Blog Feed: Laurel Zuckerman Paris Weblog

Eurobonds: What do we talk about when we talk about "shared liability"? The question becomes urgent as Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF, joins the OECD and just about everybody else in calling for Europe to jointly guarantee the debts of its member nations. What if no one really knows? > read more

Julia Mary Lichtblau, author of "Désolée, Monsieur", talks with Mary Duncan, author of Henry Miller is Under My Bed

Published on 2012-05-17 07:47:08

Writers Mary Duncan and Julia Mary Lichtblau talk about the French Holocaust, the role of family history and research, the move from reporting to fiction, and the importance of community for writers > read more

Sexual harassement not a crime in France

Published on 2012-05-14 00:21:40

France's highest court struck down its anti-sexuual harassement law at the request of Gérard Ducray, former high government offical (Sécretaire d'Etat) and convicted sexual harasser. > read more

Select your favorite feed: Paris Writers News, Mysteries of France, Education News, Ecology News are finally separate!

Published on 2012-05-11 15:35:16

The problem with indulging in multiple interests is that not everyone shares the same mix of obsessions. Also, it messes with your rss feeds. Thus in the past if you wanted to subscribe to Paris Writers News you were astonished to discover weird ramblings about toxic killer seaweed on the French coast (the photos were good) or incomprehensible meanderings into that unfragrant pit that is the French nuclear industry. Oh, and education? Don't get me started. (What happens at the Sorbonne does n [..] > read more

Harriet Alida Lye, editor of Her Royal Majesty, on launching a literary magazine in seven cities, simultaneously

Published on 2012-05-08 09:02:33

Her Royal Majesty will launch Issue 12, the Exotic, in Paris on May 11. Paris Writers News talks with founder and editor, Harriet Alida Lye, an energetic and innovative force for literature in France, and beyond. > read more

Paris Writers News May 2012 Update !

Published on 2012-05-02 03:13:20

This month news from Her Royal Majesty, Lauren Elkin, Alan Cowell, Lisa Burkitt, Thirza Vallois, Deborah Levy, Jane M. Handel, Anne Korkeakivi, Ashley Perez, Corneliu Mitrache, Harriet Lye, Cydette de Groot, Best Paris Stories, and the Paris Writers Workshop...and so much more that this update will be gradual and on-going... > read more

Shocked to learn that Nutella is not health food

Published on 2012-04-27 20:43:48

On a recent visit to the USA, I frantically stuffed my suitcase with French delicacies in the hope of consoling Paris-raised offspring struggling to adapt to horrors of American cuisine. Confit de canard, foie gras, green lentils of Puy, French wine, fresh macaroons, fancy boxed chocolate, real Dijon mustard and, as a wink at the fleeting joys childhood, that ultimate delight : Nutella. Little did I know the awful truth. > read more

Anne Korkeakivi, author of An Unexpected Guest, talks with Paris Writers News

Published on 2012-04-24 19:39:36

A Paris Writers News Interview with Anne Korkeakivi, author of the critically acclaimed bestseller, An Unexpected Guest. > read more

BEST PARIS STORIES: May 29th at the American Library in Paris !

Published on 2012-04-12 05:43:17

May 29, 2012 19:30 - at the American Library in Paris : Come meet the prize-winning authors of BEST PARIS STORIES. Best Paris Stories features a constellation of talented authors including Lisa Burkitt, Nafikote Tamirat, Marie Houzelle, Jim Archibald, Jane Verwijs, Bob Levy, Jo Nguyen, and Editorial Committee Prize winner Julia Litchtblau. Please join us for an evening of lively discussion. What makes a great short story? How best to capture the multitudinous facets of a great city like Paris [..] > read more

Will Bruno Michel Iksil, the London Whale, join Fabrice Pierre Tourre and Jerome Kerviel as French fall guys in financial scandals?

Published on 2012-04-08 01:38:20

A French-born J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. employee named Bruno Michel Iksil has unsettled credit default swap markets with his gigantic bets on the solvability of certain companies. According to the Wall Street Journal, Iksil, dubbed "The London Whale" for his enormous bets, has made $100 million for Morgan in the past few years. How big are the French traders' bets? WSJ says big enough to move the index. It is frankly impossible to imagine that Iksil took these crazily risky positions without perm [..] > read more

Stephen Clarke's God Save Ze President Featured on Amazon.fr Kindle ebooks first page

