The Book Jam

As part of our mission to promote authors, the joy of reading, and to better understand the craft of writing, we’ve paired with the The Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, Vermont to present an ongoing series entitled “3 Questions”.  In it, we pose three questions to authors with upcoming visits to the bookstore. Their responses are posted on The Book Jam in the week leading up to their engagement. Our hope is that this exchange will offer insight into their work and will encourage readers to attend these special author events.

We are excited to welcome cookbook writer Nancy Singleton Hachisu to the Book Jam. She’s the author of the newly published work Japanese Farm Food which tells stories and features recipes from her life on a rural farm in Japan. Hachisu has lived in that country for more than twenty years where she says she went “for the food but stayed for love.” Her full days are spent with her husband making tofu, plucking ducks, pickling vegetables, preparing noodles, and raising their two teenage sons. Glowing reviews for this beautiful and inspiring cookbook are pouring in from Alice Waters, Patricia Wells, and Micheal Rhulman. This is an event not to be missed.

Nancy Singleton Hachisu will read at the Bookstore on Tuesday, October 9th at 7 pm.  As always, reservations are encouraged. Just call (802) 649-1114 to reserve your spot or to order your signed copy of her book.

1. What three book s have helped shape you into the author you are today, and why?

I read voraciously as a child and was most influenced by E. Nesbit and C.S. Lewis. As an adult I favored mystery novels until I embarked on a mission to regain my ability in French, Spanish, and Italian about 10 years ago. This time also coincided with ever-increasing difficulties in getting boxes of books bought and sent off to Japan. And thus began a period of watching movies rather than reading that helped me create a bubble sort of world around me in which I could hear my voice quite clearly. I suppose our way of life helped shape me into the author I am today.

2.What author (living or dead) would you most like to have a cup of coffee with and why?

Elizabeth David because I love her whimsy, practicality, and food sense.

3. What books are currently on your bedside table?

Stacks of cookbooks…but they are not on my bedside table, they are piled up on the floor here and there around my room! And a book about learning to read Japanese through literature–I am woefully unskilled in my reading ability and need to force myself to step it up otherwise I will never cross the glass ceiling created by learning a language orally.