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.

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!!

Are you are a pro chef, personal chef, nutritionist, or caterer who wants to showcase your great recipes and create some additional income with a cookbook for your customers?

If the answer is YES…Read on.

Are you excited about the idea of having your own cookbook but don’t know the first thing about putting a cookbook together? Have people told you they want copies of your recipes but you don’t know where to begin? If writing a cookbook is something you have considered, think about this: What could be more exhilarating than the enjoyment of selling your very own cookbook and making money at the same time?

Consider the following questions.

• Is writing a cookbook one of your burning heart’s desires?
• Have your family and friends raved about your cooking and asked, no, begged you for your recipes?
• Have they mentioned that if you had a cookbook, they would buy it?
• Do you have an idea for a cookbook, but don’t know how to get it going?
• Do you want to preserve your family heirloom recipes?
• Do you own a restaurant, Bed & Breakfast, cafe, or tea house?
• Have you always thought it would be fun and profitable to have your own cookbook?
• Are you part of association or a non-profit organization looking for a way to raise money?

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, you must join me Laura Denktash, AKA ‘The Cookbook Coach’, and Alicia Dunams on our upcoming monthly teleseminar coaching program where you’ll learn…

How to produce a cookbook from A-Z with seamless effort and ease

How to use your ‘kitchen knowledge’ to create new income from information and customers you already have

How to avoid the most costly mistakes people make when they publish and market their first cookbook and what to do instead

How you can add an extra 1,000-5,000 each month after doing the work only once

How to leverage your cookbook to book speaking engagements and TV appearances

Plus much, much more!

Join me and Alicia and learn the most essential keys to publishing and profiting from your first cookbook (and selling tons of it). Are you ready to finally start making some money with your kitchen know-how? Reserve your space on the call now (before all the slots are taken)…

Sign up by May 31, 2010 and receive absolutely FREE, a BONUS 30 minute personal coaching call with me and Alicia (a $500.00 value!)

Contact me below for class details to reserve your spot now!

Comments or questions are welcome.

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Branding for Brilliance wants to be your one-stop solution for Personal Branding, Social Media Marketing, and Online Presence creation.
You know you’re an expert in your field. We recognize your unique talents and qualities. Now it’s time for everyone else to know about you! Let Branding for Brilliance position you for success. Gain high visibility and make a lasting and unforgettable impression on your target market and the people that matter the most to you.
At Branding for Brilliance we understand that your brand is YOU! It is the most authentic version of yourself, which is the most powerful form of your essence. When the inner you and the outer you are congruent, people who see you experience you as warm, sincere, trustworthy, and authentic.
As the qualities of your essence are clearly communicated through your branding, people begin to feel your self-confidence and they understand your purpose. This becomes compelling and your unique reputation begins to be noticed. This creates a feeling of self confidence within you; as well as a reciprocal feeling of confidence others have in you.
Make no mistake, you can experience incredible life-changing results when your essence is tapped and the true YOU is revealed. The art of branding is in understanding how to convey this to the masses. Remember, whether it is in person or online, you really only have between 10-20 seconds to make that everlasting first impression.
We would like the opportunity to help you convey your truly authentic “best version” to the world. We can help you accomplish this by balancing the inner and outer messages you convey.
Experience the feeling of confidence in knowing who you are, and what gifts you bring to the world while knowing you always put your best foot forward. A truly powerful combination in today’s marketplace!
Contact Branding for Brilliance for a complimentary 30-minute get acquainted session. We look forward to hearing from you!

Laura Denktash is an author, publisher, marketing, and branding passionista who truly enjoys working with people to create and build authentic and powerful branding that enhances their life and their business.

Are you in the process of writing a cookbook?

Are you wondering where you can find a reputable printer who understands cookbooks?

I would like to recommend Callawind.

Members of the International Association of Cookbook Writers – IACBW, now receive FREE cookbook recipe indexing (a $500 value)

When you choose Callawind to design, layout, and print your cookbook, they will professionally index your cookbook recipes for free!

For more than 15 years, award-winning Callawind has helped cookbook writers to self publish mouthwatering cookbooks.

Callawind-produced cookbooks have been featured by such high-profile media as Food Network, The Travel Channel, QVC, Food & Wine, Better Homes and Gardens, Publishers Weekly, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

Join the IACBW and choose Callawind for you cookbook printing needs, and take advantage of this generous offer TODAY!

There is still time to complete your cookbook in 2010!

Learn more about Callawind here.

Join the IACBW here.

Do you want to write a cookbook?…

But don’t know how to get started?

The Cookbook Author’s Boot Camp is coming soon!

Are you struggling with your cookbook project?

Have you set it aside?

I know exactly how you feel…

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!

I want you to get your book done so we can focus on really fun things like additional products you may want to develop, or your television appearances on cooking segments at your local TV stations, or your speaking engagements.

