# This Pushed Us to Breaking Point

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9ZXKJIX3ps
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/A9ZXKJIX3ps
Generated: 2026-01-07T14:01:24.852+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Vincenzo and Suzanne Prosperi ultimately succeeded in publishing their cookbook, "Authentic Italian," with Harper Collins Australia after facing significant emotional and logistical challenges, including initial rejection from another publisher and the difficulties of coordinating the project during the COVID-19 pandemic.

**Key Points:**
- The couple faced a "sad story" that almost broke them as a family and business partners, stemming from the difficult journey of creating their first cookbook, "Authentic Italian."
- The initial publishing opportunity involved a pitch to a publisher who was excited about the brand but ultimately failed to provide the necessary support, leading to the couple making the difficult decision to cut ties.
- The project was further complicated because the book's photo shoot was planned in Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing Vincenzo's parents from meeting their new baby and making travel impossible.
- Suzanne, a journalist, found it difficult writing the book because she felt she lacked the necessary guidance and often wrote too much, leading to discouragement.
- After the initial setback, they found a new publisher, Harper Collins Australia, who provided guidance and support, leading to the final, completed book.
- The final book, "Authentic Italian," is 100% Nonna-approved, features family members in the photos, and includes a full-color image for every single recipe.
- The couple encourages viewers to pre-order the book to support their hard work, promising they will love it.

![Screenshot at 0:08: Vincenzo and Suzanne Prosperi introduce the video by describing the difficult story behind their cookbook, "Authentic Italian," which is shown in a collage featuring family members enjoying Italian food and the book cover.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/A9ZXKJIX3ps/00-00-08.jpg)

**Context:** Vincenzo Prosperi (Food Enthusiast and Italian Food Ambassador) and his wife, Suzanne Prosperi (Vincenzo's Plate founder and wife), share the highly emotional and challenging journey behind the creation and publication of their cookbook, "Authentic Italian." The story covers initial publishing difficulties, logistical hurdles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the eventual success of securing a new publisher for their family-focused recipe book.

## Detailed Analysis

Vincenzo and Suzanne Prosperi recount the emotional and challenging process of creating their first cookbook, "Authentic Italian," which they describe as a story that almost broke them as a family and business partners. The process began about four years prior when they received an opportunity to create a cookbook. They successfully pitched a proposal to an initial publisher who was excited about the brand and idea, but the relationship quickly deteriorated because the publisher did not provide the expected support, forcing the Prosperis to make the difficult decision to cut ties. This difficulty was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which occurred just as they had a new baby, preventing Vincenzo's parents from visiting and making travel for the planned photo shoot in Italy impossible. Suzanne, who is a journalist, admitted the writing process was hard because she felt she lacked guidance and tended to write too much, leading to feelings of discouragement, with one point where she was completely against the book. However, they found a second publisher, Harper Collins Australia, who guided them well and ultimately led to the book's completion. The couple emphasizes that the final product is a culmination of their hard work, containing recipes written with their soul and heart, involving family and friends in the process, and that every recipe includes a full-color image. They confirm the book is now live for pre-order, urging fans to support them by purchasing it, guaranteeing that readers will love the "Authentic Italian" cookbook.

### The Book Creation Struggle

- The journey started four years ago with an opportunity to create a first cookbook; they were initially accepted by a publisher who did not provide adequate support, forcing them to cut ties; this was complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented family travel for the photo shoot in Italy.

### Challenges Faced by Suzanne

- Suzanne found writing difficult as a journalist because she felt she lacked guidance and tended to write too much copy, which led to periods where she was completely against continuing the project.

### Finding the Right Partner

- After the initial publisher failed to provide necessary support and funding for printing, the couple found a new publisher, Harper Collins Australia, who guided them well and helped move the project forward.

### The Final Product

- The resulting cookbook, "Authentic Italian," is 100% Nonna-approved, deeply personal, features family and friends heavily in the imagery, and includes a full-color image for every single recipe.

### Call to Action

- The Prosperis encourage viewers to pre-order the book, stating that their reaction will determine future projects, and promise that readers will love the book created with so much passion.

![Screenshot at 0:08: Vincenzo and Suzanne introducing the difficult story behind their cookbook creation process.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/A9ZXKJIX3ps/00-00-08.jpg)
![Screenshot at 0:10: A visual montage showing family enjoying Italian food and the cover of the 'Authentic Italian' cookbook.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/A9ZXKJIX3ps/00-00-10.jpg)
![Screenshot at 0:30: A vertical collage showing various family members and friends involved in cooking and photography for the book shoot in Italy.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/A9ZXKJIX3ps/00-00-30.jpg)
![Screenshot at 1:10: Vincenzo explaining that Suzanne, as a journalist, wrote the book, which involved a period of feeling discouraged.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/A9ZXKJIX3ps/00-01-10.jpg)
![Screenshot at 2:35: A question overlay asking if Suzanne found it difficult writing the cookbook as a journalist, followed by her negative response.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/A9ZXKJIX3ps/00-02-35.jpg)
