What does it really take to get a cookbook published today? I sat down with Sally Ekus, lead of and senior literary agent at The Ekus Group (now a division of JVNLA), to explore the intersection of food, publishing, and entrepreneurship.
Sally has spent over 16 years representing cookbook authors, chefs, food writers, and culinary thought leaders, helping them bring their unique stories and recipes to print. She shares how publishing has evolved from the days of Julia Child and Emeril Lagasse to the era of TikTok food creators, Substack writers, and BookTok trends.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- How cookbook publishing really works today—pitching, proposals, and what agents look for
- Why an author’s platform and audience matter as much as their expertise
- The role of Instagram, TikTok, newsletters, and Substack in discovering new food writers
- The shift from big book tours to digital discoverability
- Advice for chefs, restaurateurs, and food entrepreneurs who want to publish their first cookbook
- Why repurposing content (from newsletters to older podcast episodes) is key for longevity
- The importance of mentorship, patience, and persistence in publishing and entrepreneurship
About Sally Ekus
Sally leads The Ekus Group, a boutique literary agency specializing in cookbooks and culinary talent. With a background in sociology, she brings a unique perspective to agenting—blending negotiation skills with deep care for authors’ stories. She also writes the popular Substack “Not So Secret Agent,” where she offers transparent insights into the publishing world.
- Follow Sally on Instagram: @sallyekus
- The Ekus Group / JVNLA: @ekusgroup, @jvnla
- Subscribe to Sally’s Substack: Not So Secret Agent
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