Bonjour from France!
The big news this week has been the announcement of the winners in our spring 2014 writing competition. We were amazed to receive 104 entries from all around the world and the standard was incredibly high. Authors Susie Kelly, Kimberley Petyt, Deborah Lawrenson, Patricia Sands, Julia Stagg and author/publisher Stephanie Zia had the most enormous task on their hands to pick the winners. You can read the full list of winners, finalists and highly commended writers here and we’re proud to publish the top 5 winning posts:
Scattered Dreams by Karin Crilly – Love, romance, precious memories and friendship – “brave and sad” said one of the judges. It’s a beautifully written story of Karin’s lost love as her new life in France is about to begin…
Trompe l’Oeil by Eric Freeze – the vivid, sumptuous descriptions in this piece make the south of France come alive as Eric writes of the great Matisse and his awakening to the beauty of Nice just as Eric himself has fallen under the spell of the city…
Nico by Jay Lee – as one judge said “I loved the intimacy and quietude of this story. It didn’t glorify Paris, but sort of basked in the everyday beauty of the City. I felt as if I was listening to a close friend speaking about the daily adventures (and tribulations) with Nico. A very lovely story…”
Coming Home by Kirsten Mackintosh – a wonderful story of coming to France, very powerful and brimming with emotion…
Blown Away by Shelley Harrington – a great story of a typically French experience that anyone who has ever been to France will recognise, funny and with beautiful descriptions of the Dordogne…
We’ll be publishing the finalist’s entries soon.
We also published lots of fabulous features as usual:
Top 5 Features
Truffle hunting in Provence – This is a chance to see the real Provence in all its beauty and celebrate your finds with Champagne and truffle tasting with the lovely couple who run the tours on their gorgeous farm and vineyards near Aix-en-Provence…
Giant Mechanical elephant Nantes – Like a strange dream that’s come to life… Lucy Pitts visits what surely must be one of the most amazing theme parks in the world…
5 Essential Tips for relocating to France – it might surprise you that we recommend you learn to dance to Le Madison – it has been the most popular dance in France for years and just about everyone knows the moves!
May Day in France – Labour Day holiday but also a time to tell friends and loved ones how much you cherish them – with Lily of the Valley flowers as Margo Lestz reveals…
Anzac Day service in Villers-Bretonneux – this little town in northern France is where each year an Anzac Day memorial service is held, Donna Kerridge attends the early morning ceremony.
Don’t Miss
Amiens – Sue Sharp visits Amiens in Picardy and discovers a pretty town with plenty to see and do…
Gare du Nord, Paris – the Paris station is having a face lift! “Plan Botox” is well underway as the Paris Nord reaches its 150th birthday. The station is like a micro city and is the busiest in Europe, an amazing place for people watching…
We have heaps of great features coming up next week – something new every day to pique your interest…
Bon Weekend everyone!
Best wishes,
Janine
(Editor)
