Eden Baylee's Blog, page 17

800 Word Story ~ Perspective

For this month’s 800 Word Story, Bill and I decided to do something a little differently. Instead of writing jointly in the manner we have in the past, we’ve each written our own story using the same prompt. Each story is 800 words and neither of us knows what the other has written. I’m so...Continue reading 800 Word Story ~ Perspective →

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Diavolo Rosso with Paolo Conte #MusicMonday

I completed my last French class today; now I’m jumping to Italian! Just kidding. 😆 I’m continuing with French, just not formally. In the process of listening to a lot of French music over the past month, I came across “Diavolo Rosso” translated as “Red Devil” in Italian. The song is by Paolo Conte, a...Continue reading Diavolo Rosso with Paolo Conte #MusicMonday →

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Sous le Ciel de Paris #MusicMonday

This is my fourth and last week of Bootcamp French! How did three weeks fly by so quickly? I’ve loved my lessons so far and look forward to scheduling regular French conversations to keep up my practice. For the final song in this French series, I chose a classic made famous by Edith Piaf— “Sous...Continue reading Sous le Ciel de Paris #MusicMonday →

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Les Copains D’Abord #MusicMonday

On continue avec des chansons françaises! Georges Brassens was considered one of France’s most accomplished postwar poets. As a prolific writer, his songs combined humour, tenderness, and an anarchist’s contempt for authority. From the Catholic Church to the military to the justice system, no organization escaped his acid tongue. At the suggestion of author, Bill...Continue reading Les Copains D’Abord #MusicMonday →

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Write What You Know? I Don’t Think So! via @AuthorsElectric

“Write what you know” is an old maxim attributed to Mark Twain. For writers of fiction, this is one way to come up with ideas. Is it the only way? No. In fact, it can be an unnecessary constraint. Find out what else I think about it at my monthly guest blog for Authors Electric....Continue reading Write What You Know? I Don’t Think So! via @AuthorsElectric →

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Write What You Know? I Don’t Think So via @AuthorsElectric

“Write what you know” is an old maxim attributed to Mark Twain. For writers of fiction, this is one way to come up with ideas. Is it the only way? No. In fact, it can be an unnecessary constraint. Find out what else I think about it at my monthly guest blog for Authors Electric....Continue reading Write What You Know? I Don’t Think So via @AuthorsElectric →

The post Write What You Know? I Don’t Think So via @AuthorsElectric appeared first on Eden Baylee.

Je T’aime … Moi Non Plus #MusicMonday

If you missed my blog last Monday, I’m featuring French songs for the coming weeks in concert with my ongoing French lessons. “Je t’aime… moi non plus” is French for “I love you… me neither” and was a 1967 song written by Serge Gainsbourg for Brigitte Bardot. In 1969, Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin recorded the song, and...Continue reading Je T’aime … Moi Non Plus #MusicMonday →

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800 Word Story ~ Runaway Dreams

Welcome to 800 Word Story, a segment where author, Bill Kirton and I write a story together.

In a nutshell, the story is made up of four parts of 200 words each.

I started this one, handed it off to Bill for part 2. He sent it back to me for part 3, and I returned it to him to write the conclusion. With no discussion of the story beforehand, the allure of this process is to discover how the other moves the story along.

* * *

Prompt: “If you don’t take chances,” said the man in striped pyjamas, “...

Si vous n’avez rien a me dire #MusicMonday

Early 2020, I had planned to kick up my French for no reason in particular. There’s a French language school not far from me, and I would’ve attended in-person classes.

Along came the pandemic and I shelved the idea. Now, a little over a year later, I’ve signed up for a French bootcamp course. My first lesson is today and will end in four weeks. My teacher resides in Lyon, France.

Although I grew up in Montreal, French is my third language after Taishanese and English. I wish I’d had the foresig...

Backlash Blues #MusicMonday

Whenever I need a pick-me-up, I listen to the incomparable Nina Simone.

In this performance recorded in Montreux, she pays tribute to poet Langston Hughes, one of the innovators of the literary art form, jazz poetry. “Backlash Blues” is based on a poem from his book, The Panther and the Lash.

The first couple of minutes in the video show Nina talking to the audience and the stage tech who can’t seem to adjust her mic properly.

She is absolutely delightful. Don’t miss her.

Have a great week,

~ ed...