Galleries Lafayette Department Store

Everything in Paris is a mixture of style, luxury, perfume, great food and cigarette smokers.

There is of course history in each building and the department store, Galleries Lafayette (more photos) is no exception.

Galleries Lafayette, View of all the floors and the famous dome

Purchased in 1896, the beautiful glass and steel dome was designed by architect,  Georges Chedanne and his pupil Ferdinand Chanut  and finished in 1912.

Only in Paris will you find a museum that covers the history of perfume. I discovered the “Musée du Parfum” also known as the Fragonard Musée du Parfum.  This museum was created in 1983 by the Fragonard perfume company within a Napoleon III town-house (built 1860.) I was not allowed to take photos inside the museum, however, here is a photo of the orgue à parfum (perfume organ) with tiers of ingredient bottles arranged around a balance used to mix fragrances.

Perfume Organ Photo credit

The museum sells perfumes and is located close to the Place de L’Opéra.

As you can see, we’re wearing winter coats in May 2013.

Place de l’Opéra

Another view of Place de l’Opéra

And finally the beautiful upscale store “Printemps.” I have never seen so many Chinese tourists buying Luis Vuitton, Chanel and other  luxury goods. At the Chanel store, a rope blocked the entrance, and the women were only allowed to go in two at a time. The look of anticipation on their faces reminded me of kids waiting for their favorite ride at Disneyland. I heard it’s the same at Harrods in London.

Luxury good at Printemps.

Do you like shopping at luxury stores? I don’t feel comfortable in this type of environment.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

We are now collecting  “MY GUTSY STORY®” Submissions

For Anthology #2

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

How do you choose a book cover that appeals to your readers?

After much thought, a poll, and discussions with 1106 design company, here’s why I decided the above “My Gutsy Story®” Anthology is the right cover for the first and subsequent series.

The #1 reason to have a great book cover is to grab people’s attention.

A book cover has to cause an immediate reaction within a potential reader; either interest, intrigue or familiarity with the author, and in order to do this, certain “rules” apply.

I’m not a book cover designer which is why I believe in learning as much as I can about this topic, before leaving the task in the hands of those who do it for a living. From what I’ve read on Joel Friedlander’s informative blog: The Book Designer, authors need to think about the following aspects when determining the best covers for their books.

• Initial Emotional Response
• Genre
• Title-Font
• Sub-Title
• Color-Scheme
• Layout
• Brand(ing)
• Series

Name recognition is important to authors with a large fan base. They are a “brand” and often have a series of books with a similar design or font. Readers subconsciously tune into the author’s brand. I’m sure you’ve noticed how a particular font, color scheme or logo is associated with a specific author or series. Take for example, Nicholas Sparks. All of his books have the same concept with his name in the exact same bold font, with the title underneath. This is enclosed within a box.

Notice the box with name and title on all his books.

Another example of a series is the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series. The font used for the title is the same on all their books. You instantly recognize their brand.

Same Title Font on each book. (Brand)

So I decided to take a poll to the public, listen to the pros and cons, and then make a sound decision. I polled other authors on our Facebook Group: Gutsy Indie Publishers, which any indie author is welcome to join. I also polled readers on my Facebook Page: Gutsy Living, as well as other groups I belong to.

I showed two cover concepts based on my first book: Freeways to Flip-Flops: A Family’s Year of Gutsy Living on a Tropical Island, which I owe to 1106 Design, and which won the TheBookDesigner.com’s April e-Book Cover Design Award for Nonfiction.
I received in total around 80 comments on the covers

Concept # 1

Concept # 2

Here are some of the responses which I listened to and thought made sense. I went with my gut and with what the majority thought was the best. Of course not everyone agrees, but I’m happy that my friend Maggie Dodson from the UK, made the suggestions of reversing the yellow and white colors in the title, to make the “My Gutsy Story®” stand out, and anthology in white, and smaller.

What do you like to see in a book cover?

Carol Bodensteiner WINNER

Congratulations to Carol Bodensteiner, winner of the May 2013, “My Gutsy Story®.” She wrote an inspiring story about giving up her career and following her passion. I love her phrase:

“It’s more important to be satisfied than to be successful.”

