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Guest Post & Giveaway with Michael Baron, Author of When You Went Away

October 28, 2009 by Darlene


Hello everyone! I’m very pleased to have Michael Baron, author of When You Went Away guest posting on Peeking Between the Pages today. Because of the events of the past month and a half at my house I’m behind on some of the reading I needed to have done so I’m just starting When You Went Away but I have to say I’m already hooked and my review should be up sometime early November. The best thing is that Michael is a ‘foodie’ like many of us and his guest post is all about Why Food and Fiction Mix so settle in for a great guest post!

I’m a fairly serious foodie. I think about food a great deal. Far more often, to be honest, than a healthy person probably should. For instance, just now, when I should have been focusing on this piece, my mind drifted to what I was making for dinner. For the longest time, this didn’t have much of an impact on my writing career. I wrote nonfiction books, they weren’t cookbooks, and therefore food rarely entered into the equation. However, when I sat down to write my first novel, When You Went Away, the food references exploded on the page. I edited out several of these (it is not, after all, a food novel; I’ll get to one of those eventually), but those I left all have symbolic value. An early cooking scene shows my protagonist Gerry trying to do this normal thing in the face of hardship and even though he is only cooking for himself. A later one allows Gerry’s sister-in-law to care for him in a way that sends echoes of a now-lost home. Still another hints at renewal. Even the very first present-day scene in the novel involves food, though it’s a baby bottle (Gerry is a widow with an infant son).

Obviously, I write about food so often in my fiction because I care about it. But I think I do it for another reason as well. I think I do it because it is essential. Food represents sustenance at one level and sensual pleasure at another — both things that we all need. In any piece of character-driven fiction (the only kind I write; I don’t have the plotting chops to attempt a plot-driven novel), the “things of life” are central. Therefore food serves as a fundamental metaphor for living and being alive. Interestingly, in my next novel, Crossing the Bridge, food plays a much smaller role, but for precisely the same reason. My protagonist there, Hugh, is untethered. A tragedy ten years earlier has left him feeling lost. I make very few references to food in the first act of this novel, and when I do, it is purely as fuel. Then, in the second act, Hugh makes an effort to reach out to the woman who has been haunting him, and he discovers a roadside diner that brings his taste buds alive. When he cooks for this woman, even though he’s a stranger to kitchens, it’s an announcement that he’s moving forward with purpose.

In my next novel, cooking has a central place in the story of one of the main characters. He will make several dishes right on the page. This, of course, has driven me to take the food-as-life metaphor even further. I’m trying to determine the specific symbolic qualities that different ingredients have. What message does a tomato send? What about pork? Does the shoulder have a different emblematic function from the loin? These mysteries still lay in front of me. But I will make it my mission to uncover them. And I’ll get started on it as soon as I decide on a side dish for tonight’s meal.
~~~~~~~
Fantastic guest post Michael! Thank you so much for joining us at Peeking Between the Pages and sharing with us today.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I’m pleased to say that I have 2 copies of When You Went Away available for giveaway courtesy of Joy and the publisher-thanks so much! What do you need to do to enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.
  • For 2 entries follow my blog. If you do, many thanks and let me know please so I can make sure you get the extra entry.
  • For 3 entries blog or tweet this giveaway to spread the word.

This giveaway will be open to US & Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will be drawing for the winners on Saturday, November 21, 2009. Good luck to all!

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Filed Under: Guest Posts

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marjorie says

    October 28, 2009 at 11:59 am

    The review is very good on this
    book, please count me in.

    I follow by google reader.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

  2. Renee says

    October 28, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    I'd be interested in winning this book.

    reneesuz82(at)msn(d0t)com

  3. Renee says

    October 28, 2009 at 12:20 pm

    I follow on blogger dashboard.

    reneesuz82(at)msn(d0t)com

  4. Wanda says

    October 28, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    Hooked already and you're just starting … sounds good to me.

    Great guest post with Michael Baron, Crossing the Bridge sounds like it's gonna be a great read too!

    I follow and will add this to my Up For Grabs post.

    wanda_waiting[@]hotmail[.]com

  5. KiraR says

    October 28, 2009 at 12:37 pm

    I would like to enter.

    kiris089[at]gmail[dot]com

  6. KiraR says

    October 28, 2009 at 12:37 pm

    I'm a follower.

    kiris089[at]gmail[dot]com

  7. Linda says

    October 28, 2009 at 12:42 pm

    The book sounds great, and the guest post about food was actually a bit thought-provoking. Thanks for the giveaway.

    And I follow through Google Reader.

