Project Fire is my 31st book, and, as always, one of the great pleasures in completing it is thanking the people who helped make it possible.
But this time that pleasure is tempered with sadness, for it is my last book with my longtime editor and friend, Suzanne Rafer. For 43 years, Suzanne has polished the prose of her authors at Workman Publishing, turning their books into international bestsellers. I thank her for her expert editing, unerring counsel, and relentless pursuit of excellence. I wish her well in her retirement and will never forget how hard she has worked to make my books worthy of the name Workman Publishing on the spine.
Equally heartfelt are my thanks to my assistant, Nancy Loseke, who handles any task I throw at her—from research to recipe testing to proofreading, editing, and blogging—with an aplomb surpassed only by her enthusiasm and dedication.
The idea for Project Fire originated on the set of my Project Smoke TV show, so it’s only fitting that I thank Matt Cohen, Gwenn Williams, Chris Lynch, Richard Dallett, and the many cameramen, engineers, editors, chefs, and PAs who make it possible. (That would be Bob, Dan, Dave, David, Emily, Haley, Jacob, Jillian, Joe, John, Jonathan, Jordan, Joseph, Kevin, Lauren, Michael, Paul, Rob, Ryan, Tony, and Vicki). Tip o’ the hat to Steven Schupak, Stuart Kazanow, Frank Batavick, Jay Parikh, Phillip Guthrie, and Donna Hunt at Maryland Public Television.
When it came time for the photography for Project Fire, I had the great fortune to work again with photographer Matthew Benson, food stylist Nora Singley, and her assistants Kris Kurek and Pearl Jones, photo director Anne Kerman, prop stylist Sara Abalan, and fire wranglers Ezra Dunn (Stokey) and Garlan Dunn (Smokey).
Providing grill gear and product photos were: Arteflame, Carson Rodizio, Char-Broil, The Companion Group, Grillworks, Homdoor, Kalamazoo, Komodo Kamado, Lodge, Matsushima, Maverick, Memphis Grills, Pit Barrel Cooker Co., Safecid, Smoke ’n’ Fire Inc., TEC Infrared Grills, and Weber.
Thanks, too, to Francois de Melogue (Foods in Season) and The Green Grape Provisions.
Becky Terhune designed this handsome book. Kate Karol, Carol White, Lily Kiralla, and Barbara Peragine ushered it into production, and publicity director Rebecca Carlyle and head publicist Chloe Puton will make sure people know about it. I will miss former publicity director Selina Meere, and wish her well in California. Molly Kay Upton, Erin Kibby, and Moira Kerrigan keep the barbecuebible.com website humming. (Sign up for our Up in Smoke newsletter if you haven’t already.) Orchestrating all this are CEO Dan Reynolds, publisher Suzie Bolotin, and Workman’s president, Carolan Workman. I only wish that the visionary Peter Workman were still alive to see another Raichlen book join the Workman library.
A HUGE thanks to my family: Betsy, Jake, those three rascals, Ella, Mia, and Julian, and above all, my wife of 28 years, Barbara Raichlen. Consigliere and best friend, Barbara has a hand in all the good things that happen to me, and believe me, keeping me on track is no easy task.
Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank you, dear readers, for allowing me to have the greatest job on the planet. Thanks to you, I look forward to each new day, with all the new adventures and discoveries it brings.
Steven Raichlen