Today on the show, I'm joined by Michele Pettinger, a certified running coach, fitness nutrition specialist, and functional nutrition counselor. As the owner of P3Running, Michelle blends run coaching with nutrition education for athletes of all ages, helping young runners understand how food supports performance, recovery, and long-term well-being.

However, before we begin, I'd like to share a free resource with you. If you are a food, nutrition, or culinary pro and you want to share your expertise in a published cookbook, one thing a publisher will want you to have is a platform. This is your visibility in the marketplace. If you would like some guidance on what a platform is, why you should have one, and some tips on building one, head on over to cookbookwritersacademy.com/platform for a complimentary checklist download.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Michele's journey from idea to publication of her new book: The Young Runner's Guide to Nutrition.

• How she shaped her concept that connects nutrition science with workable recipes

• Why she wrote this book for young athletes, their parents, and coaches?

• Her writing process, the resources she leaned on, and the systems she built to stay organized

• Insights about building a platform, and not letting social media metrics distract you from your mission.

Whether you're a runner, a cook, a baker, an athlete, or an aspiring author, Michele's story is a powerful reminder that writing a book is a race built on one day, one habit, one recipe, one chapter at a time.

Things We Mention in This Episode:

Cookbook Author Platform Checklist

Michele Pettinger P3 Running

In today's episode, I'm pleased to welcome mother–son cookbook author team Jyoti and Auyon Mukharji, authors of Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook from an American Kitchen.

Before we dive in: If you are ready to start your own cookbook project with clarity and direction, The Creative Cookbook Blueprint is available for a few more days. This resource provides a structured path to begin organizing your recipes, shaping your stories, and moving toward a publishable cookbook. Details are linked in the show notes section below.

Heartland Masala is a vibrant, richly illustrated celebration of Indian home cooking, written from the heart of the American Midwest. Rooted in both tradition and diaspora, the book blends recipes from Punjab, Bengal, and throughout India with the lived experience of a family that has called Kansas City home for decades. In this conversation, we explore:

• Inspiration — How Heartland Masala was born from years of Joyti teaching, family heritage, and the desire to preserve Indian home cooking in a Midwestern context.

• Process — Their collaborative mother–son workflow, recipe testing, adapting regional dishes, and shaping the book's structure.

• Storytelling — Why they included essays, cultural notes, culinary history, memories, and narrative elements to deepen the reader's connection to Indian food.

• Legacy & Impact — What they learned from writing across generations and what they hope the book will contribute to readers, family, and culture.

The book features beloved classics such as Saag Paneer and Vindaloo, lesser-known gems like Bengali Murgh Rezala and Anglo-Indian Spiced Liver Toast, as well as inventive new creations, including Masala Brussels Sprouts and Spiced Watermelon. Jyoti and Auyon even include a handful of cocktail recipes, adding a playful touch to the collection. Their work is a testament to the richness of Indian cuisine, the power of family collaboration, and the vibrant interplay between heritage and place.

Things We Mention in This Episode:

The Creative Cookbook Blueprint

Heartland Masala HQ on Substack

What begins as a handwritten recipe or a note in the margins of a cookbook can become the seed of something much bigger. In today's episode, we explores what every writer needs to write and how your words can do more than fill a page. They can feed both your readers and your business.

You'll also hear about a free resource to spark your creativity: 👉 100 Ways to Turn Your Recipes and Writing Into Revenue: a guide packed with ideas to help you transform your recipes, writing, and creativity into meaningful income.

If you've ever wondered how to bridge your love of cooking and writing into a business, this episode is your invitation to begin.

Things We Mention in This Episode:

100 Ways to Turn Your Recipes and Writing into Revenue

Hi everybody, and welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Last week, we talked about the traditional publishing team and the real benefits of working with a publisher — how editors, designers, and marketers help bring a cookbook to life. This week, I'm sharing Part 1 of my three-part Publish Your Cookbook Masterclass, called Navigating the Publishing Industry. In this first session, we're tackling one of the biggest challenges cookbook writers face — figuring out how to navigate the publishing world. If you've ever thought,

• "I don't know where to start."

• "I'm afraid of choosing the wrong path."

• "Publishing feels so complicated,"

Then this session is for you. You'll learn about the three main types of publishing — independent, hybrid, and traditional — and how to decide which path aligns with your goals. It's the clarity so many professionals have been missing — a way to see exactly where you fit in the publishing landscape and how to move forward with confidence.

Before we dive in, I want to let you know that the doors are open to Get Paid to Get Published until this evening at 10 PM Eastern. This is your final chance to join us for this round, and I wanted to give you one more opportunity to experience the masterclass and see if writing a cookbook and getting it traditionally published is right for you.

So settle in and enjoy this replay, Navigating the Publishing Industry from the Publish Your Cookbook Masterclass.

Things We Mention in This Episode:

Download worksheet for Part 1 Navigate the Publishing Industry Watch Parts 2 and 3 of Publish Your Cookbook Masterclass

✨ Before we get started, an exciting announcement! ✨ Are you a food, nutrition, or culinary professional dreaming of publishing a cookbook? Right now we are in the middle of our Publish Your Cookbook Masterclass. In this free masterclass, we are discussing the shortcut most aspiring authors miss — how to publish your cookbook without writing your book first. You'll discover how to position yourself as the author publishers want right now and follow the exact steps to land your first book deal. Don't miss this opportunity to watch this on-demand class (like Netflix)! 👉 Register at publishcookbooks.com.

