food & fiction: a love story

Embarking on a new journey of any kind comes with a host of uncertainties. In school, I wondered who’d become my friends, if my teachers would be nice, and what kind of food the cafeteria would serve. (Deli Day, Taco Day, and Pizza Day were IT.)

On my first day at a new job post-college I wondered where the hell to park, how to professionally decorate my cubicle, and perhaps most importantly, “How’s the café in this place?”

As a new parent, I wondered how I’d manage on a lack of sleep, how I’d ever learn to change a diaper quickly, what kind of personality our kid would have, what would her favorite food(s) be, and, what kind of parent would I be? (Answers: poorly, with practice, sweet and sassy, spaghetti, chicken cutlets, french fries, and eggplant parmesan, and also, sweet and sassy.)

As a large majority of authors do, whether self-published or traditionally published, I’ve struggled with uncertainty throughout the book writing, editing, publishing, and marketing process. Alongside of that, as I began to meet fellow authors, I wondered who can I actually trust? And, how can I support someone else’s writing when I barely have time to read as it is?

But, as you learn throughout life, when you know you know.

Enter: Dani Keen.

Social media can be an absolute nuisance for many of my fellow author friends. Luckily for me though (I think?), I do actually enjoy it. If you follow me over on the ‘gram, you know I post frequently ranging from books and writing, to marriage, to parenting, to randomly funny real life moments, to you guessed it…food. The way I see it, and the way I teach it in my “Book Promotion for the Extroverted Author” Course, the more you let others into your world, the more they get to know you, the more they trust you, and the more they will support your writing.

As I’ve scrolled my way through the Indie Author space, I’ve been fortunate enough to find my very own tribe of fellow author friends. Virtually, we’ve created friendships and support systems, sharing each other’s work, picking each other’s brains, and finding inspiration in different facets of each other’s journeys.

I can barely remember how Dani and I began talking or when but we bought each other’s books and eventually bonded over our love of fictional romance, motherhood, *NSYNC, and wait for it…food.

So, before I type 8,790 more words as authors tend to do, I want to introduce you to one of my favorite romance fiction writer friends, author of Chasing Dust and One Sunset in Taos, Dani Keen.

Dani, let’s get right into it, girlfriend. Tell ‘em about your books!

I love writing stories about strong women filled with romance, wanderlust and self-discovery. Chasing Dust is Cali’s story. After her mother passes, Cali inherits a secret house in New Mexico and upon arriving, finds a journal of her mother’s from 30 years prior. 

Cali’s embarks on a journey to navigate her past while also trying to sort out her future. She meets locals, becomes in awe of the New Mexican culture and finds herself in the arms of a very handsome artist.

It’s the kind of story that leaves you feeling good at the end and immediately craving tacos and a vacation in the desert.

Tacos are always a good idea. But why’d you decide to set the story in New Mexico?

This is an interesting question, and honestly hard for me to answer. Where you grew up with this strong sense of Italian heritage, I had the opposite. I come from a small family that moved around a lot. Holidays were my parents, my sister and I, and while we did have family dinners the meals were basic. Meat + starch + veg. Rinse and repeat.

This was paired with a Celiac diagnosis as a teenager, which was pretty much every teenager’s nightmare in the early 2000’s. No more Little Debbie Snacks, or Ramen or Mac and Cheese. As you can imagine I had a very limited palate and kind of hating eating. It always felt like a chore. 

But as I grew up, I began to explore food. If I was nervous to try something, it meant I had to eat it. It became a life rule. I traveled and found curiosity around food and culture. And spoiler but my world was blown wide open.

So to answer your question, New Mexico didn’t directly influence me. It was more that as Cali’s story took form in my mind, influenced by my life experiences, New Mexico felt like where it was meant to be told. It was a truth I couldn’t unsee. 

You had my heart breaking at Little Debbie snacks.

Was there a specific moment in your life, related to food, that inspired Chasing Dust?

These questions are getting me because they are proof of how twisty my brain is! Similar to the last, my inspiration was more indirect. Through exploring food, and navigating Celiac, Mexican cuisine became a shining light. Not only was it delicious but I could eat almost all of it.

I threw myself into learning about the food from various regions in Mexico and the US, to replicate it at home. The result was piles of homemade tortillas, multiple sauces made from dried peppers, and so so many tacos. 

As I brainstormed Chasing Dust, I wanted Cali to have that same eye-opening experience of belonging. It wasn’t just New Mexico as a plot of land or the people there changing her, it was also what she ate.

My husband had to remove gluten from his diet, so I understand this all too well. (I’m bothered by it more than he is, to be honest. LOL.)

As a fellow writer who loves incorporating food into my own stories, why did you include food in Chasing Dust?

Food to me is not only a life force for sustenance but for connection. It’s a full sensory experience that has the power to bring people together. 

Storytelling does the exact same thing. You want a story to make you feel connected to its characters; to pull at all your senses like you are there! I write about food because I have seen first-hand how a good meal and great people change your life. It only seemed fitting to blend the two. 

I bet you’re about to gain some new Italian-American readers, because you pulled on heart strings with “food has the power to bring people together.” It is our life motto after all.

Last question, any recipes from the book you could share?

In doing my research for Chasing Dust, one ingredient that clung to me was blue corn masa. It has a subtly nuttiness that brings a distinct flavor to your food. I source blue corn masa from Masienda, which I highly recommend, and make homemade tortillas with it regularly. 

One great dish from New Mexico that also uses blue corn masa is Blue Corn Pancakes. Alex makes these for Cali in Chapter 30 and it’s the perfect recipe to share. These pancakes give you a sweet, savory combination of flavors, tasting like a pancake on the front end and like a fresh tortilla on the back end. You can serve them with syrup or honey, or go savory with cheese and fresh tomatoes.

Also, if you have gluten limitations, I easily sub in GF flour and they are wonderful. I hope you enjoy them!

If you’d like to support another Indie Author as you have supported me, go grab your copies of Dani’s books!

Click here for Chasing Dust on Amazon.

Click here for One Sunset in Taos on Amazon.

Click here for signed copies through her website.

Subscribe to her newsletter, Keen Musings.

Click here to read my answers to Dani’s questions from her own interview on Substack.

Follow Dani on Instagram, too!