I enjoy reading articles and blog posts that lead me to new information about books, tools, and websites for cookbooks, sales, and marketing. Here are a few that you might find interesting too along with a discussion about other avenues for books sales.
1. Eater Discusses Cookbook Deals
I think it’s enjoyable to read about cookbooks that are headed into production. Eater publishes a regular column on cookbook deals. This summary isn’t representative of everything that’s going on deal-wise in cookbook publishing, but gives a peek into the types of books being written and by whom. I sort of hesitate to share this because many aspiring cookbook authors start to compare themselves to the individuals who have a published book deal. I ask you not to get into the comparison game. It’s not worth your time or your energy. Spend your time instead figuring out how you can connect with your own audience through a cookbook that they need and that you know how to write.
2. Print Cookbook Sales Trending Up Since 2004
Jane Friedman has a recent blog post about the state of the publishing industry. In the non-fiction category there are downward trends in the print book market for travel and reference material. Users are turning to the internet for this information. The good news for those of us who write in the cookbook genre is that there is a print sales increase in cookbooks from 2004 to 2014. I believe this is because using a print cookbook in a kitchen works. A kitchen is full of tangible ingredients and equipment and it feels right to have a book there too. Also check out the State of the Publishing Industry charts here.
3. Podcast Recommendation and Seth Godin
I regularly listen to podcasts during my morning routine. While I’m making my bed, cleaning up the kitchen, getting ready for the day I listen to podcasts. It’s a free way to learn and an intentional way to enjoy all the topics that podcasts have to offer. When I need a mindset shift podcast I typically turn to Good Life Project with Jonathon Fields. This morning I listened to Jonathon’s interview with Seth Godin.
If you haven’t heard of Seth, he’s a best-selling author and thought-leader who has excellent observations about rejection, writing, publishing, and how he used Kickstarter to prove to a publisher that his audience is waiting for his book. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.
4. Marketing and Sales for Kentucky Fresh Cookbook
As seen in the photo, I signed 80 cookbooks to take to a local ladies event. In conjunction with this event I have prepared a cooking demonstration with recipes from Kentucky Fresh Cookbook along with a recipe from my next cookbook A Taste of Kentucky. Luckily, it was easy to get my hands on 80 copies of my book to sign because my publisher keeps my book in print as long as it’s selling well. In fact, they printed more copies this past summer and that means they are committed to the title and want to continue to sell it. This is one advantage of having a cookbook published by a regional publisher: most will keep your book in print as long as it sells. Part of my job is to promote and market the cookbook and it pays off. This fall I’ve also sold 225 copies for an extension service cooking school hope to have copies included in a subscription box of food and other KY-made products called Bluegrass Box. To have a cookbook published in 2011 still in print AND still selling is a good thing. And the sales are poised to cross over a very good sales target for a first time cookbook. I tell you all of this so that you are aware that regional publishers for regional cookbook topics might be a good route for you to take too if any sort of regional topic is what you have in mind. I also want to encourage you to look outside of traditional bookstores as a way to market your book. I want my cookbooks in stores for sale so people can see the book and read it and buy it, and it is for sale in bookstores, but books sales come from other creative avenues as well.
Cookbook editor, author, and culinary dietitian Maggie Green coaches first-time cookbook authors on writing cookbook proposals and building their author platform. Download her checklist “Am I Ready to Write A Cookbook?”.