Lindsay Emory's Blog, page 14

Best Books to Read Now: January 2016

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

I can’t believe I actually read books in December.  All I remember of the month is unpacking boxes from Amazon and frantically driving around the county.  I swear, one Saturday I used a whole tank of gas, shuttling children (and myself) here and there.  No wonder I collapsed in a great heap after Christmas.

Anyway, I tried coming up with a theme for the month and it hit me: RETURN.


Let’s see how that flows:


Love Me Sweet, by Tracy Brogan 

 
This is the third of her Bell Harbor series, but it could easily be read on its own.  Unlike the first two, it’s in alternating his/her POV’s and it’s about a reality show cameraman who returns to his hometown of Bell Harbor, Michigan and finds that his mom has rented his house to a (unbeknownst to him) reality show star runaway.  There’s lots of snow (perfect for this time of year) and as always, plenty of Tracy Brogan humor.



Again My Lord 
and
My Lady, My Lord
both by Katharine Ashe


This author has really become one of my favorite historical authors and these two books are in her Twist series. I didn’t know what to expect of this series or what differentiated it from other series but OH MY GRAVY (to borrow an expression from my friend Alexandra Haughton).  These are…different.  In a good way!  They are not your normal historicals, they each have a twist, perhaps sort of supernatural? wherein a goddess plays a little prank on the main characters.  Anyway, I don’t want to give too much away (and when you read them, you’ll see how my RETURN theme fits in here), but I thoroughly enjoyed these books and whenever the next one comes out, it will be a insta-one-click from me.










The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah Maclean 

 
It’s the return of Sarah Maclean! This is the first book in her new highly anticipated new historical romance series, which is being promoted as TMZ in Regency period.  This was a break from her last series, it was lighter and funnier and actually, I kept drawing comparisons between this and LOVE ME SWEET, above, which also has the hero and heroine on a madcap road trip.




RUSHING TO DIE by Lindsay Emory 

The return of MARGOT BLYTHE!    My latest was released on 12/29 and I’m so pleased by the response from people!  Yes, it’s the second in the Sorority Sisters Mystery series, but it can be read on its own.  This time, the sorority ladies of Sutton College are preparing for Rush and when another dead body is found in the Delta Beta yard, lots of caffeine is needed to deal with the resulting craziness.



 Let me know what you’ve read and enjoyed lately and if you have any book reading resolution for 2016!  I’m pretty stoked that I’ve been invited to join a proper book club so who know what I’ll be posting around here in the future? It could be this


Or this:


See y’all next month to find out!

Balance and the Rock Star

I love the new year and the retrospectives and the planning and the beauty of a blank calendar. This year is no exception.  I’ve taken some time to go over 2015, thanks to these lovely printables at The Happiness Planner.  My answers to some of the questions were a little shocking, to tell the truth.

Without going into too much gory detail, I overdid 2015. Some of it couldn’t be helped, some of it was all my fault. I’ve been battling a Cold from Hell (which would make a great band name, btw) for over a week and all signs point to the fact that my body has completely given out, surrendered, thrown out the white flag, etc. No matter how many supplements, vitamins and amino acids I choke down, they cannot undo the damage that 12 months of stress has done to my body.

Ironically (?), this was my goal for the year.  I was going to Dream Bigger. I still love that mantra. Looking back at my awesome writing spreadsheet, I estimate that I wrote approximately 325,000 words in 2015. That doesn’t count words produced during edits, blogging, etc.   That doesn’t count words that I produce in a very stressful full time day job.   This is a metric shit-ton of words, of hours spent at laptops, huddled over the ipad mini on the train, scribbling on notebooks.

As much as I love it, and while I now know I am completely capable of it,  I can’t do this in 2016.

Not unless I’m having fun doing it.

That’s what my reflections have shown me, in a striking black-and-white clarity.  I love having fun.  If I’m having fun, late nights and tendonitis and the strange looks of parents on the soccer field as I balance 300 pages of a manuscript-in-edits on my lap while sitting on the sidelines are all 100% worth it.

If I’m not having fun, well. It’s just not worth it.  Pretty simple, right?

So for 2015, I am going to be a rock star. That’s going to be me, up there on the amp, head banging and singing my heart out.  I’m having fun for the sheer fun of it. I’m going out with my girls, I’m supporting my tribe, I’m drinking wine, I’m writing the stories that make me feel like Mick Jagger, Beyonce and Taylor Swift all rolled up into one. I’m going on more roadtrips, seeing the ocean, basking in Broadway lights.  And in this, I believe I will find the balance that eluded me in 2015.

