Four months ago, France Magazine featured The Loire Valley in their May, 2019 issue. Thanks to a dear friend, I obtained a copy of this edition and spent an afternoon pouring over the articles and photos.
A few days later, on a whim, I wrote a letter to the editor, and to my surprise and delight, my letter was published in the September issue of the magazine. Here is a reprint of the letter (also found in the photo below).
Dear Editor,
During a recent visit, a friend and loyal subscriber to France Magazine, shared your Loire Valley edition and I enjoyed it very much. In 1979, I worked as an au pair for a wealthy family living in this region, and in 2000, I traveled back to central France with my family. These two excursions were as different as night and day, but equally memorable.
In 1979, I was an impulsive, twenty-one-year-old with a mission in mind — to learn French and become a flight attendant with an international airline. My circumstances didn’t allow much sight-seeing, so many years later, I returned with my husband and two daughters, and we toured the Loire Valley at a more leisurely pace.
As we drove through the picturesque region, we marveled at the spectacular views — rising hills in the serene landscapes, dotted with the occasional slate-roofed stone house. Many of these vistas could have been the backdrop for a Renoir painting, especially when the view included a glimpse of the Loire River. With guide books in hand, we visited Renaissance châteaux from the sixteenth century; Chambord, Chenonceau, and d’azay-le-Rideau. Because I studied French in 1980 at the Institut d’Études Françaises in Tours, we spent time sight-seeing in this vibrant city.
As you can see, I have an affinity for France, especially the Loire Valley. It was lovely to “visit” this amazing region again in your publication.
If you would like to learn more about my experiences in France, you can purchase Kindle or paperback copies of my memoir series, French Illusions, My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley and French Illusions, From Tours to Paris. The audiobook is also available at Audible.com.
Glad you were able to go back and enjoy that area of France with your family
Thank you so much for commenting on my post. Yes, it was a wonderful trip. We spent almost a month in Europe and traveled mostly France and Greece.
Hi Linda, it is great that your letter was chosen but how I would love publications such as this to support authors just a tiny bit. It would have been extra nice if they had published a link or reference to your books, particularly as I am sure it would have interested their readers. PS Please correct me if I am wrong on this!
Ha Catherine, Yes, I also wished they would have referenced my books when they posted my letter. France Magazine does offer advertising, but it’s out of my price range. By the way, your book, But You Are in France Madame, looks interesting. I’ve put it on my “to read” list!
Loved 💗 reading your first book and just so happened I found the book at the local State Park pool here in Upstate NY at the book swap area just before our Spain/France trip! Though we didn’t go to where you were it was cool to read about your experiences in France!! We went to Nice, Monaco and Eze and it was amazing, beautiful and so ready to go back to visit other cities! The laid-back culture and architecture is awesome!! I’m about ready to read your 2nd book and glad to keep up with 🇫🇷 in your Newsletters!! Thanks for following me back 😏🙏
Cyndi, thank you for your comments. I’m so pleased you enjoyed French Illusions, My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley. It’s just grand the way you acquired my book. What a small world! It sounds like your trip abroad was wonderful. I’ve never been to the places you visited, so maybe we’ll swap cities next time we visit France. I’ll warn you, my second memoir, From Tours to Paris, has more romance than my first book. I learned some hard lessons during my first trip to France and they stayed with me the rest of my life.
Your website, DreamTrips, is fabulous. I can’t wait to delve in and explore it more thoroughly. Best of luck in the future.
This is lovely, Linda. I think you strike a chord with many people who love France. I actually thought I’d commented on this earlier, but it seems my comment didn’t register. That sometimes happens with my iPad, but I hope this one gets through!
Thank you Val. It was a nice surprise to have my letter published. You know how I love the Loire Valley!