It’s a book!

Last week the doorbell rang and I received a very exciting delivery: early copies of Mastering the Art of French Eating. It’s here, it’s here! It’s a book!

After so many years of research and writing, it feels weirdly wonderful to see those hours of toil distilled into a single object. One that has, you know, my name on it.

Perhaps I’m biased, but I think the book has a truly beautiful design, with an elegant typeface and charming flourishes that capture the its French spirit.

The book will be officially released on September 26 and — shameless self-promotion alert! — there’s still time to pre-order (and take advantage of a hefty forty percent discount!). And if you do pre-order, my offer still stands — I would be thrilled to send you a signed book plate to turn personalize your edition. Just drop me a note [ann at ann mah dot net] with a copy of your receipt and I’ll pop one in the mail.

Over a decade ago, when I was an editorial assistant subsisting on grilled cheese sandwiches cooked on a waffle iron, I used to dream of one day seeing my initials stamped on a hardcover book case. I still can’t believe that dream has come true.

Two other bits of news:

–I’m delighted that the book has received rave pre-publication reviews from Library Journal (“honest, funny, and eloquent”), Booklist (“mouthwatering”), and Kirkus (“Mah’s prose brims with true love”).

–I had so much fun collecting my favorite French internet recipes and sharing them with a panel of French food experts on First We Feast! I can’t wait to check out the other suggestions, too.

Thanks, friends, as always, for reading.

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