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Silver Dagger Book Tours

Friend of The Devil - Blurb Blitz and Giveaway

7/27/2016

15 Comments

 
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                                             Friend of the Devil
                                                                by Mark Spivak
                                                                    GENRE
: Thriller

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​In 1990 some critics believe that America’s most celebrated chef, Joseph Soderini di Avenzano, sold his soul to the Devil to achieve culinary greatness. Whether he is actually Bocuse or Beelzebub, Avenzano is approaching the 25th anniversary of his glittering Palm Beach restaurant, Chateau de la Mer, patterned after the Michelin-starred palaces of Europe.

Journalist David Fox arrives in Palm Beach to interview the chef for a story on the restaurant’s silver jubilee. He quickly becomes involved with Chateau de la Mer’s hostess, unwittingly transforming himself into a romantic rival of Avenzano. The chef invites Fox to winter in Florida and write his authorized biography. David gradually becomes sucked into the restaurant’s vortex: shipments of cocaine coming up from the Caribbean; the Mafia connections and unexplained murder of the chef’s original partner; the chef’s ravenous ex-wives, swirling in the background like a hidden coven. As his lover plots the demise of the chef, Fox tries to sort out hallucination and reality while Avenzano treats him like a feline’s catnip-stuffed toy.
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​He stepped down from the womb of the 727 onto the stubby metal stairway and descended slowly onto the asphalt of the old Palm Beach Airport, like a child sticking a toe into a hot bath.
The first thing he noticed was the light. By the time he reached the tarmac, it hurt his eyes. It was opaque and shining, milky white and brilliant.
As his feet touched the bottom, a coffee-colored hand plucked the bag from his grasp.
“Mr. Fox?” The teeth were almost as bright as the light reflecting against the pavement.
“Guilty.”
“Welcome to Palm Beach. West Palm, to be precise.” The voice was cool and melodious, with a Jamaican lilt. “We gladly cross the river to welcome our distinguished guests and ferry them to the other shore.” He extended his hand toward the terminal, smiling broadly. “Come, sir. Your chariot awaits.”
The woman stood next to the limousine, sticking out of the asphalt like an exotic tree. She wore a black leather jacket, and a short, black leather skirt, cut on the bias to give her a schoolgirl look. She was smirking.
She has gorgeous skin, was his first thought, smooth enough to lick. Then there was her hair: jet black, cropped short, spiked liberally with mousse, standing straight up as if from an electrical charge. I am so beautiful that I can mutilate my hair and you will still crave me, she seemed to say. I can masquerade as Elvis Costello and you will still crawl across the runway to worship me.
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​Mark Spivak is an award-winning writer specializing in wine, spirits, food, restaurants and culinary travel. He was the wine writer for the Palm Beach Post from 1994-1999, and was honored by the Academy of Wine Communications for excellence in wine coverage “in a graceful and approachable style.” Since 2001 has been the Wine and Spirits Editor for the Palm Beach Media Group; his running commentary on the world of food, wine and spirits is available at the Global Gourmet blog on www.palmbeachillustrated.com. He is the holder of the Certificate and Advanced diplomas from the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Mark’s work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Robb Report, Men’s Journal, Art & Antiques, the Continental and Ritz-Carlton magazines, Arizona Highways and Newsmax. He is the author of Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History (Lyons Press, 2012) and Moonshine Nation: The Art of Creating Cornbread in a Bottle (Lyons Press, 2014). His first novel, Friend of the Devil, is published by Black Opal Books.
Website: http://www.markspivakbooks.com


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/friend-of-the-devil-mark-spivak/1123858106?
https://www.amazon.com/Friend-Devil-Mark-Spivak/dp/1626944520/ref
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
15 Comments
Goddess Fish Promotions link
7/27/2016 04:16:38 am

Thanks for hosting!

Reply
Mark Spivak link
7/27/2016 05:10:54 am

Many thanks for hosting me today. I look forward to meeting your readers and answering any questions they might have.

Reply
Becky RIchardson
7/27/2016 07:37:22 am

Do you ever get writer's block?

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Mark Spivak link
7/27/2016 07:42:32 am

I used to, but not anymore---it's one of the benefits of being maniacally focused on what I do. I believe, though, that everyone's time and energy is limited, so if you're immersed in your work to the point where you don't get writer's block, I think you're likely to be blocked somewhere else in your life. We all have to pick our spots.

Reply
Lisa Brown
7/27/2016 07:43:14 am

Congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)

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Maia Silverdagger
7/27/2016 08:04:34 am

This book looks so interesting!

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Tarissa link
7/27/2016 10:59:50 am

Hmmm. Sounds like a fascinating and thrilling read. Thanks for sharing!

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Victoria
7/27/2016 12:13:24 pm

Great excerpt, thanks for sharing!

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Ally Swanson link
7/31/2016 04:30:35 am

I have added this book to my TBR list and look forward to reading this book!

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Mark Spivak link
7/31/2016 04:45:58 am

Many thanks, Ally. I hope you enjoy it, and look forward to your feedback.

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Maia Silverdagger
8/4/2016 09:14:21 am

Definitely my type of read! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog everybody! And thanks so much for answering everybody's questions Mark!

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Debra Holloway
8/4/2016 05:42:25 pm

This book looks and sounds so interesting I really want to read it. I have been looking for a good read with some substance.

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Bailey Dexter
8/5/2016 06:36:44 pm

Congrats on the tour!!!

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Jerry Marquardt
8/5/2016 10:17:34 pm

I would like to thank you for your involvement in the Friend of The Devil Blurb Blitz and Giveaway. Thanks to Mark for a great book, I can barely wait to read this.

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Mark Spivak link
8/6/2016 04:00:44 am

Thanks for your enthusiasm, Jerry---I hope you enjoy it, and look forward to your feedback.

Reply



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