Samantha Verant's Blog, page 13

Friendship Friday: The Amazing Kelly Polark and Rockabet

Today I'm celebrating the release of Kelly Polark's ABC's of rock 'n' roll picture book, ROCKABET: CLASSIC EDITION.

Anyway, Kelly has combined her love for music (and she's been to every rock concert known to man, I think) with her love of writing children's books. And she came up with the coolest concept EVER! ROCKABET: CLASSIC EDITION.

Today I'm partying with Kelly in France and playing band manager...

So if I could choose any band members from any bands to form the best band ever, these would be my rockin' picks:

Band Name: Maverick Mercury and the Mutants

First Gig: Coney Island

Lead vocals:  Joe Strummer from The Clash

Lead guitarist: Maverick Mercury (the protag from my MG! Not only can he jam, he can play the guitar with his tail...)

Bass guitarist: Slash from GnR

Drums: Neil Peart from Rush (Note: I can't stand Rush, but Neil is known to have been the best drummer this side of Mars)

Keyboards: Thomas Dolby *Because he blinded with science, whee, wah, woh! As sweet as any harmony...

Okay. So that's a really wildly weird band.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO JAM...

Who would you choose for your supergroup?
Here's a

ROCKABET: CLASSIC EDITION can currently be purchased online at Amazon or at select bookstores. Hardcover books will be available at various online retailers and stores in October.

Kelly Polark is also the author of BIG SISTER, BABY BROTHER and the upcoming HOLD THE MUSTARD! from Meegenius. Come visit her on Facebook and Twitter! Check out her website and celebrity book recommendation site, Book Recs of the Rock and Famous.

READING ROCKS!




Comments, per the usual, have been disabled on Friendship Friday. PLEASE take the time to visit Kelly and DO check out her rocking book. Also, let her know the name of your supergroup....

Have a great weekend! Rock on!


Top Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Wednesday is All Write: Let's go Streaking!!!

Hey you guys......!!!


(We're gonna zoom-zoom-zoom-zooma-zoom. We're gonna zoom-zoom-zoom-zooma-zoom. Get it? No? Oh well.)

Sorry for the long blogging hiatus, but this summer was busy with a capital B. I spent six weeks back in the good ol' USA, getting my fill of American life. You'd think it was an extended vacation. It wasn't. Two of said weeks were spent playing tour guide to la fille and two of her French girlfriends. More on that later. The rest of the time was spent trying to balance my first round of edits with the memoir, entertaining my family-- traveling from San Diego to San Francisco, and creating a keepsake charm and video and for my publisher's annual sales conference, which I've posted below.


Okay, so. Have you ever tried creating a video on your own? Good god, I felt like a fool talking to my iPad. It must have taken me three thousand takes--even with a script. I've posted some of the more humorous? outtakes from the sales video below. Yes, I am a ham. And, yes, my name is Sam. And, no, calling somebody a ham in French doesn't translate. At all. Tu es vraiment un jambon? Nope. Doesn't work.



You are not going to believe this, but I've always been terminally shy, the kind of kid who just stood at the side of the playground with a Cabbage Patch smile on her face until somebody asked me to play. Well, unless I'm on a stage. Once the nerves settle down-- I'm an extrovert- as seen below while singing karaoke in front of a large audience, which included my mother. Oh, the song? Totally appropriate and something the whole family can enjoy. "I Touch Myself."



On a serious note, yes, I put myself out there, but that doesn't mean I'm not petrified. I am. I have two books coming out next year, which is great! But soon people will be judging me and my writing, and, moreover, when it comes to my memoir, my life. Reviewers can be so very cruel, calling fellow memoirists things like "narcissistic whores," "bi-polar bitches," or "whiny," and "self-absorbed."

Um, I love myself? I want you to love me? Yeah, that won't cut it. Yet, here I am exposing myself. In a book. About my life. Please keep me off Amazon.

Let's go streaking?

Okay. I can't do that.

