Most people think the outcome of writing a cookbook is the finished book, but I've seen something much bigger happen along the way. In this episode, I explore what really happens when we choose a meaningful creative challenge like writing a cookbook. Many cookbook writers I work with are already successful professionals: chefs, dietitians, coaches, and entrepreneurs who decide to write a book not because they have to, but because the work matters to them. I share the unexpected benefits I've seen from writing a cookbook, including identity shifts, creative discipline, professional credibility, community, and new opportunities. In this episode, I talk about:

• Why writing a cookbook is a chosen challenge • How creative projects activate your agency and identity • Why hard work doesn't have to feel miserable • The deeper benefits that come from finishing a creative project

Whether you're writing a cookbook, building a food business, or starting another creative project, this episode will help you see the deeper transformation that can happen when you commit to creating something meaningful.

If you want to get paid to write a cookbook, join our waitlist for the next cohort of Cookbooks on KDP.

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

Today I'm excited to share a conversation with Helen Goh, the author of the beautiful new cookbook Baking and the Meaning of Life: How to Find Joy in 100 Recipes.

Helen is widely known for her work as a recipe developer with Yotam Ottolenghi, co-authoring the New York Times bestselling books Sweet and Comfort. In this episode, we talk about her debut solo cookbook and the deeper meaning behind baking.

Helen brings a unique perspective to the kitchen. In addition to her acclaimed baking work, she also maintains a psychotherapy practice. In her new book, she blends these two worlds—sharing not only wonderful recipes, but also reflections on why baking matters and how it can bring joy and meaning to everyday life.

Drawing on her upbringing in Malaysia and Australia, as well as years of developing recipes with Ottolenghi, Helen shares both sweet and savory bakes that celebrate creativity, connection, and nourishment.

• Helen's journey from recipe developer to writing her first solo cookbook • Her collaboration with Yotam Ottolenghi and what she learned along the way • The inspiration behind Baking and the Meaning of Life • How baking adds meaning to everyday moments • Why baking is about more than survival. It's about joy and connection • Highlights from the table of contents and some of the recipes in the book • Tips, techniques, and baking insights from Helen's years in professional kitchens

Want to Get Paid to Write Your Cookbook?

If you're dreaming about writing a cookbook, you might assume you need to finish the entire manuscript before approaching publishers.

But in traditional publishing, cookbook authors are often paid an advance before they write the book.

In my Get Paid to Write a Cookbook Masterclass, I teach the step-by-step process for positioning your cookbook idea so publishers can invest in it.

You'll learn:

• How traditional cookbook deals actually work • What publishers are looking for in cookbook ideas • The path to pitching a cookbook proposal with confidence

Register here for the masterclass.

Many aspiring cookbook authors believe they need to finish writing their book before pitching it to publishers. It sounds logical — but it often leads to years of uncertainty, backtracking, and stalled momentum.

In this episode, Maggie explains why traditional cookbook publishing is a process, not a guessing game, and how clarity — not a finished manuscript — is what leads to a book deal and an advance.

You'll learn:

• why publishers buy concepts, positioning, and authors — not finished manuscripts • how lack of clarity creates hesitation for agents and editors • the hidden trap of writing first and pitching later • what it means to become a deal-ready cookbook author • the three essentials needed to pursue a traditional cookbook deal

If you've been thinking, "I'll finish the book and figure out publishing later," this episode will help you see a clearer path forward.

👉 Register for the free masterclass: Get Paid to Write a Cookbook and learn the step-by-step path to position your cookbook for a traditional deal and get paid before you write.

Today I'm excited to have an interview with Abby Cheshire. Abby is a private chef, culinary educator, and content creator best known for her social media presence as @abbyinthegalley. With experience cooking on luxury yachts and for private clients, Abby shares what it's really like to work as a chef from high-pressure yacht kitchens to immersive dinner events while teaching accessible global recipes and telling stories through food.

