Edith Wagner, editor of
Reunions magazine, offers these tips for creating your own family cookbook:
- Recruit volunteers to collect and input recipes, stories, traditions and hints.
- Include and stick to a deadline. Follow up regularly.
- When recipes start to arrive: Sort recipes and stories into folders for each food category. Eliminate duplicates. Clarify confusing recipes. Standardize measurements and abbreviations. Proofread every word and have more than one person proofread.
- You must check proofs before the cookbook is printed.
- Printing, assembly and binding books takes two to three months after the publisher receives your recipes.
- Payment is typically due 30-90 days from shipping.
If you would rather self-publish your cookbook, answer these questions:
- What are the book's specifications? Standard (8.5 x 11) size, softcover or hardcover, font, binding (plastic comb, wire, perfect bound, soft back)?
- How much do you want to spend?
- How many will you print?
- How many can you (realistically) sell?
- Where will books be delivered and stored?