Submissions
There are two things that connect absolutely everyone: food and stories. More people need to be able to share their food and by extension their story, which is why Blasta Books will initially prioritise new voices from people in Ireland who haven't previously published a cookbook.
Are you the driving force behind a much-loved restaurant, bakery, café or food truck? Are you an expert on a topic or cuisine that hasn't been explored in Irish publishing yet? Are you an immigrant who has made Ireland your home and is bringing your food to a new audience? Are you a chef, food writer or someone with a strong voice, a compelling story to tell and a solid repertoire of recipes or a killer idea? Then we would like to hear from you.
Our cookbooks are small format (A5 size, 72 pages), with around 30 recipes, so the brief for all Blasta authors is simple: every single recipe has to be really damn delicious. If you'd like to be considered as a Blasta Books author, please include the following in a proposal (ideally as a PDF or Microsoft Word document) and email it to submissions@ninebeanrowsbooks.com:
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Page 1 - Title page: This page should be just the proposed title and author name.
- Paeg 2 - Synopsis: Give us a short summary of your idea. This could be just one paragraph but no longer than one page. We're looking for cookbooks with a single strong theme. It could be a specific cuisine; recipes centred around an issue; recipes from a business such as a restaurant, farm, food shop, etc.; a cooking technique; or even a single ingredient. Respectfully, we are not looking for cookbooks about weight loss, diets centred on medical conditions or elimination diets.
- Page 3 - About the author: Tell us more about yourself! What makes you an expert in your proposed topic or why are you so passionate about it? Can you share any testimonials? Include your email address and phone number as contact details at the end of your bio.
- Page 4 - Market for the book: Briefly describe the market for the book. Other than the general cookbook-buying public, who is your target audience? Who would this book appeal to? Why is the time right for this book? Could it be sold anywhere in addition to the usual bookshops? Also include details of how you can help to spread the word about it.
- Page 5 - Table of contents (TOC): Keep in mind that these are small books, so allow for an introduction and at least 30 of your best recipes but no more than 40. In your TOC, also list any essential extra text (e.g. top tips, in-depth notes or asides, lists of store cupboard staples and/or special equipment, resources of where to buy ingredients, etc.) that might be needed.
- Page 6 - Introduction: Tell us your story in two pages max. Read the intros in a few of your favourite cookbooks to get an idea of what's needed here. This should be the introduction that you would include in the published cookbook.
- Pages 7+ - Sample recipes: Include five complete sample recipes. These should be well-tested, well-written examples that make us want to immediately head to the kitchen to start cooking them. Every recipe must include a recipe title, headnote, serving amount, ingredients and method.