Every Trick in the Book

by Lucy Arlington

  “Like Doug Corby’s A Foodie’s Diary: Meals Worth Remembering (and some not so much),” Vicky said. “I found that an intriguing read.”

  Flora giggled. “That man can be nasty,” she said. “In a funny kind of way.”

  “I just hope Joel Lang’s new Asian Fusion cookbook won’t be too overshadowed by all the focus on Klara.” Franklin sighed. “It releases the same day, you know. I don’t know why publishers do that.”

  Zach vigorously shook his head. “No way, man. There’s been as much buzz about his cookbook on TV as Klara’s. He’s booked solid on the area morning shows for the next couple of weeks. Even with all of the prepublication hype Klara’s been getting, Joel will still be a very popular dude. He might even steal her limelight.”

  Franklin raised his eyebrows. “Nobody needs to steal anyone’s limelight, Zach. We want the pair of them to do well. They’re both clients of Novel Idea, remember.”

  “Then let’s get two clients on the New York Times list at once.” Zach snapped his fingers in sequence. “Batta bing.”

  “How about your ‘Food in Children’s Literature’ session, Flora?” I asked after I’d updated the whiteboard data. “Is that on track?”

  “Yes, dear, it certainly is. It should be a tasty exhibition, to be sure. Ed from Catcher in the Rye and Nell from Sixpence Bakery helped with the sample list. Even How Green Was My Valley got on board. Let’s see.” She perused her notes. “On the menu, we have Stone Soup from the famous folktale, Marilla’s Raspberry Cordial from Anne of Green Gables, Pippi’s pancakes from Pippi Longstocking, Dr. Seuss’s green eggs and ham—”

  “Whoa! How are they making those eggs green?” Zach interjected, cutting short her recitation.

  Flora’s cheeks flushed pink. “I’m not exactly sure, Zach. We’ll have to ask the chef. Should I continue?”

  “Let’s leave the rest for us to discover at the event, Flora. It all sounds great.” I glanced at the chart. “That about covers it, except for the short story contest, ‘Stories about Food.’ The deadline is Thursday, but I’ve already received several submissions. Jude and Bentley, do you want me to give them to you now or shall I wait until after the deadline, when we have all the entries?”

  “Give them to me now,” Bentley replied. “So I can get started.”

  Jude nodded. “Me, too.”

  “Okay. Thanks for volunteering to be judges for the contest, by the way. It takes some of the pressure off me.”

  Bentley inclined her head in acknowledgment.

  “My pleasure,” Jude said. “There’s always a chance we’ll find a gem.”

  “Everything is set for the banquet as well.” I passed pages around the table. “Here is the menu. And thanks for all your suggestions on which literary foods we should serve.”

  “Sweet!” Zach hit the table with gusto. “My suggestion to add the clam chowder from Moby Dick was picked as the first course! The Zachmeister rules.”

  “I’m glad, too,” Franklin said. “I love a good clam chowder. But I’m surprised you’ve read Melville’s masterpiece thoroughly enough to remember that soup,” he added with a twinkle in his eye.

  Zach leaned forward. “Are you kidding? I love that book. Melville goes on and on for almost a whole chapter about that chowder.”

  “Ahem,” Bentley interceded. “Back to the banquet?”

  I shot Bentley a grateful smile. “We have ballots for people to guess what literary works they believe each menu item is from, and there will be door prizes, too. Should be a great evening.” I looked around the table. “Other than that, we’re good to go. The first wave of chefs arrives tomorrow and then Taste of the Town, and our Books and Cooks will be under way.”

  “Well, Lila, you seem to have everything under control,” Bentley said, gathering her papers together. “Let’s hope that these capricious cooks behave themselves. After all, we’ve filled the Arts Center kitchen with an array of very sharp knives.”