Wayne Stolt

When it comes to food, Wayne Stolt has seen it all: the good, the bad, and the tasty! Wayne is a 30-year veteran of the food service business, ranging from fast food, to casual dining, fine dining, catering, and teaching. He has a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from Eastern Michigan, and a Master’s degree in teaching from Wayne State University. He is certified in ServSafe and also teaches it. He is certified as a ProStart Educator with the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation and a Certified Hospitality Educator through the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. Wayne enjoys bicycling and nonchalantly studying service and food while eating out.

What better setting for his debut novel, Crossing the Line, than the restaurant business? The story follows Roberto and Luis from their homeland in Guatemala to a restaurant in Michigan, USA. That’s where the illegal aliens part comes in.

What prompted him to write Crossing the Line? Wayne shares, “I’ve always wanted to write about life in the kitchen and restaurant business. Anthony Bourdain did so in Kitchen Confidential, but he portrayed a life riddled with drugs, alcohol, and other issues, which he had to overcome. I wanted to show the better side of life in this business, including the impact of various cultures. After considering the influence of Hispanics on the food service industry and having seen firsthand the lifestyle of people living in Central America through short term mission trips, I felt a real need to write about undocumented immigrants, seeking the American dream. I’ve also felt a strong bond with Hispanic cooks with whom I’ve worked over the years.”

Crossing the Line is an authentic portrayal of life south of the border. Wayne continues, “Our group stayed in a small city on the grounds of a church, where we helped construct a school. While travelling on day trips, I noticed the bustle of trade in the local mercado. Life in Huehuetenango really struck a chord with me. I built much of the story around that area and a smaller city where the characters grow up. I had access to maps and drew on conversations with a friend who was raised in Guatemala as a missionary kid. I also spent time with Joe Culiffo, a missionary himself, discussing each chapter to be sure it was accurate, relevant, and authentic.”