That said, I’m SO FREAKING EXCITED about some of the projects that are in the works and/or germinating right now. I wish I could tell you all about them, but until I get official go-aheads, please follow me on social media, or sign up for my newsletter so you can get the updates for 2016.  

I’m wishing all of you a very balanced and fun 2016.

P.S. Have you checked out RUSHING TO DIE yet? It came out this week!

 

Best Books to Read Now: December

BEST BOOKS TO READ NOW

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!
 

I got through more books in November mostly because I was fortunate enough to escape to Napa, California for a long weekend right before Thanksgiving.  You may have seen some pictures (mostly of wine) on my Instagram but the weekend was more than just wine tastings. It was beautiful weather, good “old” friends, and going to bed early in the blessed silence of a Calistoga mountainside.


Last month when I was writing up my books, I noted that there were some themes to my selections and I’m noticing the same this month.

Kissing Her Crush – Ophelia London

I love this book for so many reasons, not least of which I had several good plotting sessions with Ophelia while she wrote this book over the course of a year.  It’s exciting to see the things we talked about “come to life” and see how Ophelia embued them her signature flair (hint: Gorilla!) While it’s not strictly a Christmas / holiday book I think it fits in perfectly with the holiday season with its themes of chocolate, family and love.

One Week in December — Alexis Anne, Audra North, Julia Kelly, Alexandra Haughton

The “One Week” crew is back with this enchanting (and FREE!) selection of short holiday romances. I’m telling you, this was perfect for holiday travel – little bite sized pieces of holiday cheer.  Pick it up (for FREE) while you can!


The Best Man – Kristan Higgins

This was my first Kristan Higgins book (I know! Where have I been?!) but she’s been on my AUTHORS TO READ list since I heard her speak at an RWA 2014 workshop and THE BEST MAN won’t be my last.  I literally devoured this in 24 hours after Thanksgiving, the day that will henceforth be known as The Day I Walked 5000 Steps In My Own Kitchen (thanks Fitbit for that data nugget).  Being drawn into the Blue Heron winemaking world (right after my own trip to Napa, no less) with all of the small town sweetness and family humor was ideal for a post-Thanksgiving escape. The digital version is on sale now for $.99!


Magic Shifts- Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels Book 8) 


So obviously, the accidental themes of my books this month have been sweet, family, romances. Does MAGIC SHIFTS fit in with that?  If you’ve read the first seven books of this series and if you’re a major Kate Daniels/ Ilona Andrews fan, the answer is UM, YES.   If you haven’t (and why haven’t you?), then you might not understand that after seven Kate Daniels books and four more other books in the series the post-Shift world of Kate Daniels at this point FEELS like home and the characters at this point feel like family.  Am I stretching the theme at this point?

I am a big BIG fan of Ilona Andrews (the husband and wife writing team of Ilona and Gordon Andrews) and I’ve read EVERYTHING they’ve ever written. I’m such a huge fan that I had to stop tweeting Gordon because I didn’t want to be one of those annoying fans that tweeted things like, “I like cake. Do you like cake? Want to be best friends? I can send you cake.” I was sitting at the bar at RT this year with my agent and when I saw Gordon and Ilona across the room, I kind of forgot what I was supposed to be talking about, I was so star-struck.

Basically, I love them. I love their books. I recommend them. MAGIC SHIFTS came out this summer but because I didn’t have enough time to really savor it, I saved it and when I got to Napa and heard the silence, I knew I could immerse myself in the latest installment.

If you want more information on this epic, sometimes-violent, sometimes-spicy, always entertaining series, hit me up and I’ll talk your ear off.

SPEAKING OF SALES…
 
I have books too!  KNOW WHEN TO HOLD HIM is on sale for $.99… AND!!! RUSHING TO DIE is  releasing on 12/29 and available for pre-order NOW!!


I’m so excited for everyone to read the newest installment of the Sorority Sisters Mysteries.  Margot Blythe is back and preparing for rush (recruitment).  There are new characters, new challenges, but Officer Ty Hatfield, Casey Kenner and the ladies of Delta Beta are still there for Margot to boss around – I mean, motivate and inspire.