  8. Pam says

    October 28, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    I love food references in novels – I find it really helps me to figure out what kind of person the character is: adventurous? average? It also, for me, plays a big part in novels set elsewhere to help learn about the culture, flavour of a country.

    melacan at hotmail dot com

  9. Pam says

    October 28, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    I'm a follower too.

    melacan at hotmail dot com

  10. Missy says

    October 28, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    Awesome post! I just added this book to my amazon wish list yesterday, so I would love for a chance to win it!

    I already follow your blog, and will post about your giveaway in my sidebar.

    Thanks, Dar!

    k9kutter64(at)yahoo(dot)com

  11. Indigo says

    October 28, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    I've been mesmerized by this book since I first heard about it. Please include me in the drawing. Thanks! Indigo

    ravensquietscreams@gmail.com

  12. Indigo says

    October 28, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    I'm also a follower. Thanks! Indigo

    ravensquietscreams@gmail.com

  13. bermudaonion says

    October 28, 2009 at 2:54 pm

    He shouldn't have cut out any of the food passages – I love to read about food! Please enter me in your great giveaway. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

  14. Janel says

    October 28, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    I love books where food plays an important part. Loved this guest post and I'm putting this book on my wish list!

    jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

  15. Janel says

    October 28, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    I am a follower 🙂

    jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

  16. Janel says

    October 28, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    I posted this in my right sidebar at:

    http://janelsjumble.blogspot.com

  17. fredamans says

    October 28, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    Thank you for the entries.

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

  18. fredamans says

    October 28, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    I follow your blog via Google connect.

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

  19. fredamans says

    October 28, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    I blogged: http://fredamans.blogspot.com/2009/10/contests_28.html

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

  20. Raspberry says

    October 28, 2009 at 3:43 pm

    I would love to enter – rae_sunshine4(AT)yahoo.com
    I'm also a follower.

  21. kalynnick says

    October 28, 2009 at 4:01 pm

    Please enter me to win. thanks

    kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com

  22. Susan Helene Gottfried says

    October 28, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    No need to enter me, although I love a man as food obsessed as we are over here.

    I'm dropping in on my usual mission: to let you know I've posted this at Win a Book.

  23. gaby317 says

    October 28, 2009 at 5:17 pm

    This sounds like an interesting book. Please count me in.

    +1 I'm a loyal follower.

    gaby317nyc at gmail dot com

  24. a real librarian says

    October 28, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    Thanks for the chance to win!!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

  25. a real librarian says

    October 28, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    i also follow you!!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

  26. holdenj says

    October 28, 2009 at 9:20 pm

    Would love to win, it sounds like a great story, please count me in!
    Thanks.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

  27. holdenj says

    October 28, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    I follow you.
    Thanks.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

  28. Zibilee says

    October 28, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    I love foodie books, so Michael sounds like a writer I should definitely read! Please enter me in this giveaway, and thanks so much for hosting it!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  29. Zibilee says

    October 28, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    I am also a follower of your blog.

  30. Ann Diana Dinh, says

    October 28, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    Ah this sounds like a good read. Enter me please

    behapppppppy(at)hotmail(dot)com

  31. Ann Diana Dinh, says

    October 28, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    I follow!

    behapppppppy(at)hotmail(dot)com

  32. naida says

    October 28, 2009 at 10:37 pm

    Great guest post, this sounds like a good book!
    I wonder what Michael decided as a side dish with his dinner? 🙂

    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

  33. etirv says

    October 29, 2009 at 12:36 am

    What a fun post! Please count me in!

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

  34. etirv says

    October 29, 2009 at 12:36 am

    Follower!

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

  35. lag123 says

    October 29, 2009 at 12:44 am

    This sounds good. Please enter me!
    I follow via google reader.
    lag110@mchsi.com

  36. Debbie says

    October 29, 2009 at 2:21 am

    I'd love to have this.
    fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

  37. Debbie says

    October 29, 2009 at 2:22 am

    I'm a follower.
    fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

  38. Margie T says

    October 29, 2009 at 11:59 am

    I'd also like to win this book!

    I just put your blog on my Favorites list!

    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

  39. Serena says

    October 29, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    No need to enter me, but I'll post the giveaway on my sidebar. I really enjoyed this novel and read it in one day.

