People sometimes wonder about me. Mostly, they wonder about how I got to Paris, France from Shenandoah, Iowa, and why I stayed. Actually, when I was in college in the not all that far away state of Michigan, people wondered, even asked me “how I got out of Iowa”. I would stare at them to […]
You can take the girl out of Shenandoah–but you can’t take Shenandoah out of the girl Read More »
When I first traveled to France as a student, I had no idea that I would end up here permanently. My French husband likes to tease me about coming to France to find a husband but I can assure you, dear readers, that it was the farthest thing from my mind. No, I just wanted
50 years in France – and still going! Read More »
The following piece appeared in Global Geneva and I am happy to share the link. I wrote this for the Leading Edge section of this excellent ground-breaking publication. In it, I discourse on the huge difference between writing nonfiction and fiction and how I took the plunge. Click here to read. https://www.global-geneva.com/writing-a-novel-a-novel-experience-the-story-that-would-not-leave-me-alone/ When you read
How I made the switch from nonfiction to fiction Read More »
Delighted to link to a wonderful interview I held recently with writer Janet Hulstrand in Bonjour Paris, one of the foremost websites on all things French. Janet’s pertinent questions paved the way for me to give my readers an insight to the “behind the scenes” of my latest novel, Final Transgression. To read the interview
Bonjour Paris interviews Harriet! Read More »
In my latest book, Final Transgression, my beautiful, high-spirited heroine Séverine Sevanot embarks on a perilous visit to her hometown in the southwest of France – in spite of warnings not to go there. It is 1944 and the Resistance is busy blowing up train tracks and derailing trains to stop the Nazis. It is
Paris places Séverine visits: Story number one Read More »
Every year it is so moving to see the ceremonies surrounding D-Day–the commemorations and the celebrations, the veterans (fewer and few each year), the pictures and movies of that memorable day. Sadly, due to the coronavirus and travel restrictions, D-Day 2020 barely existed. But in spite of the lack of ceremonies, no one can forget
A Locked Down D-Day Read More »
One of the first things that French President Emmanuel Macron said about the coronavirus – and one of the only ones that a vast majority of people remember is that “we are at war” with it. “At war” may have seemed a bit much when he gave his speech in the early days of the
At war – now and then Read More »
Will the coronavirus kill French cafés? I certainly hope not! As you’ll see in the photo, the café (this picture was taken at the Café des Foudres, Place Martin Nadaud, Paris 20) is my office – and I’m not alone. The day the charming waitress (can one still say that? or is it “wait person
Will the coronavirus kill the French café? Read More »
One of the funniest things about the coronavirus, if anything about the coronavirus can be funny, is the way different cultures apply social distancing. In the States, the “social distance” is a nice 2 meters. In France, it is half that (although more and more signs indicate that the safe distancing is more likely to
Social distancing à la française Read More »
Today, December 26, is the 22nd day of the Paris transportation strikes. Am I resigned? No, I’m furious! I hope the government won’t give in to the unions. And I hope that someday in this country the government and the unions will sit down to discuss reforms intelligently, with good will on both sides and
They Strike? I Walk! And Gripe! Read More »