Have you ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes once a cookbook is acquired by a traditional publisher?

• Who edits your recipes?
• Who decides the fonts and photography style?
• And what's actually your job once the contract is signed?

Today, we're mapping it all out — The Professional Cookbook Team Map — so you can see exactly how a cookbook moves from manuscript to masterpiece.

By the end of this episode, you'll know:

• Who handles editing, design, and photography

• What's expected of you as the author

• And what you can focus on right now to actually get paid to write your cookbook

Things We Mention in This Episode: Register for the Publish Your Cookbook masterclass

✨ Before we get started, an exciting announcement! ✨ If you're a food, nutrition, or culinary professional dreaming of publishing a cookbook with a traditional publisher, join me for the Publish Your Cookbook event starting Monday, October 20, 2025.

In this free training, you'll learn the shortcut most aspiring authors miss — how to sell your cookbook concept before writing the entire manuscript. You'll discover how to position yourself as the author publishers want right now and follow the exact steps to land your first book deal. Don't miss this opportunity! 👉 Register at publishcookbooks.com.

A quick shout-out to Mari, a long-time listener of the Cookbook Love Podcast, who recently shared in our Confident Cookbook Writer Facebook Group:

"I self-published a cookbook! I'm not in the writing program, but I wanted to thank Maggie Green for the amazing Cookbook Love Podcast I've been binging for the past two years. I wouldn't have finished my book without your guidance."

Her story is a beautiful reminder of the impact of showing up and sharing knowledge—one podcast at a time.

Today's guest is Mary Bryant Schrader, creator of Mary's Nest, a beloved YouTube channel with over one million subscribers and more than 600 videos on traditional cooking skills—think bone broth, sourdough, and fermentation.

Mary's new book, The Modern Pioneer Pantry: A Complete Guide to Preserving Food, brings timeless kitchen wisdom into today's world.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What traditional foods really are

• Why food preservation matters now more than ever

• The Four Corners Pantry concept

• Lessons Mary has learned from YouTube and cookbook writing

Things We Mention in This Episode: Register for the Publish Your Cookbook masterclass

Join the Confident Cookbook Writer Facebook Group Mary's Nest

✨Before we get started, an exciting announcement ✨ If you're a food, nutrition, or culinary pro and you dream of being published by a traditional publisher, I want to invite you to my upcoming Publish Your Cookbook event where you will learn the shortcut most aspiring authors miss when publishing their cookbook. You'll discover how to position yourself as the author publishers want right now, and the exact steps to land your first book deal. This is an opportunity you won't want to miss. Head to publishcookbooks.com to register for the event.

Today I'm joined by award-winning author Maureen Abood to talk about her beautiful new book, Lebanese Baking. Known for her warm storytelling and deep connection to Lebanese food culture, Maureen invites us into the heart of her kitchen and heritage. During the interview, we discussed:

• Behind the table of contents: how Maureen designed the book to blend classic staples, family favorites, and innovative takes.

• The significance of sharing: why the act of baking and offering food to others is central to Lebanese tradition.

• Homemade phyllo dough: what inspired her to include this ambitious yet rewarding recipe, and how she makes it approachable.

• A baker's starting point: which recipes Maureen recommends if you're new to baking and to Lebanese cuisine.

If you've ever been curious about Lebanese flavors, want to expand your baking repertoire, or simply love the idea of food as a way to connect and share, this conversation will inspire you to preheat your oven and invite someone to the table.

Things We Mention in This Episode: Register for the upcoming Publish Your Cookbook event Maureen Abood

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I'm excited to talk to you about one key tool in the life of most cookbook authors, and that's an email list. Part of the reason I want to talk about this is that there is a misconception that we have to chase publishers and agents. But what I've found to be true in my own life, in the lives of my students, and in the lives of the authors I've talked to on the show is that publishers and agents are looking for a food, culinary, or nutrition expert like you. And how will they find you? That's exactly what we're going to talk about. What makes for a strong author platform is the heart of the platform, your email list. I'll break down why your list is your most valuable publishing asset, how to simplify your platform so it feels doable, and how to reignite your list to connect with your audience starting today.

Things We Mention in This Episode:

Download the Cookbook Author Platform Checklist

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I'm excited to have an interview with Stephanie Hansen. Stephanie is the host of the Emmy-award-winning TV show "Taste Buds with Stephanie", blogger at Stephanie's Dish, and radio host of The Weekly Dish and author of True North Cabin Cookbook Volume Two: Seasonal Recipes From a Cozy Kitchen. Stephanie hails from Minnesota and spends her summers entertaining in her cabin on True North Island in Minnesota. Today on the show, we talk all about cabin cooking and entertaining, Stephanie's seasonal favorite recipes to welcome guests and feed people the foods of the Midwest and Minnesota.

Things We Mention in This Episode:

Stephanie's Dish website blog

True North Cabin Cookbook: Volume Two

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. I just finished enrolling new students into Cookbooks on KDP and wanted to share something with you based on my conversations with aspiring cookbook authors. When I talk to successful cooks, bakers, dietitians, chefs, and others who have a ton of kitchen experience to share, I hear them say things like: "I don't have time." "I'm not techie enough." "Do I need an audience first?" "I'm not a dietitian". But underneath those words is something we all face, what I call Doubt Soup. In this episode, I explore how doubt shows up in disguise, why it keeps so many cookbook dreams on hold, and what we can do instead of sit in the Doubt Soup.

Things We Mention in This Episode:

Join the waitlist for the 2026 cohort of Cookbooks on KDP