Sign up for my newsletter because I’ll be sending out a deluxe sample of RUSHING TO DIE before the release date!!

Best Books to Read Now

 

There’s a phenomenon that many authors experience, where reading for pleasure becomes difficult, if not obsolete. This can be for various reasons, whether we don’t have the time, or we can’t turn off the inner critic. I’m still reading, but I have to admit, it’s not the easy, loving relationship I used to have with books.  I know the pain of writing a book and, I’ll be honest, my reading time is limited.  If I’m not clicking with something, I’m a lot quicker to put a book in the DNF (Did Not Finish) pile than I’ve ever been.


But there are so many books out there that still make me sigh and squeal.  I’ve been to several book-y events this year where the whole table just starts gabbing about their favorite authors and such and it’s the best.  There’s a joy in book talk, in finding your people to book talk with.


So to combat the book ennui and remind myself of the things that I love about reading, I decided to start a (hopefully) monthly post about books I’ve read.


PLEASE NOTE: This will NOT be a review post, per se. If I do not like a book, or do not finish it, I won’t write about it here.  My taste is my taste and I respect authors too much to write negatively about their work.


I put together a list of four books that I’ve read recently and strangely, I noticed they fit into two very distinct categories.



ROYAL BOOKS


The Royal We –  by Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks 


I’ve been a long-time reader of Go Fug Yourself , a hilarious fashion blog by these two authors (and their intern George (Clooney, that sweetheart). This book is essentially a fictionalized account of Prince William and Duchess Catherine’s romance, except in the book the heroine is an American exchange student who meets the heir to the throne whilst studying abroad at Oxford which is a super awesome fantasy that no girl in America ever has. *cough*

I would not call this a “romance” in the usual sense. Because it’s essentially Wills and Kate (Nick and Bex in the book), we know they’re getting married and having cherubic royal babies.  The behind the scenes drama with the Pippa- like sister had me raging and the peek into the fashion reinvention of a princess was fun and fascinating.

This book would be an excellent movie and SURPRISE! It will be!  My girl Lorelai, I mean Lauren Graham will be writing the screenplay and her onscreen daughter (not Rory, the other one) Mae Whitman will be starring.  LOVE. Can’t wait for that.

(Oooh. Just noticed that they have the first seven (7) chapters for free on Amazon if you want a deluxe sample.)



A Royal Pain – by Megan Mulry



After I finished The Royal We, I decided I wanted a little more royal romance so I opened up A Royal Pain, which I’ve had on my TBR (To Be Read) pile FOR-EVER.  Megan has been tremendously supportive of me and I adored her last contemporary release so I couldn’t wait to get into her back list.  If you like to read about the glamourous life, pick up a Megan Mulry book. Her descriptions of Valentino gowns, wines that I’ll never be able to afford and ducal jewels kept in locked vaults are nearly as sexy as the… well, super-sexy scenes.


HISTORICAL ROMANCES


The Suffragette Scandal – by Courtney Milan


This is book four of the Brothers Sinister series and I have no idea why I waited so long to read this. I flew through probably six or seven of Milan’s books, the first three from this series and then her other series but not this one. Maybe I was sick or something. ANYWAY, I finally got to the story of Fredericka “Free” Marshall and it, like all of Milan’s historicals is like a breath of fresh air. I don’t know what it is, the Victorian time period, the forward thinking characters, the precise prose, but if you love historical romance or if you’re looking for a nice romantic companion to a Meryl Streep movie  check this one out.



When A Scot Ties A Knot -by Tessa Dare




If I could, I would compose a sonnet full of my love for Tessa Dare books (unless that’s creepy. Is that creepy?) I know I’ve posted on Facebook about her books and when someone wants a historical romance recommendation, Tessa is one of the top authors I recommend. I was lucky enough to spend some time with the fabulous Ms. Dare at a recent event and she is lovely, literate and can make you laugh AND cry – in a speech as well as in her books!





(L-R) Alexandra Haughton, Tessa Dare and me! At Buns & Roses 2015 benefitting the Richardson Adult Literacy Center


I cried during this book, and it wasn’t even at the half way mark. It was a good cry, there were good laughs. It’s just plain good.  If the title doesn’t hook you, Tessa recently did an  Avon podcast where she talked a little about her books and the plot .

I just noticed another theme with all these books.  They’re all set in Britain, mostly. Huh. Strange.

