Storytime in Paris

My guest this week is the woman Roxane Gay called “a consummate storyteller.” Among her many accolades, Leesa Cross-Smith has been longlisted for the 2022 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award and the 2021 Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize. Her latest novel, Half-Blown Rose is the Amazon Editors’ Spotlight for June 2022, the inaugural pick for Amazon’s Book Club Sarah Selects, and the Barne...

My guest this week is New York Times Bestselling author Juliet Blackwell. Juliet is a prolific writer. She’s written three mystery series, including the Agatha Award nominated Art Lover’s Mystery series, as well as six novels set in France. Her latest novel, The Paris Showroom, is the story of an estranged mother and daughter, set to the backdrop of 1944 Paris. We follow mom Capucine as she’s take...

My guest this week is author and podcast host Sutanya Dacres. Sutanya’s podcast “Dinner for one” has been featured in The New York Times and the BBC Radio Hour, and she has just released her first book, “Dinner For One: How Cooking in Paris Saved Me.” Sutanya’s memoir is an honest look into what happened when her world fell apart and she found herself alone, divorced, in her 30s, in a foreign land...

What would you do if you received a text message saying the person you love most in the world is in danger and the only way to save them is to play “The Game?” You can tell no one and, worst yet, there will only be one survivor. My guest this week is author Scott Kershaw and his debut novel “The Game” is a psychological thriller, mystery, suspense and horror novel all rolled into one. Curious to m...

Welcome to the Season Three premiere of Storytime in Paris! My illustrious guest this week is New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Natasha Lester. Natasha won the TAG Hungerford Award for Fiction for her first novel, What is Left over, After. Her books have been translated into multiple languages and are bestsellers all over the world. Her latest book, “The Riviera House,” is a beautifu...

I have a very special treat for you for today’s Season Finale; I’m joined by journalist and best-selling author Lindsey Tramuta. Lindsey’s latest book, “The New Parisiennes: the Women & Ideas Shaping Paris," features interviews with a diverse group of influential female activists, artists, feminists, politicians, and more. In it, Lindsey explores the jarring difference between the perception o...

My guest this week is award-winning author and cartoonist Adrienne Celt. Adrienne has written three books, including “The Daughters,” which won the 2015 PEN Southwest Book Award for Fiction and was named a Best Book of the Year by NPR. She’s also won the O. Henry Prize and the Glenna Luschei Award for her writing. Adrienne’s latest novel, “End of the World House” is a mind-bending exploration of f...

This week, I have a real scoop. My guest is author Amanda Bestor-Siegal, and her debut novel “The Caretakers” has already been named one of 2022's Most Anticipated Crime Fictions by Crime Reads. ”The Caretakers” is a deeply compelling and psychological read, told from the perspective of three French women and three American au pairs living just outside of Paris. It begins with a tragedy : the unex...

Joining me this week is NYTimes bestselling author Allison Pataki, whose books have been translated into 20 languages. She has written six historical novels, two childrens books, and a memoir. Allison’s latest novel, “The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post,” explores the true story of America’s first cereal heiress Marjorie Post. Marjorie blossomed from humble beginnings to become an international...

My guest this week is 9-time author Jay Swanson, whom you may know best for his YouTube vlogs, which have reached over 7 million views worldwide. His latest book “Sea of the Unknown” is a departure from his usual science fiction and fantasy novels, and is a beautifully-written memoir detailing the tumultuous path his life has taken to get him to his current one in Paris. It’s a surprisingly intima...

My guest this week is lavender farmer, self-professed Champagne geek, and award-winning author Rebecca Rosenberg. Rebecca is known for writing historical fiction about strong women, and her latest book “Champagne Widows” is the story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, better known as Veuve Clicquot, the remarkable woman behind the world-renowned Champagne house, who defied Napoleon and built a Champagne e...

In France, we celebrate Women’s Day each year on March 8th. This year, in honor of Women’s Day and in keeping with the tradition of last season’s Halloween episode, we asked you which female writer with a French connection you would most like to hear from, and George Sand was the clear winner. Born Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, but better known by her pen name George Sand, George was a French roma...

My guest this week is historian, journalist and author Ellen Hampton, whose book “Women of Valor: The Rochambelles on the WWII Front” tells the extraordinary true story of a group of young women who became the only women's unit to serve on the front lines of World War II. In our interview, Ellen describes what it was like to meet and learn from the Rochambelles themselves, what surprised her most,...

