Chef Franco Lania is in the running for a coveted position on TVFN’s “The Next Food Network Star 7.” He went through the first interview in New York City on Monday August 30, 2010.

Chef Franco is a seasoned chef who is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, London. He also holds a certificate, CIF for Master Chef from Castigliole d’ Asti, Italy.

No stranger to Food Network, he’s appeared on a recent episode of “Challenge.”  He also auditioned for “America’s Next Great Restaurant,” where he got a chance to meet Bobby Flay.

Franco has traveled the world cooking for the past 20 years working in some of the finest restaurants  in London, Milan, Miami, Los Angeles and New York. He’s worked on cruise ships and sailed through the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, and the Caribbean.

Most recently he worked on the famed Oceania Cruise Line. There he headed their flag ship restaurant—Toscana, as the Italian Chef. Oceania is a top rated luxury cruise line with an award-winning culinary program. Oceania maintains a strong and talented culinary management team, all under the watchful eye of none other than Master chef Jacques Pepin.

I’ve been working with Chef Franco on his long-awaited first book since February. I for one am hoping to see Chef Franco on The Next Food Network Star 7, which is currently casting for the next season.

Let’s get a REAL CHEF on this upcoming season!

VOTE FOR FRANCO NOW!!

If you would like to vote for Chef Franco click here.  Find his photo on the page and click “VOTE FOR ME.” You can vote more than once, but you can only vote once a day! Let’s push Franco to the top and let TV Food Network know that they have an upcoming STAR on their hands!!

Franco knows his stuff, has a great personality, already has tons of fans, and will surely get tons more  if he is cast for the show!

To learn more about Chef Franco Lania, visit his site.

Good Luck Franco!!

Sometimes people say to me….

“I want to write a cookbook, but I don’t know what type of food to write about, I like so many.”

Okay, there is something for everyone here and I did not even scratch the surface. I came up with all of these ideas off the top of my head…You can do the same thing.

Let these ideas I thought of jog your own memory. You can easily find a topic for a cookbook that you would enjoy writing about.

Write about the food you love.

Write about the food from your country, region, state or city.

Pick a method that you like…there are so many… Okay, here it goes…

1. Southern Style
2. Family Favorites
3. Amish
4. Homesteading
5. 9X13 Pan Cookbook
6. One Dish
7. Casseroles
8. Cake Mix Cookie Recipes
9. Savory Baking
10. Cakes Only
11. One Pot
12. Seasonal Cookies
13. Seasonal Desserts
14. Healthy Breads
15. Artisan Breads
16. Cowboy Cooking
17. Swedish
18. 30-Minute Meals
19. Beef
20. Church Supper Recipes
21. Comfort Foods
22. Phyllo Dough Cookbook
23. Dutch Oven
24. Pressure Cooker Recipes
25. Bread Machine Recipes
26. Wood Fire Cooking
27. Outdoor Cooking
28. Barbecue
29. Wok Cooking
30. Fondue
31. Tapas
32. Cupcakes
33. Diner Food
34. Italian
35. Potatoes
36. Eggplant
37. Pizza
38. Soup
39. Middle Eastern
40. Recipes for Two
41. Recipes for One
42. Four Ingredients
43. Stews
44. Gluten-Free
45. Diabetic
46. Heart Healthy
47. Raw Foods
48. Chicken
49. French
50. Turkish
51. Budget Recipes
52. Kids Favorites
53. Homemade Baby Food
54. Foods for Toddlers
55. Foods for Seniors
56. Donuts
57. Fish
58. Cajun
59. Creole
60. Farmer’s Market
61. Lumber Jack
62. Gumbo
63. California Fresh
64. Just Coconut
65. Chocolate
66. Natural Sugars Desserts
67. Quick Breads
68. Mexican
69. South American
70. Scandanavian
71. Polish
72. Russian
73. Thai
74. Creme Brulee
75. Tiramisu
76. Sorbets & Ice Creams
77. Fruit Pies
78. Creamy Pies
79. Frozen Pies
80. Brownies
81. Southern Style Pies
82. Cheesecake
83. Ginger Bread
84. Easy Desserts
85. Peruvian
86. Central American Dishes
87. Arabic Foods
88. Eggs
89. Pasta
90. Vietnamese
91. Noodles
92. Irish Recipes
93. French Cooking
94. German Cooking
95. Dumplings
96. Pickling
97. Jams & Jellies
98. Cooking Light
99. Olive Oil
100. Southern Italian
101. Sauces

