It was a labour of love and although I earned no royalties from it, I did earn out my advance. Second cookbook, very different experience, a specialist subject (a gluten free cookbook for kids) , but one very dear to my heart. Once again, so much hard work went into writing it and it has been successful commercially. Design wise it lacked everything which makes a book covetable, and despite my banging on and on about being underinvested in, it rang on deaf ears. I am proud of the book, but always look at it with a slight heaviness of heart as I know if the publisher had followed my original proposal including photographs of the food the book 'may' have been much more successful. Now looking to do cookbook number 3 and thinking long and hard about what sells in the 'intolerance' market. Free from is big here in the UK and so many books on the subject with beautiful glossy photos which underdeliver in terms of content. It makes me want to pull my hair out with envy but somehow, I still want to do it all over again. Why? Because there is nothing more gratifying then seeing your work in print and knowing you are passing on your skills, knowledge and love of cooking to others. It's not a geat way to earn a living, but it's rewarding in so many other ways. thank you for this informing and thought inducing post! I have always wanted to