Episode 321: Being a Cookbook Co-Author: A Couple Cooks with Sonja Overhiser

Cookbook Love Podcast

In today’s episode, I’m excited to have an interview with Sonja Overhiser, one of the creative minds behind the award-winning blog A Couple Cooks. Along with her husband Alex, Sonja has built a global following for their healthy, plant-based recipes and expertise in cocktails. Their work has been featured in Food & Wine and The Washington Post, and their blog receives millions of visitors each month. We dive into their journey from fast food to cooking from scratch, the growth of their blog, and the behind-the-scenes process of pitching and reconfiguring their book idea to land a publishing deal. Sonja also shares insights on their new book, A Couple Cooks, offering practical tips for aspiring cookbook writers along the way.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Evolution of A Couple Cooks

• How Sonja and Alex transitioned from a fast-food lifestyle to a mostly plant-based, from-scratch diet
• The inspiration behind starting their blog in 2010
• Their mission to connect readers all over the world with healthy, approachable recipes

Building a Brand and Getting Published

• The journey of turning a passion for food into an award-winning blog with millions of visitors each month
• How they pitched the concept of their book to publishers and reworked it to secure a deal
• Their experience working with major publications like Food & Wine and The Washington Post

Behind the Scenes of A Couple Cooks (The Book)

• Sonja’s and Alex’s message for readers and what they hope to inspire
• The unique cooking method featured in the book: circle and square icons to help couples or friends cook together seamlessly
• Their rigorous recipe testing process to ensure high-quality, fail-proof recipes for every home cook

Tips for Aspiring Cookbook Writers

• Sonja’s advice for aspiring authors seeking a book deal
• The importance of brand-building and developing a clear message before approaching publishers
• How to navigate the process of writing, pitching, and refining a cookbook concept

Things We Mention In This Episode

Join the From Kitchen to Keepsake Bootcamp which begins Monday, November 4th

A Couple Cooks

The Way to Cook by Julia Child