Published on 2012-04-07 10:58:38

Kindle ebooks have really and truly arrived in France! Check out Amazon.fr's Kindle ebook page and you will see a first class presentation of the kind most authors only dream about for expat humorist Stephen Clarke's new book. This is the kind of marketing authors should pay attention to. Beautiful presention, and an innovative proposal: "From the 11th of April, discover a new episode each week...special launch price of 0.99 centimes." Kudos to Mr Clarke's team for this classy and innovative [..] > read more

Paris Writers News April 2012 Update

Published on 2012-04-04 02:48:38

This month, news from Anne Korkeakivi, Cara Black, Best Paris Stories, Her Royal Majesty, Lisa Burkitt, Mark Strand, Gilles Weinzaepflen, Sean Cole, Stephane Hessel, Elaine Sciolino, Tom Byrne, Spoken Word, Tama Carol, Margo Hammond, Nachid, Rachlin, Marilyn Waite, Zoë Skoulding, Lily Tuck, Darren Frey, Edward Giradet, Kate Tempest, Jeanette Winterson, Chris Pavone, Kate Staples, SOS Help, David Lebovitz, Cat Jahnke, Heather Stimmler-Hall, and the Paris Writers Workshop! > read more

France: The Obin Report on Religious Signs and Manifestations in French Schools

Published on 2012-04-01 00:26:10

The Obin Report, submitted to the Minister of Education in 2004 by Jean-Pierre Obin, General Inspector of Education, studied the impact of religious signs and manifestations in French public schools. Its conclusions regarding the spread and impact of Islam on education and national cohesion were so alarming that the report was shelved. Fortunately, thanks to internet, we can read the original PDF file in French and, using Google translate, in any other language, including English. > read more

Calls for submissions ! Her Royal Majesty, Tale of Three Cities, Paris Literary Prize Novella Contest

Published on 2012-03-29 06:28:42

Writers! Here are three calls for submissions that may interest you. Her Royal Majesty - Deadline: March 31, 2012; Tale of Three Cities - Deadline April 18, 2012; Paris Literary Prize - Deadline September 1, 2012 > read more

Call for submissions: a writing contest you can sink your teeth into, deadline April 8

Published on 2012-03-25 05:06:01

Call for submissions. 600 word essay on "why it is ethical to eat meat". A nationwide contest for the omnivorous readers of The New York Times. Deadline : April 8, 2012. Judges: Peter Singer, Michael Pollan, Mark Bittman, Jonathan Safran Foer, Andrew Light > read more

A talk with Paris Writer Denyse Beaulieu, author of The Perfume Lover on writing, scent and seduction

Published on 2012-03-19 03:07:00

Paris Writers News talks with Denyse Beaulieu, author of The Perfume Lover: A Personal History of Scent. I had the pleasure of meeting Denyse at the American Library in Paris' fascinating Passion Panel on perfume, wine and cheese with Robert Camuto (wine) and Sister Noella Marcellina (cheese). It was a remarkably delightful and informative discussion, due to a successful blend of knowledge, wit and an unusual level of articulateness. I was particularly struck by Denyse's passion for scent (her [..] > read more

French bank Société Générale has quietly lost more value than Greece

Published on 2012-03-08 02:53:53

Holders of Greek debt are preparing to take a 75% loss on their investment. Meanwhile shareholders in the French bank Société Générale have seen the value of their stake decline by nearly half in the past year, and over 80% in the past five years (from 139 on May 7, 2007 to 23 today). Unlike Greek debt, that loss is not realized unless shareholders sell, of course. But like Greek debt, it may not have hit bottom yet.... > read more

Paris Writers News March 2012 Update

Published on 2012-03-04 03:24:56

This month, news from Gwyneth Hughes, Amy Thomas, Barry Kirwan, CaraBlack, Best Paris Stories, Denyse Beaulieu, Anne Korkeakivi, Paris Writers Workshop, Margo Berdeshevsky, Marco Panzani, Lisa Immordino Vreedlnd, Lisa Pasold, Upstairs at Duroc, Guillaume Klossa, AUP Young writers and translators, Kelly Jakes, Heather Hartley, Rilla Askew, Sasha Dugdale, Jane Draycott, Mimi Khalvati, Olivia McCannon, Stephen Romer, Moving Parts, Bookclub at LeCarmen, Le Printemps des Poètes, Caroline Brothers a [..] > read more

How Dangerous is the Franco Belgian Financial Blackhole Named Dexia?

