When I worked as an au pair in the Loire Valley in 1979, I sampled many fabulous wines, from Sauvignons to Cabernets. Once, as I strolled through the farmers market in the Loire Valley, I sampled unfermented new wine. Here is an excerpt from my memoir, French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley, chronicling that event.
Linda Kovic-Skow, author of French Illusions
Luscious Libations from the Loire Valley
Filed Under: French Illusions, French Illusions Box Set, The Loire Valley Tagged With: Au Pair, Chambord, Chateau, eBook, Facebook FanPage, France, French, French books, French cooking, French Illusions, Indie, Indie Author, Linda Kovic-Skow, Loire, Loire Travel, Memoir, non-fiction, self-publish, travelogue
Award Contests – Yea or Nay
I’ve entered my memoir, French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley, in two contests.
In the spring of 2014, I paid $89 and submitted my book to the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards Contest.Later that year, they notified me that I won the Bronze Medal in the “Non-Fiction Travel Category.” There was no monetary prize for this award.
Filed Under: French Illusions, French Illusions Box Set, The Loire Valley Tagged With: Au Pair, Chateau, eBook, Facebook FanPage, France, French, French books, French Illusions, Indie, Indie Author, Linda Kovic-Skow, Loire, Loire Travel, Memoir, Nanny, non-fiction, self-publish, travelogue, Writing
What! You Want to Become an Au Pair?
“What! You Want to Become an Au Pair?” These outbursts from family and friends were common in 1979. The introduction in my memoir, French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley, reveals the reasons behind this decision, but here’s a recap.
Filed Under: French Illusions Box Set Tagged With: Au Pair, Chateau, eBook, France, French, French books, French Illusions, French romance, Indie, Indie Author, Linda Kovic-Skow, Loire, Loire Travel, Memoir, Nanny, non-fiction
Fabien the Dog
Several readers have asked about the dog who lived at the Château de Montclair during my stint as an au pair in 1979. Fabien was an endearing, scruffy, shepherd mix who lived outdoors, except in the winter months. The children, especially Antoine, loved the dog, but most everyone else either ignored him or shoved him aside. Some days, he was a “hazard” and this excerpt from my memoir, French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley depicts this sentiment perfectly. In this scene, Marie (a domestic helper at the chateau) and I are tending to the laundry.
Filed Under: French Illusions Box Set Tagged With: Au Pair, Chateau, eBook, Facebook FanPage, France, French, French books, French Illusions, Indie, Indie Author, Le Petit Prince, Linda Kovic-Skow, Loire, Memoir, Nanny, non-fiction, Paris, Romance, self-publish, travelogue, Writing
A Love Affair with French Bridges
In my opinion, France has some of the most remarkable bridges in the world. Here are four of my favorites, three of which are located in “The City of Light.”
Filed Under: French Illusions Tagged With: eBook, France, French, French Illusions, Indie, Indie Author, Linda Kovic-Skow, Memoir, non-fiction, Paris, Romance, self-publish, Sequel, travelogue
Remembering the Lively Town of Tours
In 1979, when I was twenty-one, I traveled abroad and worked as an au pair for a wealthy family in the Loire Valley. The small town of Songais where I lived was charming, but I was also drawn to the nearby larger town of Tours. Shortly after my arrival, Madame and I drove to Tours and she helped me sign up for classes at the Université François Rablelais. I had lots of questions about the city, so on the way back to the car, she paused at a tourist office and obtained a brochure detailing some of the highlights of Tours. Here is an excerpt from my memoir, French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley.
Filed Under: French Illusions, French Illusions Box Set, The Loire Valley Tagged With: eBook, France, French, French Illusions, Indie, Indie Author, Linda Kovic-Skow, Loire, Loire Travel, Nanny, non-fiction, travelogue, Writing
Four Things I’ve Learned as an Indie Author
It’s been a little over three years since I published my first book in The French Illusions Series and I thought I’d recap four things I’ve learned during that time.
Filed Under: French Illusions Tagged With: eBook, France, French Illusions, Indie, Indie Author, Linda Kovic-Skow, non-fiction, Paris, self-publish, Writing
