After losing my corporate job in March of 2009, I did not waste time. I quickly leveraged a book I had self-published, and went on to found Balanced Rock Press, a new publishing company in northern California.

My motto has become: “From Laid-off to Launching an Empire!”

It’s been a busy time for me since I lost my corporate job as a quality manager back in March of 2009. A self-published cookbook author, I quickly determined it was time to begin marketing the book aggressively – something that had eluded me while I was employed.

I launched several websites during 2009 including The Rose Diva and The Cookbook Coach. All the sites I created during that time were related to cookbooks, writing, and publishing.

No newcomer to writing and marketing, I had 17 years of experience under my belt when I was laid-off. I identified a need for a cookbook writing system, a cookbook advertising web site – The Cookbook Advertiser, and an association for cookbook writers, The International Association of Cookbook Writers – IACBW. All of this creativity was leading to what was percolating in the background – a publishing company!

The question I get asked most often is, ‘How can I get my cookbook published?’ With all the turmoil and change going on in the publishing industry, I decided to take my established writing coach business a step further and offer publishing to my clients. I saw my clients suffer rejection and wasted time submitting proposals to publishers. Yet I believed in their projects, so I said to myself, “Why not publish them myself?”

With my experience in internet and social media marketing, I now find myself sitting on sixteen titles that are scheduled for publication. Balanced Rock Press has taken off with a bang! With new client interviews taking place weekly, Balanced Rock Press is a dream come true for me. I’m truly in my element and I’ll take things even further next year when I attend the second annual Paris Cookbook Fair in March 2011.

I’ve been personally invited to participate as a possible contributor for a break-out conference for cookbook authors at the fair by none other than its founder, Edouard Cointreau. I’ll be taking a select number of cookbook projects to the Paris Cookbook Fair for possible foreign rights sales.

I’m extremely happy to be a passionate serial entrepreneur who is truly on the move. My latest venture, Balanced Rock Press, is a growing independent publishing company located in the beautiful Sierra foothills of northern California. The company publishes traditional books, eBooks and audio books.

I’ve established a special division for eBooks called “Enbrightened eBooks.” Though presently a small company, Balanced Rock Press is thinking globally. I’ve established and maintained strong business contacts with the east coast in both New York and Miami. And, I’m planning to attend several of the large world book fairs each year including Frankfurt and London.

Balanced Rock Press is a growing independent publishing company located in northern California. We publish traditional books, eBooks and audio books. We accept proposals for cookbooks, gardening, natural living, holistic, and inspirational topics.

Ms Denktash has appeared on local television shows, and is a popular guest for radio and teleseminars. Her creativity, enthusiasm, and strong commitment to quality are unwavering. Since her lay-off she enjoys inspiring others and speaking to groups about her favorite topic – “Never Give Up.” She is available for telephone consultations with prospective cookbook, gardening, holistic, and inspirational authors. For submission guidelines, visit her publishing site at
Balanced Rock Press.

I want to write a cookbook!

Those are the first words I hear over the phone when a new client calls me…

Usually they have found me online, which is very encouraging, considering all of the old and outdated listings that remain on the internet in any given category search.

I know this, because I continually cruise my favorite keyword searches to see my rankings and to see what the competition is doing…

But interestingly, there really isn’t that much solid competition.

I’m looking for individuals who:

1. Either want to write a cookbook, or
2. Have already written a cookbook, self-published it and now do not know their next steps.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention…they are not celebrities (although I’m getting closer) and would certainly never turn a celebrity down!

But anyway…..

Whether you want to write a cookbook, or market a cookbook…

I can help you in either situation.

What you’ll find when you search various phrases is about 50-60% of the listings do not pertain to the search you’ve typed in.

This is sad, because it shows me that someone looking for my services has to wade through a lot of rubble to get to the point.

And a lot of the information, although it may be good, is very old, in terms of what is going on in the internet right now….in 2010.

So…I’ve decided to create a campaign to make sure I am one of the first websites you stumble upon when searching for information about writing, publishing, marketing, and selling a cookbook!

I’ll be considering all the possible searches you may type in and I’ll try to be there for you.

Why am I doing this?…because I want your business!!

And because…

I want you to get the most up-to-date information so your book can be successfully marketed on the internet, using the current methods that are necessary in today’s rapidly changing internet environment.

And, because I really want you to get your cookbook done!

Actually…It’s really exciting!

And I’m excited to teach you about new marketing techniques that include video, social networking, personal branding, and the latest tools to help you build your author’s platform.

I’m excited for you. And I’m excited for your cookbook.

If this all sounds good, please contact me. It would be my pleasure to discuss your cookbook writing and marketing goals during a free 30-minute consultation.

Simply fill out the Contact Sheet to schedule an appointment with me.

There is still time to complete your book in 2010.

Call me…and let’s get busy!

Are you ready for an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system
to get your cookbook self-published?

If  you answered yes, then you’ll need to read my Special Report about “The 7 Secrets of a Successful Self-Published Cookbook!” I have taken all the guesswork out of writing and self-publishing a cookbook and if you decide to work with me, I  will give you all the necessary tools to get your cookbook project going even before you finish your book! To get your copy of this information-packed FREE Report, simply go to http://CookbookCoach.com

You’ll also receive a free mp3 of a recent teleseminar I recorded with my friend Chef Linda Galyean. You will also see her on my website! I look forward to helping you make your dream of having your own cookbook a reality in 2010!