Published on 2012-02-25 10:27:11

Dexia will be the biggest default in French banking history. And there is no end in sight. What is the nature of Dexia's assets? What is the extent of its losses? How much will French taxpayers end up paying? What has been the role of its leaders in this catastrophe? And why it this not front page news with an official, and perhaps criminal, investigation for mismanagement and possible fraud? > read more

Paris Writers Workshop June 24-29, 2012 Now Open for Early Bird Registration

Published on 2012-02-25 01:25:17

The 2012 edition of the celebrated Paris Writers' Workshop will take place from June 24–29, 2012. The Paris Writers Workshop offers a creative week of practical guidance and inspiration, as well as real-world tools for the craft of writing, staying current in publishing trends, getting noticed and getting published. This year’s writers-in-residence faculty are: Samantha Chang (Novel), Kate McMullan (Writing for Children/Young Adults), Mimi Schwartz (Creative Nonfiction), Kathleen Spivack ( [..] > read more

How Amazon Kindle facilitates the transmission of ideas (in English)

Published on 2012-02-22 06:23:47

This house believes that bringing the finest in literary and intellectual expression to the masses is a good thing to be celebrated, not vilified. Greater availability and lower prices for the best books published in the English language in 2011. Can this be a bad thing? A price comparison using The Economists Best Books in 2011. > read more

How many homosexuals were deported from France under the Occupation?

Published on 2012-02-18 05:37:49

How many homosexuals were deported from France under the Occupation? Sources exist. Historians have studied the question. But can one ask? The outcry over an obscure French deputy's comments shed light on a particularly fascinating French taboo. > read more

Why I love the Geneva Writers Conference

Published on 2012-02-14 06:08:41

The Geneva Writers Conference, organized by many passionate writers under the gentle but firm guidance of Susan Tiberghien*, needs no advertizing. It's fully booked and always will be. But I would like to pause a moment to consider just why it is so good. > read more

1320 deaths attributed to Mediator drug in French medical scandal that threatens to hit Sarkozy's UMP

Published on 2012-02-09 07:42:11

When the Mediator scandal broke last year, Jacques Servier, founder and CEO of Laboratoires Servier, dismissed rumors with a wave of his hand: "Mediator, it's only three deaths" Servier told his employees.The intrepid researcher who broke the story placed the number at 500. Now, according to Le Monde, two researchers at Inserm are estimating the number of dead at 1320. > read more

The true cost of top French prepas : higher education in France

Published on 2012-02-07 05:05:10

American universities cost an arm and a leg. French prepas are free. So it's a no brainer, isn't it? Not according to Le Monde. France's newspaper of record for teachers, the most conservative of all French publication when it comes to changing education, has gone public with a shocking article on how elite prepas treat top French students. In "Prépas, Excellence au Prix Fort" Marie Desplenchin, winner of the prestigious Prix Médicis for her essayl La Vie Sauve, denounces the brutal exper [..] > read more

Paris Writers News February 2012: literary events, new books, workshops

Published on 2012-02-02 06:38:35

This month, news from the Geneva Writers Conference, Upstairs at Duroc, The Young Authors Fiction Festival, Fred Leebron, Cynthia Haven, Tracie Morris, Judy Pou, Lance Tait, Fernanda Eberstadt, Monique Wells, Donald Morrison, Robert Camuto, Noella Marcellino, Denyse Beaulieu, Philip Caputo, Pamela Druckerman, John Morris, Fred Weissler, Elyse Michaels-Berger, Sallie Chaballier, JANE COPE, KIT FRYATT, PANSY MAURER-ALVAREZ, JOE ROSS and more... > read more

Paris Writers News February 2012 : spotlight on the American Library in Paris

Published on 2012-02-01 02:34:49

This month, we begin with literary events at the American Library of Paris which is featuring authors Fernanda Eberstadt, Monique Wells, Donald Morrison, Robert Camuto, Noella Marcellino, Denyse Beaulieu, Philip Caputo, Pamela Druckerman, John Morris, Fred Weissler, Elyse Michaels-Berger, Sallie Chaballier and the 2012 Young Authors Fiction Festival (deadline for submission April 1) . New books and events at other venues will be added throughout the month....The fabulous Geneva Writers' Conferen [..] > read more

Paris Writers News: literary events, readings, workshops in January 2012

Published on 2012-01-27 05:04:32

Paris Writers News : This month, news from the Geneva Writers Conference, David Lodge, Kartik Singh, Florence Valero, Kristin Espinasse, Jennifer L. Scott, Vahram Muratyam, Charles Wood, Thomas Huber, Jean Claude Gautrand, John Baxter, Sarah Meade, Jeffrey Greene, Barry Kirwan, Sheila Kohler, Best Paris Stories, Charles Glass, Margo Berdeshevsky, Jim Bitterman, Jean Lesieur, the American Library in Paris, Shakespeare and Co, Village Voice, WH Smith, NYU Paris, WICE, Lionel Shriver, Eugève Nico [..] > read more

