Read Bottom Up (23 page)

From: Madeline Whittaker

Date: Thu, Jul 10 at 5:06 PM

To: Elliot Rowe

Hey,

I think it's a solid idea. If you really think there's something to it, you should put together a proposal. All proposals look different. Basically I'd gather the meat (haha) of the book to make sure there's enough—like a list of recipes to see if this is just a trend you've noticed a few times or if there's so much information, you know you'll have to cut. And then also explore comparison titles. Look on Amazon or go to the bookstore and see what's out there and how it's doing. And you might want to play down the “using Mexican laborers for their recipes and making money off them” angle or reframe it. Up to you. Then you should probably get an agent who either specializes or has experience with cookbooks. One good way to find one is to look in the back of cookbooks you admire and read the acknowledgments page and then google the agents for contact information . . . or you can also send your proposal directly to a bunch of different publishing houses. If you're worried about not being Gwyneth Paltrow (who isn't?), you can always start a blog—develop a platform and get the attention of food editors that way. Hope that helps!

Ramen sounds good.