere you go.
19. Help with the dishes without being asked.
20. Compliment five people everyday.
21. Offer to pick up a neighbor’s mail.
22. Donate to a nonprofit organization that feeds hungry children.
23. Volunteer to work in the school cafeteria.
24. Visit a nursing home.
25. Send a gift of chex mix anonymously.

What is the name of your book, and who published it? When was it published?

My latest book is The New Fast Food™: The Veggie Queen Pressure Cooks Whole Food Meals in Minutes. I published it myself although that was not my intent when I started this project. When I started, I did have publisher. The book was just released.

Do you have any experience writing other books, or is this your first?

My first book is The Veggie Queen™: Vegetables Get the Royal Treatment which I happily self-published, knowing what I wanted to do.

Can you tell us how you were offered a contract for your cookbook and the working title? Was a blog a part of the contract? Or was this self-published? Why did you choose to self-publish?

As I mentioned, I had a contract for my book. I have always wanted this book to be titled The New Fast Food™. I already maintain a blog and a blog was not part of my book contract.

I think that I was attractive to the publisher because I have a platform. I have had a blog for almost 5 years, a website for 7 years and I am active in social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

I chose to self-publish The New Fast Food™ because the time schedule was not going as planned, and I feel as if this is the time to release the book. I also had finished writing it and didn’t want it sitting around. It doesn’t make any money for me if it’s not published. This way I can have it available this holiday season.

Do aspiring cookbook authors need food blogs?  Or any recommendations about building a platform?

You can’t sell a cookbook without an audience so use whatever means necessary to build an audience.  I am not sure if every cookbook author needs a blog (I think that you mean website of some sort) but you need a way to connect with your audience. In this day and age, the internet is certainly the easiest way. A blog also allows people to get to know you and see what you’re all about.  It is essential to build a platform but you get to choose what you want to do. You don’t have to do it all.

What compelled you to write a cookbook?

I had been teaching classes and had been talking about writing a cookbook for a few years. The truth is that about 5 years before I even started talking about the book, I had written a small book which I called a cookbooklet. It was titled Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone: Volume 1. I sold about 500 copies of my 44 recipe cookbooklet. Between that time and when I started thinking about writing again, Deborah Madison wrote Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone so my title was gone. Luckily, I had gained the title The Veggie Queen™ which is far easier to remember for most people than my name. So I decided to incorporate that into my book. It has helped with branding, and that’s a subject unto itself.

Tell us about the process of testing and developing the recipes for your book.

I do all my own recipes since I teach cooking. I test out recipes my recipes on my students and have done this over the years.

Do you find the publishing industry daunting in any way?

The publishing industry is changing a lot. I can see how working with a publisher would be daunting as you have much less control regarding the financial part, as well as access to design and other things.

The hard part for a self-publisher is distribution but I think that with print-on-demand, which I am testing out for the first time this go around, the playing field might be leveled a bit. There are a lot of people and entities in the publishing industry that want a piece of the pie. That’s why as a contracted author you only get 15% of the selling price. For example, if your book sells for $20 and the publisher sells it at the traditional wholesale price of $8 (which is a 60% discount), you will get $1.20 per book. The rest is absorbed into design, printing, marketing and distribution.

When you self-publish you assume all the work and reap the profits if (and this is a big if) you have an audience and can sell on a regular basis.

What are your thoughts about non-Food TV network stars writing their own cookbooks?

Why not? Most Food TV network stars are about the show. Many other people have great food to share.

What is your advice for an aspiring cookbook writer who is reading this interview?

1. Figure out how and why you want to write a book, and how you plan to sell it. Whether you do that for a publisher or your self you need to know how you plan to make things work. 2. Have a good plan. 3. If you self-publish hire talented people to help you, such as my designer Phyllis of Magnolia Studio.

What will be the biggest challenge in completing your manuscript?

My manuscript is luckily done. For those who are in process, plan more time than you think that it will take to do the writing. Also, have a firm deadline. Without a deadline, I procrastinate. A deadline is great motivation for me.

What is your biggest fear about writing a cookbook?

I have not had any fear about writing this cookbook. I don’t mind taking risks as they are calculated.

If you had a crystal ball: where is the cookbook industry going with the advent of digital media?

More books are being sold digitally than in print these days. This is not true, yet, of cookbooks. With more iPads making their way into the kitchen, this could change.