All these things are possible when you have your cookbook!

But, you have to take the most important first step, and get your cookbook done!

I want you to feel the pride and joy I have gained by having my own cookbook.

My book has opened many doors for me, and I know your cookbook can do the same for you!

Can you imagine how good you will feel when your cookbook is completed?

9 times out of 10 my clients say, “If I had known it would be this simple, I would have done it a long time ago!”

So stop worrying about everything being “perfect.”

Take some action towards your goal, decide to write and finish your cookbook this year…that’s right…in 2010!

It can be done!

Here’s more information about the Cookbook Authors Boot Camp

Take advantage of the special offers NOW!!

Hope to “see” you there!!

Okay…you’ve got a good idea for a non-fiction book. Cool!

You’ve thought your idea through…Great!

What’s next?

A Book Proposal…

I know what you’re thinking….

You’re thinking why do I have to write a book proposal?

More writing? YUCK!

WRONG answer!

You should be happy to do a book proposal, and I’m  going to tell you why…

I know this because when I wrote my first book proposal, it was a revelation!

rev·e·la·tion

1. the act of revealing or disclosing; disclosure.
2. something revealed or disclosed, esp. a striking disclosure, as of something not before realized.

It was so powerful, that now I require all my clients to have a completed book proposal, even for clients who intend to self-publish.

WHY?

Because… the book proposal is where the power lies.

When you go through the process of writing the proposal you are creating the business plan for your book.

As an author, you have to know all about your book, inside and out.

WHY?

So you can pitch it!

You have to know what you are talking about….

You are the expert of your book.

If you want to talk to publishers, you have to realize that they are going to expect you to answer a lot of questions about your book.

And, you can’t blame them because they are going to be taking a chance on your book, so you better know how to explain everything about it.

That includes marketing.

Marketing is the most important thing. Many new authors miss the boat on the marketing.

That’s why the book proposal is so important. It forces you to create a marketing plan for your book.

You’ll know exactly who your customer is.

You have to know this so you can convince the publisher to work with you.

Doing a book proposal is really not so bad, and with the right attitude, it can be fun!

How cool is it to really know everything about your book project, and be able to clearly communicate everything great about your book to other people when you talk about it?

It’s very cool, and it makes you look really good.

So get with the proposal.

All you need is title, complete description, the primary benefit of the book, explanation of what the book is about, the specifications, your target market, marketing plan, competition survey, chapter outline (TOC) and sample chapter.

Not the whole book!

You may or may not get a publisher interested in your book, but you will have your proposal and you’ll  be able to make an educated decision about your next steps.

You’ll also have your marketing plan, so you’ll know exactly what to do to market your book should you decide to publish yourself.

Book proposals ROCK!

So get busy. There is still time to write your proposal this year and get it out there!

Contact me if I can be of service to you. I love a good book proposal!

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!

I created the space at Cookbook Advertiser just  for you, the independent cookbook authors of the world!

It wasn’t too long ago that I published my first cookbook, The Rose Cookbook – a Treasury of Rose Recipes from Around the World.

That was in 2007. I was really excited to have my cookbook in my hand…but guess what…I didn’t have a website to showcase my book.  Now what? I lost a lot of precious time and I remember thinking that I should have taken care of that while I was waiting for my book to be printed.

About that same time, I realized there should be a system for cookbook authors that would help them write their book. With those thoughts swirling about in my mind, I became the Cookbook Coach.

I then made a promise to myself to dedicate my time to creating the system for writing cookbooks, and also create a space for author’s like myself, who had just finished their books, but didn’t quite have a place to show it off yet.

Whether you have created an eBook, or a traditional book, you are welcome to advertise here.  For all the details, check out the Cookbook Advertiser.  I look forward to seeing your cookbook there!

When I founded the International Association of Cookbook Writers – IACBW, I gave a lot of thought to the benefits package.

I wanted to make sure that there would be super high-value for the members.

I think I have succeeded.  I only wish an association like the IACBW existed when I was writing my first cookbook!

But, that is part of the reason I founded the organization!

With that said, I am taking this “March Madness” thing a step further and I have come up with what I hope  can be an irresistible offer for those of you who have been “thinking” about joining.

In addition to all the membership benefits, I am offering 6 FREE HOURS of group coaching to anyone who joins in the month of March!

The goal of our organization is to offer training and  encouragement to cookbook writers so they feel empowered and energized to develop their cookbook idea and bring it forth into the marketplace. We support their efforts with education, resources, and community.

So if you are considering writing your cookbook and completing it this year, which is completely possible with my system and support, please check out the special limited-time offer I’ve put together at  IACBW!

Let me know how I can be of service  in assisting you in achieving your goals of being a published cookbook author in 2010!

I would love to help you make your dream a reality!