Laurel Zuckerman's Paris Weblog

New books from Paris - A Political Education by André Schiffrin

Interesting new releases by Paris authors

 

A Political Education: Coming of Age in Paris and New York  Andre Schiffrin (Author)

André Schiffrin was born the son of one of France’s most esteemed publishers, in a world peopled by some of the day’s leading writers and intellectuals, such as André Gide, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. But this world was torn apart when the Nazis marched into Paris on young André’s fifth birthday.

Beginning with the family’s dramatic escape to Casablanca—thanks to the help of the legendary Varian Fry—and eventually New York, A Political Education recounts the surprising twists and turns of a life that saw Schiffrin become, himself, one of the world’s most respected publishers. Emerging from the émigré community of wartime New York (a community that included his father’s friends Hannah Arendt and Helen and Kurt Wolff), he would go on to develop an insatiable appetite for literature and politics: heading a national student group he renamed the Students for a Democratic Society—the SDS . . . leading student groups at European conferences, once, as an unwitting front man for the CIA . . . and eventually being appointed by Random House chief Bennett Cerf to head the very imprint cofounded by his father—Pantheon.

There, he would discover and publish some of the world’s leading writers, including Noam Chomsky, Michel Foucault, Art Spiegelman, Studs Terkel, and Marguerite Duras.

But in a move that would make headlines, Schiffrin would ultimately rebel at corporate ownership and form his own publishing house—The New Press—where he would go on to set a new standard for independent publishing. A Political Education is a fascinating intellectual memoir that tells not only the story of a unique and important figure, but of the tumultuous political times that shaped him.

Ann Mah on Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love From a Year in Paris

Interview by Meg Bortin

 

Ann Mah photo credit Katia Grimmer-Laversanne

 Ann Mah is an American author, journalist and food and travel blogger who arrived in Paris a few years ago with her husband, a diplomat, expecting a leisurely idyll in the world’s most romantic city. That plan bit the dust when her husband was suddenly sent to Iraq on a dangerous year-long assignment.

Kathleen Spivack, on Robert Lowell and His Circle of poets

Kathleen Spivack has written a memoir, With Robert Lowell and His Circle, about her poetry teacher, the poet Robert Lowell, and two of her celebrated classmates and friends, Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton. Spivack comes from a celebrated intellectual family, particularly her father, the business management pioneer Peter Drucker. Kathleen Spivack is accomplished in her own right. Her poetry has won numerous awards and was short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize, and her short stories have been published in many well-known journals.

Matthew Gonder, author of Music on the Move Out West, on telling your stories

Performing artist and writer Matthew Gonder.

A year ago, Matthew was an enthusiastic first time author whose (quite charming) memoir Christmas on the Move Out West had just appeared. Though self-published, Christmas was nicely displayed in Paris bookshops like Shakespeare & Co and WH Smith and delighting readers.

Immigration Reform in France: What a Carve Up!

French immigration reform : President François Hollande has already criticized his Prime Minister for the proposals submitted on integration in France - reports which, according to Le Figaro, were the result of the collaboration of ten French government ministers and 250 other people. 

CALL FOR RADIOPLAYS in PARIS

This call for submissions for RADIOPLAYS came from Chris Mack, a Paris based theatre and film director. 

Meg Bortin, author of Desperate to be a Housewife, on journalism, sex and honesty in memoir

Meg Bortin

Meg Bortin is an adventurer. It was this quality that immediately got my attention: a fearlessness, a gusto, a scandalous honesty wrapped in warmth and wit. Her memoir, Desperate to Be a Housewife, is very much like herself - and  immensely entertaining.  A former senior editor at the International Herald Tribune and the founding editor of The Moscow Times, the first independent English-language daily newspaper in Russia, Meg has reported from Paris, Moscow, London and Manila.  

Geneva Writers' Conference Jan 31 to Feb 2, 2014 - Q&A with Susan Tiberghien

Susan Tiberghien, Geneva Writers Conference

From January 31 to February 2, 2014 the 9^th Geneva Writers’ Conference will again welcome 200 writers from around the world to a weekend of workshops, panels, readings, and networking.

