Yes, Virginia, there really is a book two in the Lora Weaver series, and it’s slatted to come out near the end of the summer.
A big thank you to all the readers who’ve asked about it. Just like The First Faux Pas, Lora’s second book will be a light romp because, after all, it is a blanc mystery. And this time out, Lora goes undercover and gets herself into a heap of trouble working alongside Laurent on a case involving identity theft.
There will be more info posted here about the book as it gets closer to release time and updates will be added to the Books page.
Although I didn’t write the book on my vintage typewriter pictured above, it is one of my writerly inspirations so I thought I’d share it with you. Technically, I could use it to write the Lora Weaver books because it does work, but that would seriously add time between release dates. So far, I haven’t used it to write anything longer than a recipe but I still love it:)
I saw a movie on Netflix the other night called “It Happened to Jane” starring Doris Day and Jack Lemmon. It’s a pretty good story with solid characters, and when I got to the end I wondered why I’d never heard of the film before and why it wasn’t more popular. I’m thinking it’s because of the title.
To really work, I think titles need to be catchy and convey the feel of whatever they’re naming. And this one did neither. So I looked into it and found out that another title had been tried for the film as well—“Twinkle and Shine.” Also not great.
If I had been naming the movie, I’d have called it “Courting Jane” but nobody asked me:)
When I’m writing a book, I always have a title in mind. In fact, for the Lora Weaver series, I’ve already named the first several books. For me, titles really matter. While it may be true that a rose would be just as sweet if it went by a different name, it’s hard to know if it would have reached its status as the flower of love if it had been called something else. Thankfully, we’ll never know because that’s one case where the title is a perfect match. The rose in the pic above is one from my garden in a previous house. And it sure did smell sweet.
“It Happened to Jane” may not have as perfect a title, but it’s also sweet. Plus, Jack Lemmon is adorable in it. If you’re in the mood for something fun, it’s worth a look.
It’s time for THE spring sale of the season at Marché Bonsecours in Montreal. Dozens of Québec fashion designers are offering their wares for 50-80% off—everything from clothes to accessories to jewellery to swimwear—in one convenient location from April 19th to the 22nd.
This would be a must-attend event for Camille Caron and Lora Weaver from The First Faux Pas because in addition to designers I’ve mentioned like Mélissa Nepton and Barilà, Jennifer Glasgow is also taking part. While Lora would appreciate Glasgow’s commitment to using locally sourced natural and organic textiles in her fashions, Camille would love the designer’s diverse background that includes creating hats for Cirque du Soleil.
Glasgow not only designs her own fashions, but she supports other designers and local artisans too. She’s involved with Local 23, a vintage clothing store, and General 54 that sells her own creations as well as those of 30+ other designers. Both stores are in the Mile End area in Montreal where she also employs local artisans to help create her own fashions.
For those of us a bit farther away, here’s a peek at her collections available through her online boutique. And for those lucky enough to be able to attend the big discount sale, admission is free, and it takes place at the Bonsecours Market in Old Montreal and includes anywhere from 60-100 designers. For more info, here’s the main site. Happy shopping:)
Pic above is from Glasgow’s dress collection on sale here.
Here’s a little secret about me. Back in my early college days, I had a thing for croissants.
They served fresh ones right in my school café. And they were awesome. Of course, at the time I thought that just about anything served with a few pats of butter was fab. But these truly were good. And I ate them every day during my break between classes. Usually with tea, and in the company of girl friends while we traded stories about the manboys in our lives at the time.
So when I came across this video at Youtube of a woman from France taste testing croissants from four Montreal bakeries in search of the best, I had to take a peek. No idea if the results really reflect Montreal’s best, but it’s cute and fun to watch. These croissants look much bigger than the ones from my college days, though. Or maybe not. Maybe I just told myself they were small back then so I didn’t have to feel bad for packing away two at a time:)
I live in a cute house that overlooks a river. The house was designed by the previous owner with loads of cute built-ins and cottage-style charm. But when hubby and I bought it, we had to do some renos to the main floors to make the home allergy-friendly for me before we moved in.
This meant replacing all the carpet with tile floors, removing all the wallpaper and some wood-panelled walls and repainting, converting an unfinished attic storage space, and switching out the kitchen counters for granite. Since the bathroom was in fine condition, it went untouched. I still dream about upgrading it, though.
And when I do, I want this bathtub and this shower stall I came across at the website for Red in the UK. And I want the same white and blue tones too. Because if I’m going to make a dream bathroom, I want it to be soothing. Or maybe the colours just remind me of home because they’re so close to the colours on the Québec flag. Either way, the whole look works for me. And it would work in Lora Weaver’s house too. So until I’m up for another round of renos, I may just have to give it to her. In fact, she probably needs it more than I do. With her life, she could definitely use a soothing room to take a bath in at the end of the day:)
His Girl Friday is known as a first-rate film for many reasons—the writing is crisp, the direction superb, and the performances spot on. And who doesn’t love a movie that delivers romantic comedy while simultaneously making commentary on journalistic sensibilities and political maneuvers?
