Two ladies, incidentally sisters, authored a book several years ago
involving basic principles of cooking.  I kept no record of my exact
source of the book. I suspect I bought it by mail in response to an
ad.  The book disappeared.  Trying to replace it I could find no clue
as to its exact title that would permit me to make an intelligent
search.  Today I thought of trying a book store that specializes in
wine, food etc and the storekeeper did find one that  answered my
description.  However, it was published in 1998, at least a few years
after, as I remember, the original purchase.  Examining this book I am
convinced it is new, possibly reworking the material of the original,
but not the same book.  Since these sisters have been in this field of
endeavor for some time, I am searching for other writings attributed
to them just to confirm the validity of my memory.  My question is
where, using internet, can I simply put in their respective names and
find their previous written works?  The used book resources, such as
ABE, will not accept a search request for a joint authorship but when
I enter only one name, all they claim to have (for sale of course) is
the recently (1998) published book.

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Request for Question Clarification by juggler-ga on 21 Sep 2002 18:53 PDT

Finler:
There are several web sites that are useful for locating books, but
none are perfect. If you provide the information you have, I'll try to
track down the earlier book. What are the names of the two sisters?
What is the title of the 1998 book?

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Clarification of Question by finler-ga on 22 Sep 2002 14:15 PDT

Actually I am looking for a magic carpet that will transport me to the
information desk of the Congressional library or even New York City's
42nd St  library.  However - to your request for more information -
these Canadian ladies have been at it for many years and there has to
be a trail somewhere.  The book's title is "The Inquisitive Cook" and
the authors are Anne Gardner and Sue Wilson.  Not the most imortant
thing in my life but I would sure like to know where to go for an
answer so I might nandle this kind of thing for myself like a big boy.

I suspect you may have found what you are looking for.

The Inquisitive Cook, by Anne Gardiner and Sue Wilson, with the
Exploratorium
First edition, 1998, published by Henry Holt and Co.
ISBN: 0805045414

In either case, you may contact Ms Gardiner or Ms Wilson personally at
anneg@shaw.ca or sue.ww@shaw.ca with questions about an earlier book,
should this not turn out to be what you are searching for.

You can visit "the Congressional library" at http://catalog.loc.gov 
Unfortunately, it shows no record of an earlier cookbook by Anne Gardiner.

The ladies in question had a website which is now defunct, but via The
Wayback Machine you can see a page of recommended books. The only list
the one book that they wrote.
http://web.archive.org/web/20010819224718/inquisitivecook.com/bookstore/index.cfm

Several sites list The Inquisitive Cook volume 3, which suggests two
earlier volumes.  The publishers page (Henry Holt Company
<http://216.247.214.252/98-1owl/inquisitivecook.htm> gives a series,
"Accidental Scientist" and also notes that the two authors together
write a weekly column for the Montreal Gazette.

As already noted elsewhere, their web site is almost defunct - but
<http://www.inquisitivecook.com/> does give their email addresses. 
You could write direct to the authors and ask if they have written
anything else!

Sue Wilson appears to have co-written '"The Rough Guide to Irish
Music" - I sa appears to as it may be another author with the same
name!  Another question to ask Ms Wilson when you write.

I know it is good to be able to find out for oneself, but sometimes
even the experts have to ask another expert for help - and very often,
no matter how hard you try, the answer just is not there (on the
internet).  In fact, read some of the interviews in the Super
Searchers series, the expert is an expert because he turns to people
for help, and not the internet!  And that's just what you have done,
using Google Answers, asked for people help!

Hope that's of some help - and comfort,

read2live