Everything Cookbooks

173: Writing a Narrative Cookbook Tanya Bush

June 17, 2026·46 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Molly and Kate speak with Tanya Bush, the author of Will This Make You Happy, about her cookbook/memoir mashup and how the pandemic contributed to her decision to marry a personal story and a technical text. Tanya shares some the life experiences behind the book, her impetus to create and the themes she wanted to explore as well as the process of getting an agent, earning an MFA and how the project shifted since its origins. We get into her thoughts on why she wanted to write this particular blend of genres, how the recipes, the book's design and her real life experiences fit in and how important critical distance and play are to her voice. Finally she hits on her hopes for the work, the audio version and potential adaptations and a few thoughts on her print magazine, Cake Zine. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella   Mentions Food Friends Podcast Newsletter Episode 162: The one in which we issue an apology and answer listener questions   Tanya Bush Website Instagram Cake Zine The Little Egg Restaurant   Why We Can't Stop Reading — and Writing — Food Diaries, Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker Clare Mao, agent   Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Will This Make You Happy by Tanya Bush

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