How I Got My Cookbook Deal (with a Big Five Publisher!)

A BTS look of how I got my book deal including my manifestation process, writing the proposal, working with an agent, securing the deal & how you can do it too!

Last month I got to share the news that, after two years of work, my debut cookbook is available for pre-order (pub date February 24, 2026).

It’s funny, I felt like I had been waiting for that moment for so long (two years to be exact!) but when it was finally time to share it with the world, I suddenly didn’t feel ready.

I divulged this to my literary agent, who told me this was a totally normal feeling most authors experience.

I guess when you’ve been working on something quietly, diligently, relentlessly for over two years — when you spend a good part of your waking moments dreaming about this book, what you want it to be, what it could be, how to make it better, what you hope it will do for people — when it becomes almost a part of your soul — it feels really vulnerable and scary to share it with others.

But after sitting with the feeling (along with some gentle nudges from my marketing + publicity team) I was able to shift my perspective. Sure it’s scary, but that’s part of what makes it so exciting!

Sharing your work in the hopes that it inspires, helps, supports, connects to, or brings others joy in some way is a part of the process — it’s one of the core reasons why writers pursue publishing.

And I know I’m not alone in dreaming of becoming a published author — in fact 80% of Americans (272 million people!) express the desire to write a book.

Of that 80%, 3% actually finish their manuscript, and 1% go on to get it published by a traditional publisher.

While the odds might sound daunting, if I can do it — just a normal gal with a dream, not a celebrity/public figure with a massive following, previously published author, etc. — I truly believe you can do it too.

So today I’m going to share what that process was like for me — starting from the pure desire to write and publish a cookbook, followed by the exact steps I took to get there, including:

💫 My manifestation process (sounds woo woo, but it was an integral part of my journey — just wait for the receipts!)

💫 How I started working with an agent (and why I believe it was important for me)

💫 Writing the book proposal (the process from start to finish, what I included, etc.)

💫 The proposal pitch (who we pitched to and why)

💫 Getting a deal with a Big Five Publisher (& why I chose that route)

💫 My emotions and decision-making process through it all (I don’t hold back!)

Whether or not you desire to write a book, I truly believe anyone with a long-standing vision or dream to create/accomplish something would find this post helpful and expansive, and at the very least you get a fun, personal and very honest BTS look at the creative process for this beautiful book and how it came to be.

With that, let’s get into it!