Alright, I’d love to hear what books you’ve loved and what you recommend to other readers. I have a HUGE TBR pile  but I can always add on!

Cheerio!

Spreadsheets are Sexy

I write books. I also have a 40 hour a week full time job.  My school-aged kids are at the soccer fields at least five days out of seven. My husband has a full time job and plays on two soccer teams of his own. We have two dogs, a guinea pig, friends, church activities, neighbors, an older house with a big yard, and not even close to having enough time in the week to just hang out and watch Ballers.  (It has The Rock in it. Need I say more?) How do I handle all of the above and feed my family and exercise and keep laundry moving?

I don’t even know. Just typing this has made me exhausted.

But I try to stay organized and on top of things.  In fact, being organized is the ONLY way that I could ever find time to do all of the above.

Currently, my system  all hinges around these two items. My phone and my planner.

Okay, and my computer. And those pens.

Now, back at the beginning of 2014, I blogged here  about how I was going all digital. At that time, I set aside my pretty Louis Vuitton planner (bought used in 2007 on ebay with some birthday money) and went all in with my phone and Google calendar.  And for a while, it worked. I was a convert.  I had all my schedules, tasks, calendars consolidated in one nifty device that I could fit in my pocket.

But then my publishing career started to pick up. Suddenly I had more deadlines, blog tours and submissions and in the fall of 2014, I felt the need for a paper calendar again. Something I could write in pretty colors and see a month at a glance.  I tried several versions of the May Design books and this summer headed back to my trusty paper planner as an aide to my phone.

Here’s how it’s breaking down:

On phone/Google calendar: all appointments, travel, soccer games, piano lessons, holidays, parties.  Basically, anything that I need an “alert” for or anything that my husband might need to reference from wherever he is.

On paper calendar: travel, important unmissable bigger events (a friend’s 40th birthday party, neighborhood picnic), birthdays, book deadlines (edits due, manuscript TBF, etc.), blog posts and tours.

You might be asking, why do I need the paper and the digital calendars?  I think of it as covering both my microcosm and the macrocosm.  On most days I need  the immediacy, the minute-to-minute alerts and convenience of my phone. Some days I need to sit back and look at the big picture – when will I write this masterpiece? Where does this project fit between all my other projects? Do I have too much going on in July 2015? (The answer was yes.)

The planner also holds my weekly menus, to-do lists, workouts, etc.  It may be old-fashioned but there is no more satisfying feeling than physically crossing off something. Even on my busiest, craziest days, if I can cross-off “write blog post” or “buy birthday gift” I feel like maybe I might not be a complete failure.

Write Blog Post: Check.

What about the books?

A lot of writers (some of whom you’ll find on the Get It Together blog hop) keep track of all their word goals and counts on a yearly and daily basis.  I… do not. Currently, I have a personal goal of writing three books a year. I feel that’s do-able given my life  But  so far I haven’t gotten into such a routine that I can washi tape a section off in my planner and input consistent, daily word counts.  Also, sometimes I can write a book in three weeks. Sometimes it’s three months.  What can I say, the muse is finicky.

What I do use, is a spreadsheet.  Inspired by my friends Audra North and Julia Kelly and their comprehensive spreadsheets that they kindly shared with me, I developed my own spreadsheet to keep track of writing projects at all their stages, from plot bunny to published.  Once a book is in the writing stage, I do keep track of word count in there and when it goes off to the agent and editor, I  track those dates, too.    Other things that go in the spreadsheet are expenses, contacts I’ve made and professional goals (like apply for PAN, attend a mystery convention, win a RITA. The usual.)

I recommend a spreadsheet to anyone, as it really helps me synthesize the creative side of writing with the business side and visually “see” the books as a process.  I think it would especially be helpful for those that are self-publishing and have way more details to keep track of than I do.

 

And for those that really want to know, I do my book drafts in Scrivener, which is full of great organizational tools and I don’t even use that many of them (or know what they are. )  Its primary benefit, for me, is that beautiful cork board which helps me manually and visually arrange the scenes and plot points of a book.

Screenshot of Sisterhood is Deadly plot points

And those are the highlights of how I manage my life and my writing.  At least this month.

I’d love to hear what you use, if I’ve inspired you or what tips or tricks you have for me!  Want to hear more from all our TWENTY SEVEN authors? Go here to follow along the blog hop for the next week.  We have an amazing group of authors who all have different methods, processes and tips for organizing life, career and books.  It’s going to be a very interesting week!