Would love to hear some of your ideas.  Like I said, this is just a sample. You can think of many more. Just choose a topic you like and start writing recipes. There are never too many cookbooks. People collect cookbooks of all types, and many are specialized just like these topics I have mentioned.

Writing my first cookbook was the best thing I have done in a long time.

I’ve chosen to build a whole group of companies, just from writing one cookbook.

Having my own cookbook has opened me up to all kinds of opportunities I would not have experienced without my book.

I wanted to talk about some of those things today in case you have been considering writing a cookbook, but just can’t seem to get started.

For starters, when you have a book you are considered to be an “expert.”

Having a book creates new opportunities, like speaking in front of groups.

You can also create ancillary products that you can sell, creating an additional stream of income.

Or, you can donate part of the sales of your book to a cause you believe in.

If you are in the food industry, you can sell your book to your customers.

Personal chefs do very well when they have their own books.

If you have a small restaurant, it is great to have a cookbook available for customers to purchase on their way out.

Those customers may also purchase your cookbook as a gift for someone who lives in a another location.

And those people may visit your restaurant when they are in town, because of your cookbook.

Your cookbook can become part of your unpaid sales force to advertise your place of business.

If you love to cook, and have lots of great recipes accumulated along with photos you should create a book.

Don’t just share them on recipe sharing sites, make some money with what you have created!

These are just a few of the ideas and opportunities having your own cookbook can bring.

If you have questions about how this can be accomplished…I have a Cookbook Authors Boot Camp starting on March 3, 2010.

I look forward to hearing about your cookbook idea!

For more information visit: You Can Write a Cookbook

Have you been waiting for the “right time” to get to work on your cookbook? I would like to tell you that there’s no time like right now to get going. And if you start now, by the time it’s the New Year, you’ll have a head start and have some momentum to keep going! If you start now, your cookbook can be a reality in 2010. If you procrastinate, telling yourself “It’s the holidays,” you will miss a really good opportunity. What excuse will you have in January? You have to decide to move forward, and that means no matter what. Just TAKE ACTION, and get started!

Here are my Top 12 Great Tips for getting your cookbook project going, and building your “author’s platform.” Take note, these are NOT marketing tips; I’m just showing you how to live as you “step” into your greatness! Start these good habits now so when you do really go into “turbo” in January, you will be rid of time wasters, negative habits and energy robbing situations.

1. Schedule regular time slots to work on your cookbook and your “author’s platform” and get to work. If you’re a morning person get up an hour earlier and create as the sun rises. The hour right before the sun rises is one of the most powerful times of day. If you’re a night owl, stay up late to get it done. Either way, give yourself a regular slot of at least sixty minutes per day (2 hours is even better) five time per week. But if you are a night owl, make sure you get enough sleep. You may need to catch a nap during the day. If you have children, schedule your time to work when they are doing their activities. Enlist the help of supportive friends, or your parents who can help you by taking the kids off your hands for a couple of hours. Find a way. You just have to stick with the program. Don’t use your children as an excuse for not writing your book. They are the reason you should write your book…think Legacy!

2. Determine your soul purpose in life, and post it on your computer. Once you figure it out, surround yourself with it whenever you can. This is your larger job in life. It’s not a task, per se, but the general gift that you are meant to give to others, such as ‘help people feel more gratitude,’ ‘help people to eat more healthy,’ ‘wake people up to the power of nature’ or ‘remind people of their compassion,’ ‘awaken passion in others.’ You get the idea! It can be uncovered by journaling, or even meditating on the question. Your soul purpose in life is the basis for your “author’s platform,” It’s where your cookbook comes from, and where the “hook” lives and breathes.

