The value of single-subject cookbooks
July 2, 2013 by LindsaySingle-subject cookbooks are suddenly becoming quite popular. Susie discussed this trend in her blog, Return of the single subject cookbook, giving them a ringing endorsement, “ all the things we love about books – the sheer amount of value packed into one appealing, portable package – are what make single-subject books so irreplaceable.”
To carry on the discussion, there’s an interesting article asking Should You Write a Single-Subject Cookbook? on the Will Write for Food blog. Written by Andrea Slonecker, who wrote Pretzel Making at Home (a single-subject cookbook if we’ve ever heard one), she points out the pros and cons of writing a single-subject book from the author’s side.
The obvious major pro is the fun of really delving into a subject about which you’re passionate. There is, however, another pro – easier publicity. As she points out, “Total immersion in the subject makes the author a go-to expert, which opens the door for further opportunities such as interviews, articles, and, for some, spokesperson work.”
The major con is also obvious: The subject had better be fascinating, as you’re going to have to live with it for a long time. And another con – these books tend to be lower priced.
She also gives another interesting piece of advice – be sure to differentiate between a fad and a trend. Trends last longer, giving the book legs, and are usually about ingredients rather than cooking style. But they are also more popular to write, so there probably will be competition. With fads, it’s all about timing – the book has to be the right book at the right time.
Actually, this provides an interesting perspective for purchasers as well as authors – something to think about before investing in a cookbook. Maybe with fads, it’s better to borrow than buy.
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