Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today on the show I present an interview with Sheldon Simeon about his new cookbook, Ohana Style.

Born and raised in Maui, Sheldon is a chef, restaurateur, husband, father, and former Top Chef competitor. Alongside his wife Tiffany, he owns Tiffany's and Tin Roof Maui. In this conversation, Sheldon shares the deeper meaning of "ohana" and how the spirit of hospitality, family, and community shaped both his life and his cooking.

Listeners will hear:

• The difference between indigenous Hawaiian cuisine and plantation-era immigrant influences

• Why Sheldon wanted the cookbook to feel approachable and welcoming

• Stories about his father, Papa Ray, and the community cookbook influence behind many recipes

• Creative techniques for building smoky flavor and layered texture at home

• Plant-based alternatives inspired by traditional Hawaiian dishes

• The inspiration behind recipes like Papa Ray's Tuna Patties, Furikake Animal Crackers, Pork Belly Tocino, and Mandarin Microwave Mochi

Sheldon also talks about growing up in a house where people constantly gathered around food and how those experiences shaped his understanding of generosity and connection. This episode is a reminder that cookbooks are about more than recipes. They preserve stories, culture, memory, and belonging.

Things We Mention in This Episode:

Chef Sheldon Simeon

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

Before we get started, the doors are now open for Cookbook Writing Foundations for a very limited time, my new program for aspiring cookbook authors who want to move from cookbook idea to clear direction.

Inside the program, I'll help you stop sitting on your cookbook idea and finally begin building it with confidence. Whether you want to preserve family recipes, share your expertise, grow your business, or create something meaningful to pass on, this program will help you make the decisions and take the steps that move cookbook projects forward. Visit Cookbook Writers Academy to learn more and enroll before the doors close.

Today on the show, I have an interview with Domenica Marchetti, author of nine cookbooks, including her newest release, Italian Cookies.

In this conversation, Domenica shares the story behind researching and writing a cookbook dedicated to the cookie traditions of all 20 regions of Italy. We talk about the bakery visits, travel experiences, regional specialties, and cultural traditions that shaped the book, as well as the creative process of developing and testing recipes inspired by generations of Italian bakers.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Domenica researched cookie traditions across all regions of Italy

• What bakery visits and travel taught her about recipe development and storytelling

• Her journey from newspaper journalism to becoming a nine-time cookbook author

• Why consistency, observation, and decision-making matter in cookbook writing

• The connection between food traditions, culture, and community

Things We Mention in This Episode:

Domenica Cooks Italian Cookies

Learn more about Cookbook Writing Foundations Program

Welcome to Episode 400 of the Cookbook Love Podcast!

If you've been thinking about writing a cookbook, collecting recipes, organizing ideas, or waiting for the right time to begin, I invite you to join my free masterclass happening now:

Stop Dreaming About Writing a Cookbook, Start with a Clear Plan.

Inside the class, I'll walk you through the decisions that actually move cookbook projects forward so you can stop circling the idea and start building your book with clarity and direction. If writing a cookbook has been on your heart for a while, this is a chance to take a real next step.

Learn more and register at:
Cookbook Writers Academy

In this special episode, I'm reflecting on one of the biggest lessons I've learned after 400 episodes talking with cookbook writers, authors, and aspiring creators. I'm sharing what I've seen over and over again about what actually gets a cookbook written and published and why the difference is often not talent, timing, or opportunity, but willingness.

If you've been thinking about writing a cookbook but keep waiting for more time, more clarity, or the "right" moment, this episode is for you. I talk about the difference between feeling ready and deciding to begin, the quiet ways we stay in preparation mode, and how repetition and consistency are what truly move projects forward.

In this episode, I share:

• Why willingness matters more than readiness
• What 400 episodes taught me about consistency and follow-through
• The subtle ways we delay the projects we care about most
• The story of finally submitting my first cookbook proposal
• Why creating space and structure matters if you want your cookbook to happen

If you've been thinking about writing a cookbook, collecting recipes, organizing ideas, or waiting for the right time to begin, I invite you to join my free masterclass happening now:

Stop Dreaming About Writing a Cookbook, Start with a Clear Plan.

Inside the class, I'll walk you through the decisions that actually move cookbook projects forward so you can stop circling the idea and start building your book with clarity and direction. If writing a cookbook has been on your heart for a while, this is a chance to take a real next step.

