What's Happening This Week
Monday, July 13, 2026
Hello everyone!
There are two different meetings in two different time zones this month. Both meetings are free to join.
Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific Meeting: Wednesday, July 15 at 8am BST
North America and Europe Meeting: Wednesday, July 22 at 11am EST
Registration is required and you’ll find all the information below.
LIVE: Cookbook Proposal Q&A
Join Kelsey Erin Shipman and Rebecca Blackwell on Thursday, July 23rd for a 30-minute live Q&A on cookbook proposals: what they are, what they need to include, and how to start turning a cookbook idea into something agents and publishers can understand. We’ll talk through the major pieces of a strong cookbook proposal, including concept, audience, comp titles, sample recipes, author platform, visual direction, and why your book belongs in the market now.
This Week: Mastermind for Food Writers in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific
Meeting topic: TBD
DATE: July 15, 8 a.m. BST / 9 a.m. CET
Meeting hosted by Liza Debevec
Follow this link to register for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rMuX8Kx6RU2BhiT1aEcQXQ
After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.
Please register a day in advance if possible, to make sure you get the meeting link on time and to avoid ‘waiting at the door’.
Next week: Mastermind for Food Writers: North America & Europe
Meeting Topic: This month will be an open-forum-style meeting. Bring your questions, challenges, roadblocks, and requests for feedback. This is your chance to take full advantage of all the brain power and expertise in the room!
DATE: Wednesday, July 22, 11 a.m. New York time (Eastern Daylight Time)
Meeting hosted by Rebecca Blackwell
Follow this link to register for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LVFFa9MfTGOdgNb8LFtaeA
After you register for the meeting, you will receive an email that will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar in your time zone.
Food Photography Class Recording!
In the June Mastermind Meeting, Shelly Waldman, Jessie-Sierra; The Last Bite and I taught a mini-masterclass about Food Photography. Due to a technical glitch, the class was not recorded and I KNOW a lot of you who couldn’t attend live were disappointed by that.
Well, good news because last week we taught the class again and you can watch the recording right here!
If this free class sparks ideas for how you might improve your own photography skills, we’d love to invite you to join us for the next Food Writers Business Lab: The Visual Language of Food Photography where we will dive deep into how light, shadow, color, texture, styling, composition, and human elements can shape the story a photo tells.
We’ll talk about how to make intentional creative choices before you pick up the camera: what mood you want to create, what story the recipe is telling, where the photo will live, and how you want the reader to feel.
Your $99 registration includes TWO live sessions: Friday, July 24 and Wednesday, August 5, from 12:00-1:30 PM EST. You can learn more and register here:
The Three Stages Of An Author Platform That Leads To Book Sales
In this free class, Stephanie Moon will break down why author platform-building is so challenging, why so many writers stay stuck, and what’s actually happening behind the scenes when your efforts don’t seem to lead anywhere. She’ll show you why audience growth is not just about posting more, but about understanding the stages readers move through before they ever buy a book.
If you’ve been feeling frustrated, confused, or discouraged by platform-building advice, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of why this work matters, why it often feels harder than expected, and what needs to shift.
Links and Resources
If you’re not listed in the Directory, leave a comment on the Directory with your name and publication and I’ll get you added!
Community Resources: A revolving list of resources from food writers for food writers
Collaboration Network: Find other substack food writers to collaborate with
The Mastermind for Food Writers chat is a great place to connect with other food writers on Substack.
About your meeting hosts
Rebecca Blackwell is a writer, recipe developer and food photographer who publishes two recipe websites and a Substack newsletter. She and her husband are nomads without a home base but with many modes of transportation, namely an RV, a motorcycle, and a sailboat. Rebecca writes recipes and stories for curious people who believe experiences are more important than things and who want more adventure.
Liza Debevec is a social anthropologist, African studies specialist, and career/life coach. She writes two Substack publications that bring together her love of stories, food, languages, and personal growth. Originally from Slovenia, Liza now lives in Lisbon, Portugal, after many years in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and other corners of the world. Her work is inspired by the ways people connect through meals, words, and meaningful conversations.