But it’s the banter between Cary Grant playing Walter and Rosalind Russell as Hildy that really sets this movie apart for me. So when my hubby asked me who I’d cast in the roles in a version made today, it was a tough choice. Not because there aren’t actors who could handle the parts, but because so often nowadays it’s so hard for an audience to separate the celebrity from the actor.
If I could pick actors solely on their ability to inhabit the characters, I think I’d pick Angelina Jolie and Ryan Gosling. But they’d have to have good chemistry and be able to talk really fast because that kind of dialogue demands nothing less.
The thing is, though, I don’t think I would remake this movie. The story still holds up today and doesn’t need updating. But I did come across this Youtube video that edits bits from the movie and sets them to Daniel Powter singing Bad Day. Not sure I’d agree that Hildy and Walter are having a bad day, but love seeing their banter set to song. The best banter always has a rhythm of its own, but this makes Hildy and Walter’s feel timeless, too:)
Montreal Fashion Week wrapped up a few weeks ago, and I was perusing the photo gallery—in the name of research of course—when I came across an outfit that would be perfect for my Lora character. Naturally, I then needed to know more about the designer because, as anyone who cares about fashion knows, where there’s one fab outfit there’s bound to be more.
Which brings me to Mélissa Nepton. She appeared in the Québec version of Project Runway called La Collection. Her clothes are hip, urban, and look really comfortable. And now I want some.
This dress in particular:
Right now, World MasterCard Fashion Week is taking place in Toronto (12 -16 March) so some lucky folks there will get a chance to see more of her collection in person. The rest of us can take a gander here. Several stores seem to carry her clothes, too. Stores I now plan to visit. I figure I could find inspiration pieces for both Lora Weaver and Camille Caron. But they’re not getting the dress. I’ve got dibs on that little number:)
Over at Goodreads, members have the option of including a fave quote in their bios. Love this idea. What a great way for readers to celebrate our love of the written word and share a bit about our personalities at the same time.
But finding the right quote is tough. There are so many good ones. And ones we connect with for different reasons—some inspire us, some speak to us, some make us laugh.
The Lewis Carroll quote in the pic above is one I have framed, and it sits in my writing room. It speaks to me on several levels, but what I like most about it is that it reminds me that perception is everything in life and we are free to choose our attitudes. It also encourages me to see boundless opportunities, defy limitations, and remember that faith has real power.
But that’s just what I see in the quote. Another reader may have a different interpretation. That’s part of the fun of sharing. And part of the brilliance behind Goodreads—it doesn’t just honour books and what they have to say, but readers and what they have to say. Goodreads understands about the boundless possibilities of perception. They’ve built a whole community around it. How fab is that?
Over the holidays, a Montreal design studio called Dynamo decided to use their typographic skills to create unique gifts: a selection of chocolate bars inscribed with positive mantras for the new year. And they didn’t just use any kind of chocolate for their sweet sayings, they teamed with the amazing chocolatiers at Suite 88 featured here.
Seems the Dynamo chocolate bar gifts were such a success, they’ve decided to keep making ‘em and now they’re selling ‘em to the masses. They come in dark and light chocolate versions and, of course, in French and English.
When I first saw them, I thought they could have been made with Lora and Camille from The First Faux Pas in mind. The “Tout Commence Maintenant” one is so Camille since she’s a big believer in living in the now. And “Best Day Ever” captures Lora’s positive outlook perfectly.
But I’m thinking since it’s Valentine’s Day, I bet the “Oui ? Oui” one and “Heck Yes” will be huge sellers:)
Gotta love folks who find a way to use their natural talents to put a little happy out into the world.
He’s hired to open her eyes but she ends up opening his heart. That’s the gist of Heartbreaker, a romantic comedy starring Vanessa Paradis and Romain Duris. It’s fun, but like any good story, it also has depth.
Romain Duris, alongside his sister and her hubby, run a business set on helping women see when they’re about to marry a Mr. Wrong. Vanessa Paradis is the one about to marry a Mr. Wrong. Or is she?
This movie has plenty of humour and is paced well, but it’s the charm of Vanessa Paradis that really made it work for me. Her character is a strong woman who still has a few things to learn about herself, and that’s tough to play. But Paradis makes it look effortless. And the fact that Duris falls for her is no surprise. At least to us. For him, that’s another story.
For his part, Duris had a difficult task too in making a character that could be perceived as less than likeable come across as endearing. But he succeeds. And then some.
In the clip above, Paradis and Duris talk about the movie and their characters. I’m not sure if Heartbreaker got much play here in North America, but for anyone who likes romantic comedy it would be a shame to miss. It’s fast becoming one of my go-to, feel-good flicks. With fab leads, an unusual premise, and gorgeous scenery, what’s not to love?