OH! And how could I forget? We have giveaways! Click on the graphic below to sign up to win books and gift cards and fun organizational accessories:

 

Get it Together!

A few weeks back, I was watching some videos on YouTube about planners and organization. This is a very addictive hole to fall into on a hot summer day when you do not want to go outside and want to trick yourself into feeling productive.  Anyway, I had an idea and shot Alexandra Haughton a  text and before you can say, “Erin Condren washi tape,” we had a blog hop organized.

 

So get excited. Starting August 31st to September 4th, we have an amazing slate of writers who are all going to be blogging (maybe vlogging? Instagramming? Periscoping? who knows?) about all their best organization tips for writing, business and life.   Check back here next Monday and I’ll have links to all the transformational, inspirational, sensational information or follow the #GetItTogetherHop hashtag on social media to get inspired to get it together.

#RWA15 Recap and Rewind

Well, it was that time of year again. I packed my bags, charged every electronic device I had and made my way to the Big Apple to attend the Romance Writers of America (RWA) national conference last week.

This was a very different conference than the one I went to last year.  To start with, I was very different. Last year, I was contracted with a publisher, but had only completed one round of edits on KNOW WHEN TO HOLD HIM. This year, I’ve published two books, and just turned in a third to my editor.  Last year, I was unagented.  This year, I had the fabulosa Cassie Hanjian to steer me around the terrifying pit of hell (also known as the New York subway in July) on our way to parties across Manhattan. Last year, I think I knew one other writer in real life at the conference.  This year, I knew quite a few more and was thrilled to meet other lovely writers that are now, whether they like it or not, inducted into my tribe permanently. (You can’t get away. You’re mine now.)

Last year, I followed the serendipitous voice.  This year, that voice was harder to hear. I don’t know why, maybe it was because of roar of Times Square outside the hotel, or the cacophony of conflicting demands in my life.  There were still stand out moments.  In one workshop I moderated, Roxanne St. Claire theorized that writers procrastinate on social media because we’re lonely, working alone at home as we do.  That comment rang so true to me that I’m resolved to get more in-person socializing done, so that I can be more productive at the keyboard.  I went to Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ character workshop and Jennifer Crusie’s turning point workshop back to back on Friday and by the end of it, I had figured out how to totally re-work my latest manuscript.  I’m pretty sure that’s a good thing. I had my cab almost stolen by Don King, saw Taye Diggs on Broadway, enjoyed a burlesque show, and laughed my butt off with Alexandra Haughton and Ophelia London as we trolled New York at 11pm looking for pizza.

The high point of the conference was definitely aided by one of the coolest chicks in the history of cool chicks, Laura Von Holt.  See, Julia Kelly and I had ducked inside the Avon book signing just to say hi to some people and I was standing in line to gush to Jeaniene Frost about how much Vlad means to me, when Laura tapped me on the shoulder and said, “You’re here. Your books are here.”

[Now, for those that don’t know, my latest release, SISTERHOOD IS DEADLY, is published by Harper Collins Witness Impulse, a sister imprint to Avon. Which I obviously knew, not just because I had received invitations to attend several other Avon events at RWA.]

When Laura said this, I thought she meant that Avon had kindly stacked some of my books on a side table.

NO.

Unbeknownst to me, I had a space in the signing. With a banner and pens and books… except all my books had been taken before I got there.  Which I was thrilled about! Of course! (People, please, take my book!) So I sat my butt down and signed some free download cards for the people that came after, and I met several lovely Avon editors and (!) my wonderful publicist Dianna (hey!).

What a difference a year makes. Last year I went to the Avon signing and fangirled over my favorite authors and resolved that would be me…. One day.  This year, I was there! I was late, but I was there! Next year, who knows, I might even be on time!

So…  Because I’m the kind of rebel who’s late to her own surprise book signing, I took a couple of extra free book cards home with me and I’d love to share them. If you’d like a free e-book of SISTERHOOD IS DEADLY, the first ten people to comment below with your email address or who sign up for my newsletter (to give me your email in private) will get one.  (People, please, take my book!)

 

 

 

A MONTH. AWAY.

Yes, you heard me.  SISTERHOOD IS DEADLY, the first Sorority Sisters Mystery, ever, in the history of the world, will be released unto mankind A MONTH FROM TODAY.