SOUND OFF: Even if you have confidence, what do you do to settle down those nagging insecurities? Do you just say-- I DON'T CARE. I LOVE IT!, crash your car into a bridge, and let it burn? Or, do you care?

p.s. Mom? Another shot of tequila, perhaps? What's up with the sideways video? And who is that guy with the beer?

Horse Image courtesy of dan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Friendship Friday- KNOCK LOVE OUT by Pella Grace

"I want to have an affair. Rolling across bed sheets. Pinned against the wall." --Lilla King


LOOKING FOR A STEAMY READ THIS SUMMER? CHECK OUT PELLA GRACE'S KNOCK LOVE OUT!

This Adult-New Adult mash-up is an extremely steamy contemporary romance that tells the story of Cash, a 24-year-old grocery clerk and Lilla, a 30-something unhappily married woman who fall for one another.

Warren Cash Valentine is an artist moonlighting as a cashier in his family's failing grocery store.

On the surface he appears to be your typical smart ass, cocky 24 year-old, but underneath lies a man who is highly gifted and passionate about embracing life to the fullest.

Lilla King is a woman stuck in the winter of her life.

At 39 years-old, her marriage and career are failing which leaves her desperate to find a spark that will jump-start her woeful heart and get her back on course to finding her passion for life.

One man's wife is another man's lover.

Can you keep a secret? YOU CAN FIND KNOCK LOVE OUT HERE: AMAZON
NOOK


 
ABOUT PELLA...

KNOCK LOVE OUT is my first published novel. It will be available 7.2.13 thanks to Swoon Romance. As a child I loved writing poetry and swore I'd grow up to be a songwriter. My love of poetry heavily influenced my writing style and lead me on a path to writing romantic tales.

Prior to my writing career I worked as a professional chef. Food and the art of cooking will always be an ultimate obsession and passion of mine. I am an advocate for small farmers and absolute freedom. I believe in allowing individuals to be the leaders of their own lives. I am on a journey in life to find my own freedom and bliss. I welcome all of you to come along for the ride.  YOU CAN FIND MORE INFO ON PELLA HERE: WEBSITE As usual, comments for friendship Friday have been disabled! Go make a new friend! Connect with Pella! 

Wednesday is More than All Right! I Sold My Memoir!

If a picture speaks a thousand words, the photo below speaks volumes...



...save for the fact it doesn't capture the story behind the story.

Those of you who have been following my blog for some time know how hard I had to work to get my memoir published. For those of you who are unfamiliar with my journey, I'd been working on SEVEN LETTERS FROM PARIS for four years. In 2009, I wrote the story as it happened to me. In late 2010, I began contacting agents, sending off twenty-one queries. I believe the full was out with five or six agents when I received an offer of representation in January of 2011. Unfortunately, at this time an article bashing 'me'-moirs created some havoc, so we decided to hold off on submissions until the market for memoir heated up.

My agent was wonderful. But she left the business in late 2011. I was left in the hands of another agent for five months and, after facing a very tough decision, I decided to leave the agency and revise my manuscript, which was one hot mess. Then, I contacted freelance editor Jay Schaefer, who I'd discovered because he'd acquired and edited UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN by Frances Mayes, a book whose theme of starting over in mid-life was similar to mine, when he was with Chronicle Books.

Throughout this journey, along with the people who supported me, I'd met a couple of naysayers. People told me that without a strong platform I'd never be published. That I had to get an article placed in the NY Times Modern Love Column to even be considered by a publishing house. That memoir was a tough sell.

I asked Jay about his thoughts on the above. And he said something close to this: "Platform, shmatform. You have a fantastic and unique story to tell. I can't promise you it will be picked up, but I believe in it."

So I hired him. Jay didn't change my voice, or fix grammar issues, or re-write my life. He asked me the hard-hitting questions. He suggested cuts. And additions. I told him to "bring it on," that I had thick skin, and could handle whatever he threw at me. Now that I lived the story, I had more objectivity. We revised the manuscript again. We polished my book proposal up. I enlisted an army of beta readers. Two developmental edits and six months later, Jay introduced me to an agent he'd thought would be a good fit for SEVEN LETTERS FROM PARIS. She had the manuscript for four months. Although she loved the story, ultimately, I received a rejection. We tried three more agents. I received three more rejections.

