There are plenty of inspirational books out there, but not many that feel as intimate and cheerful as this one, or as geared to women who love writing and the culinary arts. When Bhide, an engineer-turned-cookbook author and food writer, needed “a daily dose of motivation and inspiration” to help her deal with the vagaries of the publishing industry, she set up a series of question-and-answer interviews with the women she most admires: Deborah Madison, Melissa Clark, Ruth Reichl and more than 50 other cookbook authors and Food Network stars as well as novelists and media executives. The resulting tête-a-têtes make for quick and entertaining reads, with little gems of insight such as this one from Kat Kinsman, managing editor for CNN’s food blog: “The thing that gets me going is conversation with smart, creative people who are in love with life.”  Bhide asks all her interviewees for “one fact about you that would surprise people,” and the answers are charming.  “I am miserable if there is no cat in my life,” says Ruth Reichl. Best of all are the women's accounts—in their own words—of what keeps them motivated to reach for the stars.

Available as a Kindle edition here.