3. Recognize five time-wasters and put an end them – right away! If you are constantly checking your email, STOP! Other time wasters include spending too much time on the phone, sitting in front of the TV, and reading the paper from start to finish. Take a clear look at how you spend your time, and honestly assess your time usage. You won’t have time to do your cookbook if you continue to engage in these time wasting activities. And believe me, the thing I hear most often from would-be authors is “I don’t have enough time!” And guess what…that’s why they remain “would-be authors.” Not enough time? BS, make the time! If you are truly committed, you will make time for something you truly desire. If not, then you are just kidding yourself.

4. Politely and elegantly opt-out from at least three situations or relationships that waste your energy. Energy wasters only leave you feeling depressed, frustrated, annoyed, unappreciated and vaguely used or even “beaten up.” YIKES! Who needs that? Get them out of your life right now, and you won’t believe how much energy they free up for your cookbook! For instance, “doubters”, if you have people in your life who do not believe that you can write a cookbook, get rid of them. It’s that simple. Friends who want to take up your time and energy, but don’t give – I call them “energy vampires.” Relatives who like to call you up and pick fights or volunteer you for opportunities-tell them you are writing a book, give them the message that for the time being, you no longer volunteer, at least until you book is completed. And please, don’t feel bad about this; your cookbook is a much greater gift to society as a whole than helping your friend’s, cousin’s, cousin’s, friend move! Get the picture? Stop trying to be nice to everyone and be nice to yourself! It’s called self-discipline!

5. Find a support buddy, group, or a coach if you have trouble sticking to marketing tasks. Think “accountability partner.” This is simply an ally (or a group of them) who really gets behind you and your vision for you and your cookbook. You can connect via email, phone or live meetings to share inspiration, support, triumphs, disasters and ideas. This is especially helpful if you’re a procrastinator. Get in touch before AND after you get your work done each day. I’m working with an accountability partner right now. It’s no big deal. We email or speak for a few minutes almost every day. Trust me, it works! Remember, do no spend time with anyone who is not 100% supportive of your book project and your efforts. If you work from home already, you can determine 2 days out of the week that are strictly devoted to “business development.” I go into this is great detail in my “7 Secrets of a Successful Self-Published Cookbook.” And if you hire me as your coach, I’ll be your accountability partner!

6. Create a beautiful workspace you love. A great creative workspace can be a separate room (preferably) or a devoted corner of your living space that has ALL the tools you need. Clean this space until it shines. Include inspirational helpers, like visual props, pictures, quotations and anything else that gives you positive feelings. Design it with the same care as you’ve planned the work of your cookbook and your “author’s platform.” You’ll be spending a lot of time in this space, so make sure it is a nurturing space that is organized and gives you energy!

7. Eat right, drink lots of water; keep power bars or shakes in your creative workspace. Take time to prepare delicious, nutritious meals. They do not have to be complicated to be healthy. Eat fresh vegetables, salads, and fruits. Always have a glass of fresh water at your finger tips when you are working. For energy boosts, I favor Isagenix products. Cliff bars, Luna bars, Power bars, spirulina shakes and the like all provide great bursts of energy when you’re burning the midnight oil. Don’t forget them! Keep them handy. These snacks honestly give you more sustained energy than caffeine, without rattling your nervous system and keeping you awake when you need to sleep. Remember, the brain needs nutrition and sleep. You are asking it to do a lot of work!

8. Dedicate a weekend to completely de-cluttering your home and creative work space. Sell off or give away ALL the unwanted but usable stuff. Clear out all the accumulated stuff you’ve jammed into drawers, shelves, corners and assorted nooks and crannies. Don’t be afraid to discard, or make great bags for sale or give away. Clear out your clothes closet and give those usable clothes to a worthy cause. This act releases energy that gives you a great boost for your cookbook writing and “author’s platform” building.

9. Exercise every single day – at least five times a week for 20 minutes a day. Whether it’s a sweaty workout on the treadmill, going to the gym and pumping, going for a long walk with your dogs, swimming, skiing, yoga – anything that gets your heart rate going. I really enjoy kick boxing. It really gets me going! You need to generate energy in your body in order to be able to energize your platform and bring people to you who want to know about you! You need fresh air and oxygen. You need to get up from your computer and stretch and walk around every hour also. Get up and just walk around the block if you are working many hours in a row. Go out into the backyard. Just breathe in some fresh air. Your brain really needs the extra oxygen, because you are working hard!

