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The Ladies of the Book Club

Writer's picture: rmwalstonrmwalston

Last week I met with a book club for the first time since the October publication of The Forager Chefs Club. My friend and amazing professional photographer, Mary Ford Parker, arranged for The Forager Chefs Club to be the January read for her book club and invited me to her home to meet the ladies and answer their questions. I was delighted to accept but, I will admit, more than a little apprehensive. What if they didn't like my book or worse, couldn't even manage to get all the way through it? 


My first hint that I needn't worry was when Mary asked if I had any additional hardcover copies on hand that I could bring. On the appointed morning, I packed up a box of books, tasseled bookmarks, and a couple of Sharpies. I took a deep breath and headed to my car. 


In a nutshell, the time I spent with these nine ladies was amazing and humbling. In true forest-to-fork, farm-to-fork fashion, Mary prepared a brunch spread of foraged delights harvested from her garden and the farmers markets before the cold weather settled in. My favorite was the poached pears with dried fruit in a marvelous, light syrup. In true The Forager Chefs Club fashion, she had three ingredient exceptions that made up her light, moist muffins. 


The ladies and I talked about how my characters came into being, the arc of the plot, "deleted scenes", what forest-to-fork encompasses, and more. I loved hearing which character they had rooted to win the competition--it was a good mix!--and how the book inspired them to perhaps try some new foraged ingredients in their own kitchens once winter lets loose its hold.


Thank you, thank you, thank you to Mary Parker, Alice Knudsen, Tricia O'Connell, Kelly Bradley, Kathy Murphy, Mary Ann Glennon, Sharon Rindfleisch, Isabel Fiolek, and Lucinda Michell. You have no idea what your generous welcome meant to me. 


For anyone else who is part of a book club, please consider adding The Forager Chefs Club to your reading list! I'd love to join you--either in person or virtually--to answer any questions you may have about it and share the love of local, seasonal living through farm-to-fork and forest-to-fork cooking and eating!


And for those of you in the northern Virginia area, I'll be at the Williams Gap Vineyard for their Book Fair on Saturday, January 25th from noon to 4 pm. What could be better than award-winning wine and reading?




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