Obama taps young French talent to compose official 2012 campaign song What's More

Published on 2012-01-23 07:25:25

Accoding to Le Figaro, United States President Barak Obama has chosen two French composers from Bordeaux (yes, France!) to write his campaign theme song. The ditty, entitled What's More, was written by Tony Jazz and Mathieu Billon, who, in addition to being young, very young, are immensely talented and energetic. Raised in the infamous 9-3, Jazz at 26 had already racked up credits at Universal and Sony and founded his own communications company specializing in musical design. Billon, also ridic [..] > read more

Veolia poised to extend shuttle monopoly lobbied for by mayor's lover after council disqualifies rivals

Published on 2012-01-19 09:22:54

Veolia Transportation's dealings with the city of Phoenix are under investigation by the Federal Transit Administration because Veolia's lobbyist, Elissa Mullany happened to be in a "romantic relationship" with then-Mayor Phil Gordon during the hot summer when the council awarded to Veolia a five-year, $385 million contract for managing most of the city's bus routes. > read more

Ecologist Presidential Candidate Wants to Add Holidays for L'Aid El Kebir and Yom Kippour

Published on 2012-01-12 05:11:45

French ecologist presidential candidate Eva Joly appeals for two additional holidays, one for Muslims and one for Jews, as a matter of fairness, while a longtime ecologist longs for a discussion of ecology. > read more

Paris Writers News July 2011 Update

Published on 2011-07-05 06:28:48

This month, news from Rosa Rankin-Gee, Elaine Sciolino, The Rhizome Society, Ellyn Maybe, David Hare, Lorin Stein, Sheila Kohler, Deborah Landau, Le Carmen, Nathan Englander, Rachel Zucker, Mattheuw Rohrer, Richard Nahem, Todd Zuniga, Sebastien Marx, > read more

How to keep cool in Paris this summer

Published on 2011-07-05 02:09:00

When the sun comes out, Paris can be hot, hot, hot. Here are some tips to beat the heat--and even to enjoy it! For tourists, expats and locals... > read more

Fake jobs and useless government commissions in France

Published on 2011-07-01 08:37:25

The French, The Economist observes, have an unusually large number of pointless committees.697 to be exact. This information has become public in a strange way. Not as the result of an audit, but as part of an attack against former Education Minister > read more

Sheila Kohler, author of Love Child, on writing, teaching and not interfering with the director

Published on 2011-06-26 22:57:41

Paris Writers News talks with Sheila Kohler, the award-winning South African novelist, short story writers and teacher. Sheila will be the featured author at the PAN Writer Series July 12 at 6:30 pm. in Paris. Author of ten books and winner of the O' > read more

Janet Skeslien Charles interviews Geeta Kothari, Fiction Editor of The Kenyon Review

Published on 2011-06-21 23:56:41

Janet Skeslien Charles, author of Moonlight in Odessa, interviews Geeta Kothari, award-winning writer, teacher and fiction editor of The Kenyon Review. They met at the Geneva Writers Conference, where Geeta taught a much admired class on writing fict > read more

Ann M Mah, author of Kitchen Chinese and Mastering the Art of French Eating, on writing food

Published on 2011-06-21 12:08:04

Interview with Ann M Mah. Ann Mah is a journalist and author of a novel, Kitchen Chinese. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, the International Herald Tribune and other publications. She lives in Paris with her husb > read more

French intellectuals debate the DSK affair. Edifying!

Published on 2011-06-13 09:08:33

I got a tweet from BHL. Public debate June 12: Topic: “What does the DSK affair teach us?” What, I wondered, indeed. “Do go, Laurel,” a friend Facebooked me, “and give him a slap for me.” This proved to be impossible, as BHL wasn’t ph > read more

A talk with Thirza Vallois, lecturer, essayist, historian and author of Around and About Paris

Published on 2011-06-11 05:35:29

This week, we talk with Paris expert Thirza Vallois, whose elegant series Around and About Paris has just been updated and issued as an e-book! Thirza has lived in Paris most of her life and holds the agrégation and several other post-graduate > read more

From Print to Digital Media: Why I Made the Shift by Sarah Towle

Published on 2011-06-05 04:11:00

The story of Sarah Towle's journey from "print" writing to writing apps is a fascinating one--and, I think, especially exciting for travel writers. It's a whole new world out there. And Sarah is one of the pioneers. From Print to Digital Media: Why > read more

Paris Writers News June 2011 Update!