In 2nd Place, we have the wonderful “My Gutsy Story®” of Jason Matthews. Another motivating story by Jason who took a major risk, leaving his lucrative career as a paint contractor, and followed his passion to write.

Jason Matthews

In 3rd place we have the amazing story of Julia Prosser, written by her husband David Prosser. Julia passed away a few days before we posted his story, and she was true inspiration to many.

David Prosser

In 4th place we have the wonderful “Gutsy” Win Charles. Her message is to not focus on her disability, but on what we have in common.

Win’s energy and passion shines through everything she does. She is truly a “go-getter” and an inspiration to everyone.

In 5th place, we have an extremely “gutsy” Linda Kovic-Skow

Linda shares a great story about how she took a major risk as a young woman, and how it paid off.

Thank you so much to all five of you. You are all winners and have some wonderful stories and books to share with us.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

WE ARE NOW COLLECTING

“My Gutsy Story®” SUBMISSIONS

FOR ANTHOLOGY #2

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

Sonia and the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen

I was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and whenever I return to this beautiful city, I’m drawn towards The Little Mermaid. She brings back warm, childhood memories spent in Denmark with my best friend, Lilian.

Sonia with her childhood Danish friend, Lilian

Those who see The Little Mermaid for the first time are always surprised by how small she is; only 4.1 feet.

She is to Copenhagen what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, and has been a major tourist attraction since 1913. Since the mid-1960s, this poor statue has been subjected to vandalism for various political reasons, but has each time been restored. Her head was sawn off and stolen in 1964, and was never found. It was replaced, and in 1998, the poor Little Mermaid was decapitated once again. This time her head was returned anonymously to a local TV station. In 2003, explosives knocked her off her base and she was later found in the harbor’s waters.

She was then draped in a burqa in 2004, as a statement against Turkey joining the European Union.

She’s endured several traumatic events, including green paint poured all over her, a dildo placed in her hand, and the words March 8 written on her. It’s believed this vandalism was connected to International Women’s Day, which is on March 8th.

Here are some photos from my one day touring Copenhagen.

Queen Margrethe’s Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen

Close to The Little Mermaid is the Queen’s winter residence, Amalienborg Palace with her guards marching in front. I’ve often wondered what those guards must be thinking of while standing still for hours. Here is a YouTube video of the changing of the Royal Guard.

View from Illums Department store at the pedestrian street in Copenhagen.

There are several wonderful pedestrian streets in Copenhagen. Illum is a favorite department store with an open air restaurant on the rooftop.

Most Danes love their bikes. Here is how young people transport their kids. I cannot imagine father’s taking their kids to the grocery store in one of these where I live in California.

How Danes bike with their small children

I shall be in Paris on May 16th to announce the winner of the May “My Gutsy Story®,” and since we are taking a break from the “My Gutsy Story®” series in May, I hope all of you will submit your own “My Gutsy Story®.”

Scroll Down on Sidebar (right underneath the Freeways to Flip-Flops Book Cover) to Vote. Only ONE vote each.

 Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

On my recent Air New Zealand flight from Los Angeles to London Heathrow, passengers stopped to take photos of the plane before boarding.

At first I thought someone famous was boarding my flight, then I noticed the unusual artwork, on the plane which explained why passengers went wild with their cameras.

Even the restrooms on the Boeing 777 had wallpaper (I’m talking coach) made to look like you were sitting in a library. Books shelves with photos of book spines surrounded you.

The flight lasted 10 and a half hours and I managed to sleep for four.

My friend Maggie, met me at Heathrow for lunch. I met Maggie at Chris Guillebeau’s first conference in Portland, and we have remained friends since then.

Maggie and Sonia at Heathrow

My flight landed at Terminal 1, and in order to transfer to Terminal 5,  we caught the underground.

After a few hours I caught a British Airways flight to Copenhagen. Imagine a hot dog stand while you wait for your luggage. They have this at Copenhagen airport.

I shall be in Paris on May 16th to announce the winner of the May “My Gutsy Story®,” and since we are taking a break from the “My Gutsy Story®” series in May, I hope all of you will submit your own “My Gutsy Story®.”

Scroll Down on Sidebar (right underneath the Freeways to Flip-Flops Book Cover) to Vote. Only ONE vote each.

 Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

Thanks to Stephanie Yoder’s post, “Is the American Dream Holding You Back?” I discovered an article which explains everything I’ve been meaning to put into words, but haven’t.