After years of being more than patient, I decided to take my book into my own hands.

Sourcebooks was the first publishing house I approached. I'm originally from Chicago, their founder was from Paris, and other successful Parisian-based memoirs sparkled on their list. Something in my gut told me this house was 'the one.' So I sent off a very well-researched query, along with my book proposal, and kept everything crossed.

Then, I pulled the trigger again. In a crazy twist of events, I ended up selling my middle grade novel, KING OF THE MUTANTS, to Month9Books. Two weeks later, I was contacted by Sourcebooks, alerting me that they were impressed by my proposal and wanted to see the full.

Three days after I sent the manuscript to Anna Klenke, my now wonderful and fabulous editor, I received an email. At first, I was afraid to click it open. In my head I chanted, "Expect the unexpected. Expected the unexpected." I had to read the email twice. Because it was an offer of publication!

Long story short: I believed in myself. I believed in SEVEN LETTERS FROM PARIS. And I never gave up.

I also found the right people who believed in me and my story too.

Umbrella Image courtesy of arztsamui at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Book tour! Book tour! My Sister's Reaper by Dorothy Dreyer

I am thrilled to support fellow Month9Books authoress, Dorothy Dreyer, and her EPIC YA, My Sister's Reaper, which will be released into the wild in print on June 18th.
I don't know about you, but I can't wait for this baby to hit the shelves! I want it now! Right now! Like you, though, I have to wait. Cover! LOVE!!!!About My Sister's Reaper....

Sixteen-year-old Zadie’s first mistake was telling the boy she liked she could bring her dead sister back to life. Her second mistake was actually doing it.

When Zadie accidentally messes with the Reaper’s Rite that should have claimed her sister Mara, things go horribly wrong. Mara isn’t the same anymore—Zadie isn’t even sure she’s completely human, and to top it off, a Reaper is determined to collect Mara’s soul no matter what. Now Zadie must figure out how to defeat her sister’s Reaper, or let Mara die … this time for good.
And an excerpt to tease and tempt you!!!
I opened my eyes to the darkness of my room. I wiped sweat from my brow and reached for my bedside light, but I froze before I could turn it on. In the darkness, Mara’s silhouette looked down on me. I swallowed back dryness as I stared into her face. I blinked, unable to tell if I was still dreaming or not. But when I focused, there she was, standing beside my bed in the dark. She stared at me with eyes that seemed to penetrate me, moonlight falling in white shards across her face.
“Mara?” I whispered.
She didn’t say a word. Why wasn’t she moving?
“Mara?” I slowly pushed down my covers. Mara only stared. Was she even breathing?
My heart pounded as I slid out of bed. Mara was only inches from the frame. God, Mara, why are you doing this? I maneuvered around her, afraid to make contact. I stood, keeping my eyes on her until we were face-to-face. Silence screamed in my ears.


Talk about AWESOME! Here's where you can purchase Dorothy's book. Also, be sure to add My Sister's Reaper to your GoodReads list! Spread the word, peeps, spread the word!!!!!
Amazon

Barnes and Noble

The Book Depository

Goodreads

Just call me Scuba Sam

Don't let this idyllic scene fool you.When we loaded up the car and headed to Cap d'Agde in the south of France this past weekend, I was expecting calm waters, warm weather, and an underwater adventure.

I didn't realize my level one certification for scuba diving would be more like a Navy Seal exercise.

The sea was rough and cold — around 59 degrees. The wind was strong. They almost canceled the weekend due to less than desirable conditions. Um, that didn't happen. But chickening out wasn't an option. My husband is one of the dive instructors, both of the kids were certified two years ago, and I've been taking hour long classes with my husband's work's scuba club every Thursday for the past nine months.

The smartest decision I made: Instead of my husband*, I opted to dive with another instructor— the less stress, the better.

