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Mastering the Art of French Eating
By Ann | May 24, 2011
There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you, mes amis, but I didn’t want to jinx it. But now that the news has appeared today in Publishers Lunch, I’m so excited to announce: I’m writing another book! Here’s what happened…
I was working very happily on my second novel — about a female sommelier — when one day in the shower I was simply SEIZED with an idea for another book. A nonfiction book. About French regional cuisine.
And so, I found myself writing a book proposal, not without a bit of anguish – have you ever worked on one of these? It’s a most unnatural exercise — which I then sent to my literary agent. She offered advice and ideas and suggested I add another sample chapter. I wrote and rewrote (and rewrote), sent it to her again, and, two weeks ago she called to tell me… it had sold!
The book is called Mastering the Art of French Eating and it’s my quest to travel through France and discover the country’s best known regional dishes. Each chapter will focus on the history of a different place and its signature dish — for example, crêpes from Brittany, choucroute from Alsace, or boeuf Bourguignon from Burgundy.
Tying the book together will be my experiences as a diplomat’s wife — a trailing spouse — living in France. It’s a story about forging an identity through food. About the solitary year I spent in Paris while my husband was in Iraq. About striving to eat the French way — not just to fuel the body, but also to nourish the soul. Above all, it’s the story of a young woman learning to build a balanced life of love and work — dish by dish.
I’m so thrilled that the book will be edited by Pamela Dorman and published by her eponymous imprint at Viking Penguin. Especially thrilled because — here’s the amazing, wonderful part — once upon a time, I was Pam’s editorial assistant! Yes, as a young college graduate, I worked for Pam at Viking, making photocopies, fielding phone calls, nursing paper cuts, and learning all about the publishing industry. Working with her again is a huge honor.
The manuscript is due next spring, and the book will be published sometime in the spring of 2013. Until then, I’ll be traveling, researching, eating and writing. (If it sounds like I thought up this project just so I’d have an excuse to drift about France indulging in delicious food… well — you just might be right.)
As always, I look forward to keeping you posted on my voyages and eating adventures via this blog, mes amis! Thank you for sharing this happy news with me. I’m simply brimming over with excitement and enthusiasm for this project.
Julia Child, another member of the trailing spouse sisterhood, once said: “It’s so beautifully arranged on the plate, you know someone’s fingers have been all over it.” Just kidding. Well, she did say that, but the quote I really want to share is this: “It’s fun to get together and have something good to eat at least once a day. That’s what human life is all about — enjoying things.”
I’m ready to eat, aren’t you?
Topics: Book, Mastering the Art of French Eating | 41 Comments »
May 24th, 2011 at 7:56 am
Wow! Congratulations. I will definitely look forward to reading this one.
And personally I think most great epiphanies happen in the shower. My former boss had so many shower moments that I once bought her a waterproof pad and a special pen to keep next to the shampoo.
May 24th, 2011 at 8:54 am
I’m so excited for you and agree with your first commenter about the greatest epiphanies happening in the shower! I know you’ll create a super read and I can’t wait to hold it in my hands. In the meantime, I’ll wish that I was along with you with my camera to my eye, capturing all of the fabulous experiences you are sure to have and the tasty food you are sure to consume. Congratulations!
May 24th, 2011 at 9:04 am
HUGE congratulations to you, bella! What an exciting adventure this next year will be!!
May 24th, 2011 at 9:09 am
Wonderful! Congratulations!
May 24th, 2011 at 9:23 am
How wonderful, Ann!!! So thrilled for you =) And of course, I can’t wait to get my hands on the finished book! If you need a companion for any taste tests, let me know!
May 24th, 2011 at 10:55 am
Drooling already! Are you taking the photos also & will there be recipes? Bonne chance!
May 24th, 2011 at 11:11 am
Wow, this is huge news! Congratulations! I’m so happy for you! I love the book idea – and the story about Pamela! It’s amazing how things just come together sometimes! Great job, Ann.
May 24th, 2011 at 11:21 am
Bravo!! And Bon Appetit! How exciting! I love how this idea came to you so naturally and you brought it to life. Very inspiring!
Best of luck on this tasty journey!
Kasia
May 24th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Thank you so much, everyone, for your kind words — they mean the world to me!
I forgot to add: I will be taking photos on my travels, and posting them on this blog as the book’s publication date approaches. And, yes! There will be a recipe or two at the end of every chapter, gleaned from my travels and the fascinating people (and fellow home cooks) I meet along the way. (Thanks for asking, Betty!)
May 24th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Yay! So happy to hear the news, Ann! And I love how all the threads of the story already tie together. This is going to be big, I can tell already. Felicitations and enjoy the delicious research! I’m so happy for and proud of you! xo
May 24th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Congratulations Ann! I am so excited for you. What a thrill to be writing a book so close to your heart. I just know it will be an amazing read. With your keen eye for great shots of food and your adventurous sense of taste you can’t lose. Looking forward to it, Bravo!
