Exciting! The Paris Cooking School will be coming out in Germany next year, in May, published by Droemer Knaur . It’s got a new title–Zweite Chancen à la Carte (Second Chances à la Carte), with the subheading of Die kleine Kochschule in Paris (The little cooking school in Paris) and a new cover. And here that cover is, looking gorgeous!
The audio edition of A Secret Garden in Paris, produced by Wavesound and narrated by actor, writer, and translator Jayne Tuttle, is now available for purchasing and listening on your favourite audio platform. Jayne’s Australian but has lived and worked in Paris and her understanding of the city and its people really adds that special touch. It’s such a thrill to listen to the novel unfolding through her seamless, sensitive, warm narration!
That’s the title of a little piece I wrote with tips about ten ‘secret gardens’ in Paris you can visit, which are unlikely to be found in guidebooks–or at least aren’t so well-known! It was published online, on the 9Travel site, and you can read it all here.
Here’s the list–without my descriptions and comments, all of which you can find in the published article linked above, but I’ve added here links where you can find out more about each:
Les Rosiers/Joseph Migneret: https://www.afrenchcollection.com/small-secret-garden-in-the-marais-paris/
La Roseraie des Arquebusiers: https://parisjetaime.com/eng/culture/square-saint-gilles-grand-veneur-pauline-roland-p907
Jardin du Port de l’Arsenal: https://www.unjourdeplusaparis.com/en/paris-vert/jardin-du-port-de-larsenal
Clos des Blancs Manteaux: https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/things-to-do/attractions/clos-des-blancs-manteaux
Jardin des Arts/Albert Schweitzer: https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/what-to-visit-in-paris/walks/articles/221347-the-jardin-des-arts-albert-schweitzer-a-green-setting-in-the-heart-of-paris
Le Square du Temple: https://www.travelfranceonline.com/square-du-temple-quartier-du-temple/
Parc de Belleville: https://www.parisinsidersguide.com/parc-de-belleville-paris.html
Garden of the Theatre of the Rond-Point des Champs Élysées: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre_du_Rond-Point
La Coulée Verte /La Promenade Plantée: .https://www.thebluewalk.com/walk-on-the-coulee-verte-and-promenade-plantee/
Le Parc de Bagatelle: https://www.french-gardens.com/gardens/bagatelle.php
The article on the 9travel website is illustrated with stock images which 9travel themselves sourced, but I also have photos myself of the gardens I mention. Most of them I took, but a few (all of the Clos des Blancs Manteaux, all of the Coulee Verte, the autumn shot of Albert Schweitzer garden and the black and white pic of the Port de l’Arsenal) are by my Paris-based brother in law Bruno Jan, who is a fabulous photographer. Here’s a gathering of some of them, for your enjoyment!
First block shows, from left to right: Les Rosiers/Joseph Migneret; Roseraie des Arquebusiers; Jardin du Port de l’Arsenal
Second block, from left to right: Albert Schweitzer 2 pics–in spring and autumn; Clos des Blancs Manteaux (2 pics)
Third block, from left to right: Square du Temple (2 pics): Parc de Belleville.
Fourth block (all pics): Coulee Verte
Fifth block, left to right: Parc de Bagatelle(2 pics: Jardin du Rond Point
There’s a fabulous gathering of wonderful reviews of A Secret Garden in Paris, from readers who participated in Better Reading’s Preview opportunity, which meant they could read advance copies of the book. I am just so thrilled and touched by the warmth with which so many people have responded to my novel–thank you all so much! Many thanks to Better Reading and Ultimo Press for making it possible.
You can read all the reviews here.
Such a wonderful local launch of the book yesterday, in the very congenial atmosphere of Cafe Patisserie Armidale! Lovely engaged crowd, lots of books sold by Reader’s Companion, delicious petits fours, flowers, chilled wine, great atmosphere, a bright sunny day–all the ingredients for a fantastic event which launched my book in the most enjoyable way!
Many thanks to Enora, Nathan and all the staff at Cafe Patisserie, to Michelle at Reader’s Companion, and to all the lovely people who came to celebrate with me!
In very nice news, The Paris Cooking School has now been republished in B format, which is smaller in size than the original format but just as lovely, with the AWW Great Read sticker on the front too! It’s in all the shops now and retails at $24.99.
What a lovely surprise to discover, the latest (December) issue of Australia’s bestselling magazine, the Australian Women’s Weekly, a truly fabulous review of A Secret Garden in Paris--I am so delighted!
Had a lovely time last Thursday signing copies of A Secret Garden in Paris in our fabulous local Armidale bookshops: Reader’s Companion (thank you, Michelle and Chelsea!) and Collins Booksellers(thank you, Georgina!) Here are a few pics from that day.
Feathers of the Firebird 