*The last time I went diving with him he kept pushing me towards an octopus--as if I couldn't see the freaky thing with its bulbous and very yellow eyes

On the first dive, swimming fifteen feet to the buoy took great effort. I was completely winded, thanks to the twenty-pound lead baby strapped to my back, otherwise known as the tank. I was thrown and tossed around in the waves, trying to swim and grip a rope at the side of the boat, thinking, "I can't breathe. I'm going to die. What am I doing? This is supposed to be fun; it isn't. It's torture! Kill me now!"

But, rather than letting fear get the best of me, I took slow, purposeful breaths before the descent, and once we were a few feet under, the water was calm. Unfortunately, due to the weather, visibility was poor, and I could only see about three, maybe four feet, in all directions. Thankfully, my instructor wore fluorescent green flippers or I would have been flipping out. Regardless of the conditions, we were able to view some sea life.

Note: Birds do it. Bees do it. And, apparently, crabs do it too.

We performed all level one tasks — removing our masks, motioning for a loss of air and supplying another diver with the "octopus" (spare regulator), checking air levels, and stability exercises, the most important being the ascent. The first dive lasted about twenty-five minutes. I didn't have gloves; my hands were blocks of ice.

Once we surfaced, though, the water was rough. And we had to swim back to the boat. Under water, everything is weightless. Yeah, not so much anymore. That twenty-pound lead baby strapped to my back was a heifer. Add the belt around my waist, another ten pounds, the way my wet suit strangled my neck, the fact the boat was about thirty feet away, and once again, my mantra of "I can't breathe. I'm going to die. What am I doing? This is supposed to be fun; it isn't. It's torture! Kill me now!" returned. Climbing the ladder was hard. But I made it. Back on board, I was looking forward to catching my breath.

You know that show "Deadliest Catch," when the waves crash down on the fishermen's heads? The boat ride back to the harbor was kind of like that.

Now, repeat the above scenario three more times.

Apparently, I'm a masochist. But I'm a masochist who is now level one certified. And I'm looking forward to diving in better conditions — warm waters, a calm sea, and my family by my side.

Friendship Friday: Love With a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche

To help celebrate her recent book launch, today I'm pleased to pimp out Torre DeRoche's fantastic memoir, Love with a Chance of Drowning.

Without further ado, here's the overview:

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Love can make a person do crazy things . . .

A city girl with a morbid fear of deep water, Torre DeRoche is not someone you would ordinarily find adrift in the middle of the stormy Pacific aboard a leaky sailboat – total crew of two – struggling to keep an old boat, a new relationship and her floundering sanity afloat.

But when she meets Ivan, a handsome Argentinean man with a humble sailboat and a dream to set off exploring the world, Torre has to face a hard decision: watch the man she's in love with sail away forever, or head off on the watery journey with him. Suddenly the choice seems simple. She gives up her sophisticated city life, faces her fear of water (and tendency towards seasickness) and joins her lover on a year-long voyage across the Pacific.

Set against a backdrop of the world's most beautiful and remote destinations, Love with a Chance of Drowning is a sometimes hilarious, often moving and always brave memoir that proves there are some risks worth taking.




My thoughts? Oh boy, glad you asked...

Love With a Chance of Drowning is breezy and breathtaking, heart racing and humorous. The perfect narrator to guide us on her love adventure at sea, Torre’s prose is charming, witty, and funny. The story flows from one page, one chapter, to another— descriptive in detail where needed, never weighted down. Honestly, I wish I’d been lounged out in a hammock on a tropical island, able to glance at the sea while reading, Torre’s book in one hand (and maybe an umbrella drink in the other).

Torre experienced an adventure most of us only dream about doing, myself included. The second I put it down, wanderlust set in. I want to hop on a plane right now and make my way to what I’m calling Liza’s island, maybe swim with the rays! One day, I swear, I will do it.
In the end, Torre’s memoir carries a wonderful message: don’t let fear hold you back— get out there and live.

But before you set off on your own adventure, watch Torre's book trailer...


 



be sure to connect with Torre...


WEB SITE

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

GOODREADS






and maybe win a $1000 round trip ticket to ANYWHERE!