10. Build a daily social media presence. Start or end your day with a blog post. If you don’t have a blog, you need to get. Preferably a Word Press Blog. Why Word Press? Because it has tools and awesome plug-ins you can easily install that enable your blog post to automatically upload to Twitter as well. Go to ‘Pages’ on Facebook and make sure your RSS feed to your blog is set up so it automatically posts to Facebook. Add recordings from a potential Podcast to your weekly uploads to your blog. Add video to you blog. Circulate in the blogosphere and find blogs that reach your market and get to know those people and start to ‘cross-pollinate’. Drive people to your Facebook Fanpage. If you don’t know how to use social media, please ask me. I can help you! I can also help you learn how to feed the “Google monster” so everyone knows what you are doing. By the time your book is ready, you will be known. That’s one of the reasons you need a Word Press blog rather than a regular website. Websites are static. No one can interact with you on a website. But they can on a Word Press blog. Word Press blogs are “dynamic.”

11. If you have a day job, bring your lunch to work. That way, you can spend your lunch hour on your cookbook or your “author’s platform.” That’s what I did when I was writing my first cookbook in 2007. Realize that going out for lunch while you are in the middle of writing a book is a time waster. Also realize that this is temporary. You will have plenty of time for wonderful lunches with friends when you cookbook in completed! So close the door and shut the workday out. Then pull out your sandwich from home or heat up your pasta and get busy on your important work. If you do have to heat some food, slip out to the microwave a few minutes ahead of time so you don’t waste time waiting in line to use it. During this lunch hour time write your promotional emails, get your social media going, identify your time-wasters and develop a plan to drop them, etc. And don’t open the door for anyone until that sacred hour has passed! This time is yours! Make the best use of it! Don’t let anyone rob you! If you don’t have a door and are working from a cubicle and absolutely feel you must go somewhere else, do so, but go alone to a nearby café or coffee house where you can use your laptop. This also applies if you cannot access social media sites from you work computer, some companies do not allow it. So just work with your situation. Don’t use it as an excuse to get nothing done.

12. Start Speaking up. As an author, you are going to have to get used to being in front of people, telling them about your cookbook. Standing up in front of a crowd can help you spread your mission AND make you big bucks – even at small, unpaid gigs. Your speaking expertise will help you sell books. Speaking is THE single most important thing you can do to get known by hundreds or even thousands of people fast. But it’s not just about the content of your talk; it’s about how you close your talk. There will be more opportunities for this type of training when I launch the International Association of Cookbook Writers, IACBW, in January 2010. So stay tuned for that.

If you begin implementing these hints into your life now, you will be well on your way to success! So good luck, and get going!

Remember, my system, “The 7 Secrets of a Successful Self-Published Cookbook,” is a step-by-step, easy-to-follow system that will get you writing your cookbook in no time! For more information on my system or working with me visit:

http://www.cookbookcoach.com/

If you have questions or want to discuss working with me, contact me at:
info@cookbookcoach.com

We can set up a FREE 30 minute phone consultation.

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!

Do you want to write a cookbook?…

But don’t know how to get started?

Are you struggling with your cookbook project? Have you set it aside?

I know exactly how you feel, but the good news is – I’ve developed an easy-to-follow,  proven system to get your cookbook started and keep you going until it’s completed!

On Wednesday February 3, 2010 I will be launching the first of this year’s Cookbook Author’s Boot Camps!

When you enroll into the program, I’ll show you how to write your cookbook in 7 weeks – guaranteed.

If you’ve got the desire, I have the system, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

If you sign-up and pay in full by January 31, 2010, I am going to offer 2 great bonuses. So check out the link to get the full story. I hope to “see you on the first call” next wednesday!

http://www.youcanwriteacookbook.com/

Okay…here is Tip #4

This one may be hard for some of you. It does require some discipline!

