Great new interview re The Paris Cooking School

There’s a really nice interview with me on writer and reviewer Cindy L Spear’s blog, about The Paris Cooking School, writing, food, and other matters! I really enjoyed doing it, her questions were really interesting. Here’s a short extract:

What inspired you to write The Paris Cooking School?

Paris itself! I love the city and have been there multiple times, several members of my family live there, plus I had the great good luck to be awarded a writer’s residency there for 6 months some years ago, so I really got to know it well. Also, of course, another inspiration is the food I grew up with as I’m from a French background (though we are from south-west France, not Paris). I loved putting my characters in the midst of this amazing city, discovering more about French food culture, and history, walking all over Paris—and falling in love.

You can read the whole interview here.

A fantastic few days in Sydney, visiting bookshops and being interviewed!

I’ve just come back from a lovely few days in Sydney, visiting fantastic bookshops, talking to enthusiastic booksellers, signing piles of copies of The Paris Cooking School and talking at a fabulous event at the Alliance Française, presented by Sydney-based French writer Olivier Vojetta. It’s been an absolutely invigorating, fun and exciting time, culminating in discovering at Sydney Airport that my book was number three bestselling book in their very popular bookshop! Here are a few pics from this week.

The Paris Cooking School is the Australian Women’s Weekly Great Read!

Absolutely brilliant news for The Paris Cooking School: it is the featured Great Read in the Australian Women’s Weekly latest (December) edition! That means a full page review in Australia’s most beloved and bestselling magazine–a real accolade! It’s an absolutely lovely review, too, here’s a short extract:

Learning to live and love again in the streets of Paris, city of romance, is not a new idea, but there is a freshness and vivacity to this cooking school novel that is utterly beguiling. Maybe it’s the mouth-watering and intricate food descriptions that send readers into a reverie, because be warned: You will be reaching for the frying pan, cracking eggs and slicing in decadent shards of butter and handfuls of fresh herbs in no time. Or maybe it is just the possibility of abandoned amour that follows our characters along every street…

Grab a copy of the magazine to read the rest!

The Paris Cooking School is already getting great reviews!

It just came out yesterday, but already, The Paris Cooking School has received some wonderful reviews! On the Better Reading site, for example, readers have contributed lots of fabulous reviews, including many 5 star ones, you can check them all out here. Just a few lovely examples below:

A tale of Sylvie (owner of The Paris Cooking School), Gabi (a talented artist suffering creative block), and Kate (searching for peace and reprieve after a deep betrayal from her ex-husband). Each character is on a separate journey of looking within, finding what sets their soul on fire, and learning to believe in themselves, discovering their inner critic doesn’t always accurately depict the truth. Sylvie, Kate and Gabi, while on very different paths, gain a deep understanding of who they really are, what they need to be happy and how to allow that happiness to impact the hope for a beautiful, soul-satisfying future. A great read, hard to put down and written in such a way that you become invested in each character’s outcome. Pennie, QLD, 5 Stars

The Paris Cooking School was a joy to read. I loved the descriptions of Paris – I want to go back, and I want to eat all those lovely dishes and drink the wine and taste the cheese. The characters and romance were delightful – a really great holiday read, or light read if you need a break from mysteries and murders and heavy subjects. Sophie Beaumont’s descriptive writing made one feel as if you were there, picnicking on the banks of the Seine, watching the people and sights. I could almost taste the strawberry tart. A story of hope and looking forward, I loved it. Joy, VIC, 5 Stars

The Paris Cooking School is a beautiful read about three women who meet at The Paris Cooking School. Two Aussie students from rival capital cities and each running away from their own suffocating lives. One the elegant owner and teacher facing unsettling issues of her own. As the book unfolds, it is amazing to see all three characters develop, grow and flourish. Is it all smooth sailing? No, but every step gives you more understanding and love for the characters. They become real so you will cringe at their outbursts and cheer for their successes. Sophie has created gorgeous and relatable characters and given us the dreamy setting of a month in Paris. It will surely be a hit! Mary, SA, 5 Stars

Many more lovely reviews from Better Reading contributors here.