As part of the promotion for Love with a Chance of Drowning, Torre is running a competition on her site, FearfulAdventurer.com inviting bloggers to share stories of their own fearful adventures. Stop by and find out how to enter.


Finally, get swept away on Torre's love adventure. You can buy your very own copy of Love with a Chance of Drowning here:

AMAZON

BOOK DEPOSITORY (FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE)

Comments for this post have been disabled. Get off my blog, connect with Torre, and then get out there and live your dreams! What are you waiting for? 

Have a great weekend!

Bisous!

It's Just Another Mutant Monday...

Notice anything different? Like maybe my blog design has mutated and changed? Well, there's a good reason for that. And there are going to be some big time changes around here.

I have some news. Big news. Exciting news. Fabulous news. The contract has been signed. The deal has been announced.

***drum roll please***

I sold my middle grade novel, KING OF THE MUTANTS, to Month9Books! I know! I know! It's hard to believe myself. But I have picture proof.



Right about now, some of you may be wondering: what the heck are you going to do with your memoir and this blog?

I'm still working on getting my memoir out there. So I'm also planning on creating two separate web sites — one for adult concepts, and one for YA and MG. For the most part, I'm keeping this blog as is, although there may be a couple of risqué posts I'll be deleting or tweaking to keep everything PG. Hey, I've been connecting with all of you here for more than three years!

How does a romantic memoir tie in to mutant kids?

Oddly, it does. Like Maverick, the lead character in KING OF THE MUTANTS, I never had contact with my biological father until I was thirteen. It should come as no surprise that Maverick's dad is a real freak of nature, or that Maverick is more than disappointed when he uncovers his roots. Hmmm. Write what you know, right?

Yes, I've got lots of work ahead of me, but if there's anything I've learned on this seven-year-long road to publication it's I can do it.

But right now it's time to celebrate!

Thank you all so much for being a part of this journey!

Wednesday is All Write: 7 Questions with Jamie Cat Callan, author of Ooh La La

I was lucky to receive an advanced reader copy of Jamie Cat Callan's delightful book Ooh La La: French Women's Secrets to Feeling Beautiful Everyday. Part memoir, part self-improvement guide, Jamie's charming voice sings off the page. Seriously, it's like reading a book written by your best friend-- one you go to advice for. From sex to lingerie to finding the perfect perfume, Jamie is honest and open, no subject taboo. While it's clear Jamie certainly has an affinity for all things French, and we meet so many wonderful people on Jamie's quest to capture her Ooh La La, what I really like about her book is it's all about self-empowerment, how we women all have our own Ooh La La no matter what country we come from, no matter our size, no matter our age. Even better- you don't need to take a trip to Paris to find your Ooh La La;it rests within you.
ABOUT OOH LA LA: French Women's Secrets to Feeling Beautiful Everday:French women are not born more attractive than anyone else. They simply learn at a very young age how to feel beautiful, confident, and sexy, inside and out. It's an allure that outlasts youth--in fact, some of France's most celebrated women are femmes d'un certain âge. Experience only makes them more irresistible.
Growing up, Jamie Cat Callan had a French grand-mère to instruct her on style, grooming, and genuinely liking her reflection in the mirror. Now she shares that wisdom along with advice from other French women on fragrance, image consulting, makeup, and more, and shows you how to:

Discover the power of perfume

Find mentors who will help hone your personal style

Begin at the ends--hands, feet, and hair

Choose lingerie that makes you feel magnifique

Get an internal makeover and nourish your soul

Embrace your age gracefully and gorgeously
 
Bid au revoir to Botox, fad diets, and agonizing over every imperfection, and say hello to the truly timeless beauty that comes with making the most of your own unique je-ne-sais-quoi.
With that said, I'd like to thank Jamie for taking the time to answer a few questions. Honestly, I had a lot of fun with this interview and j'adore her responses!
1) In Ooh La La you stress the importance of taking time to relax and, more importantly, to do things that make you feel good about yourself, like getting a massage or facial, finding the right perfume for your own bodily chemistry, or simply buying a piece of lingerie that makes you feel pretty or sexy. Self-confidence aside, which is important, how has everything you’ve learned from the elusive creatures we call French women affected your relationship with your husband? And, is he on the search for his own Ooh La La?
When we first married (only seven years ago—this is a second marriage for both of us), I found myself trying to do everything right and I was terribly afraid of engaging in any sort of heated argument and so I was always very “nice” and agreeable. However, when I interviewed French women, I learned that they actually keep their relationships, romances and marriages spicy by not always being completely easy to get along with. And so, our marriage actually became a lot more fun after I started going back and forth to France. Plus my new French lingerie certainly brought plenty of ooh la la to our marriage!And yes, my husband is on his own search for ooh la la!  He’s been to France with me a number of times.  He adores French cuisine and has re-discovered the joys of gardening and fishing and cooking.
2) We know your French grandmother has influenced you, but what really made you fall in love with France and the French culture? Was there a defining “ah-ha” moment?
This is such an interesting question, because I’m not sure if I had one defining “ah-ha” moment.  It’s as if this love of France and French culture was always with me, from the time I was a little girl and would visit my French grandmother. But, for years it lay dormant. I was so busy with life, married, then divorced, a single mom working very hard—teaching writing and never making much money.  The idea of returning to France (I had been there during college in the 1970’s) seemed impossible.  My grandmother passed away in the 1980’s.  Years and years went by and I didn’t really think much about France.  However, I do remember reading about a new book in the New York Times Sunday Styles section. It was Mireille Guiliano’s “French Women Don’t Get Fat,” and while I never do this—I actually called my local bookstore and pre-ordered the book. I think that might have been my ah ha moment. Not too long after this, I married again and my husband and we went to Paris for our honeymoon.  I remember spending the entire honeymoon in a highly emotional state.  Yes, there was the fact that I was in love and had just married. But, I was also 50 years old and I was back in Paris after a 30 year absence. Paris was different, of course, but also the same and I kept feeling as if I was running into the ghost of my younger self in every café and street corner, in the Tuileries, the Jardin du Luxembourg, and  the Boulevard St. Germain. One day, we walked past the Alliance Francaise, and so many memories rushed through me, that I burst out in tears!
3) Let’s talk a little bit about les femmes d’un certain âge and how most French women are content to age gracefully. Do you think the American culture disregards the beauty of older woman? Is our country too focused on being better, faster, stronger, thinner…and younger? Do you think Americans are being programmed to aim for unrealistic perfection?
Yes!  We are absolutely too focused on better, faster, stronger, thinner, and younger. Femmes d’un certain age (women of a certain age) may not look young, but they can certainly look beautiful, stylish, intriguing, sexy and appealing.  In fact, I believe older women have a distinct advantage when it comes to beauty. First of all, we’ve been around long enough to understand what looks good on us, what colors bring out our unique beauty, how to accentuate our gifts and how to diminish any flaws. Oftentimes, we have more money when we get older, so we can spend our euros (or dollars) on skincare products and spa visits, that we might not have been able to afford when we were younger.  More than this, a femme d’un certain age has the power and the allure of a woman who has lived and learned, who has experience and self-knowledge. A femme d’un certain age has a lot more confidence and this can be very appealing.  No, we do not have the look of a fresh-faced ingénue, but we have the look of an elegant woman who has obviously been around for some time.  After all, we have lived and loved and survived.  This form of beauty can only be earned from years of living.  If we embrace the beauty that comes from wisdom and experience, we will find that the world will respond in kind, offering us respect and the give us the consideration we certainly deserve.
