Author Angela Henry Interviews Carolyn Moncel

Check out my blog interview with Angela Henry, author of the terrific book, Paris Secret! A fast-paced mystery, it's the perfect read for a cozy weekend at home!
http://parissecretnovel.blogspot.com

APOOO Bookclub Recommends Encounters in Paris!

In Encounters in Paris, Ellery Roulet, a 35-year-old American public relations executive, is living what appears to most people a successful and envied life. In addition to living in her dream city, Ellery is married to a handsome Frenchman, has two adorable daughters, and is one of the founders of a successful public relations firm. But, life always provides a couple of curve balls, some expected and some unexpected. In this well-crafted gem, Ellery will soon discover that life and love have both joy and sorrow. How she deals with the ups-and-downs is what life is really all about, and the joy of reading this book.

Ellery's life is revealed through connected episodes in this short-story collection. Some of my favorite episodes were the ones that deal with what-if scenarios, if you ever had a chance to re-do some past incidents in your life. In "A Brief Indiscretion," Ellery has a second chance to recapture love with an ex-boyfriend, and at the moment to make everything right, Ellery makes a decision that even she never imagined. In "Pandora's Box Revisited," Ellery and her husband will both discover what matters most to them, but one knows more than the other about what came in the mail that will change their future. I was simply engrossed in these stories, and in Ellery's world. I enjoyed that the stories were set in France and how the French culture was incorporated in the tales. The author was able to create situations which appear ordinary, but were more richly complex than what meets the eye. While the stories may use few words to describe the situations, the words are smoothly elegant and polished.

What I most enjoyed about this book, is while Ellery is African-American, she really is "Everywoman," as Ms. Moncel has written about universal experiences women encounter across cultures and time. It was refreshing to read a story that will appeal to all women, and one that features an African-American as the main character.

I recommend this book to all woman readers; this book shows how artful storytelling can be. The themes of job loss, infidelity, and death while bittersweet will speak to your heart. Grab your favorite beverage and be delighted by these profound stories. I look forward to reading future works by Carolyn Moncel.

This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Reviewed by Beverly
APOOO BookClub

Ether Books

Ether Books publishes short/flash fiction especially for smart phones, precisely the idea I had in mind while writing these stories. Check out their site: www.etherbooks.co.uk, as there are so many other stories written by awesome writers presented there too! Also, I'm listed as a contributing writer just under Sir Paul McCartney! How cool is that? Check them out.

Can’t Fall in Love with a Person? Fall for a Book!

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, American author, Carolyn Moncel together with Smashwords invites readers to fall in love with her book, ’Encounters in Paris,’ by offering free digital downloads from February 11 to February 15, 2011. 

“We’ve all fallen in and out of love, and some of us may be alone this Valentine’s Day,” says Moncel, a Chicago native, who has lived with her family between Paris and Lausanne, Switzerland for the last eight years. “It doesn’t have to be a tragedy. Instead, why not love yourself this weekend by curling up with a good book and a nice cup of hot chocolate?”

’Encounters in Paris’ centers on Ellery Martin-Roulet, a 35-year-old American public relations executive living and working in Paris has the perfect life. She is married to a handsome Frenchman, has adorable twin daughters and a successful bilingual PR firm located in one of Paris’ trendiest arrondissements. Unfortunately, Ellery soon realizes that life isn’t always perfect. When betrayal, loss, and regrets enter Ellery’s world at five different periods of time over a ten-year span, she quickly learns that it is how she chooses to deal with life’s trickiest situations that shapes her soul.

At the Smashwords site (http://bit.ly/ePNpa2), readers simply select their favorite digital format and type in the coupon code, SE56P, to generate the free download. The ebook, which normally sells for $9.99, is available in virtually every format including PDF, .mobi for Amazon’s Kindle, Epub, and LRF for Sony Readers.

According to Moncel, there is only one tiny request: All readers are encouraged to post an honest review at their favorite online bookseller site like Amazon.com, GoodReads.com and of course, Smashwords.com.

“It’s my way of saying thank you to all the wonderful fans I have met over the last few months,” added Moncel. “If you love the book, then shout it from the rooftops by posting a message! If you hate it, post a message anyway so I can write better books in the future!”

About Carolyn Moncel

A virtual media and web consultant by day and author by night, Carolyn Davenport-Moncel moved to Paris from Chicago, her hometown, in 2001. Known for her online articles on media relations, Moncel owns MotionTemps, LLC (www.motiontemps.com), a Digital Project and Web Content Management firm, and its subsidiary, Mondavé Communications (www.mondaveinc.com), a media relations and publishing company. She currently resides in Lausanne, Switzerland with her husband and two daughters. ’Encounters in Paris’ is her first work of fiction. Her next collection of short stories, 5 Reasons to Leave a Lover will debut in fall 2011. Discover her other works at www.carolynmoncel.com. Follow her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Encounters-in-Paris-A-Collection-of-Short-Stories/171683209508859; LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/motiontemps; and on Twitter: http://twitter.com/carolynmoncel.

