tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post4578181492260848461..comments2024-03-29T08:34:05.961-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: You Are What You Eat?Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29655008427808096862011-02-01T23:12:30.676-05:002011-02-01T23:12:30.676-05:00Love to cook and eat, love to read cookbooks -- al...Love to cook and eat, love to read cookbooks -- also read Julia Child's My Life in France last year, after our trip to France, and adored it. Reading about cooking and eating in novels can be mouthwatering -- although yes, it must fits the character and context, and not be overdone, even though the cook in me might want more details! I still remember a long weekend home alone in a Biblical rainstorm, when I read several Jerrilyn Farmer Mad Bean books and took breaks from reading only to cook! (The well was out, so I didn't have to wash the dishes.)Leslie Budewitzhttp://www.LawandFiction.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-76304758208274512412011-01-31T18:49:43.626-05:002011-01-31T18:49:43.626-05:00Yes Hallie,
I opened Yesterday's Fatal, with m...Yes Hallie,<br />I opened Yesterday's Fatal, with my own Hallie Ahern's need to pee -- she drives off the highway in search of rest room and stumbles upon a fatal car accident.<br /><br />But otherwise, I think most of our stories should be highlight, right? The greatest hits of the day and not the tedium in between?<br /><br />~JanJungle Red Writershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8536490903910944172011-01-31T16:47:40.981-05:002011-01-31T16:47:40.981-05:00Great topic!
My characters tend to have Italian n...Great topic!<br /><br />My characters tend to have Italian names, thus they eat...a lot. I'm not even Italian, I just married one but I seem to obsess about the names and the food. I have male characters who cook, I write about characters who work in pizzarias, and they all live for restrurants. I guess becaue I like food, they should also. LOLPat Marinellinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-62553294412346333012011-01-31T16:10:16.785-05:002011-01-31T16:10:16.785-05:00Hallie, you wouldn't be expected to remember t...Hallie, you wouldn't be expected to remember this, but in the third golf mystery, Cassie had to step into the reeds on the ninth tee and well, pee. It led to the discovery of the body so big moment.<br /><br />But in most cases, if not all, would much rather hear (or write) about the characters eating...:)Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-33763217477367078442011-01-31T13:19:59.977-05:002011-01-31T13:19:59.977-05:00Hank asks: have you ever thought--hey, that main c...Hank asks: have you ever thought--hey, that main character has never eaten a morsel of food in the whole book?<br /><br />I always wonder: has anyone noticed that my character hasn't had to go to the john? TMI??Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-70300268353223519202011-01-31T11:03:40.041-05:002011-01-31T11:03:40.041-05:00Hank, yes, I do! It strains credulity, along with ...Hank, yes, I do! It strains credulity, along with laptops and cell phones that never die. <br /><br />Diane Mott Davidson's books all center around food, since her MC is a caterer. And two of her characters are obsessed with espresso, but in a way that is seamless with the story.Karen in Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-222842029490497892011-01-31T10:17:51.121-05:002011-01-31T10:17:51.121-05:00OH, yes, coffee...one of the reporters basic food ...OH, yes, coffee...one of the reporters basic food groups.<br /><br />I keep a chart of scenes and time-of-day was I'm writing--that I way I don't forget to have people "grab a sandwich" or at least be hungry.. <br /><br />I wonder, though, if we really notice non-important, non-story-connected eating in books. have you ever thought--hey, that main character has never eaten a morsel of food in the whole book?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56799610302524162132011-01-31T10:05:06.829-05:002011-01-31T10:05:06.829-05:00My Portland is in Maine, of course.
