is a two-day intensive workshop for professional chefs and others eager to publish cookbooks of quality. In a series of six seminars hosted by award-winning cookbook authors Matt Lee and Ted Lee and conducted in the historic heart of Charleston, South Carolina, participants will learn the best practices of book publishing today. Matt and Ted lead a select group of participants in seminars whose rigorous, workshop-style exercises will produce a compelling and unique culinary vision, and a personalized action plan for each participant, including, in the final seminar, the foundation of a book proposal. Seminars begin with the fundamentals of crafting a personalized story and progress to the nuts and bolts, topics like writing, developing and testing recipes, finding an agent, editing a manuscript, managing a successful photo shoot and choosing the right cookbook concept. The benefits and disadvantages of publishing conventionally on a national scale and of privately publishing cookbooks are extensively discussed.

Each retreat is limited to 6 participants and the next session, on January 6th and 7th, 2025 in Charleston, is open for registration. Pre-registration (via the button on the left, above) is open to culinary professionals and passionate enthusiasts of all types.

Praise for Cookbook Boot Camp:

"The information on recipe writing, photographer and stylist, editorial lingo, etc. were really invaluable---information like that is really hard to come by."

"After attending the Boot Camp, I know that I now have the knowledge and “insider information” to travel a path that until now, only seemed to be a hopeless dream. Thank you not only for the wealth of information you shared with us, but especially for pushing us to think…to write…and to begin the process."

"You illuminated a few pieces of the recipe-writing process that have eluded me.  It was great to do it in such a small group and hear everyone speak and work thru their signature recipe."

"Thank you for giving me the confidence that writing a cookbook is an attainable goal for me, for spending so much time helping me to define my voice and to get in touch with my (hungry) heart!  Thank you for being so so generous with your knowledge and your experience and for giving me the opportunity to meet five other amazing boot campers whose creativity and diverse backgrounds really inspired me."