Want to get your dream cookbook out into the world? You might need a literary agent.
operation:
find an agent
insider secrets to get your cookbook
(or other lifestyle book) sold
This mini-course is for you if you are:
Food writer, recipe developer, food creator, or nutrition expert with a present or growing platform who is ready to add the word “author” to your bio.
An author who has published without the help of an agent in the past or is considering switching agents
A business owner, chef, restaurant owner, or food product maker who wants to grow your profile and share your secrets in a book.
By the end of this
mini-course, you will have...
your teacher
Kristin Donnelly
Hi! I'm Kristin, and I'm the author of Modern Potluck from Clarkson Potter and Cauliflower from Short Stack Editions. I've also co-written The Chef's Garden with Farmer Lee Jones and Rice Is Life with the founders of Lotus Foods.
I love nothing more than helping people write their dream cookbooks, and I'm a real nerd about the publishing process.
For eight years, I was a food editor at Food & Wine magazine. With fellow cookbook authors Andrea Nguyen, Molly Stevens, and Kate Leahy, I cohost of Everything Cookbooks, a podcast about cookbook writing and publishing.
people are saying:
"My writing partner and I just signed with an agent for our cookbook! Kristin’s insights, expertise, and encouragement were invaluable."
sarene wallace
Editor, edible San Fernando Valley
"Kristin breaks things down in an easy to understand way so that whether this is your first time or third time navigating publishing your creative work, you will be learning something and feel supported throughout the process as well."
megan gilger, The fresh exchange
“Kristin’s passion for cookbooks shines through her unique ability to guide you through the entire process with genuine enthusiasm. She shared her thoughtful insight into the realities of the business with me as I navigated each step, from writing a proposal to negotiating contracts.”
Kay Chun, New York Times Cooking contributor
give me an hour. I'll give you a plan.
This is not one of those courses that goes on and on and takes forever to complete. All you need is one hour to get through the lessons and an hour or two to complete the assignments.
And once you buy it, the material is yours, so you can refer to it again and again throughout your publishing journey. (And you'll have automatic access to any future updates!)
Over four fast modules, you'll learn how to think like a publishing insider, identify agents who are right for your book, and pitch those agents with confidence.
I've created both audio and written lessons to best fit your learning style.
Here's what's included:
introduction
I'll tell you about how to use this course.
module 1: Review the intelligence
You'll learn what an agent does and get an overview of cookbook publishing.
module 2: prep for your mission
Find out what agents are looking for and whether you're truly ready to start pitching.
module 3: start the search
I'll teach you how to find agents that are right for your book, ways to approach them, and how to write a query letter that gets attention.
module 4: Next steps
After you have interest from an agent, what's next? We'll also talk about what to do if you (gasp!) can't find an agent.
bonuses
A list of agents who specialize in cookbooks with their contact info.
I spent hours researching this list so you don't have to. With this list in hand, you can more quickly narrow down which agent might be right for you.
($200 value)
A list of cookbook publishers to give you a snapshot overview of cookbook publishers in the U.S., including a breakdown of the imprints who might be right for your book.
($50 value)
An interview with my agent, Jonah Straus, where he spills the beans on what he looks for in clients and how he helps them publish the book of their dreams.
($100 value)
The Cookbook Proposal Checklist, so you're sure not to forget any sections when you pitch your book.
($10 value)
How to Write a Hook, to help you write the opening paragraph of your query letter. How to Write a Hook, to help you write the opening paragraph of your query letter.
($10 value)
Sample Query Letter from a generous client so you can see how it's done. (priceless!)
FAQ
Is this only for people who want to write cookbooks?
Not necessarily. If you hope to write any kind of nonfiction book, the process for finding an agent is similar. The list of agents provided represent many different types of books — not just cookbooks.
Do I need to be in the U.S. to take this course?
You don't. However, the information presented specifically covers the U.S. publishing industry. Other countries have nuances not included in this course.
Do I need a full book proposal before I look for an agent?
Not necessarily. If you have a large or quickly growing platform, you can sometimes start looking for an agent when you have a solid idea for your book and can explain it in a compelling way. That said, a draft of a cookbook proposal never hurts because agents often ask to see it.
Will this course help me write my book proposal?
Inside the course, you will find a checklist for what you need to include in a book proposal, but it will not go in depth in proposal writing.
Do I need hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers before I look for an agent?
Here’s the thing: A book is a product and a product needs a market.
Publishers feel more comfortable taking a chance on first-time authors with larger platforms, because they have a built-in audience who they assume will buy the book.
So while you don’t need tons of followers on Instagram to get your book published, you do generally need some sort of platform.
In the course, we get into what that platform could look like and ways you can build it. We also talk about approaches you can take if you have a smaller platform.
When I join Operation: Find An Agent, do I get immediate access to all of the material?
Yes! Since this is such a short course, you get it all at once so you can start and finish within the same day.
How long does it take to go through the course?
It takes about one hour to get through most of the material. Then plan to spend one to two hours doing assignments to help you implement the material.
Ready to find an agent for your book?
$67
$67
still thinking about it?
Publishing can feel so opaque and confusing. Like it's a chicken and egg situation, right?
You should give Operation: Find An Agent a try if you you dream of seeing your book in people's homes and you're ready to make it happen.
And especially if you relish in having a step-by-step process to help you toward a big goal.
Yes, you can spend days on Google and cobble together a good amount of information you need to help you find an agent.
But if you're sick of Internet rabbit holes and you're sick of "someday, maybe I'll make this happen," this course is for you.
It distills what you absolutely need to know into bite-sized lessons so you can take action the same day you buy it.
let's do
this!
Writing a cookbook is some of the most satisfying work you can ever do. Through your recipes and writing, you get to change the way someone thinks about food and give your readers new ways to feed the ones they love.
The road to having your book published is not easy, but with this course, I want to lighten the load.
If you're an aspiring author, you owe it to yourself to take the first step in realizing your dream. —Kristin