About Me & Home Chef Books
Hi!
Greetings from the heart of Cheshire, England, where the scent of home-cooked meals infuses our homes with an enticing promise of hearty feasts to come.
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Home Chef Books was born out of frustration with the overwhelming number of underwhelming recipe books on Amazon and other print-on-demand platforms. Far too many books seem to gain hundreds of 5 and 4-star reviews within days, a feat which seems highly unlikely unless the author or publisher is globally renowned.
After purchasing numerous such books over a few years, it became clear which were published with genuine intentions to help and which ones harboured disingenuous, often phoney, reviews. Certainly, respected publishers can secure many reviews through prior arrangements, but the sheer volume of questionable reviews in most recipe books felt unjust. Hence, Home Chef Books was born.
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I'm S.J. Peel (Stephen J. Peel), a bestselling UK author and grandfather, and welcome to Home Chef Books, where I am passionate about home cooking. Food is more than sustenance - it’s a binder of relationships and a canvas for creativity. Every recipe I curate and every cookbook I publish, with help from other creators and artists such as my dear old mother, Mrs Bradbury, who often gets a mention on covers or internally, celebrates this beautiful culinary journey, honouring the diverse and rich flavours and techniques that make home cooking unique.
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I am proud to be based in Cheshire, a county with a rich gastronomic history and a vibrant contemporary food scene. My location inspires me daily, fuelling my commitment to bring my readers the finest home recipe books.
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The Home Chef Books range spans from the primal allure of woodfire cooking to the modern convenience and health benefits of air frying and the rewarding patience of slow cooking. I advocate for the joy of a well-stocked kitchen library, where each book opens up a new world of flavour and possibility.
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And the journey doesn't stop there. I'm continually exploring and experimenting, with many more books in the pipeline. I'm excited about the future and its culinary adventures and eager to share them with you. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, I invite you to join me in this delicious exploration of home cooking.
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In the spirit of transparency, I want you to know that the royalties from each sale average around £2. I strive to keep the retail price as low as possible while maintaining high quality. I endeavour to produce my books in colour, with recipe images throughout. However, as a self-publisher, the cost of colour printing is extremely high. To help offset this, I keep the book royalties minimal at a rate that allows me to continue producing more helpful and informative recipe books.
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Best Wishes, Steve.
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