Politely and elegantly opt-out from at least three situations or relationships that waste your energy. Energy wasters only leave you feeling depressed, frustrated, annoyed, unappreciated and vaguely used or even “beaten up.” YIKES! Who needs that?

Get them out of your life right now, and you won’t believe how much energy they free up for your cookbook! For instance, “doubters”, if you have people in your life who do not believe that you can write a cookbook, get rid of them. It’s that simple. Friends who want to take up your time and energy, but don’t give – I call them “energy vampires.” Relatives who like to call you up and pick fights or volunteer you for opportunities-tell them you are writing a book, give them the message that for the time being, you no longer volunteer, at least until you book is completed.

And please, don’t feel bad about this; your cookbook is a much greater gift to society as a whole than helping your friend’s, cousin’s, cousin’s, friend move! Get the picture? Stop trying to be nice to everyone and be nice to yourself! It’s called self-discipline!

Continuing on the Getting your Cookbook Done theme….here is tip #3…

3. Recognize five time-wasters and put an end them – right away! If you are constantly checking your email, STOP! Other time wasters include spending too much time on the phone, sitting in front of the TV, and reading the paper from start to finish. Take a clear look at how you spend your time, and honestly assess your time usage. You won’t have time to do your cookbook if you continue to engage in these time wasting activities. And believe me, the thing I hear most often from would-be authors is “I don’t have enough time!” And guess what…that’s why they remain “would-be authors.” Not enough time? BS, make the time! If you are truly committed, you will make time for something you truly desire. If not, then you are just kidding yourself.

Remember, getting your cookbook done is a journey. You have to take steps everyday towards your goal. Start now, and keep going! Okay, so here is Tip #2

2. Determine your soul purpose in life, and post it on your computer. Once you figure it out, surround yourself with it whenever you can. This is your larger job in life. It’s not a task, per se, but the general gift that you are meant to give to others, such as ‘help people feel more gratitude,’ ‘help people to eat more healthy,’ ‘wake people up to the power of nature’ or ‘remind people of their compassion,’ ‘awaken passion in others.’ You get the idea! It can be uncovered by journaling, or even meditating on the question. Your soul purpose in life is the basis for your “author’s platform,” It’s where your cookbook comes from, and where the “hook” lives and breathes.

The New Year is all about new beginnings. Make 2010 the year you create your dream of writing your own cookbook a reality! To help you do this successfully, you’ll also want to think about increasing your ‘fan’ base and “getting better known.” This will require some work, so I’ve listed some helpful adjustments you can make to ensure your success!

Have you been waiting for the “right time” to get to work on your cookbook? I would like to tell you that there’s no time like right now to get going. And if you start now, by the time it’s the end of January, you’ll have a head start and have some momentum to keep going! If you start now, your cookbook can be a reality in 2010. If you procrastinate, telling yourself “I don’t have time,” you will miss a really good opportunity. What excuse will you have in February?  Valentines Day? You have to decide to move forward, and that means no matter what. Just TAKE ACTION, and get started!

Here are my Top 12 Great Tips for getting your cookbook project going, and building your “author’s platform.” Take note, these are NOT marketing tips; I’m just showing you how to live as you “step” into your greatness! Start these good habits now so when you do really go into “turbo writing,” you will be rid of time wasters, negative habits and energy robbing situations.

I’ll be posting 1 Tip a day….So here is number 1.

1. Schedule regular time slots to work on your cookbook and your “author’s platform” and get to work. If you’re a morning person get up an hour earlier and create as the sun rises. The hour right before the sun rises is one of the most powerful times of day. If you’re a night owl, stay up late to get it done. Either way, give yourself a regular slot of at least sixty minutes per day (2 hours is even better) five time per week. But if you are a night owl, make sure you get enough sleep. You may need to catch a nap during the day. If you have children, schedule your time to work when they are doing their activities. Enlist the help of supportive friends, or your parents who can help you by taking the kids off your hands for a couple of hours. Find a way. You just have to stick with the program. Don’t use your children as an excuse for not writing your book. They are the reason you should write your book…think Legacy!