(31) Days of Summer

The excerpt below likely needs no introduction. I will say, however, that much of what you will read below are actual quotes pulled from news articles. I added only a bit of flare here and there, and some light editing for context. ~~~ I texted Gordon, Colm and Evelyn in our group chat, asking if they would like to join me later in the evening for a group viewing of Cheese: A Love Story . Of course, since there were six 1 hour episodes, we would not be able to finish them all in a single night, but we could certainly get started. The rest of the day passed slowly, anticipation building. Finally, the moment arrive. We gathered around the television in the main living area, glasses of pinot noir in our hands. I pressed play. The scene opened on a close-up of Afrim Pristine. He is holding a large, red wheel of Boar n’ Trots goat cheese and a cheese cutting tool. His smile is strained, and he has an intense and almost unhinged look in his eyes. “I was born with a piece of cheese in my mout...

My plot is now moving along swimmingly. Finally, Kiefer Sutherland (or at least the idea of Kiefer) has made an appearance. I had a lot of fun writing today. I can only take credit for 1,400 words written today. I resurrected a couple of old passages from Katie's blog back in 2011 and 2013 describing Jackie's Place and Jackie Bauer. Click here and here to enjoy those passages in all of their glory. In this excerpt Serena and Evelyn are brainstorming new business ideas after taking over Fellini's, a Stratford restaurant previously owned my Michelin-starred Chef Floriano. ~~~ “Let’s brainstorm, then. Is there anything that you have always wanted to do, but been too afraid to try? Is there anything that makes you light up every time you think about it?” “Well…” she said with a note of hesitation in her voice. “Out with it,” I demanded good-naturedly. “It’s really embarrassing…” “If you don’t tell me, I can’t help you make it happen,” I prodded. After another moment’s hesitat...

I had an inspired writing session this morning. I have been knee-deep in Week 2 blues for a few days, even before Week 2 started. I wasn't liking my characters. I didn't love the unexpected directions that the plot was taking. I grew tired of writing New York Times Fashion satire. But introducing Agatha as a character has introduced new life into my novel. New purpose. I was able to write 2,400 words today. It took a few hours, since there was a lot of research to do on cheeses. Below you will find a somewhat lengthy exerpt, with the beginning of the first unit of the George Brown Professional Cheesemonger Program, entiteled:  Introduction to The Intentionally Opaque Language of Cheese. Enjoy! ~~~ I queued up the video for the unit, seeing Dr Savoir’s now familiar face fill the screen, then pressed “play.” “Floral, grassy, yeasty, barnyardy, gamey, funky, nutty, herbal, explosive, sharp, mushroomy,” Dr Savoir started. “These are all words that can be used by a Cheesemonger to d...