In a chance encounter, I met Jean Louis. From the instant we met, the dashing young Frenchman soothed my bruised heart, rejuvenated my spirit, and convinced me that leaving my old life was no mistake. Together, we set out to explore southern France.
Jean Louis was torn from my life almost as quickly as he had entered it, yet leaving the haunting memory of his caress permeating my every thought. Driven by love and passion, I journeyed to find my lover, even if it meant scouring all the hidden corners of France.
Would I ever reunite with the man I believe to be my one true soulmate? Would I ever hear him say he feels the same for me as I do him? What twist of Fate will it take for me to find him?
This book started with a journal entry I had made many years ago about Spotted Pony, someone Nora meets before going to Europe. Or at least, that is how I couch it in the story. Spotted Pony was someone I met, just as Nora describes in the story. And like Nora, I was unsure and decided to test my ability to attract.
Many of the stories actually happened to me. Luke, with the unicycle, is based on a real person. The flight taking three days-all true. The two hookers, the Marcellas, next door to Melody, yup. Living directly below the Heidelberg castle-absolutely true. The building is still there. However, Google maps show an underground traffic tunnel, and the old wooden gate is obscured.
The dildo thief … LOL, an absolutely true story. You can’t make that kind of thing up! I won’t tell it here, it’s too funny. You should read it. I laugh reading it aloud every time. It takes me back there, remembering it all.
The conductor on the train to Rome that suggested I ‘give’ him my bracelet. I did not agree. As I wrote in the book, “When any woman travels alone, she must develop a fierce, hard edge; a withering stare, and above all, a take-no-prisoners attitude.”
Meeting the handsome Italian, Antonio Ricci, at a bus stop while looking at a map, true. And he took me on a tour of the city the next day. Even the romantic replay of Roman Holiday with Antonio. All true.
There are many other adventures. I had a great time while in Europe. I want to go back again. There is instant translation software for cell phones, so learning every language is not required. This time I will most assuredly brush up my French and even some German. You know, the essential things: Where is the lavatory/restroom/toilet?
Coins for then toilet? Water/coffee/tea, please. Beef, pork, fish, chicken. Soap, toilet paper, towels, washcloths, shoes, band-aids, wine, beer, bar, tavern, And a little pleasantry like, Your country is beautiful. I find it lovely and so friendly. How kind of you. You’re a treasure! Your services have made my trip so pleasant. Thank you!
They said he was “very mean.” He threw people off the bus all the time. Some tried to speak what they could in English, to tell me this bus driver was evil. He would call the police!
I smiled and said with American confidence, “Pas d’aujourd’hui.” Not today.
The bus driver came back and again threatened to call the cops.
I said, “Ahh, M. chauffeur de bus, le flic, il viendra ici, il me dit, ‘Avez-vous un billet?’”
Ahh. Mr. Bus Driver, the cop, he’ll come here, he’ll say to me, ‘Do you have a ticket?’ I pretended to talk to an imaginary cop standing beside the bus driver.
“Et moi, moi je dis… And me, me I say…” I used my theater training to perfection. I put a finger in my cheek to make a pretend dimple and spoke in a honeyed, childlike voice in French.
“Oh, Monsieur Flic, bien sûr, j'ai un billet, avec la date et l’heure d’aujourd’hui, les mêmes que toutes les autres ici.” Oh. Mr. Cop of course, I have a ticket, with today’s date and hour, the same as all the others here. I leaned forward, acting as if I were whispering to the pretend cop. “Il est un peu malade, tsk, tsk.” He is a little sick, tsk, tsk. I twirled my index finger in a small circle, signaling the French gesture of “mental.”
All the bus riders burst out laughing at my sugar-coated, sweet face and voice to the imaginary cop. The red-faced bus driver threw his hands up and went to his seat. His arms across his chest, he stuck out his bottom lip in a Gallic pout and refused to move the bus for nearly ten minutes before finally giving up and moving off.
As each of the riders got off the exit by me, they patted my arm, smiled, and said things like, “Oh, you Americans, you are so amusing. Very good, very good!”
There were still about ten passengers when they got to my stop. I waved at the bus driver and shouted, “À demain!” Until tomorrow. He threw up his hand in a friendly salute before he remembered who I was, then flung his hand forward and scowled.
I laughed and shouted at him, “J’aime la France!” I love France!
In his big mirror at the front, I saw his eyebrows raise, and he lifted his head at me in agreement and gave a tiny smile.
Victory is sweet!
My secret pleasure-writing has always been focused on romance. French Kiss is a Contemporary Romance based on a fictionalized version of experiences during eighteen months of living and working abroad before the formation of the European Union.
Next year, my first Historical Regency Romance That Wylde Woman will be published. It has allowed me to indulge my curiosity and enthusiasm for history by incorporating in the storyline a historical geologic event which affected weather and farming and even how England’s war with Napoleon impacted clothing styles.
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very good book.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to write about adventure!
DeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThanks, this was another real-life event. I was rather proud of myself to be able to communicate well enough in French to defend myself with a bus driver.
DeleteThis sound like an emotional story. I really love the cover!
ReplyDeleteYes, Sue, Nora finds herself in an emotional quandary in French Kiss.
ReplyDeleteI have to give kudos to the cover designer Stephanie Anderson for her excellent interpretation of my manuscript. Inside both the eBook and the paperback there are some added features for a perfect interior.
Thanks for hosting. It looks really good!
ReplyDeleteSandra,
DeleteYour right! It is good! I enjoyed writing about fun things, poignant events and some heart thumping consequences.
This sounds like a fun book!
ReplyDeleteThanks Glenda,
DeleteI had a blast writing it, remembering about all the various events and people I met.
I loved the excerpt. I love France too!Love the humour.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judy!
ReplyDeleteThis bus driver event was a turning point for me. I knew afterward I was going to be fine dealing with situations while speaking French, even without the reliance of Jean Louis. Trained in theater, it was only natural to use my "universal language" with a bit of sparkle showing him and all the passengers that I was not giving in to his silly demands. Sometimes having a stubborn streak works to your advantage.
sounds like a fun one
ReplyDeleteThe description really hooked me big time. Then I see many of the episodes are from true happening, and wow, this is a must!
ReplyDeleteThe description really hooked me big time. Then I see many of the episodes are from true happening, and wow, this is a must!
ReplyDeleteThe description really hooked me big time. Then I see many of the episodes are from true happening, and wow, this is a must!
ReplyDeleteThe description really hooked me big time. Then I see many of the episodes are from true happening, and wow, this is a must!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a fantastic read. I love the cover.
ReplyDeleteThe description sounds really interesting, can't wait to read this one!
ReplyDeletelooks like a fun one
ReplyDelete