Arrival view from the metro, Paris
Paris is a writer’s delight, and a cherished destination for artists of all kinds.
This week in Paris, I’m trying to complete a challenging chapter of my memoir. The chapter’s main events occurred when I was living in Sydney and struggling with some complicated activities in Paris.
Now I’m sitting in Paris, writing about Sydney and reflecting on the cycles of life.
Clive, meanwhile, is tackling yet another DIY project in Felixstowe. Thanks to Skype we keep each other company on our breaks.
Many writers have made Paris their home, or their part-time home away from home. Two of my favourite Americans in this group are Benjamin Franklin, the American founding father, and Lisa Taylor Huff, a gifted writer and blogger whose untimely death last July touched readers around the world.
Inspired by Ben and Lisa
Among Benjamin Franklin’s notable quotes is, ‘Write something worth reading or do something worth writing.’
I’m hoping one day my book will be worth reading – at least by my nearest and dearest, who are too kind to refuse.
Lisa Taylor Huff, whom I wrote about in Tribute to a Woman I Never Met, succeeded brilliantly at both writing and living. One week from today would have been the 11th anniversary of her first ‘Bold Soul’ blog post.
In that poignant entry, Lisa wrote, ‘I am a writer. And what I want is to write and to live in Paris.’ She made her dream come true and remains a shining role model to writers and readers, including me.
Next week I’ll raise a toast to Lisa on her ‘blogiversary’ date.
Until then, back to Sydney. Thank you, Lisa and Ben, for your inspiration.
Statue of Ben Franklin with new pathway below, Trocadéro, Paris
Cheers and thanks for reading. Next week’s letter will be from Paris.
Filed under: Paris |
My Sydney Paris Life 
I always like Hemingway’s Paris memoir, A Movable Feast. I hope your muse is with you as you soak up a place that you enjoy so much.
Thank you, Eleanor — I too liked ‘Moveable Feast’ though much moreso in college than now.
(Notwithstanding his ability to write, I’m just not a Hemingway fan — have much less interest in his/his era’s group of expats and their lifestyle in Paris than the rest of the world seems to – ugh. Though I do like Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’ :))
On a more positive note thanks again for your good writing wishes! Much appreciated.
I read that in the days following the November Paris terror attacks that sales of A Moveable Feast increased significantly in Paris. The attraction does not appear to be about Hemingway and his ex-pat pals who boozed their way through 1920s Paris, but the celebration of the City of Light for those who are there and love their home, but also for those from afar who dream of being there.
Yes I think that’s true. Best article I read about this is by Antonin Baudry of the Paris Review http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2015/12/02/letter-from-our-paris-editor/
I’ll read it. I read my info in the Atlantic Monthly–think Nov 15 issue. I was interested because the article quotes a PS professor who is general editor of the Hemingway Letters series. Her advisor was also my advisor for my master’s thesis and he was the first Hemingway scholar. Made his reputation on Hemingway really. Although he died sometime ago, I often think about his what he said in class. Now I walk past the Hemingway Letters editorial offices when I leave my building. Thanks for the link.