Reviews have appeared on Instagram, here’s extracts from some below:

From the very beginning, l was hooked to the point that every page had my taste buds come alive. The description of the food seriously came alive through each page. It was like, l too,could taste every bite the characters were tasting. YUM! The novel centres around three gorgeous ladies who have relationship issues. Enough to have them wanting to escape reality. What a perfect way to deal with those issues by enrolling in a four week French Cooking School to learn to cook – the French way! The story links these beautiful women with perfect descriptions of delicious food as well as the sceneries of Paris with love, hope, adventure, and some good old soul searching for second chances and new beginnings. I particularly loved how the postscript takes place a year later and into their futures. This beautifully written novel is about friendships and the most incredible Parisian food. It is undoubtedly the perfect holiday read that will leave your heart bursting with all the magical feels. (Lisa at Coffee and Pages)

The Paris Cooking School is a sumptuous feast for the senses that illuminates the delectable art of combining storytelling with food. As you meander through the streets of Paris, you are immediately drawn into its living culture and realise that the City of Light itself, is a dynamic character in the novel. The cooking school provides the perfect backdrop for the characters to explore their motivations and various relationships while expressing their obvious love of French food culture with all the trimmings. There are flirtatious and romantic entanglements for Gabi, Kate and Sylvie, who are all in the midst of personal uncertainty. The paths of each of the women, although very different, intersect seamlessly, and we journey alongside with them as they navigate new paths for themselves. This novel provides a lighthearted escape for anyone who enjoys reading about love, food and travel. (The Organised Classroom)

It’s heartfelt, so beautifully written, and will make you want to fling yourself into the kitchen and onto a plane to Paris, probably both at the same time! The weaving together of stories of the three protagonists is sensitive and seamless, and I hope to revisit their Paris again! Félicitations Sophie! It’s a triumph! (Lorena Carrington)

There’s also very nice reviews on Goodreads, for example:

Reading this novel made you want to go to the Paris Cooking School for both the food and the enriched human relationship experience. There was carefully woven backstories into the novel and as well as some romances that all varied in their intensity, and an unexpected twist or two. It left me wanting mouth-watering food, more Paris, and to follow the characters as the story unfolds following the ending of this book. It was a marvellous balance between relaxing and hard to put down.
Bon Appetit! (Larissa Collins)

Author Sophie Beaumont, who was brought up in France and Australia, has an exquisite knowledge of both Paris and French food, and she has used that delightfully in this novel.
It’s an expertly crafted tale of twists and turns that draws the reader in as the characters’ lives are transformed.
The story is simply a feast, a perfect concoction of secrets, heartaches and love. (Don Baker)

“The Paris Cooking School” creates a mood which stays with you as the characters in the story come to life. This includes Paris herself; her sights, sounds, tastes and smells….A perfect holiday read, for lovers of Josephine Moon, Monica McInerney and Maeve Binchy. (Christine)

And finally, a beautiful review, in French, by Sydney-based French novelist Olivier Vojetta. Here’s a short extract:

Déjà, ce qui est formidable avec ce livre, c’est qu’en le lisant on se téléporte à Paris, on y est, on redécouvre un Paris ancien et moderne à travers les yeux de tous les personnages, et il y en a un certain nombre, c’est un roman choral…Sous les airs de lecture d’été facile, il y a beaucoup de contenu et de matière très intéressante, le tout mêlé et brodé avec talent et subtilité dans les interstices de l’histoire, en creux….. C’est un livre aussi passionnant que savoureux. Tous les personnages partagent des histoires, tristes, gaies, des histoires toutes différentes, mais qui se rejoignent en un bouquet final dans le dernier chapitre, pour ensemble créer le plat parfait.

You can read Olivier’s whole review here.




Events for the upcoming publication of The Paris Cooking School!

The Paris Cooking School, my new novel for adults, written under the pen-name of Sophie Beaumont, is being published by Ultimo Press on November 1, and to celebrate it, here are three wonderful events coming up, centred around the book!

First up, on Thursday October 26 at 8pm Australian Eastern Daylight Saving time, I’ll be talking about my book, and books generally, with the fantastic writer Suzanne Leal on her popular online Thursday Book Club. The Book Club is held weekly, but once a month Suzanne invites a guest author to talk about what they’ve been writing, and reading, and this month, that’s me! It’s free to listen in, from anywhere, you just need to go to Suzanne’s Book Club page here where you will find the Zoom link to join (just scroll down).

