Recently, a group of interesting cookbook and food related authors from around the country participated in eatricious’ Author Roundtable, an interview-style discussion that sought to uncover the personalities behind work that does not necessarily grace the covers of national magazines and TV shows.  Here are excerpts from the interviews.

eatricious: What inspired you to write your cookbook?

Angela McKeller, author of Passion on a Plate: Affordable & EASY Gourmet and host of the popular radio show Kick Back and Kook had been frustrated with cookbooks ever since she was a teenager.  She says most recipes did not offer the right balance between convenience and taste, nor did the cookbooks make meal planning simple.  Further, she says few focused on healthy fare.  Angela’s book “takes all of the guesswork out of “kooking”!” and explains how to simplify grocery shopping and make recipes healthier.

Angela McKeller

Kelly Rudnicki, author of The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book says “When my son was diagnosed with life threatening food allergies I had to come to terms with how to bake delicious food again, but safely, so that my son could enjoy it. John, along with the millions of other food allergic kids, is my daily inspiration. I bake for them.”

Vanessa Barrington, “completely changed” her eating habits while working on her Heirloom Beans book project with a bean expert and farmer.  She says beans are now a staple in her house.  Vanessa’s newest book is about inspiring people to eat better by giving them the skills to make their own basic kitchen staples – from mustard, salad dressing, simple cheeses, yogurt, soft drinks, bread and tortillas.

eatricious: If you and your spouse were vegetables, which vegetable would each of you be and why? (If you do not have a spouse, then pick someone in your family.)

Lara Starr, author of The Frugal Foodie Cookbook and self-proclaimed “cheapskate” when it comes to grocery shopping remarks ‘I’m a butternut squash – sweet, versatile, a little bottom-heavy and at my best in the Fall.  John Starr is a potato – simple, filling and goes with everything.’ When grocery shopping Lara also advises to:

• Make a meal plan for the week – you will know exactly what you need.
• Only use coupons for things you would buy anyway and make sure you are really getting a good deal.
• Do not shop hungry, and if possible, leave the kids at home!

Angela McKeller says “I would be spinach!  Put me in a salad, wilt me over pasta or add me to risotto – I’m happy no matter where you put me!  My boyfriend would be upscale ravioli!”

eatricious: What is the biggest challenge you face in marketing your cookbook?  What ways can authors use the Internet to market their cookbooks (other than their website and blog)?

Frugal Foodie Lara Starr says she received “amazing newspaper publicity” for her first book despite competing with celebrity chefs and TV hosts but says one challenge is that traditional media is shrinking.  She counters, however, that “the Internet has created so many opportunities to reach out to targeted audiences in a way that never existed 10 years ago.”  (eatricious: I guess you just have to know where to look – wink!)

Kami Gray, author of The Denim Diet, active mom and TV wardrobe stylist says “My book has a large recipe section, but it is being marketed as a diet book.  I think cookbooks face the same challenges as diet books — there is so much competition! I use LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook (fan page), Culinate, BlogHer and Library Thing.  Sending out books for review is also a great way to garner credibility as well as exposure.”

Kami Gray

Over at Kick Back and Kook Angela says “I find that building relationships on Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites is a great way to get the word out.  The problem that I have is that it is very time consuming to build those relationships with everything else I have on my plate (no pun intended!).”

eatricious: Unhealthy eating habits are having a marked, negative effect on the lives of millions Americans.  What can we do in our daily lives to help the situation?

Nava Atlas, author of Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife, a darkly humorous commentary on contemporary marriage and motherhood that is designed as a faux 1950s-style cookbook (as well as nine or so other vegetarian and vegan cookbooks) has her formula: “1) Stop eating animals. 2) Stop drinking caloric, unnecessary beverage that are manufactured mainly to use up this country’s surplus of corn. 3) Stop eating refined carbs.”

Kelly Rudnicki, the Food Allergy Mama remarks “Eating at home often is the best thing we can do to bring healthy habits back to our family’s table.”  Kelly makes it a point to have her kids eat together for breakfast, lunch and dinner. “Breaking bread at the table brings the whole family together.”

Michelle Carbone, author of Friday Evening: Creating La Dolce Vita, one bite at a time, an entertaining recipe for finding happiness by adopting a food based lifestyle says to “search for and eat as close to the vine, hoof or ocean as possible.  Prepare your foods yourself.  Pay attention to the trash you produce with your current food habits.  If there is a lot of trash, you are buying the wrong foods.”

eatricious: How do you get busy women who are not 100% happy with their bodies to truly take time for healthy meals?  What advice would you give to women who do not make the connection between the food they eat and the way they look and feel?

Nava Atlas quips “I don’t think any woman is even 75% happy with her body!” while Vanessa Barrington reasons that women should first “accept themselves as they are” but also pay attention to their bodies. “Sometimes it’s your body trying to tell you something”.

Vanessa Barrington

Kami Gray from the Denim Diet and Madhu Gadia, author of the New Indian Home Cooking and The Indian Vegan Kitchen take more practical stances.  Kami says she asks people to identify the one habit that ‘is contributing most to keeping you at that unhealthy, unhappy weight?’ “I tell them to start there.” she says. “I have found that for most people, giving up that one habit is half the battle. Once they have licked their worst bad habit and realize how much better they feel, the momentum is unstoppable and they are ready to tackle the next.  Madhu says “Start by eating 1 healthy meal a day and increase it gradually.”

Tames Alan, author of the Taste Through Time cookbook series and historical food lecturer says “I try to encourage people to eat slowly and truly taste what they are eating, but mostly, to take note of how they feel after they have eaten a certain food. Hopefully, this helps them make a connection to how the foods they eat affect their physical appearance.

eatricious: Our slogan here at eatricious is “eat nutritious, eat delicious!”  What does “eat nutritious, eat delicious!” mean to you?

Kelly Rudnicki believes “nutritious is delicious….we just need to retrain our bodies to stop craving the junk.”  Chef Marie, author of the Cooking Well series (who also has many other culinary and wellness pursuits) concludes by saying “’Eat nutritious, eat delicious’ strikes me as a message to eat healthy with a pleasurable purpose. That pleasurable purpose can be broken down like this: First, eat nutritious foods made from the healthiest and most natural sources (like organic) to benefit your body. Second, prepare those healthy foods in a way that will best preserve their qualities while enhancing their flavors. Third, finish by eating the most delicious foods that, without a doubt, pleases your taste buds. Isn’t that what healthy eating should be all about? Great slogan!”