Fine soiree for Farewell My French Love

My travelling companion, Jane joins me at the book launch.,

It was one of those sweet moments which make life such a delicious adventure.

Ten years after the success of my memoir From France With Love, the director of Alliance Francaise in Adelaide, Mr Laurent Pointud, launched my second memoir, Farewell My French Love before Adelaide’s glitterati, friends and family at the Lyceum Club in Adelaide.

French champagne flowed and guests nibbled French-inspired fare to set a distinctly Francophilic ambiance of fun and gaiety.  Yet it was slightly incongruous that they were gathered to celebrate the publication of my story,  my bittersweet memoir of learning to enjoy life again after the untimely death of my French-born husband, Olivier.  When my woman friend, Jane, became concerned at my despair she suggested a return trip to France and she would accompany me.  From Barcelona to Paris, to the Loire Valley, our journey was peppered with battles of just about everything – food, fashion, politics, shopping and French culture. My good friend and colleague Adelaide arts critic and blogger has written a review which I have posted in “My Journal” which captures the humour of our happenings in France – to balance my grief.

Friends Jenny Theodorus and Frank Sebastyan arrive at the event.

My magic moment at the podium.

Somewhere in the Loire valley, my sadness lifted and when I spent another three weeks alone in Paris and Brittany I began to recover my joie de vivre and redefine myself as a widow. Alone in Paris, I began to understand that suffering loss is the legacy of women and men who love.

Harlequin Non-Fiction publishers have created a beautiful cover which captures how I stayed in a historic apartment building in Paris, from where magical happenings proved that life remains a wonderful gift once you negotiate that rite of passage through grief.

My dear friends, Bryan and Marie Jonsson-Harrison.

Gorgeous group of friends, Marige Turner, Samela Harris, Sandy Clark and Heather Caddick.

Meanwhile, check into My Journal to see a delightful teaser video of the funny side of my bitter/sweet memoir Farewell My French Love – how my travels through France with my Sydney friend Jane revealed profound differences over glorious French food. So proud of my grandson Samuel who filmed our “discussion” over a glass of wine in Chez Olivier.  My daughter Serena needs to be thanked too, because she orchestrated its production.   A longer video is in the Williams production house in between Samuel’s schoolwork. Enjoy  feel free to share this link. Samuel will be chuffed.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhIUNYZe4f0

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