PORT TOWNSEND — Author Peter Lewis said it is appropriate he will be reading parts of his newly published mystery, Dead in the Dregs, on Sunday at an event benefiting the Slow Food North Olympic Peninsula chapter.
“It was a slow book,” Lewis said of the novel, which took about six years from the germ of the idea to publication.
“It took about the same time as it would to grow a vine that would yield anything worth drinking.”
Lewis will appear at Sweet Laurette’s Cafe and Bistro, 1029 Lawrence St., from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $30.
Local food, French wine
The food will be made from local ingredients, and specially ordered French wine will be served.
The money raised will be used to support educational programs.
Lewis will discuss the book, read a few passages and provide the atmosphere for the French bistro-style appetizer buffet and no-host bar.
The book introduces a series character named Babe Stern and begins with the murder of an influential wine critic.
Stern, a former sommelier, travels through the California and French wine countries in search of the culprit.
Lewis is apparently a graduate of the “write what you know” school, as he is a former restaurateur and a wine expert having founded Seattle’s Campagne and Cafe Campagne restaurants.
The idea for the book came fully formed after multiple trips to France, though the plot and character details developed more slowly.
“During my 20 years in the restaurant business, I got to know the workings of the wine world intimately,” he said.
“As I told the story, I wanted to bring the reader into that world.”
Writing the first draft took two years, after which Lewis began a search for a publisher and a period of editing and rewriting.
During this period, publishing options expanded with do-it-yourself options emerging, but Lewis chose to stay on a traditional path.
“I wanted to do this in the old style,” he said of his choice to stick with a traditional publisher.
“It’s not an easy thing to get an agent and a publisher these days, so I feel like I have accomplished something.”
Writing a book wasn’t a great leap for Lewis. While he was in the restaurant business, he led a parallel life in the literary world that was connected to Port Townsend.
Pilgrimage to PT
In 1981, right after he moved to Seattle, he made a “pilgrimage” to Port Townsend, where he expressed admiration for Copper Canyon Press and its then-owner, Sam Hamill.
This led to a long partnership with the local poetry publishers, as Lewis served as a board member, board chairman and publisher for a short time.
“Port Townsend has a cultural life that extends across all spectrums,” Lewis said.
“It is a remarkable place with a long history of support for the arts and culture.”
Slow Food USA runs local and national events in support of a food system that is “good, clean and fair,” according to its mission statement.
The local chapter strives to support local food producers who practice wise stewardship of the land, air and waters.
In addition to Sunday’s event, Lewis is also scheduled to appear at the first Saturday Market of the season and will sign and sell books at the Slow Food booth. Tickets for Sunday’s event also will be available at the booth.
For more information or to purchase tickets, phone 360-379-4186.
________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