Can you feel it?  The trembling excitement that readers everywhere are hearing about?

And no, authors don’t exaggerate AT ALL about their books.

Everyone says self-promotion is super awkward and difficult and I agree. I’m not going to spend everyday tweeting and posting about this book because once it’s released, it’s kind of out of my hands.  A really good friend of mine recently came clean and apologized for not reading KNOW WHEN TO HOLD HIM yet. And I just laughed and said, “It’s okay” and something like, “I don’t care if you do or not.”

She’s never looked that shocked by me before.  And I’ve shared deep, dark, secrets with this woman, like how I was thisclose to getting a Grateful Dead dancing bear tattoo when I was eighteen.

I tried to explain, and I’m still not sure I was successful, that when I say “I don’t care if she reads it” it’s because I know she’s a super busy high powered executive and involved mom of three active kids.  She barely has time to return texts but I know this person has my back 100% and is a huge cheerleader for me and always has been.  Her love and support are what’s important to me.  That’s what keeps me going.

I recently wrote the dedication to SISTERHOOD IS DEADLY and I knew exactly who I wanted to dedicate this book to: Women everywhere who share their light with others and shine brighter for it.

Because in the past six months, I’ve learned a great deal about support – from other women, other writers, from friends, from maybe-enemies.  Support that comes from unexpected corners and support that never materializes from those you relied on.  The message has been reinforced from other things I’ve been reading, like an article about how women need to stop criticizing each other and play bigger.  This older piece on Shine Theory was particularly eye-opening for me, especially this quote:

When you meet a woman who is intimidatingly witty, stylish, beautiful, and professionally accomplished, befriend her.Surrounding yourself with the best people doesn’t make you look worse by comparison. It makes you better.

 

Publishing is an extremely tough business, maybe even cutthroat, but it’s also filled with women who build each other up, believing and living the above mantra.  I’ve benefited tremendously from the support of many amazing women and I hope to give back twice as much.

This is, probably not uncoincidentally (that’s a word, right?), the philosophy of Margot Blythe, the protagonist of the Sorority Sisters Mysteries.  Whatever you think about Margot (after you’ve read the book, at 12:01 am on July 7, 2015, of course) know that she only wants everyone to succeed (except for that trashy sorority chapter – you know the one.)

So yeah.  I’m really excited about what’s to come.  SISTERHOOD is a beautiful culmination of so many positive experiences that just having it published is pretty damn good. But it will also feel pretty good when y’all buy it.

Romance, Hermes & Paris

It’s February! Valentine’s Day! Time for romance and love and roses and champagne.  And what could be more romantic than… PARIS?

Last month, I was fortunate to zip across the Atlantic and spend a few days with my sister who, until two weeks ago, had called Paris her home for over two years.

I was also able to visit her last year, and as this was my third trip to Paris, this visit wasn’t as much about the sightseeing and touristy to-dos as it was chilling with my sister, shopping, strolling, and eating.


Shopping

Each time I’ve gone to Paris, it’s been in January, during the Soldes, the twice-yearly fortnight where every single store has some kind of sale going on.  This is a good strategy for all budget-minded ladies. Tickets to Paris are pretty much as cheap as they’re going to get in January and then when you get there, everything is on sale!  Ok, not everything.  But a lot.  Even…



Yeah. There is an actual Hermes sale. We went my first day there, I was still dressed in my airplane-grubby comfiness and we were there for at least four hours. (I say at least, because I was a little confused on what day and time it was).  It was like Luxury Disneyworld.  You stand in line to get into the sale (with some fabulous people watching all around you, of course). Then you stand in line to check your coat.  Then you are checked by security who log onto a form (that you must carry around) what Hermes items you are wearing into the sale. (The answer for me, naturally, was zero. See, above, airplane grubbiness).  THEN you stand in line inside the sale for different sets of items. A line for silk scarves, a line for wool scarves, a line for enamel jewelry, etc.

There were no purses or wallets. But there were shoes! And ties! And amazing Hermes bathing suits that belong in Megan Mulry’s Roulette.  And yes, I made a small purchase. How could I not?

There were so many other busy,pushy stores. Some of the Soldes experience is just the browsing and people watching and elbowing.

And of course, I made several stops at French pharmacies, including the famous Citipharma. Something about a French pharmacy makes even muscle relaxer gel seem so glamorous.



