This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
It is impossible to write about food in a novel with New York in the title without mentioning bagels. I was just going to buy a packet from my local supermarket and slather on some cream cheese then artfully drape smoked salmon over the top, but I knew buying bagels in a sweaty packet would be nothing like the real thing. I've never been to New York, but I have eaten a New York bagel when my friend bought me one back, and it was beautiful. Now these, my first attempt, (made whilst singing In a New York Minute) were a bit mishapen, but they tasted delicious. New York delicious? Well, I couldn't possibly say, but so much better than sweaty bag.
So which book has me gushing about bagels? Fairytale of New York is Miranda Dickinson's first novel. Rosie Duncan, an English girl, has moved to New York and has surrounded herself by some great friends. The reasons for her coming to New York from England, via Boston, are a little sketchy. We know she's had her heart broken and she's come to New York to mend it, but that's all. Rosie now owns a New York florists and works with commitment-phobe Ed and unlucky in love, Marnie. But her best friend is Celia, a journalist. Every Saturday morning Rosie would walk over to Celia's apartment to have brunch, picking up the food from the bakers on the way. It could be muffins, pastries or bagels. Whatever it was it was a sacred part of Rosie's week. A morning when she took time out from the business, recharged and caught up with her friend. No problems couldn't be solved over brunch, by sipping on good coffee and eating good food.
On one particular Saturday morning, whilst eating apple, cinnamon and sugar bagels, Celia has some information to reveal, about a certain publisher called Nate. A man almost betrothed to somebody else but is also rather interested in Rosie. Life is about to get complicated and busy for Rosie, but as long as she has bagels and coffee she'll be fine.
The bagels I made were from BBC Good Food and are called Bagels for Brunch.