A culinary-inspired novel by Topeka writer Thomas Averill will heat up the winter months in Lawrence as folks delve into Read Across Lawrence.

Averill’s novel, “Secrets of the Tsil Cafe,” is this year’s selection for the Lawrence program designed to transform the community into a big book club.

“The whole goal is to encourage literacy and to read together,” said Sandra Wiechert, community relations coordinator at the Lawrence Public Library.

Everybody has two months to read the book. The schedule of free, public events – readings, lectures, discussions, workshops, films and a community potluck dinner – run Feb. 4 to March 6.

This is the fourth year Lawrence has been involved in this reading activity. Previous books were Langston Hughes’ “Not Without Laughter,” Sarah and Elizabeth Delaney’s “Having Our Say” and Avi’s “Nothing But the Truth.”

Averill, who has taught English at Washburn University since the 1980s, set his novel in a fictional Kansas City, Mo., restaurant. It uses food as a metaphor to tell the story of Wes Hingler’s coming of age under the wing of his parents, dueling chefs Robert Hingler and Maria Tito Hingler.

It also recounts the son’s journey to his own restaurant, Weston’s One-World Cafe.

The book includes recipes, many developed by Averill.

Wiechert said the book’s target audience centered on readers in high school and beyond.

Copies of the book are available to be checked out at the public library, 707 Vt. Another 200 copies will be given to local organizations to be passed from reader to reader.

Read Across Lawrence is a cooperative project of the public library and public school district. Financing is provided by the library’s foundation and Friends of the Lawrence Public Library.

For information, go to www.lawrencepubliclibrary.org.