About Tod

Get ready to dig in to my archaeological mystery, Ground Truth. When Scottish archaeologist Jamie Walker accepts a summer gig as treasure hunter for hire, his colleagues are sure he's about to lose much more than he'll ever find, starting with his reputation and probably his job. Walker and his longtime friend and fellow Edinburgh University lecturer Ian Mackenzie find themselves where no self-respecting scientists willingly go: Oak Island in Nova Scotia, site of two centuries of real treasure hunting failure and death. The island may hide pirate treasure, Shakespearean manuscripts, or nothing at all, and Walker becomes uncomfortably aware that rather than the find of a career, he may simply face flameout. Just how hard should he work to find answers that, even if they exist, may be best left in the past?

To get a sense of Jamie, take a look at "his" blog, Forbidden Digs

Photo:  Ryan Smith
for thetrustees.org

I also write about food, wine, organic gardening, travel, and family from a practical, budget-oriented perspective.  After hearing me evangelize about the fun of pulling carrots, making bread, or a Rhone that tastes like charcoal, my friends sometimes accuse me of being overly romantic.  That observation is probably true.  In my defense, these days the simple things feel more important than ever.

I am the author of several books in the Complete Idiot’s Guide series, including  20-Minute Meals, 5-Minute Appetizers, 30-Minute Meals, Quick & Easy Low Carb Meals, and my favorite, Cooking for Guys.  That title serves up cooking inspiration and humor for kitchen-shy guys, has been mentioned in the New York Times and the Boston Globe, and can be found on shelves from Boston to Sydney. Here's my Bookstore.

  Somewhere in the midst of these food-oriented projects, I
  became an enthusiastic (oh all right, obsessive) consumer of   
  local and organic produce.  I increasingly focused my
  food writing on local food, and I have watched with delight as this kind of eating has become more and more popular.  I was fortunate to be featured in a recent issue of Special Places magazine in an article that helps make the case for eating local. We're all recognizing that cheap food is not necessarily a good deal! 

I provide recipes and content for the Powisset Farm CSA (part of The Trustees of Reservations), and other organizations devoted to supporting local food.

On the decidedly more indulgent side, I created over a hundred Restaurant Recipes for the Phantom Gourmet television show. The Phantom crew filmed these epic dishes in my kitchen west of Boston.

Examples of my published work (a few are links)

Food and Wine

     

Travel, Family & Lifestyle

              

     

Television

                                                       

                                                                 

I love photography almost as much as I love to write.  Much of my work features my images.

I am a member of GrubStreet, a creative writing center in Boston; and a member of The Writers’ Loft, a non-profit writing community in Sherborn, MA. I earned my BA from Union College, and my MBA from the University of Edinburgh.