About ’Encounters in Paris’

Published in November 2010 by Mondavé Media via CreateSpace, ’Encounters in Paris’ – A Collection of Short Stories is now available in paperback and also in digital format for Kindle at all major online bookstores including, Amazon.com (http://bit.ly/cB9bfR). The retail price for paperback is $17.99. The Kindle edition is $9.99. Single story downloads start at $2.99. The ISBN number is: 978-1-4538-9821-5. Ms. Moncel is available for appearances, book club discussions and interviews.

About Smashwords.com

Smashwords is an ebook publishing and distribution platform for ebook authors, publishers and readers. Smashwords offers multi-format, DRM-free ebooks, ready for immediate sampling and purchase, and readable on any e-reading device. Visit their site at www.smashwords.com.

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Upcoming Events for Encounters in Paris

I will be on Black Author Network Radio with Ella Curry on Feb. 9, 2011 at 8 PM EST.  Check it out here!   http://www.blogtalkradio.com/black-author-network

I had the pleasure of doing an interview on Dave and Lillian Brummet's Conscious Blog! Check out the interview today: http://www.consciousdiscussions.blogspot.com/
Go back in the future 'cause it's great reading and highly recommended!

It was a lot of fun chatting with Tyora Moody from soulful site, Written Voices Blog. Thanks for checking out the interview where we talked about Encounters but also spirtual topics.  http://writtenvoicesblog.com/2011/02/interview-carolyn-moncel/

New Review for ReaderViews.com!

Encounters in Paris - A Collection of Short Stories A new review in from ReaderViews.com: "...The end of this short book holds a question and answer session with the author which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was given the chance to understand the author, get to know Ellery better and discover the inspiration that surrounds the writing of this book. It was a unique feature... that fully fits the book..." Follow the link to read the entire review!

Reader Views - Encounters in Paris

www.readerviews.com

Carolyn Moncel on Writer`s Voices Jan. 21, 2011 at 1:30 PM Central

Time: January 21, 2011 from 1:30pm to 2pm Central
Location:  KRUU FM
Website or Map: http://www.kruufm.com/writers-voices

Please tune in on Monday, January 21 at 1:30PM Central when Carolyn Moncel, author of "Encounters in Paris, talks to Writer`s Voices hosts Caroline and Monica about her collection of short stories. Check out Carolyn's website at www.carolynmoncel.com.

Upcoming Radio Interviews with Carolyn Moncel

Upcoming Radio Interviews with Carolyn Moncel

Time: January 17, 2011 from 1pm to 1:30pm EST
Location: Works Cited with Loretta Walker on BlogTalkRadio.com
Website or Map: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/works-cited/2011/01/17/carolyn-moncel-interview
Phone: 917-932-8610
Event Type: live, radio, interview
Organized By: Carolyn Moncel

Please tune in on Monday, January 17 at 1PM EST when Carolyn Moncel, author of "Encounters in Paris, talks to Works Cited host Loretta Walker about her collection of short stories. Check out Carolyn's website at www.carolynmoncel.com.


Time: January 26, 2011 from 7pm to 7:30pm
Location: Artists First Radio Network Online
Website or Map: http://www.artistfirst.com/
Phone: 330-823-2264
Event Type: live, radio, interview

Please join Carolyn Moncel, author of "Encounters in Paris," on Wednesday, January 26 at 7 PM eastern standard time for a DELIGHTFUL show about her new book of short stories. Now, everyone knows that Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You're sure to fall in love there but Paris can also break your heart.  Tune in to find out why when I talk about the inspiration behind the book and much more. Check out my website at www.carolynmoncel.com, and don't forget to tune in at 7pm, January 26th, right here on The ArtistFirst Radio Network.

Encounters in Paris first Review!

PRAISE FOR

Encounters of Paris – A Collection of Short Stories

"Paris seems like the most romantic thing in the world, until you live there. "Encounters in Paris" is a collection of short stories from Carolyn Moncel and her protagonist Ellery Roulet, a nearing middle age woman working in Paris and finding out while there is love, there is also everything you hate about love. A fun read that blends plenty of romance, "Encounters in Paris" is quite the pick, recommended."

—The Midwest Book Review

Swiss Independence Day – American Style

My latest article on celebrating Swiss Independence Day

http://tinyurl.com/n658qp

Enfin! A Beauty Refuge for Women of Colour

Expatica.com published my article on both the French and Swiss editions today.