Published on 2011-06-04 03:00:02

This month, news from Sarah Towle, The Tower Theatre Company, David Barnes, The Paris Short Story Contest, Shakespeare and Company’s Paris Literary Prize for a novella, Bloomsday, Cara Black, Caroline de Margerie, English Theater with WordsUp, Kat > read more

Paris Short Story Contest announces Winners - To be published this Fall!

Published on 2011-06-01 05:03:30

Winners of the Paris Short Story Contest are: A Pinch of Tarragon by Lisa Burkitt; Brazzaville by Jo Nguyen; Désolée, Monsieur by Julia Mary Lichtblau (Editorial Committee 200 euro Prize); Frank stands his ground, in Belleville by Mary Byrne; Horte > read more

France in shock as Germany vows to abandon nuclear power

Published on 2011-05-30 09:17:53

Japan, Switzerland, Italy and now Germany have called into question their nuclear power programs. Despite similarities in the industrial organisation of the French and Japanese nuclear industries, real debate has barely begun to appear in France. Ho > read more

Paris Short Story Contest announces winner of the Editorial Committee Prize

Published on 2011-05-27 07:28:43

PARIS SHORT STORY CONTEST is delighted to announce the winner of the Editorial Committee Prize "DESOLEE MONSIEUR" by Julia Mary Lichtblau. Stories Nominated for the prize were: MY SUNDAY WITH GOD by Bob Levy I THINK THEREFORE I AM by Ham > read more

French history professors tested on wrong text, but Luc Chatel maintains exam

Published on 2011-05-25 02:53:26

Candidates for the agrégation d'histoire were given an "authentic journal" from 1415 that was actually compiled in 1964. France's Education Minister Luc Chatel (whose background is in Marketing, PR and HR) decided to continue with the exams, even t > read more

Fukushima: 5 leçons urgentes pour la France

Published on 2011-05-18 11:53:16

L'accident nucléaire de Fukushima nous apporte des leçons urgentes : - Ne pas risquer ce qu'on ne peut pas se permettre de perdre - Les conflits d'intérêt sont mortels pour la sécurité - Les experts se sont trompés hier et se tromperont demain > read more

Fukushima nuclear accident: five crucial lessons for the world

Published on 2011-05-11 07:25:32

While nuclear engineers, scientists and technical risk assessment experts debate where to install back-up generators, spent fuel rods, and remote controls, Fukushima offers five major lessons for us all. > read more

Paris Writers News May 2011 Update !

Published on 2011-05-06 09:57:13

This month, news from The Paris Short Story Contest, Cara Black, James Shapiro, Mary Ellen Gallager, Kai Meristad, Tatiana de Rosnay, David Barnes, Joy Anna Becvarik, Bob Levy, Former US Ambassador Craig Stapleton, Edith Sorel, Mademoiselle London, P > read more

Can I say it involves a bearded dialysis patient? Jon Stewart jokes about events in Abbottabad

Published on 2011-05-03 03:00:11

The Daily Show's Jon Stewart on the good news for "human people". (Attention: This video is not suitable for conspiracy theory nuts.) "I suppose I should be expressing ambivalence about the killing of another human being, but...nope..." - Jon Stewar > read more

PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE : Paul Schmidtberger, author of Design Flaws of the Human Condition

Published on 2011-04-29 08:43:01

Originating in an English-language confession album, this personality questionnaire caught Marcel Proust’s fancy in his teens. Today, Anne Marsella questions Paul Schmidtberger, author of Design Flaws of the Human Condition. > read more

Interview with Cara Black, author of MURDER IN PASSY

Published on 2011-04-26 08:45:33

This week, author Christopher Vanier talks with Paris murder mystery expert Cara Black . A Paris Writers News, authors on authors interview Cara Black is a San Francisco Library Laureate and a member of the Paris Sociéte Historique in the Marais. > read more

PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE : Heather Hartley, author of Knock Knock

Published on 2011-04-26 04:01:00

Paris writer Anne Marsella, author of The Baby of Belleville, Remedy, Patsy Boone and The Lost and Found and Other Stories, had the excellent idea of asking Paris-based writers to answer the Proust Questionnaires. Succinct, personal and slightly w > read more

Faut-il avoir peur de Claude Allègre ?

