Looking out towards Cairanne, a nearby village
aube (ohb) noun, feminine
: dawn, daybreak
Le jour vient après l'aube.
Day follows dawn.
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
If you were sitting here with me now, facing this blank screen, you might be tempted to do as I am doing… and let your eyes travel over to the porte-fenêtre, beyond which blackness reigns.
This is no dark metaphor. I am only looking out at the night sky, staring at the twinkle lights (are they coming from the village of Gigondas? or Sablet?) beneath the sliver of a half-moon, high in the ciel above. When I began to fill this blank page, that moon was at "noon", hanging directly over the lighted village….
The moon is now at "one o'clock"… and now "two o'clock" and I am still wavering, from this page to the window and beyond. Above the village twinkle lights, a jagged horizontal line has just come into view: I recognize part of a mountain range: Les Dentelles de Montmirail.
A light gray hue rises from the mountain as the sky above awakens in shades of blue… in muted teal, in whispers of royal, in cobalt and bird's egg hues…
Above, the moon is wandering away…. It is after all a new day.
***
Book Publishing Update!
For three weeks now, I have been working towards this "new day": Publication Day. As it turns out, my book, Blossoming in Provence, will not be available for purchase by midnight tonight… (so much for the bad news).
The good news is that in 21 days a book has been created! For this, I am so thankful for your support, including all the helpful edits and all the encouraging cheers that you have sent in. This book could not have come together without you!
I will be taking the next week or so off to complete this project…
…and to ease up on some of the pressure! Meantime, I wanted to share with you the final étapes or stages in this book-making process, for those of you who might like to make a book of your own.
=> Now that my stories are in manuscript form, I will be sending the Word document to a book designer-typesetter (I have chosen TLC graphics for help with my book's interior. I had thought I could do it myself… but when I began to wrestle with formatting the text and the pages, I gave up!)
=> Erin, the designer-typesetter will reformat the book. Bruce has agreed to do a final read-over, and I will be doing the same.
=> I will then upload the cover and the interior via CreateSpace—the self-publisher that I have chosen for this project. It will take CreateSpace another 5-7 days to approve the manuscript (i.e. confirm it is free of any technical glitches—I forgot to tell you about the photo-sizing fiasco I am going through at the moment…)
=> I am required to order a proof copy of the book (this will take another two or three days, express delivery to France!)
=> Once I approve the proof copy, it will take Amazon up to 48 hours to upload the product page and make the book available for sale (!!!).
The bottom line: If all goes well the paperback book will be available in a few weeks!
For those of you who are celebrating, Happy Thanksgiving, and for everyone reading, happy rest of the month of November! I will check in with you when things are looking a little clearer around here. Meantime, wish me bonne continuation. I'm wishing you the same!
Amicalement,
Kristin
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French Vocabulary
la porte-fenêtre = French window
bonne continuation = keep on truckin' (also means "all the best" or "keep up the good work!"
amicalement = best wishes
Local birds. How I'd love to fly away with them right about now… but there are more ends to tie up with this project! Quelle idée de faire un livre dans vingt-en-un jours! What a idea to do a book in 21-days!
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Kristin,
You are so amazing! You have inspired me beyond belief! Tonight I actually cleaned out my office which has been overflowing with books, ETC, for too long (recycling). I think I’ll make a little ‘shrine’ where I can place your book! I can hardly wait to buy it!
I am keeping a book I forgot I even had,”Legacy, A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Personal History” and I am now finally going to read it. You’ve inspired me. Maybe I will actually start writing! Thank you! And, of course, “felicitations” on your amazing accomplishment!
I’ll be very ready to read your next blog as each one brightens my day so much – but, ONLY after you have rested for a while and then gotten back to finishing off all the millions of tasks necessary to put this puppy to bed! Be good to yourself!
Kristin,
The most important thing you did is putting a lot of people from all over the world together to work as a team on that project. It’s just amazing! Some people who never met before got to know each other by communicating through the comments corner. You’ve brought such a joy in people’s lives!
Thank you!
Your friend Olga.
Although it is still Wednesday here, I am late in the day getting to read your post. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am thankful for you, Kristin, and for all of the FWAD friends that have been instructing me in French for the last year or more. This week I received an e-mail written entirely in French. I understood it so that I knew I didn’t want to participate in what it offered. I think it’s the only Spam mail that I have ever enjoyed reading. Thank you, everyone!
Just “let go and let God”. His timing is never wrong. We’re all pulling for you and give thanks for you.
Félicitations, Kristin!! I am thrilled that your book has been created.
Bonne continuation for the last stage in this wonderful journey of publishing a book!
And merci beaucoup for sharing all your learnings with us.
Thank you again for such warm and wonderful encouragement. On this day of thanksgiving, I am especially grateful for the community here. This may be a comments box, but it feels like a favorite café filled with the warmth of caring friends. Every word is an encouragement.
Congratulations and Happy Thanksgiving, Kristin.
As already said by so many, you’ve done a marvellouus job!!
Do take a very well deservrd short break, specially as you have still a lot of work to do.
Rina.
IN MEMORIUM TO THE “GOBBLED”
Kristin et Jean-Marc … I’m watching for that one Turkey .. the one that got away. I just know I’ll see a wild eyed fowl peeking out from a bush .. wondering if it’s safe to strut again. And, when I find that feathered friend, I’m going to put out some perfect grains and a small cup of Mistral, sit in my favorite lawn chair with a glass of my own, and enjoy the company of that magnificent bird … ’cause nothin’ goes better with Turkey than Domaine Rouge-Bleu.
The piece on “aube” was beautiful poetry. I had the most vivid peaceful picture in my mind.
Bonne continuation! But I agree. You could use a break to recharge your batteries and health. Perhaps you could buy yourself a little extra time by lining up some guest bloggers while you tend to hearth and home for a short while.
Kristin, Congratulations, your hard work will be worth it. As someone who has self-published in the past, I know how hard it is to stay focussed and on top of all the details. And I didn’t have your schedule!! Having had the softback option available for some time now, I have recently chosen to also release on Kindle, and found it a remarkably straightforward process. I have a website that covers all the available sales options for my book http://www.buttlefly.net and when you have the details of your publication, I would be happy to add your links… as I’m sure, many other of your subscribers with web profiles would do. Best of luck in the future with this
J’ai vu Jean-Marc, la nouvelle vedette, sur Yabla hier soir. Bonne idee! Il aiderait la mercatique. C’est tres difficle a trover ses vins en Etats-Unis. Bon courage.
Congratulations, Kristin! Almost there!
Priscilla