Eating

 Since I was lucky enough to stay with my sister, she cooked me several lovely meals and we ate out at some new and old favorites.

Breizh Cafe is one of my hands down- must-eat recs in Paris.  Four years ago I walked straight in, but today you’ll need a reservation.  It’s known for crepes and artisanal ciders. I dream of this place when I’m back in Dallas. Delicious.

Charcuterie, seaweed butter crepes and cider at Breizh Cafe

Perfect flat whites at La Coutume

 

Another favorite meal of mine is eating falafel in the Marais.  I’ve been to L’As du Falafel several times but this time we tried the spot across the street, Mi Va Mi,  which  was just as delicious and ate a la Parisienne, by the trash cans.  It’s a sisterly tradition.

As I visited just after the Charlie Hebdo massacre, you could definitely feel a difference in the Marais, which was traditionally the Jewish Quarter, where soldiers with machine guns  were stationed.  But there also signs like these posted everywhere.






Touristy To-Dos
 
As I said, I didn’t visit all the must-see sights this time.  The one time I saw the Eiffel Tower, I was on a train and hurried to grab this shot, French Kiss style.

The Eiffel tower is right there – behind the building.

Of course I’ve been to the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay but I’d never been able to see the Picasso Museum until this visit, as it has recently reopened after a massive multi-year renovation.

I would definitely recommend this compact yet thought-provoking museum (buy advance tickets! I’m so glad my sister did or we would have had a 1+ hour wait to get in).

The museum is organized thematically, not chronologically, and really helps you see the depth and breadth of Picasso’s works.

The chandeliers are modern Picasso sculptures

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This was one of my favorites, a painting of his studio,  Blank Space. To me, it said so much about the creative mind:  “Here’s my work. Here’s what I’m going to create next. And it could be anything.”


Chilling

Just being in Paris is the best part of being in Paris. It’s romantic, it’s spontaneous. It’s the type of place where you may walk by the neighborhood wine bar and be pulled in for several hours of sampling bubbly wine and enjoying charming French/Swiss/German men’s company. Hypothetically.

At Quincave.

The city is also exhausting and overwhelming and historic and very now. It’s one of my favorite places in the world and I’m so blessed that I was able to spend some time there with one of my favorite people.  It’s every writer’s dream to have an apartment in Paris and for a few days, I could pretend that I did.


And yes, I was inspired while I was there. I had a kernel of a book idea and my sister helped me plot it out. Let’s just say one day there could be a book featuring a sexy wine seller, a widowed chef and mistaken identities on the Left Bank.

A newsletter will be going out soon, with super big announcements. Make sure you sign up for my newsletter  and I’ll include insider pics of my sister’s amazing flat on the Left Bank.

A Bigger Year

Everyone’s been writing their New Year’s blog posts. Me? I’ve been sitting here, digesting 2014 (literally and figuratively.) Also, I’ve had site problems. (One of my 2015 resolutions is to have a prettier lindsayemory.com – started working on that and ran into some *cough* technical difficulties. I’ll be bringing in the professionals shortly to get this place shiny & new.)

Basically, I keep going back to the beginning of 2014. I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought I knew what was going to happen. 2014 turned that all upside down.

In the best ways.

If you forced me to, I couldn’t put a finger on when it happened. Or what, exactly, happened.

All I know is, 2014 was transformative.
It got bigger.
What got bigger?

Everything got bigger.

Every time I settled, every time I was happy enough, 2014 took me firmly by the chin and forced me to look at the larger blessings I was receiving.  Like a child on Christmas morning who is totally rocked by the candy bar in his stocking only to look up, and see the giant – I don’t know – play kitchen or remote control car, or ten thousand piece Lego set.

I am full of gratitude for the stocking full of candy (who wouldn’t be? Hello, chocolate!), the same as a gigantic Lego set.  I am thankful for peaceful days filled with laughter and love and friends and good wine. I’m a pretty simple girl.

In 2015, my goals are simple.

I’m going to write more, edit more. I’m going to (probably- knock wood) get a fancier website. I’m going to sweat more, see the sun more, see my friends more.

I’m going to keep following that serendipitous whisper, the one that takes me to meet people and see places that I didn’t plan.

Yeah. Me, hanging with Susan Elizabeth Phillips at RWA. No big deal. (!!!!)

I’m going to give thanks for what I already have. And then I’m going to dream bigger.

Thanks for dreaming with me.