"Where can I find a hair salon?" is the #1 question women of color, especially, ask me about visiting, working, and living in Paris and now Geneva.

When in Paris or Geneva, check them out.

Here are more options from my pal, Priscilla Lalisse of Prissy Magazine in Paris.

Switzerland: Europe’s Best-kept Secret!

Expatica.ch, a really great English-speaking resource publication, interviewed me this week about living and working in Switzerland. It was a fun interview!

You can read it here: http://tinyurl.com/q43uho

People often ask me about the differences between working and networking in the United States and Europe. The differences are vast at times so soon I'll be blogging and tweeting regularly on these topics so stayed tuned!

 

In Praise of Pop Tarts – America’s New Ambassador …

Switzerland may be the most neutral of countries, but at times it can still be hard for foreigners to fit in completely. Take my daughters for example. They try really hard to balance being both American and French. Now that we are in Switzerland, it gets even more difficult. So on Friday, my oldest daughter came home from school and said in a huff, "Mommy, I get so tired of hearing kids say bad things about America." She didn't go into specifics so I didn't ask her right away. Once she calmed down, I asked her finally what she does when she hears negative things about home country. She said, "Well, usually, I argue with the kids but today I thought I'd do something different...I brought them a little taste of America – Pop Tarts!" Apparently, the girls on the playground loved the brown sugar cinnamon ones (our household favorites). Now, the entire class seems to be in love with them and planning to rush down to the American store to get their own boxes! It's nice to know that a package of boxed pastries has so much diplomatic power!

And now…German!

"Das ist falsche nummer. Ich bin nicht sandy."

"Danke" was my reply.

Proof that we are totally living in a global world and apparently I need to learn German now as well.

This all started yesterday, when my youngest daughter stayed home from school. It's finally getting warm here in Switzerland. While all of my daughter's symptoms seem to be those of a normal seasonal cold, no one wants to take chances these days with a growing epidemic of swine flu.

I should have called her teacher to say she wouldn't be in class, and her teachers would have certainly welcomed it. However, I know I wouldn't want someone calling me up at 6 am. So I texted one of her teachers and apparently I got the wrong number! Thankfully, I texted the other teacher as well so everything turned out fine.

"Das ist falsche nummer…" I'll have to remember how to say this. I get a lot of wrong numbers on my cell phone in both French and German. Up until this point, I've been able to reply with confidence in French and well, the other callers can at least understand me in English. One day, maybe, I can catch up to me kids with all of these languages. Then again, exactly whom am I kidding?

You're a Good Man Zidane

Okay, so I've survived two weeks of World Cup Hell! It wasn't easy but I really did manage to achieve the unthinkable - almost ignore the games. My neighborhood has never been as quiet as when the games were airing on TF1. When France scored, I've never heard the place more animated. Honestly, when was the last time you've ever heard the sound of 70,000 people cheering in unison literally OUTSIDE your window and they were NOT at a sports stadium?

But last Sunday, I did break down and watch the World Cup Final - not because I really wanted to, but because there was nothing else on television and my arm was being twisted by three children (ages 3, 9 and 37)! There they all sat in soccer jerseys chanting endlessly, "Allez Les Bleures (Go Blues)!"

I didn't really care about the outcome of the match because it was exactly as I'd predicted. However like the rest of the the world, I was very interested in the scandal surrounding French player Zinédine Zidane and what would make him snap on the field. I remember looking over at my husband on the sofa and saying, "That Italian guy just said something about Zidane's mother!" My husband ignored me, in the way only the French can, and kept watching the game. Guess I knew something that the rest of the soccer world didn't - that the only two things that will make the average person snap are derogartory comments about one's mother or racial slurs.

Over the last week so much coverage has been devoted to this story - prompting Zidane to appear on two television programs in order to tell his side of the story and apologize to young fans everywhere for his "poor sportmanship" behavior. It turned out that my assessment of the incident was correct, but I didn't think Zidane owed anyone an apology.

I respect what Zidane did because there's something to be said about men honoring the women in their lives. When they do, integrity and a sense of honor become a part of everything that they do - both in their person and private lives.

Many years ago when I was a little girl, my paternal grandmother said something that makes my point. She said if you want to measure the true character of a man, look closely at how he treats his mother and sister. If he doesn't honor them, he doesn't honor himself and he'll never honor his wife or daughters. Glad I listened because I saw that honor in my father, and I now see if in both my brothers as well as my husband. But I also see that honor in Zidane.

In a world where it sometimes appears that women are the least valued beings on the planet, and yet soccer is the most popular sport on the planet, Zidane's actions not only served as a possible example for youth here in France but all around the world. Even if the soccer world doesn't appreciate that sense of honor, I'm sure the people who matter most, the women in his life, certainly do. I appreciate it, too. You're a good man, Zizou.