Published on 2011-04-22 08:39:29

Claude Allègre deserves to be given every chance to express himself in his native tongue: vitriol. While attacking ecologists, media, and other enemies of progress, it is interesting to note that M. Allègre fails to address any of the specific conc > read more

Paris Writers News April Update 2 (April 18 - 30, 2011)

Published on 2011-04-18 05:02:15

This week, news from Paris Writers Alexis Niki, L'Inébranlable, Katy Masuga, Anne Marsella, Gallimard, Cara Black, Jamie Cat Callan, Carolyn Burke, Jennifer Butler, Gary Lee Kraut, Constance Borde, Sheila Malovany-Chevallier, David Lebovitz, Leslie > read more

PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE Janet Skeslien Charles, author of Moonlight in Odessa

Published on 2011-04-18 04:00:39

Succinct, personal and slightly whimsical, the Proust Questionnaire offers a glimpse into the personality and work of writers who have made Paris their home. To start off the series, Anne Marsella interviewed novelist Janet Skeslien Charles. > read more

The Proust Questionnaires with Anne Marsella, for Paris Writers News !

Published on 2011-04-10 12:36:04

Paris Writers News talks with Gary Lee Kraut about travel writing, submissions, and revisiting France

Published on 2011-04-07 08:37:52

This week Laurel Zuckerman talks with Gary Lee Kraut, writer, blogger, editer--and intrepid biker, about Paris, a Paris Writers News Interview. > read more

Everyone in France lives next to a nuclear power plant

Published on 2011-04-01 03:25:06

Unlike previous nuclear disasters, Fukushima is contaminating a high density population center of 127 million (337 inhabitants per km2) Three Mile Island occurred in the vast United States of America (33 inhabitants per m2). Chernobyl hit the former > read more

Paris Writers News April 2011 Update! (April 1-15)

Published on 2011-03-30 05:02:43

This month (April 1-15), news from Jennifer Butler, The Second Sex, Sheila Malovany-Chevallier, Alan Riding, Constance Borde, Jeffrey Greene, Paula McLain, Marie de Hennezel, Gabriel Josipovici, Luc Simonnet, Ros and Chloe Schwartz, Word for Word, th > read more

JENNIFER BUTLER on content, design, and passion, a Paris Writers News Interview

Published on 2011-03-28 01:54:00

This week Paris Writers News talks with Jennifer Butler, author of the extraordinary James, Jennifer Georgina, which tells the story of a family's survival in a battle against alcoholism. In collaboration with the acclaimed designer Irma Boom, Jenni > read more

Paris Writers News talks about Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex with Constance Borde and Sheila Malovany Chevalier

Published on 2011-03-23 05:10:48

This week, Laurel Zuckerman talks with two remarkable women, Constance Borde and Sheila Malovany Chevallier, who recently completed the new and critically accaimed translation of Simone de Beauvoir's landmark work: The Second Sex. Professors, politic > read more

Laurel Zuckerman talks with David Lebovitz about writing, food and living the sweet life in Paris

Published on 2011-03-16 04:03:29

This week, we talk with professional chef, author and master Paris food blogger, David Lebovitz. David worked for 13 years at Alice Water's legendary Chez Panisse restaurant and was named one of the Top Five Pastry Chefs in the Bay Area by the San F > read more

Paris Writers News talks with Peter Conradi, co-author of The King's Speech, on the challenges of writing non-fiction

Published on 2011-03-09 04:05:06

Peter Conradi, journalist for The Sunday Times and veteran non-fiction writer, co-wrote the book The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy with Mark Logue, the grandson of Lionel Logue, speech therapist to King George VI who ascended > read more

Paris Writers News talks with Barry Kirwan, author of The Eden Paradox, about Sci Fi, Bookgroups and Men with Pens

Published on 2011-03-07 03:58:07

Laurel Zuckerman talks with Barry Kirwan about Eden, science fiction and the craft of writing for Paris Writers News. Barry Kirwan’s The Eden Paradox is the first novel in the Eden science fiction trilogy. When he is not writing, Barry earns his k > read more

Interview with Berna Huebner on art, Alzheimer's and generosity of Olivia De Havilland who narrated I Remember Better When I Paint

Published on 2011-03-06 08:15:45

The American Library in Paris will screen the remarkable documentary I Remember Better When I Paint on March 22 at 19h30 in the presence of Olivia De Havilland. In honor of this exceptional event, Paris Writers News is pleased to repost the interview > read more

Paris Writers News March 2011 Update !