Both Portla...My Portland is in Maine, of course. <br /><br />Both Portland's are great places to eat, as Maryann points out.<br /><br />Brenda B. in MaineBrenda Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161539130987122737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-14941623837343803242011-01-31T10:02:55.383-05:002011-01-31T10:02:55.383-05:00I like characters who eat while they go about the ...I like characters who eat while they go about the business of solving mysteries, especially when the food reflects the context of the story (i.e., occupationally and regionally accurate.)<br /><br />My protagonist is a newspaper reporter who drinks gallons of coffee (as I did, back in the day). References to Portland's foodie culture run through the story because it wouldn't be realistic to set a book here and not acknowledge the extraordinary focus on all things culinary. <br /><br />Brenda B.Brenda Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161539130987122737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-69153015187143878902011-01-31T10:00:59.172-05:002011-01-31T10:00:59.172-05:00When my characters eat, for the most part they vis...When my characters eat, for the most part they visit some of Portland's wonderful restaurants...from Nicholas (for Big Bread and hummus) to Jake's for Crawfish, and even Kenny & Zuke's for Reuben Salad. I discover new places every time I'm there, including the myriad of food carts! Phil can scramble some tasty eggs, but Sam opens cans. He hasn't really cooked since his wife died. As a reader, I am a pushover for any good story with recipes in it :o) Julie Hyzy's Ollie Paras series is wonderful.Maryannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04201498842123361209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-25375878542945304552011-01-31T09:51:10.922-05:002011-01-31T09:51:10.922-05:00My WIP takes place in WW2 where food rationing is ...My WIP takes place in WW2 where food rationing is an issue.Melissa Robbinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11660227475140255088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8570246077439049052011-01-31T09:41:17.432-05:002011-01-31T09:41:17.432-05:00Ramona, is this a Southern funeral? I have heard o...Ramona, is this a Southern funeral? I have heard of the practice of making an embroidered satin casket blanket to place over the corpse for viewings. Is this still done? <br /><br />It's good to remember to add details like meals, etc. I'm adding this to my list!Karen in Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-44994285245199454632011-01-31T09:35:04.169-05:002011-01-31T09:35:04.169-05:00Edith, that's a very clever way to bring food ...Edith, that's a very clever way to bring food into your story. <br /><br />Sheila, just be careful not to poison anyone in a real restaurant:).<br /><br />Karen--you are completely right. Writing about food is like writing about any other telling detail--it has to serve the story!<br /><br />And Ramona, funeral food--you will be in heaven! Julia Reed is a southern writer who was at the literary seminar. She had some hysterical and wonderful descriptions of food at southern funerals...Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-43754951823407696782011-01-31T09:14:09.853-05:002011-01-31T09:14:09.853-05:00I realize that people in my short stories never ea...I realize that people in my short stories never eat. There's no time.<br /><br />Now I'm working on a novel set in the South, and there's a memorial service coming up. I've been reading up on funeral foods. Oh, my. Aspic, anyone?Ramonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00627775403015684868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48691107350031659172011-01-31T09:01:36.022-05:002011-01-31T09:01:36.022-05:00Food, cooking and eating make characters more real...Food, cooking and eating make characters more real, as long as the story doesn't serve the description, instead of the other way around. <br /><br />One of the characters in Kate Collins' flower shop mysteries makes scrambled eggs for the other two who work there, every Monday morning. I love that detail. And one of the other characters has perfected the art of making excellent teas and coffees, which always make me want to jump up and brew a cuppa or something. <br /><br />Hank, Charley's low blood sugar was very believable. Been there!Karen in Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45712307215425505892011-01-31T08:41:23.375-05:002011-01-31T08:41:23.375-05:00I am so jealous! My heroines don't seem to co...I am so jealous! My heroines don't seem to cook much, but they do enjoy restaurants (based on real ones), which I describe in loving detail (I think I'm hoping for some comped meals). And I even created an entire restaurant in one book.Sheila Connollyhttp://www.sheilaconnolly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-51424329853703577702011-01-31T07:30:45.526-05:002011-01-31T07:30:45.526-05:00I love reading about food, eating, cooking, partic...I love reading about food, eating, cooking, particularly when it blends seamlessly into the story. In my book, the protagonist doesn't cook, but she loves to eat, so I made her boyfriend and her sister into great cooks. They're happy to provide her with a decent meal now and then. And I get to describe the meal!<br /><br />Edith<br />http://edithmaxwell.blogspot.com/Edith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.com