For college, Holly came down to New Orleans to learn about cooking and absolutely fell in love with Louisiana’s culture and cuisine. She’s dubbed as the “Queen of Quick” with her best selling Trim & Terrific cookbook series selling over 1 million books in the last 20 years. She has written 14 books, worked with Wal-Mart, the American Diabetes Association, a national spokesperson for Louisiana Yams, and has been featured on QVC, NBC and Fox news.

I had a chance to sit down with Holly at her beautiful house in Baton Rouge, LA, to talk about her story, business, and books.

Be sure to get a pen and a pad, her story is jam-packed with ideas and tips to grow your business.

Interview with Holly Clegg

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• What brought you to Baton Rouge? (3:20)
• “I’ve always loved to cook, it’s always been my passion.”
• How did you get started in catering? (5:20)
• What defines Trim & Terrific in a recipe? (6:10)
• What’s your take on aspertame? (9:40)
• “Fresh + Convenience = Homemade.”
• Easy hamburger tip (14:30)
• What’s you inspiration to writing your books? (15:45)
• Changing hospital food for the better (18:30)
• Kitchen 101 by Holly Clegg (book mention)
• “99% of diabetics are Type 2  — which can be controlled by weight or exercise.”
• Sugar (23:07)
• How important is good quality food? (25:00)
• Gulf Coast Favorites by Holly Clegg (book mention)
• “You don’t have to change what you eat, you change how you prepare it.”
• What would you tell someone who want’s to write their own cookbook? (27:00)
• “No matter how big you or your product is, you always have to market it or someone will come steal your show and take your spot.”
• If you put your recipes online, why would anyone buy a cookbook? (30:05)
• “The marketing can never-ever quit.”
• How Holly got her brand on her competitor’s package. (33:30)
• “If the door’s half-open, I’m going to push it all the way.”
• What’s a marketing tip for someone who want’s to make a cookbook? (35:38)
• Vine.co (website mention)
• What the single-biggest challenged you’ve faced with publishing books? (45:34)
• If you had the time to do one more niche cookbook, what would it be? (27:24)
• “I love to cook, I’m passionate about food, and I’m making a difference in people’s lives.”
• What is success? (49:23)
• “Success is a balance between your personal and processional life.”
• “When you are your own boss, your door never closes.”
• Local newspaper article on the salad dressing (website mention)
• “You have to beat those doors down and create a demand.”
• What does Holly like to do for fun? (1:01:50)
• What’s a book, a song, and a quote that you love? (1:03:05)
  • Book: The Company by Robert Littell
  • Song: Something mellow, older… (Richard: Maybe Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan)
    
  • Quote: “Always be the best you can be.”
    — Holly Clegg
• What’s next and where can people find you? (1:06:09)
• Holly’s Monthly Menu Newsletter (newsletter mention)
• “I love dirty books.”

Check out Holly at:
Website: HollyClegg.com
Facebook: /HollyClegg
Twitter: /HollyClegg

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