From the office of Chef Franco Lania, New York, New York

I met Laura Denktash while I was surfing the web looking for guides to writing a cook book. I came across Laura’s site “Rose Diva” and began reading the information. I liked what I was reading and felt she would be extremely knowledgeable.

I looked for a contact number and there was none, I went deeper into the site and could only find and email contact. I wanted to talk to a live person. I went further into her pages and found a number at the bottom of one of the pages.

I called the number from my fax phone since it was the closest phone to me. I was sent to a voice mail, and so I hung up. I proceeded to shut down Laura’s pages when the fax phone rang back. It was Laura Denktash, asking if I had just called her. I said yes and I’m also just closing out of your web site. We both laughed and then proceeded to talk business.

Since that conversation Laura has been a dynamo and a true positive force on helping me get started on my journey of organizing myself, and focusing my ideas and energy on my cook book ideas.

Laura has helped me build my personalized blog which has already been admired by many. The time and effort Laura put into the blog was amazing, it was as if she were building her own personalized blog, this is the kind of dedication and one-on-one involvement one gets from Laura Denktash. Laura is always accessible and easy to reach. Communication is never a problem.

I feel blessed that Laura called me back that day, because her positive energy and bright outlook of the future has caused a tremendous shift of energy in my life, all for the better.

Laura gets two thumbs up from me and I highly recommend her to anyone looking to recreate themselves and move up to the next level in their life.

Rock on Laura!

Chef Franco Lania

Visit Chef Franco Lania’s site

Do you love to cook?

Have you been dreaming about writing and publishing a cookbook?

Is writing a cookbook on your “bucket list?”

Are you a resident and/or business owner in community where you know you could spark interest for a community-based cookbook?

Are you a restaurant owner, professional chef, personal chef, or nutritionist?

A compilation community-based cookbook project can give you the opportunity to have one or more of your favorite recipes published in a high-quality book! And with a lot less work on your part than what is normally required to write and publish a complete cookbook.

This project-model is the brainchild of Laura Denktash – author, writing coach, speaker, and most recently, founder and publisher of Balanced Rock Press.

Balanced Rock Press is a new and growing independent publisher of traditional books, eBooks, and audio books. One of our specialties is cookbooks. We presently have 7 cookbooks scheduled for release during 2012, with several more in negotiation, and additional titles in developmental stages.

Part of the Balanced Rock business plan includes at least one project per year that’s based on the “compilation” model.

Compilation books are written by a number of co-authors on a subject. And in case you are not familiar, participants pay a modest fee to be published in the book. The fee covers the production costs of editing and printing. For someone with a business, It’s’ like an advertising fee paid to a newspaper or magazine to promote your business, only the book lasts much longer, and is not discarded in the recycle bin!

For Balanced Rock Press, the compilation model also includes giving a portion of the sales to a worthy cause. A typical amount donated would be 10% of the sales. For the group putting the cookbook together, this donation mechanism is a wonderful way to donate to a worthy cause of their choice. This also works well if the group compiling the cookbook is a non-profit organization. Schools, churches and clubs have been using this model of fund-raising for years with much success.

The participating authors will be writing recipes, not whole chapters, so the fee structure is very reasonable. And the value of being published in a book far outweighs the small investment involved!

You can say forever that you have been published in a book!

Each person or business featured will have a short bio and their resource information listed along with their recipe and a photo. They’ll also be able to list their website, business information, or product name.

Participation in a compilation book offers the writers a great opportunity for self promotion! And, there will also be opportunities to purchase full-pages in the book. This sponsorship opportunity is a great way to advertise your business and help a worthy cause in your community.

So why are compilation books so good for authors?

1. You promote yourself! You can get your website and name in front of a whole new audience by being in a compilation book. You can catch their interest with your story. You will also most likely be able to participate in future books if there is a series.
2. Other people promote you. Each of the authors will generally have bought copies of the book at wholesale prices in order to resell them for a profit. Or they will be giving books away to clients and friends. As people read the book, they come across you and check out your site.
3. Compilation Books promote community! Being a part of a group cookbook is fun, especially when an entire community takes part. It’s a great way to make new connections, whether you are a business owner or a private citizen.

Everyone in the community can take advantage of this wonderful way to promote their town , its quality businesses, and the talented people that make up their beautiful community.

For further information regarding a compilation cookbook project or other compilation book projects please contact Laura Denktash at publisher@balancedrockpress.com