Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod

Paris Letters Cover Image on eatlivetravelwrite.comI’ve written many a letter from Paris in my time – and I’d give anything to see the letters I sent home especially during my very first couple of years living there in the mid 1990s (well now, that dates me, doesn’t it?). I reckon they’d have formed perfect fodder for a book or, were it these days, a blog! Living in Paris is definitely a wonderful experience but, as anyone who has lived there for any length of time will know, it’s hard work.  She draws you in, does Paris, but then she can be difficult to live with. Life there as an expat (even one who is fluent in French) can be frustrating yet magical all at the same time. Paris is addictive like that.

I’m always curious to read about others’ Paris adventures, whether on blogs or in books, so when I was invited to check out an advance copy of Paris Letters, by Janice MacLeod, I obviously couldn’t resist!

Paris Letters (released on February 4th, 2014), is Janice MacLeod’s memoir – a love letter to the City of Light, a fairy tale romance, and a story for anyone who has ever dreamed of changing her life (so, that would be all of us, right?).

How much money does it take to quit your job?

Exhausted and on the verge of corporate burnout, Janice posed this question to herself as she doodles on a notepad at her desk. With a little math and a lot of determination, she wrote down 100 ways to spend less money every day (you’d be surprised at how seemingly little changes can add up to big savings!). Living simply, she saved enough to quit her job and spend two years abroad.  A few days into her stop in Paris, Janice meets Christophe, the cute butcher down the street—who doesn’t speak English. Through a combination of sign language and franglais, they embark on a whirlwind Paris romance. She soon realizes that she can never return to the world of twelve-hour workdays and greasy corporate lingo. But her dwindling savings force her to find a way to fund her dreams again. So Janice turns to her three loves—words, art, and Christophe—to figure out a way to make her happily-ever-after in Paris last forever.

Now she’s a full-time artist who sends hand-painted letters from Paris to subscribers around the world. Her watercolor illustrations showcase scenes from her European travels—a vacation in an envelope.

Paris Letters is truly an inspiring look at what can happen when we dare to create the life we want and even if moving to Paris is not on your “to do” list for 2014, I highly recommend it – I actually had to delete it from my iPad (I read the eGalley version) to stop myself from reading it when I had a big project due at work then download it again when I had time to read it all in one go, over the holidays.

Paris Letters Sample on eatlivetravelwrite.comWin a hand-painted letter from Janice! (Worldwide)

That’s right – Janice wants to send YOU one of her hand-painted letters from Paris, wherever you live!

To enter:
1. Leave a comment below telling me why you want to receive a letter from Paris?

2. For a bonus entry, tweet the following message:

I want to receive a letter from Paris from @JaniceArtShip ! Enter here: http://bit.ly/1dLUsfw @eatlivtravwrite (worldwide!)

Then come back to leave me a comment telling me you did.

Contest closes on Thursday, February 13th at 6pm EST. Winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified by email on Friday, February 14th 2014.

Paris Letter Sample on eatlivetravelwrite.com

Paris Letters Cover Image on eatlivetravelwrite.comBuy Paris Letters!

Go on, treat yourself to a copy of Paris Letters. You can find it on Amazon. Or for free worldwide shipping, buy from The Book Depository.

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Disclosure: I received an eGalley copy of Paris Letters courtesy of Sourcebooks for review purposes. I did not receive any further compensation for writing about this and opinions are, as always, 100% my own.

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Please note: This post contains affiliate links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post also contains affiliate links from The Book Depository. This means that if you click over and purchase something, I will receive a very small percentage of the purchase price (at no extra cost to you). Thank you in advance!

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MY BOOK! In the French kitchen with kids is out now! Click here for details and how to order!

In the French Kitchen with Kids cover on eatlivetravelwrite.com

30 thoughts on “Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod”

  1. I know Mr. Neil cannot win…but I’d like to receive a letter from Paris as she brought me something that changed my life. 🙂

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  2. What a lovely review of what sounds like a beautiful book. I would love to win a letter from Paris, not for myself, but for my 14 year old daughter Gabriella who dreams of visiting someday.

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  3. I adore Paris, not only b/c of its historic charm, but mainly b/c that’s where we got engaged now 7 years ago!
    This book is so sweet. I think I’ll order a few copies to give as gifts and keep on just for myself.
    Thanks for making this contest open to us in the US!

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  4. Janice’s book sounds amazing and her artwork is beautiful, I can’t wait to read it! I would like to win a letter from Paris to be able to hear from someone who completely changed her life to fulfill her dream and to get a chance to see more of her lovely artwork. Anything from Paris is wonderful, especially a letter!

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  5. I would love to receive a letter from Paris to learn about the City and Janice’s adventure there. Her illustrations look so beautiful and shows her true experience of Paris. Very good review Mardi.

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  6. I have Tweeted the message and would love to buy the book. My mother was French and I miss France with all my heart (living in New Zealand).

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  7. I want to receive a letter from Paris because I’ve been there once and was absolutely charmed by it. I bet receiving a letter will be as equally charming.

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  8. I’d like to receive a letter from Paris because just thinking about Paris puts a smile on my face. While reading the excerpts of the Paris Letters, I could hear and feel Paris. I’ve been there twice – once as a student and again, with my husband a few years. Both trips have wonderful memories for me and I hope to return again.

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  9. I’ve only visited Paris once while living in London but I could see myself living there! The light, the atmosphere. Paris has always been something of a romantic, bohemian dream for us Greeks, so much culture, music, art and off course food! I would love to win Letters from Paris, beautiful review Mardi!

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  10. Paris is my home away from home and probably one of the only places in the world that really feels as such. I try to spend as much time there as possible. I’d love a letter from Paris for those times when I can’t get there.

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  11. Also, taking the tour with PARIS LETTERS but could not visit others till I had finished my read and the review. Seeing Janice’s pictures here makes me want to want to take my dream to have an extended stay there happen, got to dust that one off of the shelf. Now off to breakfast as visiting your blog has made me hungry.

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  12. I remember seeing the video that she shot of Cristophe – before they even met.

    Imagine having that piece of history for your children – grandchildren!

    Thrilled that it was a happily ever after story – can’t wait to read!!

    Congrats – loved the review and would also love receiving a Paris Letter! : )

    – fellow Canadian from Ottawa

    Reply
  13. I’ll be buying this book. And I’d love a letter from Paris. Part of my heart belongs there with my aunts and cousins and grand-parents. I’m always happy to return for a visit and miss it when I’m not there.

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  14. I’d love to receive a letter from Paris because that is where my heart resides. Although I’ve never lived there & barely speak French, I feel like I’m home every time I arrive.

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  15. Wow! What a fabulous give-away! I would love to receive a letter from Paris because when I was in high school I had a French pen pal. I regret losing touch with her and have been unable to find her (so far) on social media. It would be a wonderful tribute to our friendship when people really wrote & mailed letters to each other!

    Reply
  16. I’d like to win and experience the whimsical pictures and lovely handwriting first hand. It will bring back lovely memories of my visit in 2001.

    Thanks for making this giveaway open to Canadians.

    Besos, Sarah
    Blogger at Journeys of The Zoo

    Reply
  17. I’d love a hand painted letter from Paris! My European adventures started and ended there three years ago… of course we arrived in the midst of a strike, but that just makes it more authentic 🙂

    Reply

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