Next, there’s an in person event with a difference in Sydney, 6.30 pm on Wednesday November 8, at the Alliance Française’s NSW headquarters in Clarence St in the Sydney CBD. I’ll be the guest speaker at the November edition of the Alliance’s fabulous Philo Bistro event, which features discussions, in French, with French-language writers, artists, film-makers, musicians, and more, moderated by Sydney-based French novelist Olivier Vojetta. Join us for a fun evening of discussion around my book, French food, Paris, and much more–with the added bonus of a glass of delicious French wine! It’s $10 for Alliance members, $15 for non-members, and you need to book here.

And then, on Saturday November 11 at 2pm, there will be another in person event, in my hometown of Armidale, northern NSW. It’s going to be a launch with a difference too, as it will be held in the Cafe Patisserie, Armidale’s fabulous French-themed cafe which features the most divine and delectable cakes created on site–patisserie that would definitely not be out of place in Paris itself! Some of those creations will feature on the menu for the launch, our lovely local independent booksellers from Reader’s Companion will be on hand to sell the book (you can also pre-order) , and I’ll be on hand to talk and sign! It’s free to attend but it would be useful to RSVP–more details on how to do that soon, but for the moment, do save the date, if you live in the region or might be there at that time!

Looking forward to the launch of Satin on Tuesday!

I’m heading off to Sydney in a couple of days, and one of the highlights will be the official in person launch of Satin, next Tuesday, March 14, at 4pm at the gorgeous Better Read than Dead bookshop in Newton. Lorena and I will both be there, to read from and talk about the book, sign books, and meet readers! Everyone is very welcome, we’d love to see you there! It’s a free event but the bookshop would appreciate it if people can register if possible(though of course you can also just turn up, if you run out of time) Here’s the registration link.

We’ll also be celebrating Satin through school visits, organised by the wonderful people at The Children’s Bookshop. And calling into city bookshops to say hi. It’s going to be a great week!

And those reviews just keep coming–we had another couple of lovely ones very recently, here and here. Seems readers are really taking Satin to their hearts, which warms our hearts, too…

Publication day for Satin

Today is a special day: the official publication of Satin. Yes, the book is now out in the world and Lorena and I are celebrating–and looking forward to the official launch in Sydney on March 14 (all welcome! ) And to mark today, here’s a beautiful review we received only yesterday, from Sydney teacher-librarian Judy Rachwani:

This book is beyond breathtaking. An abundance of concepts that most probably every single person has dealt with or is dealing with can be seen, heard and felt within the deep meanings of the words and the incredible visual images that reflect those meanings. There are concepts of solidarity, loneliness, uniqueness, longing, accumulation of sadness, the importance of contribution and the beauty of the sweet human connection and more.  

 I truly am finding difficulties using words that give this author and illustrator justice to their in-depth, meaningful and intriguing artful work that has been reflected and processed within this work.   

As a reader, this book moved me immensely  and took me into the depths of feeling the ‘blues’ but  in a very different way. As a teacher, I found it a great resource for the students (upper primary/highschool) to unlock and discuss emotions such as loneliness and longing for connection but also not being aware of that need to connect, the beauty of the connection,  being unique and realising the  importance of one’s uniqueness to the community around.  

Highly recommended for wellbeing discussions, visual literacy and for story telling time too! 

Thank you so much, Judy! We are so happy our book is already finding its way into readers’ hearts…

Thank you so much to our wonderful publisher, Anna Solding of MidnightSun Publishing, for loving and believing in this book from the start. And thank you to the wonderful MidnightSun Publishing team, and to everyone who has helped bring our very special Satin into the world.

A little taster of Satin in anticipation of the launch

In anticipation of both the official release of Satin on March 1, and its launch in Sydney on March 14, I’ve done a short video reading of the first few pages of the book. Hope you enjoy!

And if you’re in Sydney on Tuesday March 14, Lorena and I would love to see you at the launch, 4pm at the fabulous Better Read than Dead bookshop in Newtown. We’ll be reading and talking about the book and signing books of course too! Please register at this link(the launch is free, of course, but you can if you like also order the book prior to the launch). Hope to see you there!