• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS •
The journey from first scribbles to finished book takes years of work by many, many people. Here’s my attempt to thank them. I’m sure I’ll forget someone important, so my apologies if I left your name off—it isn’t because you aren’t valuable, or you don’t deserve credit, but because I’m flawed and have a sucky memory. I’ll keep better notes for book two—I promise.
There’s something special about that first person in the publishing community who pulls your story out of the slush and proclaims it worthy, something other people need to read. A huge and hearty thank-you to Rachel Ekstrom of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency for pulling C3 out of the slush, washing it off, and seeing its potential. You worked your ass off to find C3 a home.
Speaking of home, to my brilliant editor Kate Dresser at Gallery, thank you for falling in love with C3. Your enthusiasm shone through in all your comments, coaxing out the best in C3, and making it so much better than I ever thought possible. I couldn’t have asked for an editor with more excitement and passion for my book. I’m still giddy that my words are in your very capable hands.
Thank you to Gallery for making my book Real (with a capital R). Louise Burke, Jennifer Bergstrom, Ciara Robinson, Jaime Putorti, Kristin Dwyer, Susan Rella, and anyone I may be forgetting—I am grateful you believed in me and my book. Your hard work makes me feel like my book was the only one you were working on. I’m a lucky author to be in the Gallery family.
Thank you to Regina Starace for designing my beautiful and perfect cover. I couldn’t love it more.
Thank you to Baror International, Inc., for selling foreign rights.
Both Erin Niumata and Jessica Sinsheimer offered incredible feedback on my manuscript and query, without which I’m not sure the book would have made it to publication. You are both shining examples of the generosity and good-spiritedness in the publishing world.
Ann Christensen at Milwaukee Magazine—thank you for answering all my questions about restaurant reviews. You were more than generous with your time. You inspired all of Al’s good behavior. Any errors are mine.
To all the chefs I have worked for, thank you for such good fodder for what happens in a kitchen. I edited out most of the cursing.
Andrew Heacock—you made me a beautiful website. I love it!
My local friends Val and Bob Wisniewski, Pam Gosenheimer, Courtney Marschalek, Lynnette Gunville, Jill Walworth, Joan Folvag (who also owns a magnificent coffee shop), and so many more I know I’m forgetting. You all kindly asked about and listened to my woes and successes during this long process.
My backside deserves a shout-out—it survived lengthy hours in uncomfortable chairs to finish this book. I promise I’ll get you more exercise in the future.
Kelly Johnsen, thank you for reading an early draft, but more importantly, for taking my stunning author photo. I’m sure there are very technical explanations for how you capture the beauty in all your subjects, but to me it’s magic!
To Erin Reichert, my awesome and bilingual sister-in-law, who not only read my book, but also provided me with German terms of endearment. You are my Liebchen!
And to Tom Reichert, thank you for being a supportive and enthusiastic brother-in-law.
To all my beta readers, Sue Molin, Brandi Manthas, Maria Cancino, Kate Clausen, Paula Kabara (who also keeps my hair looking fabulous), Sarah Cannon, Carla Cullen, and Sarah Henning, your helpful feedback made me a better writer. Especially those of you that read the early drafts when I had no idea what I was doing—your time was an invaluable gift.
Melissa Bielawski and Mark Benson, not sure what I would do without our ongoing conversations—you have saved my sanity more than once. Every writer should have friends as loyal and willing to call “bullshit” as you both are. *boob bump*
Ann Garvin—you are my writing guardian angel. You’re the first writer who read my work, kindly patted me on the hand, and told me I had a lot of learning to do. We are kindred spirits and I’m so happy we found each other all the way in NYC.
My mother-in-law, Sandy Reichert—a writer couldn’t ask for a more supportive and enthusiastic cheerleader!
To my siblings, Pam Lehman (also my bingo partner-in-crime), Steve Guertin, Paul Guertin, and Cathi Alonzo. One of my favorite childhood memories is each of us in a separate corner of the cabin reading our book of choice. I love that I’m part of a book-loving family and I love that a family gathering isn’t complete without a lively book discussion.
To my mom, the matriarch of our book-loving family—your nightstand is never without a book or two. You’ve shown me over and over again that we Guertin women can do anything—so I did. I love you!
My beautiful and patient children, Ainsley and Sam—so much of what I do is to inspire you both, to show you that you can do anything with hard work and persistence. My proudest moments are when I hear you tell people that your mom is an author. And yes, using Twitter is working.
John Reichert, my husband, best friend, first reader, and most trusted consigliere—sharing this with you is one of my greatest joys. When I first told you I was writing a book, that’s when it became real for me—a thing I was doing. That’s when I knew I would see it through to the end. You’ve been supportive from that moment on, with helpful feedback, taking the kids out of the house when I needed work time, and understanding that I’m probably just going to get weirder—and loving me more because of it.
GALLERY READERS GROUP GUIDE
The Coincidence
of Coconut Cake
• • • • • •
AMY E. REICHERT
INTRODUCTION
The last thing Lou, a talented and tireless Milwaukee chef, expects to lose when she dumps her cheating fiancé is her beloved restaurant, Luella’s. But when an off night in the kitchen—fueled by heartbreak and frustration—coincides with an anonymous visit from an exacting critic from the local newspaper, one scathing review is all it takes to see her promising business suddenly facing closure.
As the city’s most infamous restaurant critic, Al prefers to keep his professional identity a secret. A recent transplant from England, he runs into Lou as she’s drowning her sorrows in a pub and playfully challenges her to show him the best of Milwaukee. As Al and Lou explore the sights and sounds of her hometown, they begin to fall for each other—until Al realizes that it was his review that put the future of Luella’s in jeopardy. When the truth comes out, the two star-crossed foodies must find a way to overlook the past in order to forge a new future together.
TOPICS & QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. It’s clear from the opening chapter of the book that Devlin and Lou have divergent plans for the future. What do you think drew them together in the first place? Did you find Devlin, with his good looks and promise of financial stability, alluring or stifling?
2. Lou considers the following quote: “Delight is indeed born in the heart. It sometimes also depends on its surroundings.” Do you think this holds true throughout the book? How do Al and Lou’s surroundings impact their happiness? Do you think that your surroundings dictate your own happiness? Or are your perception and attitude more important?
3. Both Al and Lou have fond memories of their grandmothers’ cooking, from Luella’s famous coconut cake to the rusty cast-iron skillet that Al still holds dear. What are some of your favorite culinary memories or traditions? How have they evolved—or not—over the years?