Stephanie is a young woman who travels all over the world and blogs about her travels and one question she gets asked all the time is, “Why American’s don’t travel?” Stephanie says she has a whole host of theories, but it’s easiest for her to point out that,

“Well, most of us (Americans) don’t really have time (to vacation.)”

According to a CNN article entitled: Why is America the “No-Vacation” nation? 

“America is the only advanced nation in the world that doesn’t mandate employers give their workers vacation time.”

John de Graaf, the national coordinator for Take Back Your Time, a group that researches the effects of overwork said,

“There is simply no evidence that working people to death gives you a competitive advantage.”

As with many companies in the U.S,

“The running joke at Brock’s company is that a vacation just means you work from somewhere else.”

A study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, shows that:

• Working more, makes Americans happier than Europeans.

But isn’t that because Americans have been taught from a young age to believe in the American Dream? Are we working to accumulate more stuff?  As Stephanie Yoder says,

“It’s a trick: an endless void of things we can throw money at: there’s always a new phone, a nicer car, a bigger house to be aspiring to. The problem with the American Dream is it’s always slightly out of reach.”

• Do Americans believe more than Europeans that hard work is associated with success?

Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn, the study’s author and an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, states:

“Americans maximize their… [happiness] by working, and Europeans maximize their [happiness] through leisure,” he found.”

Having spent half my life in Europe and then marrying an American and raising kids in the U.S. I find this topic fascinating.

I agree that Europeans take more vacations and travel more than the majority of Americans. I also agree with Stephanie’s post, there seems to be the “herd mentality” in the U.S.

“This idea that you need to do what everyone else is doing. This extreme pressure to go to school, get a job, work really, really hard for 45 years, and then maybe when you’re retired you can do the stuff you really want to do. It’s a powerful cycle and it’s extremely hard to opt out of it. I think, more so then the lack of vacation time, that is why Americans don’t travel: so few realize that the only American Dream you should be pursuing is your own personal one.”

The above quote fits in with so many of our My Gutsy Story® authors, and their stories like Lois Joy Hofmann, Carol Bodensteiner, and Larry Jacobson.

I also believe that the U.S. media plays the “fear factor” game with our minds, making us  scared to travel, scared to try new foods, scared to let our kids play outside, scared they will get cancer if eat the wrong foods. I thought the U.S. was full of innovators and explorers, etc. What happened?

During MAY, I shall be in Copenhagen, Paris, London on vacation, while working of course (I’ve got the American work-work-work ethic going. )

Any thoughts? Please comment below.

Meanwhile, please submit your “My Gutsy Story®” which will continue in June.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

Please read and share our April 2013 stories by David Prosser, Win Charles, Carol Bodensteiner, Linda Kovic-Skow and Jason Matthews.

Voting starts on May 2nd-May 15th for your favorite April 

“My Gutsy Story®” .

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

The voting starts right now for your favorite April “My Gutsy Story®.”

I shall be in Paris on May 16th to announce the winner and since we are taking a break from the “My Gutsy Story®” series in May, I hope all of you will submit your own “My Gutsy Story®.”

Scroll Down on Sidebar (right underneath the Freeways to Flip-Flops Book Cover) to Vote. Only ONE vote each.

Our first moving story of the month was from David Prosser.

Julia Prosser, an inspiration to all.

Julia, passed away on March 30th, and David shared his wife’s positive outlook on life while fighting her battle with cancer.

Our second “My Gutsy Story®” is the amazing Win Charles, and she too is an inspiration with her message: “Don’t focus on my disability, focus on what we have in common.”

Our third “My Gutsy Story®” is by the inspiring Carol Bodensteiner who gave up her corporate job in order to find out what matters. She has a wonderful saying: “It’s more important to be satisfied than to be successful.”

Our fourth “My Gutsy Story®” was from Linda Kovic-Skow, a gutsy woman, who lied about her ability to speak French in order to get a job as an au pair in a Lyons, France.

Our fifth “My Gutsy Story®” is about taking a major risk in your life. Jason Matthews quit his lucrative painting contractor job and followed his passion to become a full-time indie author. He has a truly inspiring story of perseverance and determination to succeed.

 Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

What would you like to see or hear about from my trip to Europe?

