Hey, we all have to eat, right?

And mystery readers – and authors – are just as good cooks as anyone.

That’s why I was happy to hear about the Literary Feast: the Famous Authors Cookbook, published by the King County Library System in Issaquah, Washington.

Like all libraries and their fund-raising arms, the King County Library System Foundation is always looking for new ways to raise money that will continue to bring literacy to its community.

Giving a child or an adult the incentive to read and use the library profits us all.

And mystery writers know that libraries buy books, lots of books, and have readers, lots of readers.

The Literary Feast: the Famous Authors Cookbook features many mystery writers, both hard-boiled and cozy, as well as others.

Alexander McCall Smith, dressed in a kilt!, contributes Mma. Potokwani’s Fruit Cake recipe. 

J.A. Jance lends her Sugarloaf Café’s Sweet Rolls. Jance’s next book, Fire and Ice, comes out in July and feature both J.P. Beaumont and Joanna Brady.

Elaine Viets offers a fruit smoothie “mainly because I can’t cook,” she added.

Katherine Neville has Alexandra Solarin’s Boeuf  Bourguignon.

Faye Kellerman offers Moon Music Ribs while Jonathan Kellerman gives a potent Midtown Manhattan. 

Several years ago, I remember another cookbook that featured many mystery authors. I had a copy, used it for years and then lent it to someone and have never seen it since.

I won’t make the same mistake with this book. 

Literary Feast: the Famous Authors Cookbook book is $22.95 and proceeds go to the library’s literacy and reading programs.

More information is at thriftbooks.com.