My admiration for the Geneva Writers' Conference is no secret. I've been three times and encouraged other writers to attend. Last year, I even wrote a post called "Why I Love the Geneva Writers' Conference".  Just so you know, I'm not paid to advertize it, I just like this low key, friendly, craft-centered event. (In this I'm not alone. See Janet Skeslien Charles' new interview with organizers. She's also a fan!). 

This year, the faculty includes Sven Birkerts, Chris Castellani, Tananarive Due, Brenda Shaughnessy, Henry Sutton, Mimi Thebo, Susan Tiberghien, Marion Winik, and Wallis Wilde Menozzi - in addition to panels with literary agents, editors, publishers and consultants. Organized by the Geneva Writers’ Group, the conference takes place at Webster University, Bellevur. See the full program and registration forms .   If you have questions please contact [email protected]

 

The spirit behind the whole thing is Susan Tiberghien, teacher, mentor to writers, and author of numeous books including One Year to a Writing Life. Susan chairs the Geneva Writers' Group. She took some time out from her insanely busy schedule to answer a couple of questions about the Conference...

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 Q&A with Susan Tiberghien on the 2014 Geneva Writers' Conference

What kind of writers should come to the workshop? Advanced? Beginners? Published? Unpublished?

WE HAVE SET UP THE PROGRAM HOPEFULLY FOR ‘ALL’ WRITERS. THOSE WHO ARE JUST BEGINNING MIGHT HAVE A HARD TIME KEEPING UP WITH A FULL WEEKEND OF WORKSHOPS, PANELS AND Q&A’S BUT IT WOULD BE WORTH IT!  FOR EVERYONE ELSE – ADVANCED,  PUBLISHED AND UNPUBLISHED -- THE INSTRUCTORS ARE EXPERIENCED IN DEALING WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS AND THE PANELISTS WILL PROVIDE NEW INSIGHTS INTO THE EVER EVOLVING PUBLISHING SCENE.

How do you select instructors? 

MOSTLY BY WORD OF MOUTH. RECOMMENDATIONS ARRIVE FROM OUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN AT THEIR WORKSHOPS AND FROM OUR PAST INSTRUCTORS WHO OFTEN STAY IN TOUCH WITH US.  WE LOOK FOR WELL-PUBLISHED, WELL-RESPECTED AUTHORS WHO KNOW HOW TO TEACH. THE LATTER IS HUGELY IMPORTANT IN OUR CHOICE.

How long have you been doing the Geneva Writers Conference?

 

THIS IS OUR 9^TH CONFERENCE, HAVING STARTED IN 1998.  WE STARTED WITH JUST OVER 100 PARTICIPANTS, QUICKLY GREW TO 150, AND NOW FOR THE LAST THREE CONFERENCES WE HAVE CAPPED AT 200. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT NUMBER, WE ARE ABLE TO LIMIT THE CLASSES THIS WAY TO 20 WRITERS, AND IT LET’S US HAVE A FEELING OF FELLOWSHIP. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT ONE HALF OF tHE PARTICIPANTS HAVE ATTENDED EARLIER CONFERENCES. THIS TOO CONTRIBUTES TO THE FRIENDLINESS AND SOLIDARITY.  AND THE NEW WRITERS BRING LOTS OF FRESH AIR.

 

What's your favorite part?

MAYBE WELCOMING EVERYONE. I KNOW HOW WRITING HAS CHANGED MY LIFE. WITH THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, WE WANT THE WEEKEND TO BE FULL OF INSTRUCTION, INSPIRATION, AND ENCOURAGEMENT.  SO THAT HOPEFULLY ALL THE PARTICIPANTS RETURN HOME STIMULATED AND WISHING TO TAKE THEIR WRITING FORWARD INTO THE WORLD.

 

 

Literary events at Shakespeare & co, WH Smith, Ivy Writers, American Library, Mona Bismarck and more!

This month, news from Sam Riviere, Helene Cixous, Rachael Allen, Kit Buchan, Jack Underwood, Jenna Marie Warenecke, Luc Benazet, Michael Hellier, Kate Stables, Anna Jarota, Bianka Reinhartd, Rosy Lamb, Sally Eggert, Lola Peploe, Laurel Zuckerman, Steve Howard, Ellen Hampton, Scott Dominic Carpenter, Alicia McKenzie, Lantzie Miller, Damien Cifelli, Sarah Towle, Katy Masuga, Darren Frey, Heather Hartley, Adam Biles, Nathan Lecoff, Rosa Rankin-Gee. and many more. Update ongoing...