My book, The New Fast Food™: The Veggie Queen Pressure Cooks Whole Food Meals in  Less than 30 Minutes, was initially released as  a PDF download in April of this year. I negotiated with the publisher that I would be able to do that until they printed the book. I started making money from day 1, even though I had to pay a designer to put the PDF together.

Selling ebooks is much easier than going through the printing process, yet that first day I had people asking when I would have the print book available. This is why I am publishing it this year. I didn’t want my audience to move on and forget that the book was coming. Next summer seemed too far away.

Digital media will open up the world of cookbooks to doing more: including more links, more video, more show and tell and it will be very exciting. It will also be expensive to produce and someone needs to pay for that. Once again, if you don’t have an audience, the numbers won’t pencil. Publishing is a business. And If you decide to self-publish, you must treat it like a business.

If you don’t know what you are doing, hire people to help you. I love being a publisher and a cookbook author. If I got the “right” offer from a publisher, I might once again consider going the traditional publishing route. For now, I am happy with my choice.

Visit Jill at her website and learn more about her exciting books and her work as The Veggie Queen™ 

Do you have any experience writing other books, or is this your first?

Cocktails: A Global History will be my first book.  Over the past 10 years I have written several book chapters and contributed entries to four encyclopedias.  As Associate Editor and contributing editor of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America I wrote 29 of the entries.

 Can you tell us how you were offered a contract for your cookbook and the working title? Was a blog a part of the contract?

I was offered a contract by Reaktion Books Ltd., aLondonpublisher, because my editor in chief for the Oxfordproject was editor in chief of the new edible series (30 + titles on the history of food) for Reaktion and he knew from experience my writing style, scholarship and ability to meet deadlines.  Now that the cocktail book is done and accepted by the publisher, he is promoting my name with the publisher to take on another title.

Do aspiring cookbook authors need food blogs?  

I have to frankly admit that I do not visit food blogs on a regular basis but I expect that I will in the future if only to promote my cocktail book.  I do own the web site www.foodbooks.com but I am not marketing books as I did for ten years beginning in 1996.

What compelled you to write a cookbook?

I have been writing articles about the history of food inAmericafor over 20 years.  Over that time I became an expert in several areas including Colonial food and drink habits,  fireplace and hearth cookery and the history of the American cookbook.  Since I live in Ipswich, Massachusetts, the clam capital of the world, I became an authority on the history the American clam industry.  With this knowledge, I wanted to make a contribution to the growing field of food and culinary history.  I have written a book on clams but I haven’t had time to edit it for a particular publisher or target audience because of my other writing assignments.

Do you find the publishing industry daunting in any way?

I don’t see the publishing industry as daunting.  It is like any industry that has a product to sell and a targeted audience.  My advice is to know what they sell and direct your book to that audience they reach.

What are your thoughts about TV celebrities writing their own cookbooks?

I don’t have a judgment about anyone writing cookbooks, but I suspect many celebrity cookbooks are probably written by staff and of mixed quality.  I sometimes wonder just how much involvement non-food and even food TV celebrities have in the actual development of recipes found in their books.  As a result, I think that some of these books lack a “voice.”

What is your advice for an aspiring cookbook writer who is reading this interview? Any suggestions for building a platform?

My advice for aspiring cookbook writers is to hang around with smart people who write about food.  For the past 30 years I have been an active member of the Culinary Historians of Boston.  Many of our members are cookbook authors and we take every opportunity to invite cookbook authors to speak at our monthly meetings.  Since there are a dozen similar groups around the country Google “Food and Culinary History” and see what group is in your area. To help build a platform before you write a cookbook simply write about food for any media.

What will be the biggest challenge in completing your manuscript?

The biggest challenge for my manuscript was accuracy.  Since the cocktail book is a history book there is no margin of error on accuracy.  Besides my wife, a former newspaper writer, I had two food historians and cookbook authors read my manuscript and make critical and creative suggestions.

What is your biggest fear about writing a cookbook?

I have no real fear other than getting it right.  For me the worst thing would be to be found out saying something stupid or simply wrong.

If you had a crystal ball: where is the cookbook industry going with the advent of digital media?

Interesting question!  I think cookbooks will be more focused on narrow topics and marketed to niche markets identified through data mining and consumer research.  I think there will remain a strong market for print because people like to have cookbooks in their kitchen for ready reference, comparison and consultation.  Besides, a good cookbook can be read in bed or with a classic cocktail.