Where do I start to get my cookbook published?

Answer 1

I would suggest starting by reading the book "Will Write for Food" by Dianne Jacob. It is my favorite resource for food writing, and includes a section on cookbooks.

There are two types of publishing: Tradition and Self-Publishing. You will first need to decide which of these methods you want to pursue. Each has advantages and disadvantages that need to be researched. For instance, traditional publishing can be a very long road, littered with MANY rejections. Self-publishing will guarantee you a printed copy of your book, however you will not see it in a brick-and-mortar bookstore.

http://www.lulu.com is, in my opinion, the best self-publisher around. You can set up your book on their website, for free, and they will print copies as they are purchased. They do not edit your book, so you will need to take care of that on your own. This will also NOT get your book in a traditional bookstore, although you can purchase a very affordable package that would allow sale of your book through online bookstores like Amazon.

"Writer's Market", along with "The Guide to Literary Agents" are my two suggestions for diving into the traditional publishing market. I suggest looking for an agent first because they are the best step through the publishing door. You will create a submission package that matches the agents preferences (some, for instance, just want a query letter and summary in your first contact with them while others want more). Once you find an agent that is willing to represent you, they will market your book to publishers. Remember, in traditional publishing you should not be paying for anything! They get paid when you get paid!

Last piece of advice: check out the website Preditors and Editors. They will help you avoid any scams which will make the road that much smoother:
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/

Answer 2

Get yourself a copy of "Writers Market 2007" and see what agents and small publishers are reading and accepting cookbooks. Then go to Resolved Questions here - there is a wealth of information stored on how to get published - it's hard to keep repeating it. Read some of the Resolved Questions for a lot of great ideas. I think I have answered about 100 people. Search through and you will find a lot of different opinions. Pax - C.

Answer 3

"Every major publishing house does cook book publishing. However, these companies prefer to take initial risks only on accomplished cooks and/or celebrities. To get your work published, you'll have to reach smaller, specialized houses or you can self-publish. Once your work has a proven track record in the market, you can try again with a larger publisher."