"A must read for aspiring pit masters and great for armchair cooks, too." --Steven Raichlen, author of The Barbecue Bible and host of PBS's Barbecue University		Writing press releases--good ones--is a fine art in itself, and here I'm happy to point out some artistry in the release for The Grill of Victory. Written by Howard Cohen of the book's publisher, Emmis Book, it captures the fun and spirit of the book: Barbecuing conjures up thoughts of languid, weekend afternoons, surrounded by friends and family, enjoying the day awaiting a meal that's tasty, tangy and, if done right, downright messy. However, there lurks a more intense world of barbecuers—teams of men and women with names like Natural Born Grillers, Barefoot in the Pork and Grills Gone Wild who have turned backyard barbecuing into a competitive sport. In THE GRILL OF VICTORY ($16.95, May, Emmis Books), Bill Brohaugh provides a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at the passionate pork enthusiasts that people these events, including the Superbowl of Swine, the Memphis in May barbecue competition. Brohaugh, a BBQ judge for more than fifteen years on the Memphis In May circuit, evokes the whole sensory experience--the smell of meat slow-cooking for hours, the sight of smoke rising from the pit or grill, and, ultimately, the smoky, spicy taste of the "'cue" itself. He also regales readers with tales of the personalities and characters who cook 'cue competitively, with scraps of travelogue, food history, and barbecue tall tales served on the side. This isn't a bunch of fellers standing around a hibachi with a bag of charcoal and a can of lighter fluid. This is, as Brohaugh puts it, the "backyard on steroids." Teams converge on competitions with huge smokers ("the grills of the gods"), bivouac gear, and sometimes even RV's complete with showers, comfy chairs and air conditioning. THE GRILL OF VICTORY delightfully describes the fierce competition and the friendly "ribbing," the tools of the teams and some of their secrets, and the towns and cities on the circuit. Bill Brohaugh has been judging barbecue competitions since 1990 and is certified as a judge on the Memphis in May Circuit and was chosen as one of four finals judges for the 2006 Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. He is a former editor of Writer's Digest magazine and former editorial director of Writer's Digest books and is the author of Write Tight and Professional Etiquette for Writers as well as dozens of magazine nonfiction pieces. He lives in Union, Kentucky. THE GRILL OF VICTORY: Hot Competition on the BBQ Circuit By Bill Brohaugh Emmis Books  |  May 2006  |  $16.95 Paperback original  |  336 pages  |  ISBN 157860267X www.emmisbooks.com For cover scans, review copy requests or to interview Bill Brohaugh, contact: Howard Cohen at (513) 861-4045 x 14 or hcohen@emmis.com