4) From all of your research, what are your personal top beauty secrets? What do you do now that you didn’t do before? 
Zumba!  And yoga and lots of walking, but seriously, I found that dancing several times per week made me look and feel great.  And it’s very French.  I learned that French Women love dancing because it’s artful and even intellectual.  Plus, it’s fun!
In addition this, here’s my top beauty secrets:1.  Drink lots of water2.  Moisturize.  Moisturize.  Moisturize3.  Take your time with your bath and skin care.4.  Take naps. Enjoy your “Secret Garden” time5.  When it comes to makeup, less is more6.  Make love often7.  Read, go to galleries, concerts, films, get into lively intellectual discussions (the French believe that brains and beauty absolutely go together)
5) If you only had two days to spend in France, where would you go, and what would you do?
Oh dear, this is a difficult question!  Just two days!?  Okay, I believe I would go to Paris, because I’d want to see my friends, and because Paris is the center of fashion and style.  I would spend much of the day, sitting in a café and watching the world go by.  I would walk through the Tuileries, all the way from Concord to the Louvre.  I would walk along the Seine and cross the Pont des Arts, to see all the bicycle locks that the lovers have left.  Perhaps I’d even have a little picnic on the bridge.  Oh, but I’d want to walk along the Seine and up to Notre Dame.  And then I’d walk around the Left Bank and visit the places  Hemingway and Fitzgerald frequented—Café Deux Magots and Harry’s Bar on the Right Bank.  Oh, and speaking of the Right Bank, I would stop by Chanel and pay homage to the Grand Dame of modern fashion.  >From there, I would walk a few blocks to Ladurée and perhaps indulge in a macaron or two.  Later, I would go to the market in Belleville and buy some fresh flowers and do a bit of people-watching.  Finally, I would have dinner at Café de l’Homme, where I’d get a table on the terrace, so I could watch the Eiffel Tower lit up against the Paris sky and I would drink champagne! 
And for the writer crowd:
6) Now that you’ve found your Ooh La La, what can we expect from you next?
I am working on a novel called “Paris Changes Everything” about three American students who come to Paris for the first time and fall in love. Stay tuned!
7) Tell us a little bit about your publishing journey? What sorts of trials and tribulations have you faced as a writer? Any morsels of advice you want to share with aspiring authors?
This has been a long and circuitous journey for me.  I began publishing in the 1970’s (poetry, at first) and then my first young adult novel came out in 1982.  It was called “Over the Hill at Fourteen” and it was a big success. I wrote two more young adults, and then there was a big gap in my publishing career, during which I wrote screenplays—I went to UCLA film school and worked at Paramount Pictures for the actress Meg Ryan. I was also raising my daughter and teaching writing. After my daughter left for college, I began publishing again.  I created something called The Writers Toolbox, a box of writing games, and then I re-discovered my love of all things French and wrote French Women Don’t Sleep Alone.  I had no idea it would be so popular!
So, here’s my advice for aspiring writers.  There is no one way to do this.  Follow your heart. Put one foot in front of the other. Write what you love, what you tend to read. Write the book you would like to read.  Also, be willing to change and embrace new opportunities.  The world of publishing is constantly changing and shifting and there is room for everyone who wants to write and be read.  Be your own true self.  And finally, whatever you do--have fun.
Now for some fun: The random. 
1) Baguette or Bagel                           Baguette

2) Aubade or La Perla  La Perla
3) New York or Paris Paris, bien sur!  (although I love New York) 
4) Brigitte Bardot or Marilyn MonroeMarilyn Monroe (I am, after all, American)
5) Camille Lacourt or Yoann Gourguff Camille Lacourt  (I had no idea who these two men were, and then I googled them and honestly, I got a bit flustered when looking at images of Camille Lacourt! Wow!
6) Floral or Musky ScentsFloral scents 
7) The Red Slip or The Blue Boa Oh my, difficult to decide, I guess the red silk slip, because it’s a bit more discreet than the blue feather boa
Where to Buy OOH LA LA: (Releases in the US on May 28th! Reserve your copy!) Amazon
Amazon France
Book Depository (Free Shipping Worldwide)
Connect with Jamie Online Web Site
Facebook GoodReads
Twitter Jamie's Other Books Bonjour, Happiness!
and French Women Don’t Sleep Alone

Okay, ladies (and gentleman), check out Jamie's books, then get off the computer, do something nice for yourself, and unleash your Ooh La La!