Published on 2011-03-03 05:21:10

This month, news from the Paris Short Story Contest, the Paris Literary Prize Novella Contest, the Salon du Livre, Wendell Steavenson, Cara Black, Stephane Hessel, David Lebovitz, Jennifer Butler, Toby Brothers, OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND, Liz Young, Barry > read more

Paris Writers News talks with Elizabeth Bard author of Lunch in Paris about food, love and writing a second book

Published on 2011-02-28 03:30:00

This week, Laurel Zuckerman talks with Elizabeth Bard, the author of NYT's bestseller Lunch in Paris: a Love Story with Recipes. Elizabeth recently moved from Paris to Provence where she is juggling work on a second book with the delights of young mo > read more

How to write a letter of complaint to your favorite airline

Published on 2011-02-26 12:01:00

Writing comes in all genres. One of the most neglected -- but oh, so crucial!-- is the corporate complaint letter. Making the rounds on the internet is a hilarious piece from a disatisfied customer to Sir Richard Branson, fashionable Ted Talker and > read more

Fashion designer Galliano revealed to have terrible potty-mouth when drunk, also likes to slap

Published on 2011-02-26 02:15:00

Unlike most bloggers in France, I really don't give a hoot about fashion. But when über-weirdo Galliano gets suspended by Dior for "slapping" a couple and "anti-Semitic insults", I prick my ears. What? Outrageous behavior from this guy? How could h > read more

Paris Short Story Contest SHORTLIST of authors!

Published on 2011-02-25 03:18:47

The Paris Short Story Contest is pleased to announce that the Editorial Committee has finished reading the 141 submissions from all over the world. Stories by the following authors have been shortlisted : Aisling Smith Alice K. Boatwright AM. Garner > read more

President Sarkozy top ten errors (updated from five last year) which hurt France and help the far right

Published on 2011-02-24 11:11:47

Last year I listed Sarkozy's five top blunders which caused his party to lose the regional elections. But now, in the light of Tunisia, the Mexican fiasco, the Libyan fiasco, the MAM and Ollier fiasco, the Eric Woerth fiasco, and the rape and murder > read more

Is European lovefest of Gaddafi (Kadhafi) at an end? Memories of Paris, Moscow, London and Rome

Published on 2011-02-21 01:12:07

Europe once loved Kadhafi, wealthy dictator of Libya and, for many years, active supporter of terrorism. Why? Oil money. Business. Commerce. Will his erstwhile friends desert him as he fights for his kingdom? Photos from his visits to Paris, Rome an > read more

A strange affair: Florence Cassez, Mexican justice, French arrogance and Los Zodiacos kidnapping ring

Published on 2011-02-15 08:11:11

A young woman in a Mexican jail. A kidnapping ring that abused, tortured and even killed one hostage. A boyfriend, leader of the "Los Zodiacos" gang, with whom the young woman lived, even while he sequestered hostages. Hostages who testify they h > read more

The scourge of French education: absent teachers who are not replaced

Published on 2011-02-10 02:31:49

in French public schools, when a teacher is absent, he or she is generally not replaced. The result: no class. (Or, as it's called here: "Perm"). Students, of course lose out on lessons. But that is not all. Absent teachers mean less adults in th > read more

Strikes by French judges spread : 135 out of 200 courts hit

Published on 2011-02-09 02:35:00

French judges are so angry that strikes by magistrates are spreading, despite the technical lack of the right to strike. The reason: Sarkozy accused them of a role in the disastrous management of a violent sex offender with 15 previous convictions. > read more

Ecological ad campaign launched by France Nature Environnement

Published on 2011-02-08 05:27:46

"IT'S RISK- FREE" For genetically modified crops we don't have enough distance This is one of the posters created by France Nature Environnement to try to get the attention of French authorities. Another ad deals with green algue (also call > read more

Woody Allen film Midnight in Paris with Carla Bruni Sarkozy to open Cannes film festival

Published on 2011-02-03 02:25:15

I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Cannes, and no more so than this year. Imagine: Robert De Niro (the great) presides the jury. Woody Allen allows his "love letter to Paris" (MIDNIGHT IN PARIS.) to entertain gliterrati the opening night. C > read more

10 ways to improve food safety, diet, health and the environment, from Mark Bittman

Published on 2011-02-02 02:56:00

New York Times food writer Mark Bittman proposed ten reasonable and workable changes to the way we grow, process, finance, prepare and consume our food. > read more

What Americans are missing by not watching French rugby matches

Published on 2011-02-01 07:35:03

What Americans are missing by not watching French rugby matches: Sébastien Chabal can now be admired at the Musée Grévin. (Marcel Marceau and Marcel Proust are not ALL France has to offer...) > read more

Paris Writers News February 2011 Update!

