Bacon Book Sizzles in Court

A Park Slope resident's all-bacon cookbook may soon start flying off the shelves — but for the wrong reasons.

A sizzling lawsuit has ordered “I Love Bacon!” by Warren Street resident Jayne Rockmill be taken out of bookstores after a DUMBO resident alleged that she was the victim of a greasy case of plagiarism.

Lisa Skye claims that she and Rockmill, her former literary agent, put together a proposal for a cookbook entitled "I Love Bacon," after first meeting at a 2007 launch party for a self-published book by Skye, “I Love Corn.” The book was slated to be a collection of recipes devoted entirely to the cured meat from chefs around the country, and a portion of the proceeds would go to charity. Skye eventually hoped to develop a whole series of similarly themed cookbooks.

According to suit, which was filed in Kings County Supreme court, Andrews McMeel Publishing  was prepared to offer up a contract for the series, but the relationship between Skye and Rockmill soured before a deal was ever inked. Skye claims that Andrews McMeel Publishing went ahead and published the book though – with Rockmill as the author.

The suit seeks monetary damages against Rockmill and yesterday Skye’s attorney filed an order to get the books off the shelves.

“’I Love Bacon!’ is a book that should have been written by Lisa Skye – she did all the work. Jean Rockmill basically stole everything and replaced Skyes name with her own. That’s not fair,” said Skye's lawyer, Elise Schwarz.

“We want Lisa to have a chance to put her own book on the shelves. So long as Jayne Rockmill’s books are out there, it’s going to infringe on the possibility of her series.”

Rockmill’s book is a collection of bacon recipes from around the country, including one from "Iron Chef" Cat Cora. 

On March 21, a judge will hold a preliminary hearing to determine whether Rockmill’s book will come off the shelves.

Andrews McMeel did not immediately respond to a call for comment, nor did Rockmill’s attorney.