 

Paris writers author news:

The inaugural American Library in Paris  Book Award was attributed to Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America's Vietnam, by Fredrik Logevall.

Damien Cifelli won The Telegraph's travel writing competition - and £200 - for his account of going in search of his great-grandfather's 1883 home in Paris

The Geneva Writers Conference will take place January 31 to February 2, 2014. Conference Information

PWN will publish a special series of interviews about the International Fine Art Photography Award.

The 2014 Young Authors Fiction Festival has announced its submission deadline:  1 April 2014. Here is the YAFF 2014 Flyer.

We are delighted to welcome Meg Bortin, author of Desperate to be a Housewife to the Paris Writers News Team.

 

New  interviews with Paris authors and photographers

 Coming soon: Kathleen Spivack,  Salvatore Di Gregorio, Ann Mah, Clydette de Groot, Peter Erickson, Meredith Mullins, Matthew Gonder, Meg Bortin

For readers of French, check out the interview with Marc Trévidic: French terrorist expert, judge and author of Terroristes: les 7 pilliers de la déraison. (For non-French readers, PWN now has a google translate button on the upper right corner - select your language and see...)

 

 

Readings, Writer Workshops and Book Launches in Paris (plus some stuff for kids!)

(update ongoing)

EVERY  Saturday from 17-19h at Shakespeare & Co :  the Other Writer's Group, the writing workshop hosted by Bruce Sherfield and  David Barnes. It's open to all! Read here about how the Other Writer's Group works.

December 1 @ 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm PLU Writing Workshop @ Shakespeare & Company 37 Rue de la Bûcherie Paris, Ile-de-france 75005 France

December 1 @ 6:00 pm “Life is in the banlieue” : reading @ La Generale 6 Grande Rue Paris, 92310

Monday 2nd December 7:00pm Launch of The White Review No. 9 at Shakespeare & Company, with editors Benjamin Eastham and Jacques Testard and  four of Britain's best young writers : Sam Riviere; Rachael Allen;  Kit Buchan and Jack Underwood  @ Shakespeare & Company Bookstore

December 2 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm PLU  Magazine @ Shakespeare & Company 37 Rue de la Bûcherie Paris, Ile-de-france 75005 France

 

4 Dec  Story Hour 10h30 & 14h30 (ages 3-5): Dog Days  @ American Library in Paris

 

 5 Dec  Mother Goose Lap-Sit 10h30 & 17h00 (ages 1-3) @ American Library in Paris

December 5 @ 8:00 pm - 11:55 pm  PLU Open Mic featuring Jenna-Marie Warenecke @ Culture Rapide 103 rue Julien Lacroix Paris, Ile-de-france 75020 France

 6 Dec 17:00-18:30  Vision-Boarding - Writing Supercharged @ American Library in Paris

Friday 6th December 6:30pm Steve Howard on 'Kant's Critique of Pure Reason and Metaphysics’ @ Shakespeare & Company Bookstore

 Saturday 7th December 2013 2-3.30pm Noreen Riols will sign her memoir THE SECRET MINISTRY OF AG. & FISH: MY LIFE IN CHURCHILL'S SCHOOL OF SPIES. Kindly RSVP by email to books(at)whsmith.fr or on FACEBOOK.. @ WH Smith

7  Dec  10:00-19:00  Used Book Sale @ American Library in Paris

 7 Dec  12:00-13:30  Young Authors Fiction Festival: Tips & Tricks with Sarah Towle @ American Library in Paris

  7 Dec 15:00-16:30  Bon Bon Voyage (ages 5+) @ American Library in Paris

Dec 7-8:   Paris Writers Weekend led by Wendy Goldman Rohm. For information and prices see: Paris Writers Retreat Weekend

December 8 at 8pm The first of a series of literary events at Atelier Sainte Marthe. Join us from 8pm for mulled wine, mince pies and lots of literary fun. Reading new (or newly published!) work will be Katy Masuga, Darren Frey, Heather Hartley, Adam Biles, Nathan Lecoff and Rosa Rankin-Gee. @ Atelier Sainte Marthe  26 Rue du ChaleT, 75010 Paris, France

