Monday, November 9, 2009

A Challenge for November


Here is a picture of my bedside table in Paris recently.


I brought the top two books with me, and bought the Julia Child Cookbook at the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore in Paris. Yes, I paid WAY more than I just saw it for at Costco, but surely it will have special cooking powers because I bought it in France... right???

The special powers I need it to have, is the ability for it to get up and cook a meal all by itself~ yes, I had dreams and thoughts of all the meals I would cook from this book when I got home... and... well... Scott is still waiting! My personal goal is to roast a PERFECT chicken, like we have when in Paris.

We did go by the E. Dehillerin cookware store, and I bought 4 tiny tart pans, and a deal for getting the juice out of lemons...I'm such a devoted cook, I don't even know what it's called (my mother and my daughter are wonderful cooks but I missed that gene somehow).




A few days later, do you notice a slight change in my beside table when I returned from London?


This magazine was FABULOUS. Even though I didn't know 90% of the people they were talking about, I felt like I was a part of royalty as I read about their weddings and parties.

I'm focusing on books and reading today, because my blog friend Simply Colette and I, have taken a challenge at nanowrimo.org, to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November!!!!

I'm telling you all this, to keep me going. I love a challenge, but I usually start strong, and lose steam. I have written 12,600 words, and to be on track, I need to get to 15,000 by tonight. I've never written a piece of fiction in my life, and it's REALLY hard to do. The sub-genre I've chosen is historical fiction.

My main character???? MARIE ANTOINETTE. That's all I'm saying...stay tuned.

I was going to write and write when I was in Paris this year, but for some reason, I didn't write a thing! Here I am in a restaurant, all poised to write.... suffice it to say, I didn't get very far.

I'm hoping the pressure of writing a novel in 30 days, will at least get me going.

So I'm off to enter Marie's world. I will squeeze in a very special post later this week...just waiting for a few photos.


Teri

P.S. As you watch this video, notice when this store was established. Doesn't that give you chills??? It was opened only 27 years after Marie Antoinette met her fate. Oh- the sense of history in Paris is just awesome! The lighting is weird in this video, but I hope you get a sense of the fabulousness of all the copper pots!

13 comments:

The Flying Bee said...

I am so proud of you! I can't wait to hear more as you go along. All those books look like great reads...may have to pick a couple of those up for myself!

xo,
Adrienne

Cathi said...

Awesome reads you have on your bedstand - even Hello Magazine...I usually read that one at the book store...:) Good luck on your writing - I am very impressed and proud of both you and Nicolette for taking the writing challenge! Have a great writing day!

Jen said...

Cool, you're doing a great job! I heard about Nanowrimo on another blog on November 3rd, but I decided not to participate this year. I have it marked on the calendar for next year though! I like to plan ahead :)

TeriGigi/Girl Meets Paris said...

I am the QUEEN of planning, so this is really stretching me. I didn't even have an outline when I started writing on Nov 1 ... I still don't. I have NO idea where the story is going. I just hope it goes somewhere!!!

~Teri

A Tale of Two Cities said...

Teri,
I am totally in awe that you are writing a novel, about Marie Antoinette, nonetheless. One of my favorite characters (my guest room is a shrine to her!)
Love Hello--it's very cool isn't it? But I love my French books better.
Dehellerin is fascinating. I bought a lot of copper pots and pans in Villedieu des Poeles in France, and they look lovely hanging from my pot rack Strictly decorative, you understand!!

Keep up the writing....
Debi

A Tale of Two Cities said...

Teri,
I love your new format with the big pictures. Was that hard to do???

Debi

TeriGigi/Girl Meets Paris said...

Debi... please remember, "writing" a novel and "finishing" a novel are two different things...LOL.
I want to see your Marie A. room. I love her too, SOOOOOOOOOOOO much! I've read tons of books on her since my first trip to Paris. Hey... there's another thing we have in common!

Teri

P.S. I don't have a Marie A room, but I have a Lucy bathroom! (as in I Love Lucy), hey, there's a blogpost for me... pics of that crazy bathroom.

Kelly said...

Teri, I am so impressed. To even THINK about starting a novel! Wow! About Marie Antoinette, too? Who ARE you and what have you done with my ditzy friend of two decades ago? HAHA just kidding. ;-) So I need to find out how you upload your videos. I have a Flip but only managed to post a link to my first blog video!

Jenny said...

OH wow Teri! How exciting. Will you in any way post excerpts from your novel. I find it very exciting and love reading historical fiction. Happy writing!

Faded Plains said...

Wow...that's amazing...a novel in a month...I'm so proud of you. Earlier this year I read The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette and really enjoyed it...can't wait to hear all about your adventure in writing a novel...good luck!

Simply Colette said...

What a tremendous post! I really needed that encouragement right now. I haven't made much progress this week because I've had to deal with a very difficult challenge and I'm so angered that it affected this challenge, but I'm trying to forge on. What an awesome cooking store! I have the book too. Maybe we should each make a recipe for a celebratory dinner when this month is over. I have yet to try one. :)

LuLu said...

Oh I'm so excited for you and your writing! That is fantastic!! keep us posted on your journey i can't wait to read the finished book,
xo,
LuLu

thank you for your sweet comment.. you always bring a smile to my day,

TeriGigi/Girl Meets Paris said...

Colette,
Keep going if you can. I am sorry you are having a difficult situation in your life, but maybe writing can take your mind off of it. For me, Marie Antoinette (my main character) is constantly flowing though my thoughts 24/7. It's a little distracting!

I'm right on track, but I am big time busy this weekend, so we'll see how the writing goes.

Good Luck Friend!
Teri

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