I might suggest not listening to this episode on an empty stomach because my guest this week is professional pastry chef, blogger, and nine-time author David Lebovitz. David’s book “The Sweet Life in Paris” was an International Association of Culinary Professionals Literary Award finalist and Saveur Magazine named him Blogger of the Decade. David’s latest book “Drinking French” delves into the his...

In honor of Valentine's Day, Sabrina Marzaro joins us on the podcast to talk about her beautifully illustrated, poetic book "Swiping for Prince Charming." Sabrina chats about how dating in Paris compares to dating in New York, what a perfect romantic Parisian day would look like, and why empowering women is a cause close to her heart. @sabrina.marzaro @swipingforprincecharming Find Us Online Websi...

When Paris-born author and artist Lilianne Milgrom visited the Musée d’Orsay ten years ago, she had no idea that she would stumble upon L’Origine du Monde by painter Gustave Courbet or how much it would change her life. She quickly became the first copyist in the world to paint this controversial piece of art. In her novel "L’Origine: The Secret Life of the World’s Most Erotic Masterpiece,” Lilian...

My guest this week is Linda Lappin, author of “Loving Modigliani: The Afterlife of Jeanne Hébuterne.” Linda is prize-winning poet, novelist, travel writer, literary translator and writing teacher. Her latest novel, “Loving Modigliani: The Afterlife of Jeanne Hébuterne” begins 48 hours after the death of artist Amedeo Modligliani, as his pregnant commonlaw wife Jeanne Hébuterne falls from a window...

My guest this week is Stephen Clarke, author of at least 18 books. His first published novel, “A Year in the Merde” was nominated for the British Book Award for Best Newcomer. Stephen has sold more than 2.5 million books worldwide, written two stage shows, and inspired a permanent museum collection in France, which he curated. Stephen’s latest novel “The Spy Who Inspired Me” is his first foray int...

My guest this week is author Janet Skeslien Charles. Janet’s latest novel, “The Paris Library” was an instant New York Times, Washington Post and USA Today bestseller. It’s a #1 Indie Next Pick, a Library Reads and Lonestar selection, a Book Reporter Best Bet, and is currently a Finalist for Best Historical Fiction for 2021 on Goodreads. “The Paris Library” is based on the true story of the heroic...

Catherine Taret is the Franco-American author of "It's Never Too Late to Bloom,” where she inspiringly details her path as a late bloomer. When her book was first published in French in 2017, it met with rave reviews and astonishment, since the concept of late blooming isn’t one that exists in France. Her book was published in English at the end of 2020. Catherine’s book is an inspiring blend of m...

#GIVEAWAY! My guest this week is American author and flutist Julie Scolnik. Julie has enjoyed a long career as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral flutist, performing all over the US and France. This year also marks her 25th year as artistic director of Mistral Music, a chamber music series that she co-founded. Her debut novel “Paris Blue” is a beautiful, poetic memoir about first love. At...

This week’s guest is Alyson Richman, a USA Today and #1 international bestelling author of seven historical novels, including “The Velvet Hours,” “The Garden of Letters,” and “The Lost Wife,” which is currently in development as a feature film. Alyson’s latest book, “The Secret of Clouds” is a heart-warming contemporary novel about the nature of love in all its forms. She graciously joined me from...

My guest this week is Craig Carlson, a New York Times bestselling author who has written two memoirs, “Pancakes in Paris” and “Let Them Eat Pancakes.” Equally as important, Craig is the founder and owner of the first American-style diner in Paris, Breakfast in America, which has been featured in "The Lonely Planet" and "Frommer's Paris" travel guides. Craig’s memoirs are candid, insghtful and laug...

This week’s guest is the inimitable D’yan Forest. D’yan has lived more lives than most of us can dream of in her 87 years. She has been a Bostonian housewife, a cabaret performer, a New York nightclub singer, a Parisian swinger, and an international stand-up comedienne. Now, D’yan bares her soul in her beautiful memoir “I Did It My Ways,” which is at turns touching, revealing, and scandalous. http...

In honor of Halloween, I sat down with the channeled spirit of Victor Hugo to ask him your most burning questions. Victor is an internationally renowned author, playwright, poet, essayist, and artist best known for his novels “Les Misérables” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” In a charming and candid interview, Victor reveals what he thinks of the modern adaptations of his work, his feelings towa...