Monday 9th December 7:00pm Helene Cixous, professor, feminist writer, poet, playwright, philosopher, literary critic, and novelist, on her new novel, Twists and Turns in the Heart's Antarctic @ Shakespeare & Company Bookstore

 

December 10 @ 7:15 pm - 10:00 pm Ivy Writers featuring Luc Benazet and Michael Heller Luc Bénazet's most recent book is : La vie des noms (Nous éditions, 2013). Michael Heller has published over 20 volumes of poetry, essays, memoir and fiction; his most recent book is This Constellation Is A Name: Collected Poems 1965-2010 (2012), See/RSVP at our FB event invite/ AT: LE NEXT, 17 rue Tiquetonne,75002 PARISmétro Etienne Marcel/RER Les Halles For more, see Ivy Writers 

 

Wednesday 11 December 2013, 14:00 - 17:00 Ebook conference:E-Writing, E-Publishing: Risks and Rewards, with panelists Anna Jarota, director of the Anna Jarota Literary Agency; Bianka Reinhardt, director of international business for Books on Demand; Laurel Zuckerman, editor of Paris Writers News, and author of  EBOOKFAQ (Jan 2014); and Sally Eggert, author of In the Dark, a Random House e-novel (Jan 2014).  Panel to be moderated by Ellen Hampton - writer, historian, lecturer and author of Playground for Misunderstanding (2013).   

To sign up for this workshop at the Mona Bismarck American Center,  please email [email protected] requesting to join.  Space is limited to 30 and the price is 10€.  @ Mona Bismarck American Center for art & culture 34, avenue de New York 75116 Paris +33 (0) 1 47 23 38 88

 

Wednesday 11 December 2013, 19:30 Panel Discussion: Being a First-time Novelist, with Scott Dominic Carpenter, author of Theory of Remainders (Winter Goose Publishing);  Alecia McKenzie, author of Sweetheart (Peepal Tree); and Lantzey Miller, author of City Limit (GrandViaduct).  @ American Library in Paris

 

Wednesday 11th December 3:00pm . Bring your children (2-6 year-olds) to Children’s Hour – music, rhythm, and stories for kids. Led by the magic Kate Stables, there will be instruments to play and a lot of noise to make! Four euros donation appreciated. (Due to space restrictions, please email Kate Stables at [email protected] to confirm your place. Each child is accompanied by only one adult where possible.) @ Shakespeare & Company Bookstore

Friday 13th December 6:30pm Book signing party for artist Rosy Lamb’s exquisite first picture book, Paul Meets Bernadette, a tale of love and lunacy between two goldfish. @ Shakespeare & Company Bookstore

Friday Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Christmas party at the Abbey Bookshop, with Christophe Lebold presenting LEONARD COHEN: L'HOMME QUI VOYAIT TOMBER LES ANGES and Meg Bortin presenting DESPERATE TO BE A HOUSEWIFE. . Come enjoy the mulled wine. Contributions of Christmas cookies welcome! @ Abbey Bookshop 

Dec. 14-15,from 12:00 noon till 6 p.m. Paris Writers Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, which includes lunch and a networking soiree and reading in the evenings. Held in a private loft in the Marais, near St. Paul. For fees, registrations and more information, write to:  [email protected]

Monday 16th December 7:00pm Christmas evening of Edwardian tales of mystery and imagination, presented by The Cats Meet.  The stories will be narrated by Paris-based actor Lola Peploe, accompanied by music from violinist Daniel Pioro, leader of The London Contemporary Orchestra. @ Shakespeare & Company Bookstore

 Tuesday 17 December 2013 Signing 6-7pm  Presentation 7-8pm  Patricia Wells will present and sign her new cookery book THE FRENCH KITCHEN COOKBOOK. Kindly RSVP by email to books(at)whsmith.fr or on FACEBOOK.. @ WH Smith

Check Paris Writers News regularily for updates as we add to the list of events!

You can follow us on twitter @pariswriters or on Facebook at Paris Writers News (we are not against "likes" - or even "smiles" ). If you have news about Paris writers, we invite you to post on our  Facebook page)

 

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Too lazy to show your guests around Paris? Try this video !

We all love Paris!

But do you ever feel like you're repeating the same things over and over again? Here's an introductory video for tourists in Paris. Have your guests watch this, turn them loose, then take them to the special places that only you know afterwards!