It’s also in the running, along with entries from 22 other countries, for the worldwide prize, to be announced at the Feb. 11 ceremony.

The first-ever Paris Cookbook Fair runs the next four days, and most of the major French—and other European—publishers are supposed to be represented. It’s an ambitious event.

TFGW hasn’t been released outside the U.S., so, yes, the translation rights are available. Anyone have any ins with French or Spanish publishers?

Well, heck, at least Chicago represented in Cleveland. Aside from TFGW’s glorious triumph, Columbia College prof Joe Meno won the fiction prize for his novel The Great Perhaps, and Becky Anderson accepted the Voice of the Heartland award for her Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville.

Oh, and I grabbed a late dinner the night before at the bar at Michael Symon’s Lola and wound up sitting next to Jeff Carlisi. Name ring a bell?

He was the original guitarist for 38 Special, and, yes, he co-wrote “Hold On Loosely.”