May 24th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Wonderful!!!!! And LOVE all the photos in this post. Hungry!! xoxo
May 24th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
How wonderful that you continue to follow your dream. May you have many delicious meals along the way!
May 24th, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Ah congratulations Ann! Such wonderful news – my mouth is drooling just thinking of your book.
May 24th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
I am so, so excited and happy for you! You’re going to have so much fun researching this one, I know it! (And I’ll repeat what others have already said – if you need any company, I’ll be more than happy to join you for tasty French travels.)
May 24th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Congratulations! This sounds so exciting… you wouldn’t be looking for an assistant would you?
May 24th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Hurry up and travel, eat, and write so we can all devour (no pun intended!) the latest book from you.
May 24th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Ann,
I know you will create a beautiful book. I cannot wait. I am hungry already! Congratulations!
Love,
Kim
May 24th, 2011 at 9:58 pm
Ah, congrats! That’s just super. There is nothing like taking one’s idea and nurturing it into creation. And, like your first commenter alluded to, the shower ideas are always the best.
May 25th, 2011 at 12:14 am
Brilliant news, Ann. Congratulations!
May 25th, 2011 at 3:26 am
Oh Ann. I’m so happy for you. What an adventure!! I cannot wait to hear about your travels.
May 25th, 2011 at 6:27 am
I’m looking forward to continuing to help with the research! Though I’m relieved the andouillette chapter is finished … No offense to andouillette fans. I did give them a real shot.
May 25th, 2011 at 10:26 am
Looking forward to reading it already! Enjoy the research phase – I’m sure you are… I’ll start looking into ways I can “help you out”!
May 25th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Wow, this sounds fantastic. Can’t wait to read to hear more and, of course, to read it!
May 25th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
felicitations!!! exciting news indeed, and ah, researching food, that’s the best kind (and much more interesting than the usual DNA trawl that i do)
May 25th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
YAY! Congrats Malan!
May 26th, 2011 at 6:51 am
PS — I love how in the aligot shot, the kid in the background needs his shades to gaze at the cheesy potatoes!
May 26th, 2011 at 7:40 am
Congratulations, Ann! Good on you! Have fun touring the French countryside and unearthing gastronomic treasures and the anecdotes and photos that go with them. We’ll be waiting for the final version in book form and looking forward to the vicarious eating thrills!
May 26th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Shower inspiration strikes again! Congratulations on following through with it and the resulting, well, results. I can’t wait to live your process vicariously and devour the finished product. Cin Cin!
May 27th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Please could you find a way to make the book edible? Mmmm…
Congratulations!
May 30th, 2011 at 2:42 am
Congratulations! That is AWESOME news. Love the title and the idea. can’t wait to read it!
May 30th, 2011 at 8:58 am
This is perfect for you (and us too). Can’t wait.
May 31st, 2011 at 6:05 am
WOW! That is great. We are looking forward to the book and the recipes. Keep us in mind if you need any help with the testing and tasting of the recipes.
May 31st, 2011 at 2:58 pm
YEAH!!! Congratulations Ann! So excited for you and I can’t wait to share the news with my whole family. Whenever you finish a masterpiece, Annie and Jacques celebrate as if one of their own kids had completed such an endeavor! Congrats! Congrats!!!!
June 2nd, 2011 at 2:37 am
Congratulations, Ann! Wonderful news. I will eagerly await your Mastering the Art of French Eating. (It will be a rough year for you–you poor dear, mired in all that research…) I also love the idea of the book about the female sommelier. Can’t wait!
June 3rd, 2011 at 3:12 am
Congratulations Ann! That’s wonderful news. Your blog photos are gorgeous too. Andrea
June 3rd, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Wow! Sounds much more fun than mastering the art of French cooking
Seriously, what a wonderful framework for experiencing more of your host country. I’m envious. . .
June 7th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
New reader here…drawn in by your picnic in the Jardin du Luxembourg post. I just got to visit Paris for the first time last week…congrats – very much looking forward to reading it!
June 9th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
So exciting! I will be handing out many copies in Spring 2013 since I recommend your blog to SF French food lovers. Congratulations!
June 13th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
[...] [3] The French (and Italians) have mastered eating, I don’t think there are many argument there. I am a believer in that statement. However, lucky you, you don’t have to be French to eat like Frenchman. There are people to help you there. One of them being Ann Mah who will soon be publishing a book on that very subject. In the meantime, I love her photo essay on the topic. [...]
April 27th, 2012 at 2:39 am
Congratulations et merci. I love Shakespeare and cooking and wonderful food. Loved the references to Macbeth and am looking forward to a week in September in the Luberon and a week in Paris. In Paris, one day devoted to le Jardin du Luxembourg to watch the petanque. Looking forward to your book.