Before we get started, I want to share a quick invitation. If you are a food, nutrition, or culinary expert — a chef, dietitian, food blogger, culinary educator, caterer, or passionate home cook with a message to share — and you want to understand what traditional publishers are looking for in 2026, I'd love to invite you to my upcoming masterclass: Get Paid to Write a Cookbook.

In this class, you'll learn how to craft a viable cookbook concept that attracts agents and publishers, understand what publishers are looking for right now, and build three deal-ready essentials so you feel confident and prepared to pitch.

If you're ready to stop guessing and gain a clear path to traditional publishing, you can register at https://www.cookbookwritersacademy.com/getpaidmasterclass. The link is also below in the show notes, and I would love to see you there.

In my conversation with Abby, we talked about her experience cooking on luxury yachts, what it's like working as a private chef in high-pressure environments, and how she built a loyal audience by sharing the real behind-the-scenes life of a chef. We also discuss her new book, Passport to Flavor: 100 Global Dishes You Can Make Anywhere, and how she helps beginning cooks and adventurous eaters gain confidence cooking cuisines from around the world — right in their own kitchens. So without further delay, let's dive into this conversation with Abby Cheshire. Things We Mention In This Episode:

Free Masterclass: Become a Paid Cookbook Author — and Turn Your Recipes Into Income + Impact

Abby in the Galley

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Before we dive into our interview today, I want to let you know I have a very special masterclass coming up called How to Get Paid to Write a Cookbook. In this clas,s I will help you:

• Discover what traditional publishers want in 2026

• Position yourself for a publishing deal without years of trial & error

• Craft a viable cookbook concept that attracts agents & publishers

• Build three deal-ready essentials to help you feel prepared

To register, head over to Cookbook Writers Academy. Today on the podcast, I'm excited to have an interview with Susan Gravely. is the Founder and CEO Emerita of VIETRI, a lifestyle brand offering handcrafted Italian tabletop and home-and-garden accessories. She started VIETRI alongside her sister and mother after they took a magical trip to Italy in 1983. They fell in love with the hand-painted dinnerware we found on the Amalfi Coast and decided to start a wholesale business. Since that trip forty years ago, VIETRI has become the largest American importer of Italian ceramics. Susan is the author of 2 books Italy on a Plate, which we discussed in Episode 234, and today her newest book Italy in a Glass, where Susan explores the Italian ritual of aperitivo, where cocktails, mocktails, and small bites set the stage for festive gatherings. Inspired by her own experiences in Italy, Gravely shares the art of entertaining Italian-style, blending personal stories with time-tested recipes and tips from her Italian friends. Today on the show we talk about:

• Building VIETRI: From a Family Discovery to a Global Brand

• Italy, Craftsmanship, and Living Beautifully

• Cookbook Writing & Storytelling Through Food

• Leadership, Legacy, and Susan's Next Chapter as CEO Emerita

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Come learn how to get paid to write a cookbook in this free masterclass

Vietri: Fine Italian Ceramic Dinnerware and Decor

Italy in a Glass: Adventures, Aperitivi, Antipasti

In today's episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast, Maggie sits down with former student and now published cookbook author Nina Greipel, creator of Gasthaus: Cookbook & Memories.

Before we dive in, I want to invite you to register for my upcoming masterclass — Get Paid to Write a Cookbook. If you're a food, nutrition, or culinary expert who dreams of writing a cookbook and attracting a traditional publishing deal, this masterclass will walk you through what publishers are looking for in 2026, how to craft a cookbook concept that stands out, and how advances really work. You can register for the class using the link in the show notes.

For over 30 years, Nina's family ran The Gasthaus restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky — a beloved hidden gem known for authentic German flavors and warm hospitality. In this episode, Nina shares how she preserved her family's restaurant legacy in a beautifully photographed, full-color cookbook.

You'll hear about:

• The story behind The Gasthaus restaurant and its impact on the community

• How Nina decided to turn her family's recipes into a cookbook

• The process of testing, developing, and photographing over 80 recipes

• What it was like working through the cookbook publishing journey step-by-step

• How being part of a supportive group helped her finish and publish her book

• Tips and lessons Nina learned along the way

If you love cookbooks with heart, history, and meaningful stories — or if you dream of publishing your own — this episode will inspire you.