Celebrating International Virtual Assistants Day!

Today is International Virtual Assistants Day! Proposed by the online advocacy group, Alliance for Virtual Businesses (A4VB), IVAD is now officially registered with Chases Calendar of Events, the recognized authority of special days, weeks and months. IVAD will appear in the 2007 edition and will be held annually on the third Friday of May. The inaugural celebration of International Virtual Assistants Day coincides with a three-day assembly sponsored by the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC) running from May 18 – 20, 2006. Virtual Assistants worldwide will display the free IVAD logo and creed on their websites.

I'm so excited to be taking part in this celebration for two reasons. It's time that this industry receives the recognition it deserves. There are are more that 5,000 of us working worldwide. But also it's my daughter Chloe's nineth birthay. Afterall if it wasn't for the fact that I wanted to spend more time with her almost five years ago, I never would have discovered this great industry. So five years later and two kids later, becoming a VA is even more meaningful. Plus, my daughters are already interested in business. They don't have to follow in my footsteps, but I'm glad they already understand that going solo as a business owner, no matter what industry, isn't all that scary.

So after I speak about Online Newsroom first thing in the morning, I'm off to spend what promises to be a beautiful spring day with my beautiful daughters!

I Can Play William Shatner!

So at 1 a.m. this morning I was talking to one of my friends and vendors, Jennifer Speaker of CompuCoach back in Chicago. I was about to get into bed after a long day at the office (Boy, it felt good to accomplish every task on my to-do list!) when I heard the Skype chat feature beeping on my phone. It was Jen and I was helping her test her Skype headset for a Virtual Assistants conference we're both speaking at this weekend.

As I was talking about how much I loved my dual Skype phone and how much money it has saved me she says, "You know you're a celebrity back home! Everyone always knows you!" "No they don't, " I laughed. "Seriously, and if you don't believe me, take a look at this email I'm about to send you."

The subject line said, "THIS is why you're famous." She revealed in the body of the mail that she found the following content on one of the pages on the Skype's website.

"So, if you have a Chicago-based SkypeIn number, but you’re living somewhere in the suburbs of Paris, your Chicago area friends - or anyone! - can just dial your SkypeIn number, and your Skype on the other side of the world starts ringing... and your friends are only paying whatever their phone company charges them for making a phone call to Chicago."

I laughed so hard when I saw that. While it could be me, there are billions of people on this planet. My reply to her via email was, "Then I sure hope Skype hires me to be their spokesperson like William Shatner was for Priceline.com!" Heck, I'll lie across a piano like a lounge singer, do jumping jacks - whatever they want. Skype, if you're reading this, I can totally be your Bill Shatner - it would be a real treat!

Discovering Niki Saint Phalle

It's nice to know grown-ups can still learn something from their children. I had a nice surprise this morning when I picked up my daughter Chloe from Saturday class. (Remember, kids in France have school some Saturday mornings, which still remains a mystery to me!)

When we went downstairs to the gym to view the student art exhibits, I discovered an artist totally unknowned to me. Her name was Niki Saint Phalle, and it was a real treat learning about her life and her work.

All these weeks when Chloe had been working in plaster and drawing strangely colorful animals and women, and I had no idea why - other than the fact that it was for art class.

Chloe took to the work really easily (she likes collages, clay, mosaics and pottery). She also appreciated hearing from her teacher that Saint Phalle not only shared her background (American mom and French dad), but also grew up in Neuilly-sur-Seine, which is in walking distance from our home. Tomorrow we're off to visit some of Saint Phalle's work near the Pompidou museum. It should be fun.

Because we like Castles

Yes, I can complain about living in France, but I do love the spring time because then I can get out of the house. Because today was a holiday - these days I lose track - my husband and I hopped in the car with the kids in search of a castle. My daughter Chloe adores everything about them and is often disappointed when there aren't any moats. But Chantilly didn't disappoint and she loved it. Leave it to Jillian to become fasinated with the ducks and fish in the pond found by the entrance. Although I have to admit, they have some of the largest fish I've ever seen. They looked like catfish and they were wrestling with the ducks for bread! We went through every room and took a few tours. It was great fun and we didn't even have to travel that far. Let's see, we've already been to Versailles as well so we'll have to check out book to see how many more we can check off before September comes!

Sleep Around the Clock

Belle and Sebastian have it right. After days of Internet connections mishaps, I am so tired. I've just written a total of 30 press releases today! Ten were for client Susie Hollands and her upcoming IVY paris Art Collective. The other 20 were for the speakers who will be presenting at this year's Online International Virtual Assistants Convention. When Sharon Williams from OIVAC called today, I jokingly said, "please no mas!" But I'll just sleep around the clock and all wil be okay again.