I will be slipping into the blog cone of silence once again. (-: Today I head to Paris and the LEFT BANK WRITERS RETREAT. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to go to Paris. It’s at the very top of my bucket list. In fact, a visit to the Shakespeare & Company bookstore in Paris IS the #1 item on that list. And guess where I will be heading while I’m in Paris! (-:
I will be taking small workshops every day while I’m there…little exercises in the exploration of all things writing. On the menu is; poetry, finding your voice, place as character and more. PLUS—we will be exploring Hemingway’s Paris AND F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Paris.
You can find out about the retreat by clicking RIGHT HERE. You know, in case you’re thinking you may want to go to the retreat NEXT year. I hear it’s an annual thing. (-:
Do I wish to retrace the footsteps of Hemingway? Absolutely. His A MOVEABLE FEAST is one of my all-time favourite books. I’m going to attempt to re-read it on my flight over tonight. Although I tend to do nothing but sleep while on airplanes. I can’t seem to keep my eyes open. I’m not too worried about it, though. I have practically memorized the book. (-;
Some of my favourite Moveable Feast quotes:
“You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintery light. But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen. When the cold rains kept on and killed the spring, it was as though a young person died for no reason.”~ ERNEST HEMINGWAY, A Moveable Feast
“By then I knew that everything good and bad left an emptiness when it stopped. But if it was bad, the emptiness filled up by itself. If it was good you could only fill it by finding something better.”~ ERNEST HEMINGWAY, A Moveable Feast
“For a poet he threw a very accurate milk bottle.”~ ERNEST HEMINGWAY, A Moveable Feast
I’m going to Paris for Hemingway. And for Paris itself. I believe it to be a beautiful city. I’m about to find out if reality matches my belief…
See you on the flipside. (-:
KEVIN CRAIG 
So excited for you to go to Paris on a writing pilgrimage! I’m sure your retreat has this on the agenda, but there are two English (or any language) spoken word open mics in Paris, both with their own charm. One is “Spoken Word in Paris” at Au Chat Noir on Monday nights, and the other is “Paris Lit Up” at Culture Rapide on Thursday nights, and both have their own Facebook pages. Also, don’t miss the Abbey Bookshop which is a 2-minute walk from Shakespeare & Company bookshop; it’s unspoiled by tourist traffic unlike the former, and its owner Brian Spence is a Canadian in Paris with a million stories to tell; enjoy! 🙂
Thanks so much, Romi! Appreciate the insider knowledge. Printing off your comments. Thanks! (-:
God, I’m so envious!! I’m hoping you’ll share another pictorial review of your trip. May you find many inspirational moments. Enjoy.
Had I lived back then, I would be one to stand in line to meet Hemingway. Awesome writer, more awesome man. We visited his home in Key West. Remarkable!