So you’ve decided that you want to write a cookbook and self-publish your work. Great! But-you’re not too sure how to get started. You want to know “how to write a cookbook.” One of the biggest mistakes new or first-time cookbook writers make is thinking that they just have get on with the recipes and writing, and everything will work itself out in the end. The truth is that initial planning and marketing of your cookbook deserves a lot more attention than it gets.

Starting to write a cookbook is no different from starting to write any book. That means the best way to start your cookbook project is by asking one simple question: Why? That’s right…why? Consider this—if you were submitting your manuscript for publication through a traditional publisher; you’d be required to submit a detailed proposal.

One of the important components of the proposal includes explanations about why your book should be published and, why anyone would want to read it. This can seem harsh to a newbie, but it’s important to know. When you submit a proposal, you’re actually asking for a chance to “sell” your book idea to the publisher. What they really want to know is if you can tell them why they should bother to read your proposal and your manuscript. So—you have to be really clear on why that is, or you’ll get nowhere fast.

But maybe you’re wondering how this applies to self-publishing. You need to know the “why” for yourself. So you can be sure of your project’s worth from start to finish. If you don’t know why you’re doing it from the beginning, you may wake up one morning wondering why the heck you’re putting yourself through writing a cookbook to begin with. That could cause you to give up when the going gets tough. Further, if you don’t know why you’re writing your cookbook you probably won’t be able to identify your “target market.” And that spells disaster for any cookbook project.

If you want to self-publish a cookbook and you want it to be successful, you owe it to yourself to go through the exercise of writing a book proposal. By doing so, you’ll learn everything you need to know about your cookbook. The book proposal becomes the written business plan for your cookbook. When completed, the book proposal will serve as a compass to guide you through the entire process. You’ll know where you’re going with your cookbook and, you’ll know how to get there. You’ll know everything you need to know about your customer and, you’ll know what you have to do to market your cookbook.

When you become clear on the WHY, you’ll be empowered. This will support the strong inner belief you’ll need to carry you through the duration of your writing project. You’ll also be able to speak about your cookbook confidently and intelligently when you begin marketing. And whether you’re doing that online or face-to-face, communicating effectively will come in very handy. So gather your recipes, do your research, write your stories, and type to your heart’s content, just know why you’re doing it!

Today I was pleasantly surprised by Leon W. Brown,  an Online Business Developer who is teaching others how to use Social Networking as an effective way to successfully market their businesses.

Leon viewed my video on my Cookbook Coach channel on YouTube. The video is entitled “Cookbook Coach Launches IACBW.org” and it’s a summary of the events that occurred in my life leading up to, and  since I self-published my cookbook, The Rose Cookbook – a Treasury of Rose Recipes from Around the World.

Here’s the thing, I just received a friend request on Facebook from Leon the other day. I guess my profile was interesting enough to get him to look at some of my videos. Then he went to my YouTube channel and made a video response of his own.

Just goes to show you how Social Media Marketing works! For those of you who have not seen the video Leon is talking about,  the post is called “Cookbook Coach launches International Association of Cookbook Writers – IACBW.org.” Check it out, and thanks again Leon! You ROCK!  And Merry Christmas to you!

Are you a self-published cookbook author, a non-profit, or a church group?

Do you have boxes of your cookbooks stored away collecting dust?

Would you like to sell those cookbooks during the holiday season?

There’s 20 days left until Christmas Eve.

What are you doing to market those books?

I’d like to help you sell your books, so here’s what I’d like to offer you…

A 45-minute coaching call, personalized for your book and situation, that will result in a targeted and specific mini-marketing plan that’s designed to sell some of your cookbooks during this holiday season!

I’m offering this for 10 days, from  December 4th until December 14th only.

The cost is $45, and that’s a $150.00 value!

So get in touch with me today to schedule a call, the sooner the better!

Email me today at info@cookbookcoach.com

Let’s sell some cookbooks!

I’ll be hosting my first show on blogtalkradio on Thursday December 10, 2009 at 1:30 PM PST. The topic will be “Write a Cookbook – Top 10 Reasons to do it Now!!”  I’ll give you some compelling reasons to get started on your cookbook now! Make your dream of having your own cookbook a reality in 2010!

Got recipes? Love to cook? Love to write? Are you working in the food industry? Are you unemployed? Writing a cookbook can be a great way to supplement your income, or even create a new career. Find out how easy it can be when the I discuss the Top 10 Reasons to write a cookbook!

Do you want to write a cookbook, publish a cookbook, market a cookbook, sell a cookbook. Learn how you can do just that while doing what you love and stimulating your own economy! The solution lies in my proprietary system -  “The 7 Secrets of a Successful Self-Published Cookbook,” available at my website, CookbookCoach.com. My cookbook, The Rose Cookbook – A Treasury of Rose Recipes from Around the World is available at TheRoseDiva.com. Learn how to market a cookbook in today’s market from authors who are doing it!  Join the community of cookbook writers from around the globe to share ideas, methods, and success stories!

Join me Wednesday, December 10, 2009 at 1:30 PM, PST.