May Newsletter Update

Bonjour mes Amies,

Here’s the promised catch up from spring time in Paris!

I love to discover new places, meet new ‘sources’ - who knows they may pop in a book?

Thanks to Janet, our April in Paris trip group alumnae, for introducing me to the Azedine Alaîa Foundation in le Marais. In the designers words “I wish to create a foundation in my home, where I live in the Marais, to house my collections of fashion, art and design history in addition to my own archives.” He designed the dress on the right for Tina Turner. If you’re into creatives and fashion it’s a must go.

After several months of searching, finally connected with a French geneologist and took her to lunch at Le Pavillion des Canaux an old toll house on the canal - and where a scene in Murder at la Villette takes place. Her job entails delving into archives, going online and if needed goes to a village to search the church records in her job.

Dominique, a spry 80 year old, invited me to her apartment in Boulogne-Billancourt after Iasmina, the bookseller at Bill and Rosa's Bookroom and I discussed Huguette. Domique has two, yes two, antique harpsichords which she plays, made Speculous cookies, and told me about her relative who in WW2 had a similar experience to Huguette, in my story.

So I finally saw the film The Rays and the Shadows which tells the story through the eyes of the actress Corinne Luchaire during the Occupation. She inspired my character Corinne Lelouche in Huguette. What did I think? Three + hours long, a good film and yet a fictional take which I found sympathetic to the actress. Perhaps too sympathetic, and I’d have appreciated more nuance and exploration of the character’s motivations, yet it’s opened up huge discussions in France on the collaboration in wartime. A brave film. See it when comes stateside and let me know what you think!

Over a glass of wine near the Louvre, I spoke to a top Art Flic, who works for OCBC - the Central Office for the fight against Trafficking in Cultural goods investigating art and antiquites thefts in conflict countries.

Does he have stories! And so generous and helpful with his time and comments on my story line in the next Aimée Leduc. Spoiler alert - there is ART, missing, lost or looted? in the next Aimée!

Our April in Paris group visited places in Huguette’s story in Boulogne-Billancourt and thanks to my friend, Francoise, the Paris Greeters joined us and we were featured in the Boulogne-Billancourt gazette!

Here’s us over apéros with les flics, baking class at La Cuisine, some of our adventures and good-bye dinner at our favorite bistro, Le Coin.

If you’re interested in our next trip, please contact Meg, my pal and organizer extraordinaire, at whalenmj55@gmail.com.

Upcoming event July 17th is the Book Passage Mystery Conference my fave weekend of the year - I’m co-chair with Tim Maleeny and this year’s conference might be the best yet.

Thank you for reading mes amies, feel free to share this and bon lecture, happy reading!