How I Became an Author
It is a thrill for me to be here today. It’s not that often I’m encouraged to talk on and on about my favorite subjects–me and my books. In some ways it seems a long way here to this day and in other ways, wow, it’s so fast it makes my head spin. One minute I was an English Major in my Brooks Brothers suit beginning my new starter job in New York at a fancy Wall Street firm. Now I’ve written four novels!
I was living with my sister in NJ, when I found my dream apartment about two months after I got my job. The next day at work I told my boss, “When the guy calls you, tell him I make 75 grand, okay?” He looked at me with his mouth open, “Is that wise?” he says, knowing he is paying me 20. I say, “Oh, yes, it’s a 1-bedroom with a fireplace. I can walk to work!” I called my mom so excited. “It’s in the theatre district.” She says, “What’s the address?” I say, “It’s on 38th between 9th and 10th Avenue.” “That sounds like Hell’s Kitchen to me.” “Mom, you’re in Florida! It’s quite close to the theatres.” Of course, I didn’t mention how close either to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, but she probably would have known about that too. I always thank my mom for sending me out equipped to conquer with a copy of The Joy of Cooking and a subscription to Gourmet Magazine.
From these humble beginnings all sorts of jobs, topics and companies developed. Decades went by. My obsession with food took over my life and writing. I won’t go into any details in this space but suffice to say I got lots of laughs and excellent questions afterwards. It was a memorable day.
A Few of The Concepts Behind the Cooking Class Series
The Cooking Class in the titles was chosen by me because it is a theme throughout each book. Even if the class is a half a day in real time, it is much discussed throughout the book. A few of the books have recipes. The characters (and the readers) learn about the cuisine because of the class and if possible, Amy will have a party and cook the recipes for everyone. The second reason is that as a traveler myself, I find it’s a pleasant calendar item. Typically in someone’s home, you can sit down, eat and drink. It’s refreshing to add another activity to your list of walking tours. museums, castles or historic sites. The teachers are usually charming and sometimes you meet fascinating people. Often they want to take you shopping which can be interesting. I always think I learn something new in the way of technique or spice combination or local beverage. The class is another way of adding to your knowledge of the culture of the country.
Despite the international destinations in the titles and covers which I think are important to branding, all my books are set in Seattle and in several neighborhoods. Amy, Kevin, Laurence and Eva live in Queen Anne. Drew lives in Belltown, his art gallery is in Sodo. Local streets, buses, bars and restaurants are referred to.
The Cooking Class in Kuala Lumpur employs a dinner party as the structure of the novel, a common device. You may immediately think of Mrs. Dalloway, or Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The Dead by James Joyce, and a new entrant to the dinner model, The Party by Elizabeth Day (2017). She is also Irish, like Joyce, but her story takes places in Britain. I chose that structure because I love dinner parties. There is a dinner party in every book of mine.
Love later in life is the genre of romance I write in. All my characters are middle aged or older, smart, successful, fun loving and believe that love matters. Amy drives the food themes and many of the travel themes. She’s the one who is always worried about aging! The characters cook, dine, romance and most travel the world. A few characters don’t like to travel. A few characters are not as fascinated with food as the others. They are all friends and live in Seattle. They are a good group to spend time with. If you are an armchair traveler, this might be as good as it gets for adventure on the road with culture, food, wine and sex.
The Cooking Class in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (#4)
The Cooking Class in Budapest (#3)
The Cooking Class in San Sebastian (#2)
The Cooking Class in Kuala Lumpur (#1)
Buy the books at Amazon.