Spiegel & Grau has acquired Janet Rich Edwards’s debut novel Canticle, a work of historical fiction set in medieval Belgium among the Beguines, a renegade religious order of women who resisted the patriarchy and corruption of the Catholic church of that era. The story follows a misunderstood seventeen-year-old forced to lodge with this group of pious radicals after fleeing her own wedding, initiating a turbulent series of events and ensnaring her in a complex web spun by manipulative religious authorities, forcing her into difficult choices that threaten her relationships and imperil her very life.
Sarah DiGregorio Spotlights Midwives in Longform Feature
In a recent article for Rewire News Group — a national nonprofit media organization dedicated to reporting on reproductive and sexual health, rights, and justice — Sarah DiGregorio examined the controversial firings of several midwives at a Manhattan hospital that mainly serves low-income immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to publishing this illuminating piece, this month DiGregorio continued to generate interest in Taking Care, her cultural history of the nursing profession, through speaking engagements with the Nursing Now Challenge’s Global Book Club and Wichita State University’s College of Health Professions.
Camper English Wraps up Busy January by Envisioning More Flexible Drinking Culture
Camper English capped off “Dry January” with a reflection for MSNBC on the binary between heavy imbibing and rigid abstinence, calling for more inclusive spaces and mixologies to help blend crowds of drinkers and nondrinkers more fluidly. The author of Doctors and Distillers and The Ice Book spent the prior 30 days of 2024 reviewing fellow Straus Literary client Danny Childs’ new book Slow Drinks for The Alcohol Professor, talking to InsideHook about absinthe, and leading several nonalcoholic cocktail and spirits tastings in San Francisco, while looking forward to pouring out more wisdom online and at the bar in the months ahead.
Umami Mart’s Everyday Sake Sold at Auction to Clarkson Potter
Craft bartender Kayoko Akabori and sake sommelier Yoko Kumano have selected Clarkson Potter to publish Everyday Sake, their approachable yet sophisticated introduction to the unique Japanese drink. Founders of the Oakland-based Japanese imports store Umami Mart, the pair will use their book to demystify sake for modern drinkers, looking at its history and range of styles while providing guidance on serving, cocktail making, and food pairing. With lighthearted pop-art illustrations and infographics, Everyday Sake will speak to novices and aficionados alike, opening doors for those who want an alternative to wine or beer on any night of the week.
Sean Sherman Honored at Julia Child Gala
Sean Sherman was feted at the 9th Annual Julia Child Award Gala on October 24, a few months after receiving the prestigious accolade in recognition of his impact on the American culinary scene as a staunch advocate of Indigenous foodways. The award comes on the heels of Time magazine naming the Lakota chef to its list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2023, while his groundbreaking Owamni restaurant in Minneapolis continues to win the praise of critics everywhere. Sherman recently spoke with Forbes magazine about his life and the work that has earned him all this enthusiastic attention.
Hardie Grant Publishes Slow Drinks by Danny Childs
Today marks the release of Slow Drinks: A Field Guide to Foraging and Fermenting Seasonal Sodas, Botanical Cocktails, Homemade Wines, and More by ethnobotanist and bartender Danny Childs, who runs the standard-setting beverage program at The Farm and Fisherman Tavern near Philadelphia. Focusing on seasonality and preservation techniques, this innovative book explains how to transform botanical ingredients―whether foraged, grown in the garden, or purchased from the store―into incredibly unique beverages and cocktails. Thoughtfully put together with beautiful photographs and illustrations, Slow Drinks will appeal to bartenders, do-it-yourselfers, foodies, homesteaders, homebrewers, food activists, and anyone with a sense of adventure.
University of California Press Acquires Lindsey Smith's Leaving for Good
Climate journalist Lindsey Smith has reached an agreement with the University of California Press to cover managed retreat in a narrative nonfiction book entitled Leaving for Good: The Heartbreak and Hope of Climate Retreat in California. Pairing rigorous reporting with personal essay, Smith will describe how climate change is battering her home state of California and how managed retreat—the coordinated movement of people and infrastructure away from potential threats—will be required to address this challenge. Featuring wildfire survivors, beachfront homeowners, state senators, low-income renters, urban planners, climate scientists, psychologists, and others grappling with this controversial policy strategy, the book will weave in Smith’s own emotional journey as it explores how the places we love give our lives meaning and shape our identities, and how we will respond when the climate crisis takes those places from us.
Sustainable Seafood Cookbook by Zimmern and Seaver Sold at Auction to HarperCollins
HarperCollins’ Harvest imprint has acquired Blue Food: Hope in the Water: Sustainable Eating from Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers, a seafood cookbook with guidance on responsible sourcing and 170 exciting recipes for fish, shellfish, seaweed, and sea vegetables. Written by Emmy and James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, and activist Andrew Zimmern and sustainability expert and educator Barton Seaver, the cookbook will tell stories from around the world showcasing modern and traditional fishing and aquaculture, demonstrating how both are key to our food and climate future. Featuring a foreword by actress Shailene Woodley and photography by Eric Wolfinger, the book will accompany the forthcoming PBS docuseries “Hope in the Water,” with both being produced in partnership with the nonprofit Fed By Blue.
Pooja Bavishi's Malai Cookbook Sold to Weldon Owen
Weldon Owen has acquired Pooja Bavishi’s Malai: Frozen Desserts with South Asian Flavors, a groundbreaking cookbook featuring 90 unique recipes such as Besan Burfi Ice Cream Pie, Nimbu Pani Frozen Lemonade, Ghughra Sticky Buns, and Chai Molasses Cookies. The cookbook’s title — a north Indian word that loosely translates to “cream of the crop” — is also the name of Bavashi’s Brooklyn-based artisanal ice cream company, which she launched in 2015 to celebrate the culture and traditions that she grew up with. In the same spirit of her now-beloved company, her forthcoming cookbook will showcase the first-generation experience and the richness and versatility of Indian spices, suffused in everything from ice creams, non-dairy treats, frozen desserts, baked goods, and toppings.
Asada Delivers Summer Buzz
Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling (Abrams), the new book from Oaxaca authors Bricia Lopez and Javier Cabral, has grabbed the spotlight as one of the most exciting cookbooks heading into summer. Covering the delectable and vibrant tradition of Mexican backyard grilling, the book was featured on “The Today Show” (with a live cooking demo on Rockefeller Plaza) and made a splash as the cover story for Food & Wine magazine’s June issue. Named one of Bon Appétit’s best cookbooks of the spring, Asada has also been covered by the BBC and the San Jose Mercury News, while Lopez and Cabral have been interviewed on “The Dave Chang Show” and NPR affiliate KCRW.