Learn more and register at:
Cookbook Writers Academy

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

Today I'm talking with Katherine Anderson, owner of The London Plane, a restaurant, flower shop, and bakery that became a meaningful community gathering space.

When The London Plane closed in 2023, Katherine chose not to let the story end there. In this conversation, we talk about the vision behind her book, The London Plane Flower and Cook Book, created to capture the spirit of the space and preserve what it meant to so many people.

Inside this episode:

• How the restaurant, flower shop, and bakery came together to create a one-of-a-kind collaborative experience

• The decision to document and carry forward the space after its closure in 2023

• What it looked like to include seasonal recipes, including dishes inspired by flowers, alongside the restaurant's chef's contributed recipes

• Katherine's self-publishing journey and her perspective for aspiring cookbook authors

This episode is a reminder that a cookbook can become a lasting expression of a place while holding its spirit, its creativity, and the community it gathered.

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

Today I talk about why your cookbook can feel like it's not going anywhere, even when you're actively working on it—and how a lack of direction underneath the work creates hidden costs that most people don't see at first.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why recipe writing, organizing, and planning can still feel like you're not making progress
• The hidden costs of working without a clear direction for your cookbook
• How lack of direction affects time, money, momentum, and decision-making
• Why everything feels important when there's no clear publishing path guiding your choices

If your cookbook feels like it's stuck in motion but not actually taking shape, this episode will help you see what's really happening underneath the surface.

You're not stuck because you're not working enough—you're stuck because your work doesn't yet have a clear direction to move in.

If you want help turning your ideas into a cookbook—and getting paid to do it— join our waitlist for the next cohort of Get Paid to Get Published

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

In this episode, I'm sharing something personal. There's a lot of conversation right now about AI. How to use it, how to move faster, how to generate more. And while I do use it in certain ways, I've found myself coming back to something very different that is not faster or more.

In this episode, I walk you through the rhythm I've developed to support how I think, write, and cook. These are simple practices I return to every day and every week, not as a system, but as a way of staying connected to my work. Over time, this rhythm has helped me think more clearly, make decisions more easily, and stay present in the process of writing.

If you've been feeling scattered, stuck, or disconnected from your cookbook project, this episode will give you a grounded place to return to.

• The daily practices that help me think clearly

• What supports creative thinking and decision-making

• The role of daily and weekly rhythms in staying creatively fueled

• What it looks like to build a rhythm that supports your work

In the end, writing a cookbook and running a business isn't just about the book or the business. It's about your life while you create while working on and in them.

If you want help turning your ideas into a cookbook—and getting paid to do it— join our waitlist for the next cohort of Get Paid to Get Published.

In this episode, I'm joined by chef, author, and vintage curator Spring Council to talk about her beautiful new book Southern Roots. Spring spent over 50 years working in her family's restaurant, Mama Dip's Kitchen, where she learned firsthand how food creates connection, community, and lasting memories. In our conversation, we talk about how that experience shaped her cookbook — from the stories she tells to the recipes she creates — and what it really looks like to bring a book like this to life.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What "Mama Dip's University" taught her about food, people, and hospitality

• How Southern Roots blends storytelling with recipes

• Her path through writing, rejection, and finding her voice

• How she develops recipes that honor tradition while making them her own

• The role of community in both her restaurant life and her cookbook

If you love cookbooks that feel personal, meaningful, and grounded in real experience, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

If you want help turning your ideas into a cookbook—and getting paid to do it— join our waitlist for the next cohort of Get Paid to Get Published

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I'm excited to have an interview with Hannah Dasher. Hannah is a country music artist, creator, and author of Stand By Your Pan.

Hannah built a loyal audience during quarantine by sharing nostalgic, personality-filled cooking videos—and has now turned that visibility into a cookbook rooted in Southern food, storytelling, and style.

In this conversation, we talk about how her online presence shaped her book, the recipes and traditions behind it, and the practical techniques that bring her cooking to life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Hannah's TikTok content grew into a cookbook

• Building a cooking brand through personality and nostalgia

• Recipes inspired by family, viral moments, and Southern traditions

• Stock your kitchen (bones, fats, and fresh ingredients)

• Practical cooking tips—from tomato pie to fried chicken livers to ham stock

• Why preserving recipes and food traditions still matters

If you've ever wondered how audience, voice, and recipes come together in a cookbook, this episode gives you a real example.

If you want help turning your ideas into a cookbook—and getting paid to do it— join our waitlist for the next cohort of Get Paid to Get Published