Inspired by a Web Site
by John F. Baker -- Publishers Weekly, 5/27/2002
A book called In Mama's Kitchen by Diana Serbe was preempted for Scribner (and Washington Square Press paperback) by Sarah McGrath, who was as entranced as agent Dorian Karchmar by the author's Web site (inmamaskitchen.com). On it Serbe collects family recipes from thousands of site visitors while talking about her own; she also presents family lore in general and stories of her long and interesting life as a much-traveled actress. The book will expand far beyond the Web site material, and McGrath was only the fastest off the mark of many interested publishers. She bought North American rights for a solid six figures. Karchmar's agency, by the way, is now called Lowenstein-Yost Associates, in tribute to 10-year veteran Nancy Yost.
