Ask the Author: Janice MacLeod
Answered Questions (10)
Janice MacLeod
Back when I lived in Los Angeles, I heard a quote (from a famous actor but I forget who). He was asked "How do you make it to Hollywood?" and he responded "Take Olympic." Olympic Boulevard was the original road that went from the ocean to the town of Hollywood. So to answer your question, to travel to distant lands to sip coffee in front of breathtaking views, one must choose to travel to a place with breathtaking views and aim to rent a place with a kitchen so one can sip coffee in front of that view. That said, you're probably asking more about how I can afford to do it. I work on the road... a mix of my Etsy shop (https://www.etsy.com/shop/janicemacle...), royalties on books (somewhat paltry at times so therefore unreliable), day trading, and saving up. I actually don't work as much as I'd prefer now that we have a baby, so there hasn't been any book writing happening, but hopefully in the next few years. We have to travel on faith a lot as well. Like we might have the time (Christophe might be between jobs) so we can go, but are also scared to go because he might not be bringing in cash. But we've never regretted the trips we've taken, so sometimes we just go, then come home and hunker down to work.
Janice MacLeod
Must see... the Paris skyline from the roof of Galleries Lafayette department store. And please please please rent a place with a kitchen so you can go out each day and buy your groceries. Shopping at the open air markets is a delight. A small round of cheese every day for a month... DO IT.
Janice MacLeod
Yes I have managed to keep my lifestyle simplified. In fact, now I get easily overwhelmed with STUFF. That said, I went hiking recently and spent most of the hike designing the perfect pants in my head. Something I could hike in, but then easily wear afterward to a fancy restaurant... like say if I were hiking the Camino de Santiago. Almost half this hike was dedicated to this process. I mean, I had tear away skirt options in my head, yoga pant material, pockets. Then I realized that I don't live out of a suitcase anymore and can actually buy two pairs of pants. As for the biggest challenging living abroad, it was always the paperwork. Managing paperwork in another language is an exercise in exasperation, patience, and at times, futility. As for plans with my beloved butcher, the other day I said "PORTUGUAL!" and he responded "GREECE!" so perhaps Portugual and Greece are next on the list.
Janice MacLeod
I picked up a day book at Bon Marché in Paris. It was so pretty. I thought how nice it would be to fill this book with all my fun Paris paintings and sketches from my otherwise very messy journals. Boom. The idea for A PARIS YEAR was born.
Janice MacLeod
It was something I felt compelled to do more than anything else.
Janice MacLeod
Promoting my new book A PARIS YEAR.
Janice MacLeod
Writing is a verb. Write write write write. Read read read. Then write some more.
Janice MacLeod
When I have stitched together two ideas beautifully. I love when I describe something perfectly. Very satisfying.
Janice MacLeod
I walk walk walk and walk. I never sit in front of blank page. In the walk I know an idea will come, then I return to the page and write it down.
Janice MacLeod
It's not set in winter. Though my new book A PARIS YEAR has a few chapters set in winter.
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