A suggestion for Alissa

[CAdreamer]

Dear Alissa,

Here's a suggestion for a new cookbook. Many of us are experienced 'cooks'
and have good success at creating new recipes, but don't have the time, desire, finances, or publishing contacts/experience to create a full cookbook.

Over 20 years ago, a friend and I had developed about 60 recipes for a new tofu cookbook for the Western taste. I was receiving back responses from publishers when she moved and lost her half of the recipes. I was in the process of opening my swim school at the time, and didn't have time to develop any more recipes myself. She was busy with her move, and new job, and it never got off the ground. Onviously, this was pre-computer, but we should have thought to each have a duplicate, or at least to put them in a safe place.

Significantly, the time period was ripe for this project,and we would have made a lot of money !! Alas, Gary Landgrebe capitalized on it, and his books sold very well.

I've also entered and won a few significant prizes in national recipe contests,
but don't have the desire to do it any more (it's all SAD, anyway).

So...here's my idea. If you are considering a new book, how about collaborating with some of us, and offering a percentage of the profits depending on the contribution we make. It could be done on a flat percentage, or on the significance (i.e., maybe simple main dish items would be more significant than a dessert...or something like that.)

Comments ??

[Alissa]

hi CAdreamer, well i actually thought about making a 'rawfoodtalk.com' cookbook and asking everyone for one of their favorite recipes but i don’t think i would do this with other people like you suggested.
To give everyone a profit (could be 100 people) or to collaborate isn’t always the best, at least for me. Ive learned it doesn’t always work out for me when i do things in collaboration with others and it can get messy.
I realize that some people may not want to 'give' me their recipes to use so that’s why i haven’t jumped on doing this. It benefits people in many ways though to give out a free recipe or two, IE: if you were to eventually do your own book you could reference that you have a recipe in mine, its a good way to promote who you and what you do as people would look you up if they liked your recipes so its like free advertising, and people like to see their name in print to show others since they know they may never put a book together or have a desire to etc..

There is SO much that goes into doing a book besides the actual cost of putting it together. The printing alone can be astronomical, so to give people a percentage would be a bit difficult.
It does seem like books that do this -chicken soup for the soul, etc.. Would be an easy book to do for the person putting it together and that they are making money off of others stories but there is a lot of work and money that go into doing it and when your self publishing that all comes out of that individuals pocket. But good idea!
Thanks!
Alissa

[sweetgoddess]

wow, a rawfoodtalk.com uncookbook sounds like great fun!! ;)

[jacki]

Alissa, i will gladly offer you a recipe or two that are my creations. You have so kindly planted this board for us to learn from and receive inspiration so i have no problem giving a recipe or two for your book if you decide to make a rawfoodtalk.com cookbook.

I would hope that you make a lot of money off of it also in exchange for all you do for people for free.
Be well,
Jacki

[CAdreamer]

Thanks for responding, Alissa. I didn't want to sound mercenary, but there was a reason for the idea. Posting recipes on the board for free means that they can be pirated and then someone else, maybe not even known to the board would have it...not fair, IMO. However, if you want to put a book together from this board and other interested people, and they don't mind giving it to you for free, then maybe you could set up a way for us to send them to you and it would be to your benefit alone to produce in a book. I'm way beyond wanting to do this myself, and would be happy to share with you...the profit not being the motive, just an incentive to others...but I now realize that it would probably be very complicated.

As it was previously said, you have freely provided a wonderful meeting area for like-minded people.....thank you....it's a friendly meeting place.

Books like Chicken Soup for the Soul have such an enormous share of the book market, unlike a raw food book....which is too bad since an enormous amount of work and research goes into this type of book, unlike the 'story' books.

[Alissa]

CAdreamer, no problem, you didn’t sound mercenary...yeah, it would just be a lot to have others involved but yes that’s a good idea as i can see what your saying. i may put that out there and put a little book together if people are game. i think it would be a fun book with so many different kinds of recipes and input.

Thanks for making me think about this again, its been crossing my mind for many months now so maybe its time!? Sounds like you would have some wonderful recipes?

Best,
Alissa

[Shona]

Another food forum that I am a member of put together a self-published cookbook of recipes submitted by the forum members. It was a huge success. The members not only bought copies for themselves, but as presents for other people, too. The first printing entirely sold out and a second printing has just been done. From what I hear, it is selling extremely well also.

The proceeds from the cookbook are used to maintain the website.

Shona :)