Things We Mention In This Episode: Enroll in the upcoming Get Paid to Write a Cookbook Masterclass

Gasthaus Cookbook

In today's episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast, Maggie sits down with chef and cookbook author Emily Maxon, whose newest book Real Food, Every Day was born out of a life-changing health journey.

Emily is a trained chef and lifelong food lover who, at age 28, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. That diagnosis led her to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet — a rigorous way of eating designed to support gut health and healing. Drawing on her years of experience as a chef and caterer, Emily made it her mission to create recipes that not only met the diet's strict guidelines but also tasted wonderful and helped people feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally.

How Emily's personal health challenges became the catalyst for creating her cookbook Real Food, Every Day

• What it was like navigating the journey from cookbook idea to published book

• Lessons Emily learned along the way about writing and publishing a cookbook rooted in real-life experience

• Practical tips for aspiring cookbook authors on turning personal stories into strong cookbook concepts

• How to stay motivated through the long (and rewarding) process of writing and publishing a cookbook

If you've ever wondered how a personal challenge can become the foundation for a meaningful cookbook, or how chefs and food experts can turn their expertise into a published book, this episode is full of inspiration and insight.

Things We Mention In This Episode: Emily's Fresh KitchenAgainst All Grain

Today on the Cookbook Love Podcast, I am honored to welcome Pyet Despain, a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Tribe, award-winning global private chef, and the first winner of Gordon Ramsay's groundbreaking competition series Next Level Chef. Pyets's life and work are rooted in Indigenous fusion cuisine, where she weaves together the food traditions of her Native American and Mexican heritage. Through her cooking, storytelling, and travel, Pyet is dedicated to uplifting Indigenous culture and honoring the traditions passed down through generations.

Originally from the Osage Indian Reservation in Kansas City, Kansas, Pyet now resides in Los Angeles, California, where she continues to share her culinary voice with the world. Her beautiful new book, Rooted in Fire, reflects her journey, her heritage, and her deep respect for food as a cultural and spiritual expression.

In today's conversation Pyet shares:

• The story behind Rooted in Fire, who the book is for, and what inspired her to bring this project to life.

• Her journey from idea to finished book, the message she hopes cooks and bakers will take away, and how her work connects food, identity, and tradition.

• The book's structure, including its table of contents, key themes in the chapters, and several recipes you can try at home, allows you to experience the flavors and stories of Indigenous cuisine in your own kitchen.

Things We Mention In This Episode: Rooted in Fire and Pyet's Plate.com Columbiana by Mariana Velasquez

In today's episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Michael P. Foley, Catholic theologian, professor, and author of Abstaining with the Saints. Michael is best known for his beloved Drinking with the Saints series, and in this new book, he turns his attention to alcohol-free celebrations that are just as meaningful, festive, and rooted in the liturgical year. Abstaining with the Saints offers nearly 200 thoughtfully crafted mocktail recipes, along with alcohol-free beer, wine, and spirit suggestions that align with Catholic feast days and seasons. Each recipe is paired with stories and facts about the saints, creating a joyful way to honor the Church calendar without alcohol.

In our conversation, we explore:

• Why Michael felt called to create a non-alcoholic companion to Drinking with the Saints

• How mocktails can support sober, "soberish," and alcohol-free lifestyles

• The role of saints and celebration in Catholic life

• How food and drink can deepen our connection to family, faith, tradition, and community

• Who this book is for, and how it can serve families, parishes, and individuals alike

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Abstaining with the Saints The MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook

Welcome to another episode of the podcast. Today, I have a fun episode called the Ins and Outs for 2026. This episode was inspired by the Ins and Outs list I did last year and focuses on things I did in 2025 that I want to do again, and new stuff I want to try. The outs are things I don't want to bring forward into the new year that no longer serve me, or don't help me live the life I want to live, or that use my precious time and life thinking, feeling, or doing.

Things We Mention In This Episode:

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