The Bold Soul: A Writer's Life in Paris

Changements

Now, I'm French. What does this mean, exactly? Does it mean I need to wear a striped shirt, a beret, have a cigarette hanging out of my mouth, and never smile again? Read more →

I like you, You like me

I have a big favor to ask all of you. Well, maybe it's not a BIG favor but it feels big to me. I am about to start pitching agents about my memoir, and I need to boost my Facebook "Likes" on my official Author page, and boost 'em signficantly. Agents nowadays really look at this sort of thing when they consider whether or not to represent a new author. Having a platform, a ready-made audience, is a HUGE plus. They want to know I'm someone who is doing my part to help sell my own books. I've already got a web site and a blog that I'm quite happy with, and the social networking presence is out there but I haven't really been promoting that very actively. Until now. So what I need from you is for you to Like me, Facebook-wise. I mean, I know you like me or you wouldn't be here. And I don't like asking because I know we're all overloaded on social networking as it is. But agents and publishers only see the numbers when it comes to social networking. I've got excellent blog stats, but I need to get my Likes way up... Read more →

Family of Fools

How could one family make this many stupid mistakes in one short afternoon? Read more →

How to apply for French nationality... sort of

A very unofficial look at what it takes to apply for French citizenship. It's going to be stressful. Prepare to drink a lot of wine. Read more →

In which I become French at last

We arrived back in Paris a couple of hours ago to pouring rain, and it's about 12 degrees (Celsius) colder here than when we left Saint Raphael. Not so great a start to our rentrée, but at least we got a taxi fairly quickly. Then, on arriving home, we discovered a clean house (thanks to Les Grands who have been camping here while we've been away -- they're apartment hunting) but not much left in the fridge, so I hot-footed it over to the mini-market across the street. I was so tired, but wanted to just get it done so I could come home and collapse. When I got back and was unpacking groceries with Georges in the kitchen, my step-son comes in and asks me: "So, who did you kill?" And I was all, "Er... huh?" And he handed me a letter from the Préfecture de Paris. Of course they never arrest you with a letter, so I knew it had to be about my nationality dossier. I wasn't expecting anything from them because the mandatory one-year waiting period wouldn't even be up until some time in October. I got a bit nervous when I saw the envelope because... Read more →

Into the Woods

We went on a Sunday picnic yesterday up in the hills between La Bouverie and Bagnols en Forêt (the beaches being far too crowded on Sundays). I love a nice picnic but here is where I have to admit that despite growing up in the country, I am not a nature girl. I like the IDEA of nature. I like LOOKING at (and photographing) things in nature. I enjoy the quiet nature of nature. But otherwise I'm not so good with actual nature. The bugs drive me crazy, for one thing: flies, ants, mosquitos, spiders -- they adore me but the feeling is not mutual. And If I were ever lost while hiking (a virtual impossibility since I'd be unlikely to be out "hiking" alone in nature anyway), I assume I'd end up as the following news headline: NATURE-CHALLENGED WOMAN DIES WHILE HAVING HYSTERICS AFTER LOSING HER WAY IN A PUBLIC PARK 50 YARDS FROM NEAREST MALL. That being said, I do enjoy a day out in the country with my family. The French really know how to do a picnic, that's for sure. Le Garçon got to work on the cabane that he and his buddy had built back... Read more →

Oncle Sam veut VOUS!

I enjoyed the time we spent yesterday at the site of the débarquement of 1944, 69 years ago. There were no actual veterans of that action present as I'd hoped (which didn't surprise me as, if there ARE any surviving American or French troops who were there then, they would be quite old today). But there were plenty of French men and women dressed in costumes of the era: soldiers uniforms sporting American flags on the shoulders, nurses uniforms, women in 1940s hats and shoes with white cotton ankle socks (because nylons were really hard to come by). There was even a "priest" in the robes of that period because there was one present to give a benediction during the landings. There were a lot of original Army vehicles and vendors selling collectibles (I came very close to buying an American flag made of wool with the stars -- only 48! -- individually stitched on BOTH sides of the blue field, but he wanted 100€ for it and although I'm sure that may have been a fair price, it was more than I was willing to pay for something I wouldn't even be able to display regularly). And there were... Read more →

History lesson

Today is August 15th and it's an important day for France, especially in Provence, because this was the day that -- 69 years ago -- Allied forces landed on the beaches starting with the commune (that's like "township") of Saint Raphael; more specifically, the biggest embarquement took place 5 minutes from here at Dramont. It was called Operation Dragoon. We're going over to check out the festivities. There should be some old military vehicles, and maybe (if we're lucky) an actual veteran or two, and if so I want to shake their hands and say thanks. Because perhaps if the U.S. and the other Allies hadn't liberated France from the north and south, maybe I wouldn't be here right now -- married to the most wonderful guy I know. Read more →

Up on the Roof

I just love the red tile roofs you see all over the south of France. Then, when you toss in the colors of the painted stucco -- golden yellows, pinkish reds, sunset oranges -- it just warms you right up, no matter what the weather. Read more →

Gorgeous

Doesn't get better than this. Read more →