So, something different today. Why? Because I don’t have any cool ideas for recipes and my characters so I can link a book because the whole reason for this particular day’s postings is to get people interested enough to go check out my books and maybe buy one. I’m an author but a subset of my job as an author is to sell books. You guys get off light this week. I’m going to muse about how food is presented in books. This is not a how-to or anything, just my observations as a reader, on one hand, and how I’ve done it as a writer on the other.
So, I do occasionally mention food in my books but it’s not necessarily a big deal. Usually, it’s a meal in a restaurant or a character who cooks (or doesn’t…I’m looking at you Hannah and Sade!). I don’t recall going into elaborate detail when describing my characters enjoying their food. That said, would you believe that I fall down the “research” rabbit hole of the intrawebz looking at restaurants that I can either mention or build upon and if I mention an actual place, I want to know that I’ve gotten the food right. I’m weird like that. Considering I right fiction, I get stuck on the truth of things. A lot. It irks me when authors take HUGE liberties with the facts* and it will, in fact, cause me to stop buying books by that author. On the other hand, it might not bother you and the fact that I’m such a stickler for facts might irk someone else. Anyway, I’m digrewssing a bit but hey, this is what happens when I have no idea of what to post. Moving on…
Two of my favorite series (by other authors) do have a bit of food emphasis in them. There are very good reasons for the inclusion that is part of some excellent worldbuilding. If you aren’t a fan of UF/ParaRom books, I’d direct you to cozy mysteries because those quite often deal with food. I don’t read them as a rule. I occasionally read one or two back in the day when I was a judge for various book awards. Not sure why I’m not a cozy mystery kinda gal, but there ya go. Back to my forte, though.
Ilona Andrews, a wife-and-husband writing team, have a very interesting take on food in their Kate Daniels world. Premise: Magic and Technology are often at war and when one is prevalent, the other wanes. Then you have times where one has reigned for a long time (Tech in this case) and suddenly, Magic makes a comeback. There are waves that happen and sometimes Tech works and Magic is weakened, other times, Magic overwhelms Tech. There are humans, humans with magic (necromancers who pilot “vampires,” mages, witches, and people like Kate but no spoilers), a few gods, and shapeshifters. Food is very important to the shapeshifters. Feeding a potential mate is a Very Big Deal. Example: Kate (whose backstory involves a LOT) is a bit clueless about the rituals. Being injuried while helping the Pack lands Kate in the Pack’s infirmary. Curran (a lion shifter) is the Beast Lord, ie. his the alpha in charge of all the various shifter groups who are members of Atlanta’s Pack. Curran feeds her a bowl of soup. Aunt Bea, the matriarch of the hyena clan, jumps on this event. Feeding each other becomes a running thing in the books, starting with MAGIC BITES, the first in series. Now, for a slightly different take.
We move on to Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changling series. There are Humans, Psy, and Changlings. All three share human DNA but Humans are at the bottom of the feeding chart. Changlings can shift into their animals, have better senses, and have a certain amount of immunity to the Psy’s psychic abilities. The Humans have none. The Psy are all about the mental and decided back in the 1970s (it’s 2060-80s time in the saeries) that emotion is a bad thing and to be a perfect Psy is to be without emotion. This is called Silence. To be silent is to be an automaton basically. Everything that might encourage an emotional reaction (like sex) is banned. That includes enjoying food. The basically exist on unflavored protein bars and drinks. *shudder* In the course of the series, things happen and some of the Psy fall out of Silence and to watch their non-Psy friends and lovers tempt them with food is nice to watch. Reading about Sascha, the Psy heroine in SLAVE TO SENSATION, taste hot chocolate for the first time! Be still my heart. FYI, her hero, Lucas is alpha of the local leopard pack. Reading about the Psy discovering food is a journey and a large part of the worldbuilding and plot line. Also, Nalini’s shifters have a thing about food too. They always want to feed their mates. This is a running gag in a fictional magazine targeting ladies who are interested in pursuing relationships with shifters and then expands as more Psy become “sexy.”
Anyway, I know have a post, for what it’s worth. Writers, do you use food in your books for whatever reason? If yes, why? Readers, how do you feel about food in books? And can anyone think of other books/series with food? Inquiring minds want to know!
*In one case, an author’s MC was a CIA agent undercover in a US motorcycle club. The CIA does not officially do that. FBI, Homeland Security, ATF? Yup. CIA. Nope. That’s not their mission and they’d be in deep kimchi if Congress found out. In another, an author had oriental lords in regency England. Nope. My Brit History professor (who actually DID write a book on the Regency) is likely spinning in his grave.
Silver James 