Writing a fund-raising cookbook is still one of the most reliable ways for non-profits to raise money. The difference today is the manner in which it is marketed. Laura Denktash, known as the “Cookbook Coach”, has developed a no-nonsense system to successfully write, publish, and sell a self-published cookbook.
She originally determined a need for such a system when self-publishing her own cookbook in 2007. Approaching a book like a project from the start, with a schedule and milestones takes the chaos out of any book writing project. By shortening the learning curve, Ms. Denktash ensures the authors she works with spend their time creating their book, not figuring out how to do things. Her new system, “The 7 Secrets of a Successful Self-Published Cookbook” is designed for authors who have decided self-publishing to be their quickest route to creating a cookbook. She’s now taken it a step further by adapting the system for non-profits.
No newcomer to writing and marketing, Ms Denktash has 16 years of experience. She identified a need for this service for the non-profit sector in 2007 while she was volunteering at a non-profit horse rescue facility in her area. At that time she developed a prototype of the class she is offering now. Relying on her background as quality assurance professional and technical writer, she was quickly able to assess the needs of the group. The prototype included a method for gathering recipes and artwork, submitting stories, and editing the materials.
She draws on her many years of training and her experience as a contract writer for governmental agencies to create a systematic class the moves through the steps of book creation and marketing quickly and efficiently. She takes into account that everyone is already too busy and has too much work. But, she is committed to that fact that a cookbook writing project can be great way to cultivate and atmosphere of fun, if only for a little while, during an otherwise hectic day. She also likes to stress the feeling of accomplishment that can be gained at the completion of a book.
According to Ms. Denktash, “The question she gets most often is, ‘How do I start a cookbook?’” Her answer? One recipe at a time. Non-profits have a target market, just like authors. It’s like niche marketing for the non-profit sector. Know your customer and your book can be profitable.”
Ms. Denktash is a passionate serial entrepreneur. Her book, “The Rose Cookbook – A Treasury of Rose Recipes from Around the World,” has been well received by rose circles. A member of the American Rose Society, she makes appearances at local chapter meetings and district conventions, speaking about her book. She currently has enthusiastic cookbook writing students as far away as Nepal and Sweden. Her business writing expertise has led her to consulting positions in the aerospace, semi-conductor, manufacturing, and construction industries.
She has served as an examiner for the California Council for Excellence, a state-level agency for the promotion of the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. In 2006 she submitted an application for her company for the California version, the CAPE Award. Her efforts were rewarded with the prestigious Prospector Award. She has appeared on local television shows demonstrating how to cook with roses, and is a popular guest for radio and teleseminars. Her creativity, enthusiasm, and strong commitment to quality are unwavering. Ms. Denktash is capable of addressing larger groups of non-profits for the purpose of teaching her self- publishing method. She is available for telephone consultations, with initial consultation at no charge.
