When I worked as an au pair in the Loire Valley in 1979, baking and cooking chores appealed to me more than any of the others. Unfortunately, I seldom got the opportunity because my employer, Madame Dubois, felt the same way. One of the more unusual food-related tasks I performed at the Château de Montclair was making yogurt. Here is an excerpt from my book:
Linda Kovic-Skow, author of French Illusions
A Gift to Remember
January 28, 2016 by Leave a Comment
In 1979, while I worked as an au pair for a family in the Loire Valley in France, I spent a few Saturdays at the local middle school helping the teacher, Madame Bernard, teach English to her students. During the holidays, I visited the school and the children surprised me with box filled with Christmas presents. The doll in this photograph was one of those gifts. I’m so pleased that I kept it safely tucked away all these years. Here is an excerpt from my book detailing this special event:
Foreshadowing in “French Illusions”
January 13, 2016 by 12 Comments
Foreshadowing is a great way to hint to a reader that a future event will occur in your story. According to Wikipedia, “It is also sometimes used to arouse the reader.” The writer can do this with dialog or an action, and the “hint” often occurs at the end of a chapter or scene. You don’t want the reader to put the book down. You want the reader to turn the page because they “have” to find out what happens next.
Hairdresser Hazards for Authors
December 28, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The summer of 2015 was the first summer my husband, Alan, and I spent four months aboard our boat in the Pacific Northwest Waters of Washington and Canada. We made Bellingham our home port and this is where I found my new “summer hairdresser.” During my initial appointment with young Ellie (not her real name), we covered the basic “how do you dos,” and then we moved on to the subject of my books.
From Tours to Paris: The Pictures that Introduce Parts One, Two and Three
December 15, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Back on February 6, 2013, after I published my first memoir — French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley — I wrote a blog that revealed the “story” behind the photographs introducing the four parts in my book. As I said before, it was my publisher’s design team that came up with this fantastic idea and I carried it forward to my sequel, From Tours to Paris.
The French Illusions Box Set
December 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Bargain priced at Amazon for $4.99! Thank you, Laurie, for your fantastic review. My heart is full.
Cover Reveal for French Illusions: From Tours to Paris!
March 11, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Drum roll please! Here’s my new cover for Book 2 in the French Illusions Series, scheduled for release in April 2015. My head’s in the clouds!!!
Grand Chateaux Of The Loire Valley – Angers
December 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
This will be the third of three posts centering on chateaux from the Loire Valley in France. The final chateau on my list is Château d’Angers.
Grand Chateaux Of The Loire Valley – Chenonceau
November 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
This will be the second of three posts centering on chateaux from the Loire Valley in France. Next on my list is the magnificent Château de Chenonceau.
Grand Chateaux Of The Loire Valley
November 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
This will be the first of three posts centering on chateaux from the Loire Valley in France. First on my list is the magnificent Chateau de Chambord.
