In this episode of Creatively Speaking: Food for Thought, we sit down with Julie Evink, the creative force behind the wildly popular blog Julie’s Eats & Treats. Julie recounts her path from food blogger to cookbook author. If you’ve ever wondered how a food blog can blossom into a powerful brand and published work, Julie’s story is one you won’t want to miss. Let’s dive in!
Julie’s entrepreneurial path is anything but ordinary. Raised on a farm, her early experiences taught her the value of hard work and adaptability, traits that would later fuel her success in the digital world. As she transitioned from her background in management to food blogging full-time, Julie quickly recognized the importance of balancing creativity with business acumen. Her ability to navigate social media trends, engage an audience, and scale her content has made her food blog, Julie’s Eats & Treats a go-to resource for home cooks everywhere.
Julie walks us through the moment a simple conversation about life goals led her to pursue the path from food blogger to cookbook author. What followed was a deep dive into the world of self-publishing, a path that gave her complete creative control over her vision. The result? A cookbook filled with comforting, simple, and reliable recipes that appeal to both modern families and nostalgic readers.
Julie’s cookbook didn’t just quietly make its way into readers’ homes—it made headlines. She shares how serendipitous moments, like podcast interviews and unexpected local TV appearances, played a huge role in boosting her visibility. One standout tactic Julie used was to physically visit stores to ask that her book be stocked, an old-school move that paid off in a big way when she spotted her cookbook on the shelves at Barnes & Noble.
Julie also shares about a surprising opportunity that came her way in the form of an unexpected TV appearance. She reached out to a local show, hoping to land a spot on their podcast and instead found herself with an invitation to be on television! Despite her nerves and uncertainty, Julie made the best of the experience, and it even helped her promote Julie’s Eats & Treats!
This episode is packed with practical tips on marketing, building community support, and leveraging both online and offline efforts to amplify your reach. Julie’s grassroots strategies and genuine approach to audience engagement offer an inspiring roadmap for anyone dreaming of charting their own path from food blogger to cookbook author.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- 0:00:00 | Julie’s introduction & background
- 0:02:35 | Julie’s perspective on the evolution of food blogging platforms
- 0:09:05 | How Julie navigates digital content changes
- 0:18:06 | About Julie’s Eats & Treats: a cookbook for all ages!
- 0:21:16 | Why physical cookbooks are making a comeback
- 0:27:56 | Julie’s book distribution and popularity on Amazon
- 0:32:04 | How Julie’s TV appearance boosted her book’s sales
- 0:39:14 | Julie’s surprising discoveries in publishing
Whether you’re a content creator, a self-publishing hopeful, or a food lover curious about what goes on behind the scenes, Julie’s episode is filled with valuable takeaways. She opens up about the challenges, triumphs, and little joys that have defined her journey—and how staying true to her voice has been the key to connecting with readers and building a lasting brand.
Episode Resources:
Website: https://wellersmithdesign.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellersmithdesign/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannawellersmith/
If you are curious about self-publishing and want to learn more about how we can help, check out our Self-Publishing Services.
Weller Smith Design is a Full-Service Boutique Design Agency that provides publishing, self-publishing, branding, web design, and strategy services. We pride ourselves in being the Boutique Agency of choice for Thought Leaders like you.
