[Comet]

Does anyone know about this topic? Does the recipe have to be entirely your own or just altered?
My idea is to write a book with basic cooking but with unique presentation. Interested to hear anyones thoughts and advice on this topic!

[clotilde]

Hello Comet,

From a strictly legal point of view, the recipes only have to be written in your own words; only the text of a recipe is copyrightable, not the idea or the process. But from an ethical (and from the potential buyers') point of view, the recipes have to be original to you, so it's best if you develop/fine-tune your own.

I can recommend The Recipe Writer's Handbook as an excellent guide to help you get started.

Clotilde.

[Comet]

Thanks Clotilde. That book is just what I need. Your advice is much appreciated.

[Pavlova]

I'd love to write a cookbook but I can imagine there would be a lot of hard work in the preparation, then the financing and marketing, promotion. Please Comet let us know what you decide.

Comet, I don't know if you've thought about it but as an alternative to printing a book you could write an e-book, which means no hefty printing costs for you. It's all done via the internet.

With an e-book you'd sell it online and the person pays (eg via PayPal) and once you receive payment you email them a copy of the book (eg PDF format) and they print it off themselves at their own leisure.

I first discovered an e-book when I wanted to buy a Learn to Knit book and this is how the seller explained how I pay and receive the book and print it myself and it sounded quite reasonable. I think I paid £5.00 and that meant about 100 pages and no postage charges.
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[Comet]

Thanks Pavlova! The e book is definitely an option as I already have a website.
The cook book is really an extension of my designs that I'm launching this year.