Anne Trager's Blog, page 28

Espionage: Fact and Fiction in Spy Novels

Do spy novels have anything to do with real espionage? And do spies from good spy novels make good spies? The other day, I ran across an article in the Huffington Post by a former CIA agent who discusses James Bond and Jason Bourne and the reality of spy work.

I love these movies and am fascinated by all things espionage related, so thought I’d go ask the question to our very own spy, Bernard Besson, the authorof the upcomingGreenland: The Thriller, formerly chief of staff of the French equiva...

Best crime fiction author discovery: Sylvie Granotier

What’s your best new-to-me crime fiction author?Margot over at Confessions of a Mystery Novelist was recently part of theBest New-to-Me Crime Fiction Authorsmeme hosted by Kerrie atMysteries in Paradise,and she chose prizewinning author Sylvie Granotier as her best new crime fiction author discovery during the last part of 2012. The book that “sold” her on Granotier was her psychological thriller set in France,The Paris Lawyer.

I’ll have to say that one of mine was David Khara, whose thrillerT...

People, Places, Intrigue and Mayhem: Treachery in Bordeaux Quiz

Some time ago we ran a quiz forThe Paris Lawyer,and here we go ago, with one for Treachery in Bordeaux. Have fun.

People, Places, Intrique and Mayhem Quiz 2: Treachery in Bordeaux

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DiscoverTreachery in Bordeaux with these six questions. If you’ve already read i...

Sneak Preview: New Spy Thriller

I just can’t resist: we will soon be officially announcing our next book, so hey, why not let the news out. It’sThe Bleiberg Projetby David Khara, and here’s a sneak preview with some excerpts from the first two chapters, setting the scene and tone for this fast-paced spy thriller that was an overnight success in France.

Jay Novacek is a depressive, self-pitying Wall Street trader whose week gets off to a bad start. He finds out his long-gone father is dead, then his mother is murdered, leavin...

Have you heard? 52 great reads from top writers

Have you heard? Le French Book is starting off 2013 with something “completely new” and giving readersa full year of stories—52 of them to be exact—from seven ofFrance’s top writers. All free. These “truly fun” “surprising, seductive stories” showcase writing talent and are an innovative exercise in literary collaboration.

Seven of France’s best writers—Tatiana de Rosnay, Didier Van Cauwelaert, Yann Queffélec, Daniel Picouly, Christine Orban, Irène Frain, Harold Cobert—got together to play a c...

New Year’s Resolutions: Chocolate

As people start the New Year off full of good resolutions and dieting, I’m thinking about chocolate. This is not so unusual for me. A picture at ParisDailyPhoto of a chocolate monkeysparked today’s musings, which are combined with a touch of sadness as I just finished off the box of dark chocolates I had picked up in Toulouse from the Chocolatier Criollo, which is quite worth the detour if you are in the Pink City. That said, my New Year’s resolutions definitely include continued chocolate ea...

A year already!

I saw a recent New Yorker cartoon with a child standing next to a Christmas tree among a number of just-opened gifts who says to his parents: “When is it time to want more?”I kind of feel like that child. Le French Book is officially a year old and it’s been quite an adventure so far. Below is a short overview of our accomplishments this year. At the same time, I clearly am already wanting more, so we can offer our readers and followers an even more exciting 2013.

DEC. 2012 – Incorporation in...

In Paris for Christmas?

Or perhaps just dreaming of it? I particularly love to go look at the Christmas window decorations at the Grands Magasins on Boulevard Haussman. For dreaming or visiting purposes, here are some places in Paris a couple of our authors recommend.

Sylvie Granotier

Master crime fiction writer Sylvie Granotier loves Paris and lives part of her time there. Here are some of the places she likes:

I have a long and enduring passion for the Eiffel Tower. I know all about it, even stories that may not be t...

A duel among prizewinners and other news from France

You can’t help but love France, when a book whose title is Sermon about the Fall of Rome topsFifty Shades of Grey on the bestseller lists. It looks like France’s Prix Goncourt winners this year are battling it out to be at the top of those very lists. The Prix Goncourt is a prestigious literary prize founded in 1903 that goes to “the best and most imaginative work of prose in the year.” It has a younger sibling–the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens–which is chosen by high school students using the sa...

Record ebook sales in November

Here’s some good news. Le French Book has record ebook sales in November. It looks good on a graph. Thanks to everyone who is buying and reading our books. We are working on bringing you more.