I have always enjoyed cooking and creating dishes from scratch. I don't believe I have ever followed a recipe. I don't remember my Grandmother using cookbooks and that is the person I learned from. When I hear someone talking about food or how they prepare something and they aren't really happy with the results, I offer an alternative to help make it better. A couple years ago my Mom and sister were talking about foods we really liked when we were younger and the fact that not many people cook and socialize at home much. I mentioned it would be nice to have all the relatives to contribute recipes and publish a cookbook. I had a cookbook publish 20 years ago with recipes from people I worked with. I knew that this new cookbook idea wasn't going to be quick and easy. We decided to use Fundcraft for our family cookbook. The kit and sample packet they send out is so well put together and of top quality. They also have options for collecting recipes. We can give out forms and have everyone hand write their recipes and then Fundcraft will type them up. Another option that also saves money per book is to use their online program and we type them in. I used that option. Fundcraft is geared more toward groups, churches and organizations that produce cookbooks to raise funds for various reasons. Our cookbook is unique in the fact that it is also part family tree. When entering the recipe author's name we included a relation's name and how they are related. I also wrote a preface to the book recalling past memories. My Mother is writing a family history book and is collecting personal stories and recollections from relatives. We are hoping that this cookbook will encourage more participation in her book. I'm pretty sure we will look to Fundcraft to publish her book. Of course, this cookbook went like my first book. Everyone was excited and had so many hand me down family recipes they wanted to add, but they didn't send the recipes. Months of reminding turned into a couple of years and as a result, a majority of the recipes are mine. There was never any issue of losing recipes that were typed into the Fundcraft online shortcut program. That was my biggest fear, losing 300 recipes just because we were inactive for so long. I have to applaud Beverly Dowdy at Fundcraft for being so patient and helpful throughout our cookbook publishing process. Any questions asked, she answered quickly and clearly. She stayed in contact with each step of the publishing process and allowed me to verify certain aspects before sending to the print shop. The quality of the final product is very good and we are proud to share it with all our family and friends. There is an order form so family can order books to be mailed to relatives living far away or just send them as gifts. I would recommend Fundcraft to anyone thinking of publishing a cookbook, family history or even short novels. Fundcraft keeps the book on file for 10 years, so, if we run out of books we can simply place an order and they will be printed and shipped within days at a discount as there will be no need for typesetting and proofing. I'm not sure what the other reviewer is speaking on. I'm not aware that Fundcraft owns our recipes (master files) and I definitely don't understand how they have knowledge on the treatment of their employees (federal laws prohibit mistreatment of employees....even if it is a family owned business). My personal experience was 5 star all the way. read more

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Bad service, they try to claim your master files, they also treat their employees badly. There are many easier and better sources for vanity publishing. Use blurb.com instead read more

As a person who has worked many years in Marketing and Retailing, I find once again Fundcraft has issued a "We Can Not" response to a request (Customer Service Credit on the invoice) OR it is taking numerous request before a issue is resolved (Corrected Billing and Paid Invoice Receipt ). Only use Fundcraft if you are prepared to have even the slightest request answered with "We Can't" or "We Can Not". Second Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas read more