I am honored today, with a guest post by co-authors, Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp. They have written a marvelous book called Table Of Contents Cook Book, From Breakfast with Anita Diamant to Dessert with James Patterson.
Judy and Vicki met over stacks of books, and endless cups of jo at a local sandwich shop. They decided to try their hand atThe Book Club Cookbook, followed by Kids Book Club Book and Table of Contents. They also have a marvelous website, Book Club Cook Book, with enormous resources for book clubs. You would find food pairing with a favorite book. Information about the author. Loads of resource information for your book club.
Welcome Judy and Vicki,
Hi everybody,
We envisioned our new book, Table of Contents
as a compilation of intriguing recipes drawn from the works of 50 bestselling authors. When we began our research, we were unsure what the combination of authors would be. After all, there are hundreds of authors popular with book clubs. And, some of their books lend themselves better to recipes than others. How would we choose?
as a compilation of intriguing recipes drawn from the works of 50 bestselling authors. When we began our research, we were unsure what the combination of authors would be. After all, there are hundreds of authors popular with book clubs. And, some of their books lend themselves better to recipes than others. How would we choose?
As it turns out, the process unfolded naturally. We quickly identified our “wish list” of participating authors, based on ongoing correspondence with book clubs, thorough searches of bestseller lists, and daily monitoring of book club and reading websites. Many invited authors signed on immediately, while some declined because other projects took precedence, or even because they lacked interest in the topic: food and literature. The self-selection process meant we were left with authors as fascinated by the topic of food and books as we ourselves were, and 50 wonderful partnerships were born.
We felt fortunate to work with this eclectic, intriguing, ethnically diverse selection of authors. Book club members have been telling us for years that they love being transported to exotic locales and distant times through their reading. It was no surprise to find Abraham Verghese, Frances Mayes, and Esmeralda Santiago on our list, with books set in Ethiopia, Italy, and Puerto Rico. Readers also seem to love stories set in the South, so Amy Greene, Joshilyn Jackson, and Hillary Jordan were natural choices. Writers of historical fiction who transport readers to times gone by -- Tudor England (Phillipa Gregory) and wartime Hong Kong (Janice Y.K. Lee), for example -- also made the grade.
Of course, this selection of authors and titles translated into tantalizing, exotic recipes! We love Lisa See’s Won Tons, that she makes with her family every year at Thanksgiving. And Stephanie Saldana, who spent several years traveling and living in the Middle East, sent us a recipe for Muhammara (Roasted Red Pepper Dip with Walnuts and Pomegranate Syrup), the smell and taste of which carries the cook to the winding streets of Damascus, Syria. And there are so many more examples! Readers tell us they enjoy experiencing some of these ethnic foods for the first time, and preparing and eating these dishes helps them connect with the setting and time period of the book.
As we embark on our new project, a revision of our first book, The Book Club Cookbook, we look forward to sharing more recipes and insights from bestselling authors. We hope this will continue to enhance readers' understanding of these books, and of course to add another important element to book club meetings - fun!
Bon Appetit!
Judy Gelman and Vick i Levy Krupp