Published on 2011-01-29 08:28:00

This month, news from Heather Stimmler Hall, Barry Kirwan, Noel Riley Fitch, Melany Comley, John Baxter, Alain Riding, Steve Crawshaw, Expat Expo, David Nicholls, John Lichfield, Glyn Pope, Janet Skeslien Charles, Thirza Vallois, Charles Timoney, F > read more

Ten rules for writing fiction Anne Enright from guardian.co.uk

Published on 2011-01-27 08:50:00

1 The first 12 years are the worst. 2 The way to write a book is to actually write a book. A pen is useful, typing is also good. Keep putting words on the page. 3 Only bad writers think that their work is really good. 4 Description is hard. Rememb > read more

Blurbs and pratfalls from the French literary scene

Published on 2011-01-27 03:37:00

Recent French literary news: Céline was dropped from national celebrations due to his virulent anti-Semitism, and pro-Nazi collaboration. (French Céline scholar Henri Godard cried "Censureship" at Frédéric Mitterand's decision despite the fact th > read more

FLASH: Upstairs at Duroc launches literary journal at Berkeley Books of Paris JAN 27 7pm

Published on 2011-01-26 02:37:17

Paris literary events! UPSTAIRS AT DUROC, the Paris literary journal, is pleased to announce the LAUNCH for its ISSUE 12 January 27, 2011 at 7 P.M. Berkeley Books of Paris 8 rue Casimir Delavigne 75006 Paris Metro Odéon Come hear new work by > read more

France's repeat sex offender problem

Published on 2011-01-25 23:54:53

After investigation, arrest, conviction and sentencing to prison, dangerous repeat offenders are repeatedly let loose in France, and nothing -- including the voting of ever stricter laws -- appears to stop this practice. Some blame the judges, who in > read more

Major French TV news announces US role in ousting Ben Ali and there is no reaction.

Published on 2011-01-24 03:20:22

According to TF1, the head of the Tunisian army had been in constant communication with the Americans just before REFUSING Ben Ali's order to fire on demonstrators. And, according to TF1, Ben Ali had planned to spend a few days in Paris before retur > read more

Let them eat insects!

Published on 2011-01-21 10:21:54

With overpopulation threatening food supplies, brilliant Dutch chefs have come up with an astonishingly cheap and easy solution: eat insects! French chefs mock these low efforts. "Name one famous Dutch dish other than "raw herring" and "going Dutch > read more

Paris Writers News talks with Janet Skeslien Charles about her award-winning Moonlight in Odessa

Published on 2011-01-20 06:01:53

Paris Writers News talks with Janet Skeslien Charles about email order brides, the Ukraine, writing workshops and the desire for love. Janet Skeslien Charle's debut novel Moonlight in Odessa was chosen by Publishers Weekly as one of their top ten deb > read more

Paris Writers News talks with Ann M Mah about food, identity and humor in Kitchen Chinese

Published on 2011-01-17 04:19:35

Ann Mah is a journalist and author of a novel, Kitchen Chinese. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, the International Herald Tribune and other publications. She lives in Paris with her husband and a vegetable market > read more

French train commuters strike against poor service: refuse to show tickets

Published on 2011-01-15 09:50:04

French national rail (SNCF) commuters on the Angers-Le Mans-Paris are so sick of worsening service that THEY'VE decided to strike. What next!! To protest lousy service, 160 - 200 commuters who regularly take the line are refusing to show their tick > read more

How bad is the trouble with the euro? World headline review.

Published on 2011-01-13 01:57:53

Here's what leading newspapers are saying about the Euro today: from Charles Bremner in The Times French PM: Britain must help us save the euro from the Financial Times: Germany backs wider rescue fund role from Paul Krugman in the New York Times > read more

Guns in France?

Published on 2011-01-11 03:05:55

Firearms in France. Who has them? How many? And what do they do with them? Le Monde tried to count in 2008, but said the task was "sensible" despite a national data collection file called the AGRIPPA. It's estimate: 3,000,000. (By contrast 200 MILL > read more

Paris Writers News January bis 2011 Update

Published on 2011-01-09 13:11:40

This month, news from Barry Kirwan, David Barnes, Adam Thirwell, Annie Cohen Solal, The Improfessionals, William Pfaff, Susan Tibergian, Alice Notley, The Geneva Writers Group, National Short Story Day, John Lichfield, WICE's Bilingual Bookgroup, F > read more

FLASH : Writing for the theatre in Paris: Moving Parts ! Sundays in Carr's Pub

Published on 2011-01-09 12:20:35

Moving Parts enables playwrites to test their scripts in the friendly and convivial atmosphere of Carr's Pub near rue de Rivoli. A great outing on a Sunday night! > read more

Arizona Congresswoman targeted by Sarah Palin shot in Tuscon, 6 dead, 18 wounded

Published on 2011-01-08 15:20:57

Sarah Palin's target list from the 2010 elections included Arizonan Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head today while greeting constituants at a Safeway grocery store in Tucson. > read more

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