How Much Do Cookbook Authors Actually Make?

To date, I have written 7 cookbooks. All of them have been commissioned, meaning the publishers sought me out as the author (and usually, the recipe developer and photographer) versus me finding an agent, submitting a proposal, and having a publisher bid on the book idea. This “for hire” situation might sound ideal, but let me assure you it is not. After stewing on this idea for years (and stepping away from this work completely), I’ve decided to break down the process for others who may be considering doing this sort of work, so they can at least enter in an informed way. While I’ve had plenty of frustrations along the way, it wasn’t all bad. Writing these cookbooks has been an important part of my personal learning and growth as a chef, recipe developer, and food photographer. I’m appreciative they’ve gotten me to a place where I can discuss deals with bigger publishers. But gosh, do I wish I asked for more. Full newsletter with more details, 2 complicated recipes, and memes can be found here: https://waytoocomplicated.substack.co...