  40. Anonymous says

    October 30, 2009 at 12:46 am

    sounds good,need some winter reading,thx for contest..
    thehighflyer3(at)hotmail(dot)com

  41. Jaime says

    October 30, 2009 at 6:07 am

    would love to read this one
    copperllama at yahoo dot com

  42. Jaime says

    October 30, 2009 at 6:08 am

    +2 already a follower
    copperllama at yahoo dot com

  43. Debbie F says

    October 30, 2009 at 8:43 pm

    Count me in!
    thanks
    dcf_beth at verizon dot net

  44. Debbie F says

    October 30, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    I'm at follower – google reader!
    thanks
    dcf_beth at verizon dot net

  45. DarcyO says

    October 30, 2009 at 10:43 pm

    Sounds great. Please include me.

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

  46. DarcyO says

    October 30, 2009 at 10:43 pm

    I follow with Google Reader.

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

  47. Martha Lawson says

    October 31, 2009 at 1:43 am

    Sounds like a great read..

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

  48. Martha Lawson says

    October 31, 2009 at 1:44 am

    I'm a google follower.

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

  49. Mitzi says

    October 31, 2009 at 4:50 am

    I'm an already friend follower.

    mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

    Thank you for the giveaway contest!!

    Mitzi H.

  50. Jolynn says

    October 31, 2009 at 7:23 pm

    I read the description, sounds like an interesting book.
    Jolynn_Reads at yahoo.com

  51. Jolynn says

    October 31, 2009 at 7:24 pm

    I follow with google reader.
    Jolynn_Reads at yahoo.com

  52. Beth (BBRB) says

    November 1, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    This looks great! Please enter me!

    BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

  53. Beth (BBRB) says

    November 1, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    I'm a follower.

    BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

  54. Booklogged says

    November 1, 2009 at 5:31 pm

    I think about food way too often as well. Count me in this drawing, please.

    booklogged at gmail dot com

  55. Booklogged says

    November 1, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    I'm a follower.

    booklogged at gmail dot com

  56. Rebecca N. says

    November 1, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    This sounds like a really good read! I would love to be entered to win! Thanks for the great giveaway!

    imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

  57. Rebecca N. says

    November 1, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    I follow your blog!

    imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

  58. Vicki says

    November 2, 2009 at 4:43 am

    I'd love to win this

    readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

  59. Vicki says

    November 2, 2009 at 4:43 am

    I already follow

    readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

  60. Vicki says

    November 2, 2009 at 4:43 am

    TWEET

    readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

  61. Pamela Keener says

    November 2, 2009 at 6:12 pm

    I am a follower
    pk4290@comcast.net

  62. Rebecca Graham says

    November 2, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    Sounds good!

    rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

  63. g.g. says

    November 2, 2009 at 11:43 pm

    Great interview…please put me in for a chance to win. Thanks

    anjamie4 AT gmail (dot) com

  64. Kim says

    November 3, 2009 at 3:06 am

    +1 I would love this book! you can contact me at kimmery4(at)yahoo(dot)com.

    *smiles*

  65. Kim says

    November 3, 2009 at 3:06 am

    +2 I am a follower our your blog!
    *Smiles*

  66. Anonymous says

    November 3, 2009 at 12:45 pm

    Sounds like an interesting book to read.
    Please eneter me.
    RJB
    loki304[at]tds[dot]net

  67. Amy says

    November 3, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    This sounds like a very good book, emotionally intense but satisfying…in a few different ways! Please include me in your contest.

    Amy
    Aimala127[at]gmail[dot]com

  68. Amy says

    November 3, 2009 at 6:58 pm

    I follow your blog!

    Aimala127[at]gmail[dot]com

  69. Allison says

    November 4, 2009 at 1:20 am

    OOO please include me

    allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

  70. Allison says

    November 4, 2009 at 1:20 am

    Also a follower

    allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

  71. Farrah from The Book Faery Reviews says

    November 5, 2009 at 7:41 pm

    Sounds like a good one. I can definitely understand food as being both sustenance and sensual.

    thebookfaeryreviews AT gmail DOT com

  72. Farrah from The Book Faery Reviews says

    November 5, 2009 at 7:41 pm

    I am a google follower.

  73. Anonymous says

    November 6, 2009 at 12:39 am

    Sounds like a great read… Please accept this as my entry. Thank you!

    Aliya D.
    aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

  74. Stacie says

    November 6, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    Please count me in.

    I follow.

    simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

  75. Framed says

    November 6, 2009 at 5:54 pm

    Please enter me.