Painting With Words

Sometimes one needs to walk away from stability to follow a dream. Usually it’s not easy.

I was a house painting contractor in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada. Painting houses was something I stumbled into after college while looking for work and helping my “ski buddies” with their jobs. Afterwards the phone kept ringing with more work, so much that I eventually got a contractor’s license. For twenty years painting was my main source of income, and while it wasn’t glamorous it did have a lot of perks. I set my own hours, hired friends to help and worked in beautiful Tahoe settings often on multi-million dollar properties. My body stayed fit with the physicality, and my mind enjoyed the low stress focus of simple painting tasks. The money was surprisingly lucrative, as most of the clients were wealthy second home owners from the San Francisco area who happily paid top dollar for quality work. The clientele was steady; not once did I advertise. I even took days off to ski when the snow was good or when I just didn’t feel like working. In many ways, it was an ideal career.

Jason Matthews big snow, Truckee, CA

But it wasn’t my dream. As a kid my imagination had always been active; I believed telling the stories inside my head was my destiny. I thought if I could just figure how to get those ideas out there—everything would fall into place. Over the years as I worked at the top of ladders, my mind wandered to characters and scenes that were aching to be expressed. Time passed with me enjoying the Tahoe lifestyle and my mind asking nagging questions. What if I never pursued my dream? What if nobody ever sees these stories like I see them? What can I do about it?

In 2005 I decided to take a winter off from painting and work at my computer in an effort to write a novel. It immediately felt like a lofty goal since I didn’t consider myself a writer. In fact, I wasn’t even an active reader, not having read many books beyond the required lists for school and college.

Winter turned to spring and spring to summer. My novel made progress but the story was complex, revealing itself like an onion shedding layers. The phone often rang with painting jobs. Some of the smaller ones I took for extra money, but more and more I began turning them down and living on savings.

One year of writing become two, then three and four. I drove myself crazy editing and re-editing, feeling like I had read and perfected the same book one hundred times while I queried agents and publishers, all who passed on my story. I also exhausted the money in savings, but I believed in my dream enough to take a second mortgage out on my house and live on credit. Not easy to do with a wife who wasn’t earning much and two teenage daughters to support. Soon the mortgages, monthly bills and living expenses drove me deeply in debt.

In 2009 I had a finished novel, one that made me proud. Self-publishing had made recent strides, and in desperation to avoid more rejection letters I published on Kindle and everywhere possible. A few sales came in followed by glowing reviews. I was convinced my dream would pan out and began writing what I believed was a great sequel novel.

I spent the next year working on the sequel and marketing my novel with bad ideas that drove me further in debt. My painting clients had mostly dried up, but a few jobs trickled in to provide needed cash. A decision had to be made. My options were clear: return to painting for a few years or put all my energy into writing and marketing books. Despite the needs of a family and a large debt already in place, I chose the latter.

I did everything I could find to promote my books, especially things that were online and free. It was difficult since there were so many things to learn, and I hadn’t been active on the internet. Little did I know how important blogging and social media would become. That first year felt like a non-stop effort of catching-up with online wisdom.

In 2010 I decided to spend one last small fortune on a writing conference. It was in San Francisco, held shortly after publishing my second novel. At the conference I had conversations with other writers about what we were doing for our books. Predominantly, the other writers were stuck sending query letters and getting rejected. When people asked me, I’d say, “I’m selling on Amazon and other retailers plus my own websites. I’m blogging and active with social media. I’m submitting articles, press releases, doing radio shows and interviews.” Then I mentioned everything was free and the authors would start taking notes, saying that my information was more valuable than the classes at the conference. The proverbial light-bulb went off over my head. I knew the next book would be a how-to guide for self-publishing using free online methods.

I went home invigorated. The how-to book seemed to write itself, transforming from concept to paid sales in just one month. To date, that book has sold well over ten thousand copies and ingrained me in self-publishing circles as an indie author expert.

Jason Matthews Barnes & Noble 2006 author signing

Where am I now? Still trying to sell my novels and write more. And they better sell because I can’t go back to old ways. I sold our Tahoe house to escape debt. We’ve moved to a new area. My painting clientele is gone. My friends who can paint with me are gone. It would take years to begin anew as a contractor down here, like starting over.

