hese two short novels bookend Poppy Z. Brite's cheerfully chaotic series starring two chefs in New Orleans. The Value of X introduces G-man and Rickey, who grew up in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward and who are slowly realizing there are only two important things in life: cooking and each other. Rickey's parents aren't quite so taken with the boy's plans and get him an impossible-to-resist place at the Culinary Institute of America. In D*U*C*K, Rickey and G-man's restaurant, Liquor, is doing well but there are the usual complications of running a kitchen: egos get bruised, people get fired ...and then Rickey is jumped in an alley by one of their ex-waiters. On the mend, Rickey takes a side job to cater the annual Ducks Unlimited banquet, where every course must, of course, include the ducks the hunters have bagged. Rickey's crew are ready to meet the challenge, but Rickey's not sure he can do it all and deal with the guest of honor-his childhood hero, former New Orleans Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert. "Fun foodie fiction, and readers will scarf it down as quickly as a plate of blackened crawfish." -Publishers Weekly Originally published in limited hardcover editions, these two novels are full of the pure joy of love, hard work, and great food and are a tremendous extension (or introduction) to Brite's series. Praise fo the Rickey and G-man stories: "A high-end restaurant is...a gift that keeps on giving. The heat, the bickerings and intrigue, the pursuit of perfection, the dodgy money keeping it all afloate: the setting spawns plots...Can the [Liquor] franchise sustain itself? The answer is yes."-New York Times "World-class satire and perfect New Orleans lit."-Andrei Codrescu "Steeped in spicy dialogue and [New Orleans] flavor...a behind-the-swinging-door peek into the world of chefs."-Entertainment Weekly Poppy Z. Brite's fiction set in the New Orleans restaurant world includes Prime, Liquor, and Soul Kitchen. She has also published five other novels and three short story collections. She lives with her husband Chris, a chef, in New Orleans.

Publishers Weekly and Library Journal Spring Announcement ads. Galleys available by April at the latest. Galleys at BEA/BookExpo NY. Galleys at NEIBA Trade Show. Advance Access galley mailing Baker & Taylor Independent Press Quarterly Pitch to author's hometown media (New Orleans). Out reach to editors and reviewers who are known fans of cooking fiction. Pitch to off the book page features on New Orleans. Pitch to mystery features and reviewers, bloggers, specialty bookshops and magazines. New Orleans-focussed media campaign. Previous books in this series have been reviewed in the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Washington Post Book World, and Andrei Codrescu on NPR--we'll be reaching out to all of these people and more. Advertising in trade and literary magazines. ALA Midwinter 2010 display ALA Midsummer 2010 display. Author's website: www.poppyzbrite.com Support from Subterranean Press and their huge email list.

About the Author
Poppy Z. Brite's fiction set in the New Orleans restaurant world includes Prime, Liquor, and Soul Kitchen. She lives with her husband, Chris, a chef, in New Orleans.

Reviews
On D*U*C*K: "Brite does a fine job of evoking the Crescent City and its soul through delectable descriptions of its unique cuisine and the quirky characters who prepare it. This is fun foodie fiction, and readers will scarf it down as quickly as a plate of blackened crawfish."--Publishers Weekly "A must for followers of this quirky but fascinating series." --Booklist



Book Information
ISBN 9781931520607
Author Poppy Z. Brite
Format Paperback
Page Count 280
Imprint Big Mouth House
Publisher Small Beer Press
Weight(grams) 326g