    shaneen at easilink dot com

  76. Anonymous says

    November 7, 2009 at 12:58 am

    I would absolutely love to read this book. Thanks for the possibility.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

  77. Marie says

    November 7, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    I would love to read this.

    I am a follower.

    marielay@gmail.com

  78. bison61 says

    November 8, 2009 at 5:25 am

    book sounds great-I'd love to read this

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

  79. LoveMyCoffee says

    November 8, 2009 at 6:24 am

    Count me in for this one. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

  80. LoveMyCoffee says

    November 8, 2009 at 6:24 am

    I'm a follower

    Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

  81. cherylbaryl says

    November 9, 2009 at 11:40 am

    I would love to win a copy of this book. I am a follower of your blog

    cherylbaryl@hotmail.com

  82. Bethie says

    November 9, 2009 at 4:17 pm

    Please enter me. Thanks for the giveaway.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

  83. Anonymous says

    November 12, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    I like to read books with food in them. I am a great reader and good eater, too.
    JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com

  84. Barb says

    November 13, 2009 at 4:15 am

    This book sounds very interesting and I truly would love to read it. Please enter me in the giveaway.

    bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

  85. Andrea says

    November 13, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    Enter me in the drawing and I'm a follower.

  86. Kris says

    November 15, 2009 at 3:21 am

    Would love a chance to read this one!

    ksg_amg(at)yahoo,com

    I'm a follower 🙂

  87. pippirose says

    November 15, 2009 at 11:37 pm

    Please enter me…it sounds very good.

    pippirose59 at gmail dot com

  88. pippirose says

    November 15, 2009 at 11:37 pm

    I am a follower.
    :o)
    pippirose59 at gmail dot com

  89. MarionG says

    November 16, 2009 at 3:20 am

    I'm hooked. polo-puppy-fluffyAThotmail *dot* com I need to know how Baron integrates food into his novels. Would love to read this.

  90. MarionG says

    November 16, 2009 at 3:21 am

    Hi. I'm a follower. polo-puppy-fluffyAThotmail *dot* com Would love this book. Cheers

  91. Nancye says

    November 16, 2009 at 4:57 am

    This looks like a great book! Thanks for the Giveaway.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

  92. Nancye says

    November 16, 2009 at 4:57 am

    Already a loyal Follower

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Entry #1

  93. Nancye says

    November 16, 2009 at 4:57 am

    Already a loyal Follower

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Entry #2

  94. Nancye says

    November 16, 2009 at 4:58 am

    Tweet! Tweet!

    http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/5757138239

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Entry #1

  95. Nancye says

    November 16, 2009 at 4:58 am

    Tweet! Tweet!

    http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/5757138239

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Entry #2

  96. Nancye says

    November 16, 2009 at 4:58 am

    Tweet! Tweet!

    http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/5757138239

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Entry #3

  97. traveler says

    November 16, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    Thanks for this wonderful giveaway. It sounds great. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

  98. Anonymous says

    November 17, 2009 at 5:15 pm

    A food novel…my kind of reading.
    RJB
    loki304[at]tds[dot]net

  99. kristinemarie7 says

    November 17, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    I would like to be entered.

    I also added the giveaway to my blog.

    kristinemarie7 at gmail.com
    Thanks!

  100. christin says

    November 19, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    This sounds great!! Thanks for the chance!!
    christinbanda at yahoo dot com

  101. Renee G says

    November 20, 2009 at 5:35 am

    I would love to read this.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com

  102. Esme says

    November 22, 2009 at 3:44 pm

    If food is involved-count me in.

    thanks

    chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

  103. Esme says

    November 22, 2009 at 3:44 pm

    I follow by google reader

    chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

  104. Esme says

    November 22, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    cococroissants

    peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/2009/10/guest-post-giveaway-with-michael-baron.html When you went away giveaway

    chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

  105. Allison says

    November 24, 2009 at 7:41 pm

    Please enter me!

    allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

  106. Allison says

    November 24, 2009 at 7:42 pm

    I'm a follower!

    allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

  107. Judy says

    November 24, 2009 at 8:01 pm

    Unfortunately, I'm too late for the giveaway, but I've been excited about this book ever since Susan Elizabeth Phillips mentioned it on her Facebook page. It sounds like a winner. Hard to believe this is your first, Michael. I really like the thoughts on your post and will look for the vignettes you mentioned. Yes, food is essential to our livess. Thanks. jld

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