This tale hasn’t ended, but the bridges I’ve crossed have been burned. My dream of a writing career is going to work, or I will die trying.

 ***

Jason Matthews Bio: Jason Matthews lives in Pismo Beach, California with his wife and daughters. He’s worked as a snow-maker, a house painting contractor and a full-time writer. He loves skiing, dogs and playing/coaching soccer. His novels include: The Little Universe,

Jim’s Life. 

His guides include: How to Make, Market And Sell Ebooks All for Free,

How to Make Your Own Free Website And Your Free Blog Too, Get On Google Front Page.

Jason’s Website: http://www.thelittleuniverse.com

You can follow Jason on Twitter: @Jason_Matthews

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Jason.M.Matthews

 Sonia Marsh Says: Jason you took a major risk and followed your passion to write. I admire your courage, especially as you have a family to take care of, and decided to “walk away” from your lucrative paint contractor business. Your hard work and perseverance is paying off, and you give so many hope that they too can find their “niche,” as long as they are determined.

“I did everything I could find to promote my books, especially things that were online and free. It was difficult since there were so many things to learn, and I hadn’t been active on the internet.”

During MAY, I shall be in Copenhagen, Paris, Orleans, and a brief stop in London. My father turns 88, and Kathy Pooler, and other memoir writers have made me realize that I want to ask him questions about my life as a child in Nigeria, as well as his life in a camp outside Paris, as a 15-year-old boy during WWII.

Meanwhile, please submit your “My Gutsy Story®” which will continue in June.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

Please read and share our April 2013 stories by David Prosser, Win Charles, Carol Bodensteiner, and Linda Kovic-Skow.

Voting starts on May 2nd-May 15th for your favorite April 

“My Gutsy Story®” .

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

The “My Gutsy Story®” trademark became officially registered with the United States Trademark office on Tuesday, March 19, 2013.

I wish to thank all the wonderful authors who have submitted their “My Gutsy Story®” since I started this contest in October 2011, and the 65 authors who signed contracts and wish to be included in the anthology.

Our very first author to submit was Rhonda Hayes. I shall never forget her heartbreaking  story with its unexpected twist, and amazing ending. It received 50 comments and from then on, these inspiring stories have continued to help all of us realize we all belong to one global community.

I am working with two wonderful ladies, Michele DeFilippo and Ronda Rawlins from 1106 Design-yes the same company that did my Freeways to Flip-Flops, book cover and interior formatting-to design the cover of the:

My Gutsy Story® Anthology: True Stories of Love, Courage and Adventure From Around the World.

The book will be launched in September 2013, and I shall keep all of you updated as we move along.

Sonia’s News: (GOLD MEDAL AWARD-see below)

• During the month of May, I shall be in Copenhagen, Paris and a brief stop in London. Posts and photos will be from Europe. Please let me know what would interest you.
• Now is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” New stories will start in June. (See information below)
• My memoir Freeways to Flip-Flops: A Family’s Year of Gutsy Living on a Tropical Island, received 1st Place, and a Gold Medal in the “Autobiography/Memoir” category of the 2012 E-lit Awards. It also received a Silver Medal, in the “Travel Essay” category of the E-lit Awards.

“The fourth annual eLit Awards are a global awards program committed to illuminating and honoring the very best of English language digital publishing entertainment.”

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

Please read and share our April 2013 stories by David Prosser, Win Charles,  Carol Bodensteiner and Linda Kovic-Skow

Voting starts on May 2nd-May 15th.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley

( Prologue)

 One week after placing my ad for a French teacher in the local newspaper, I met Rob at a local café.

“Linda, your plan may backfire,” he warned, furrowing his brow.

My eyes searched his face. “I guess I’ll take that chance.”

“All right then, I’ll help you.”

Most lies are told with the expectation that no one will uncover them. In the summer of 1979, I told a monumental lie, fully aware that mine would be discovered.

I was twenty-one and working as a medical assistant for a busy family practice clinic in Seattle. Every morning at seven o’clock, I dragged myself to the office and performed the same mundane tasks—answering phones, scheduling appointments, and escorting patients to examining rooms.

My roommate’s burgeoning career presented a dazzling contrast to my dull job. Carline, an aspiring model, returned home from auditions bubbling over with enthusiasm as her glamorous vocation took off. Dressed in stylish clothes, she dashed in and out of our apartment from one appointment to another.

