In 1979, while I worked as an au pair for Dubois’ family at the Château de Montclair, I attended classes at the Université François Rabelais in the nearby town of Tours.
Linda Kovic-Skow, author of French Illusions
My French Language Challenges
July 6, 2017 by Leave a Comment
I have always loved the sound of a person speaking French. The words spill out of their mouth with an almost sing-song quality. And don’t get me started with the way the French roll their r’s when they pronounce words like erreur, (error) or rappeler (to call back). Without a doubt, I chose to learn French in 1979 for these reasons.
Farmers’ Markets in France
April 20, 2017 by 2 Comments
Most villages in France have a farmers’ market once a week during certain times of the year. These markets are often a mix of stands and stalls offering homemade items, cheeses or a full-range of produce straight from the farm. 
“Le Petit Prince” Returns
January 29, 2017 by 2 Comments
My husband and I recently moved to a smaller home in Arizona and this required lots of downsizing. As I rummaged through old boxes, sorting “keep” piles and “give away” piles, I stumbled across my copy of Le Petit Prince from my stay in France in 1980. My heart lurched as I picked up the well-used book, turned to the first page and discovered an inscription — long forgotten — from my love interest in France.
Romance on a Train in 1979
January 4, 2017 by 2 Comments
When I traveled to France in 1979 to work as an au pair, I brought my trusted Kodak pocket Instamatic camera along so I could capture some special moments. The camera was small enough to fit inside my purse or pocket, hence the name.
French Illusions Series’ Audiobooks Now Available
November 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Announcing the launch of my audiobooks, French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley and French Illusions: From Tours to Paris. It’s so exciting to hear my books come to life!
Cherished Memories
October 2, 2016 by Leave a Comment
We all have memories we cherish, and for many of us, these memories revolve around our childhood. My mother loved cooking more than anything else in the world and she would spend hours in her kitchen preparing meals for the family. My brother very much appreciated her efforts, but alas, I was a very picky child. No amount of coaxing or pleading would open my mind to her “healthy” recipes, so she often prepared separate meals for me (so I wouldn’t “starve”). One of my favorites was palačinke, better known as crepes.
