Judy, a super-fan, awesome cook, and co-founder of two San Francisco Bay Area book clubs, recently bemoaned the lack of food mentioned in my Arthurian fantasy, THE AMBER ELIXIR. She had chosen my tale of magic, shape-shifters, and the quest to win back a forbidden love as the novel of the month for one of her book clubs.
Why worry about the lack of food in the novella? In Judy’s club, the host chooses the book the group will read, then on the day the novel is discussed, prepares a meal for the members based on the food or recipes mentioned in the book.
Judy chose THE AMBER ELIXIR. A lesser fan would have switched to an alternate book. (I would have chosen SPELL FIRE, the third book in my Teen Wytche Saga, because the characters drink smoothies and eat brownies.)
“I wrote about apples,” I reminded her. Enchanted apples from Avalon, mind you. The fruit is vital to the magic potion central to the plot, not for eating. But still…
I could hear Judy brighten over the phone. “I can work with that!” she said.
Judy then created the perfect cold-weather meal, filled with apple comfort foods. Here is her menu for an AMBER ELIXIR book club party.
Centerpiece: Apples
Menu: (I have included links to dishes similar to what Judy served. Her apple pie, for instance, comes from a secret family recipe, so I looked for a recipe that appeared easy to make.)
Chicken and Apple Sausages
Sparkling Apple Cider
Does your book club pair books with food? What are your favorite matches?
THE AMBER ELIXIR
Viviane, the new Lady of the Lake and High Priestess of Avalon, accepts a challenge from Merlin unaware her bold actions will have tragic consequences. Two of her priestesses are turned to stone. A forbidden love deserts her. Now alone, she has six young handmaidens to train and protect.
When Morgan le Fay demands assistance with a spell that could change the balance of power in the Two Realms, Viviane refuses her. But what if Morgan’s secret knowledge could restore the stone priestesses? Would an alliance with the sorceress prompt Viviane’s love to return? Or will the gamble cost her all she holds dear?
In addition to great new recipe ideas, the book club provided invaluable feedback. I discovered their favorite character was Roderick the sea dragon. They all thought THE AMBER ELIXIR would make a great movie, and among their requests for the next Two Realms book was, “Feature more food!”
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