Cindy, my other close friend, seemed poised for stardom. She took to the stage, blowing audiences away with her strong voice and artistic abilities, her years of hard work finally paying off.

Months passed and I grew increasingly disenchanted with my career.

“That’s it. I’ve had enough,” I mumbled, frowning at my reflection in the mirror. “I’m finding a new job.”

Intrigued with the notion of overseas travel, I researched my options and decided to pursue a flight attendant position with an international airline. I imagined myself on sojourns in cities around the globe, meeting fascinating people and living life to its fullest.

My resume landed me an interview with World Airways, Inc.  and three weeks later I flew to California for the event. The panel of two women and two men voiced their approval as I answered a battery of questions, but their smiles vanished when they discovered I didn’t speak a second language.

“I’m sorry, Miss Kovic, but World Airways requires all flight attendants to be bilingual.” The interviewer’s words struck like daggers in my heart. “However, if you learn another language, we might consider you for a position in the future.”

“Which one would you recommend?” I held his gaze to emphasize my sincerity.

“Spanish, French, or German.”

“Thank you.” I replied, rolling back my shoulders as I left the room, already contemplating my next move.

French appealed to me more than the other languages because I loved the way it sounded, and total immersion seemed the best way to become fluent in the shortest amount of time. Once I learned the language, I would return home and reapply for a flight attendant position with World Airways. But where would I get the money? I only had a few hundred dollars in my bank account.

A coworker came up with a remarkably simple solution. “Maybe you can become an au pair for a family in France?”

Linda Kovic as a young woman

Unsure what this would entail, I wrote to several agencies and received applications along with informational brochures detailing the job expectations. My primary responsibility would be childcare, twenty-five to thirty hours a week, along with some light housework and cooking. In return, I would have my own bedroom, a small allowance, and one day off per week. One brochure boasted “the au pair becomes almost like a member of the family as he or she is immersed in a new cultural experience. Often both parties remember the experience fondly for the rest of their lives.”

Reading on, I discovered a colossal problem. All the agencies required prospective au pairs to have familiarity with the language, conversational French at the very least.

How will I get around this, I thought. Maybe I could fill out the applications as though I spoke French. I would hire a private tutor and learn some common phrases before I left. Once I arrived in France, I would somehow persuade my host family to allow me to stay.

Aware that the hoax would upset my parents, I kept this element of my plan a secret, confiding in only a few of my closest friends. Both Carline and Cindy questioned my judgment on more than one occasion, but I dismissed their concerns. I had set my mind to go.

With Rob’s help, I completed four applications. A month later, one of the agencies replied detailing a possible match. The response read like this:

We have found you a host family living in a real-life castle in a small town called Songais within the Loire region of France. Monsieur and Madame Dubois have two children, with another one expected very soon. They are excited to welcome their first American au pair and they are especially impressed with how well you write and speak French. How soon can you make the trip to France? Can you stay for a full year?

The Dubois family sounded perfect, but a shudder ran through my body as I formed my next thought. I hope they’ll forgive me when they learn that I lied.

Pulse jumping with anticipation, I wrote back, agreeing to all their terms, with an expected arrival date in August. I purchased my ticket, sublet my apartment and gave notice to my employer.

Three weeks later, captivated by French illusions, I boarded a plane for Europe.

***

Please connect with Linda on her website, become a fan on her Facebook Page,  and join her on Twitter @LindaKovicSkow

A great book trailer for French Illusions.

Linda Kovic-Skow resides in Gilbert, Arizona. She earned an Associate Degree in Medical Assisting in 1978 from North Seattle Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Seattle University in 1985. She has been married for 27 years and has two daughters. An enthusiastic traveler, Linda also enjoys boating, gardening and socializing with friends. French Illusions,  her debut memoir, is the culmination of a three-year project.  

 Sonia Marsh Says: What an exciting “gutsy” thing to do. You took a risk and it paid off. Now I want to read french Illusions to see how you handled your “lack of” French, and how Mr. and Mme. Dubois treated you. Can’t wait.

 ***

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

Please read and share our April 2013 stories by David Prosser, Win Charles, and Carol Bodensteiner.

Voting starts on May 2nd-May 15th.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here