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What’s new on my writing blog?: Vanessa Couchman
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Tag Archives: Writing
Parisot Literary Festival 2014: how did it go?
This poor old blog has been a bit neglected of late, but that’s because so much has been going on that it’s been hard to get to it. One of the local events that has taken up some of … Continue reading
Parisot Literary Festival October 2014
A heads-up about the second Parisot Literary Festival/Festival Littéraire de Parisot, which will take place this year from 10th to 12th October. Parisot is only a small place with about 500 inhabitants but there’s a lot going on. This event … Continue reading
Another excerpt from ‘The House at Zaronza’
With a little over two weeks to go before publication, here is another short extract from my novel The House at Zaronza. The story is set in early 20th-century Corsica and at the Western Front during World War I.
Posted in Books/writing, Corsica, History
Tagged books, Cap Corse, Corsica, novel, The House at Zaronza, Writing
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An excerpt from my forthcoming novel, ‘The House at Zaronza’
I’m getting very excited about the publication of my historical novel with Crooked Cat Publishing, which is only just over a month away. I’m also delighted with the cover, above. Between now and 29th July, I’ll publish a few short extracts, starting … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, Corsica, Places
Tagged books, Corsica, Crooked Cat Publishing, Historical fiction, The House at Zaronza, Writing
20 Comments
Meet My Main Character from My Novel ‘The House at Zaronza’
Today, I’m taking part in a blog hop for historical novelists, entitled ‘Meet My Main Character’. I was tagged by fellow writer and Writers Abroad colleague Dianne Ascroft who wrote about her main character last week.
Posted in Books/writing, Corsica
Tagged Cathie Dunn, Corsica, Crooked Cat Publishing, Dianne Ascroft, Main character, novels, The House at Zaronza, Writing
25 Comments
My novel, The House at Zaronza, to be published by Crooked Cat Publishing
I’m thrilled to announce that my novel, The House at Zaronza, will be published by independent publishers Crooked Cat Publishing, probably this summer. The novel is based partly on a true story, which we discovered on holiday in Corsica in … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, Corsica
Tagged books, Corsica, Crooked Cat Publishing, Lorraine Mace, The House at Zaronza, Writers Abroad, Writing
30 Comments
Behind the Scenes at the Parisot Literary Festival
First, a reminder to anyone who lives in the area or is visiting that our first Literary Festival will take place in Parisot this weekend (11th-13th October) with a line-up of both French and British authors. See the programme on … Continue reading
A Great Way to Celebrate Three Years
My blog is three years old today. It has survived the terrible twos and is now learning joined-up writing. And it has readers as far apart as Nova Scotia and Qatar. It will not have escaped your notice that today … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, French life
Tagged anthology, blogs about France, books, expat writers, Foreign Encounters ebook, France, Writers Abroad, Writing
12 Comments
Foreign Encounters Book Launch
I’m a bit late reporting on this event, which took place about 10 days ago. Blame this wretched novel I’m working on for National Novel Writing Month. I have almost reached the requisite 50,000 words but mine is going to … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing
Tagged books, Foreign Encounters, living in France, médiathèque de Parisot, Parisot, Writers Abroad, Writing
20 Comments
French Provincial Cooking
When pondering what to serve dinner guests this coming Saturday I reached for my disintegrating copy of Elizabeth David’s French Provincial Cooking. Not because I expected to copy a user-friendly recipe but because it is chock-full of ideas. First published … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, Food/drink/recipes, Personalities
Tagged Elizabeth David, food, France, French cuisine, French Provincial Cooking, Writing
14 Comments
Monthly Météo: Weather in SW France October 2012
The SF has been beside himself because I am so late posting the weather post this month. My excuse is that I am writing a novel for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo to the initiated), in which you take part in … Continue reading
Posted in French life, Weather
Tagged autumn, frost, living in France, NaNoWriMo, rainfall, SW France, Weather, Writing
8 Comments
Foreign Encounters, a New Anthology from Writers Abroad
Writers Abroad, the online writing group for ex-pat writers I belong to, is publishing a new anthology today, entitled Foreign Encounters. It contains short stories, non-fiction and poems by writers who are, or have been, ex-pats. They live in, or … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, World War I & II
Tagged books, Expat, Foreign Encounters, living in France, Writers Abroad, Writing
9 Comments
A Romantic, and True, Corsican Tale
Wherever I go, I find out so much more if I speak to the locals. This was certainly so during our recent – fourth – visit to Corsica, where we always find new things to see. We would not have … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, Corsica, History
Tagged Cap Corse, Casa Maria Corsica, Corsica, love letters, Nonza, Writing
13 Comments
Awards, Awards!
In the past couple of days two people have very kindly given my blog an award (now three – see below). This has really brightened up the end of January for me, which in my opinion is the most dismal … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, French life
Tagged blogging, blogs about France, Liebster Award, SW France, Writing
19 Comments
Tripbase Seven-links Blogging Challenge + a Plug for a Colleague’s Book
Blogging pal Stephanie in Creuse has kindly nominated me – among others – to carry on the torch for the seven-links blogging challenge. This is where you have to nominate seven of your own blog posts that fit particular criteria. … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, French life
Tagged blogging, blogs about France, France, SW France, Writing
2 Comments
A Change of Name
I’ve decided to change the name of my blog as of now. Formerly it was ‘A writer’s lot in France’. Henceforth it will be called ‘Life on La Lune’. Why change? Several reasons – please read on.
Posted in Books/writing, French life
Tagged Aveyron, blogs about France, France, La Lune, living in France, rural life, SW France, Tarn-et-Garonne, Writing
6 Comments
French colloquial phrases you never learnt at school
See also my post More Colloquial French Phrases. For my other posts about the French language, please click on ‘Language’ under Topics in the right-hand sidebar. French, like all languages, has its colloquial phrases. The pure French that we learnt … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, French life, Language
Tagged colloquial phrases, France, French, idiomatic expressions, Language, language learning, living in France, phrases, Writing
2 Comments
French country novels
French country novels celebrate rural life, which changed out of all recognition during the 20th century. Continue reading
Posted in Auvergne, Aveyron, Books/writing, Customs, French life, History, World War I & II
Tagged Aveyron, France, French novels, romans de terroir, rural life, SW France, Writing
9 Comments
Life in Southwest France
Welcome to La Lune, French for the moon. This is the name of the lieu-dit (locality) in southwest France where our 18th-century farmhouse is situated. We have lived here since 1997. The name almost certainly has nothing to do with the moon, but … Continue reading
Posted in French life
Tagged blogging, blogs about France, France, living in France, rural life, social customs, SW France, Writing
The seven ages of blogging (about France)
My blog is 6 months old today. I am not a great cake lover, but I am a champagne girl, hence the picture. I’m sure you’ll join me in raising a glass or two. I have not yet received … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, French life
Tagged blogging, blogs about France, France, living in France, Writing
3 Comments
Maigret (actor Bruno Cremer) is dead
Bruno Cremer, the interpreter par excellence of Simenon’s Maigret on French TV, died today, reports A Writer’s Lot in France. Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, French life, Personalities
Tagged Actors, Bruno Cremer, France, French, French novels, Maigret, Paris, Simenon, Writing
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The top ten Maigret novels
‘What on earth has Georges Simenon’s Maigret got to do with living in southwest France?’ you might ask. And you’d be absolutely right. Very little, is the answer, at least on the face of it. However, I’ve often said … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, French life, Language, Personalities, Top tips
Tagged France, French, French novels, Maigret, Simenon, Writing
7 Comments
