Ooh I have some catching up to do! It’s been a whirlwind few days. Monday Husband and I had the day to ourselves and we just walked and shopped. I can’t go to Paris without going to Bon Marche, and also Les Aventures des Toiles, where I always buy a few clothes. We wandered back through the grounds of the Louvre and went to a cafe for an aperitif, sitting outside and watching Parisians go by, before heading to supper.
Also – that morning I saw a very handsome man sitting beside us at breakfast. I heard him talking to a woman who joined him, and on the way back to our room I saw a stack of books – English title “The Radiane of Tomorrow” – sitting on a coffee table in our beautiful lobby, by Ishmael Beah. Well, suddenly I knew who he was, the author of the memoir “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.” And this is his first novel, now published in French. I didn’t have the courage to say hi, but I did take a stealth photo of him the next day, when he was having his picture taken by the local press. I hope you don’t mind, Ishmael! (You can see he was looking right at me when I took this – I think he was on to me).
On Tuesday, I met my wonderful French editor and friend Gilberte Bourget and my darling publicist Rozenn under the statue of Danton on Blvd St. Germain, and we took the metro to a library in (I think) the 10th arrondisement. Here we are.
I did two school visits there. The first group was amazing. They’d all read at least one of my books. The second group was amazing minus four very chatty girls and their bored teachers. This was rather reassuring because it made me think, “Some things really are the same as in Canada!” (It doesn’t happen often in Canada either, just once in a while). That night Husband and I had dinner with Gilberte and Valerie (translator) at a great little restaurant near the Sorbonne, Le Pre Verre.
Then, Wednesday morning I was up with the birds to catch the 7:58 am train to Brussels. “Le Journal Malgre Lui de Henry K. Larsen” was nominated for a Belgian literary prize, a young readers’ choice award called “Le Prix Farniente.” (I now know who won because the ceremony was a couple of weeks ago. Let’s just say it was up against 4 other books, one of which was “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green. Let’s just say we can guess who won. Let me also just say I loved that book). The lovely organizer, Catherine Jottrand, met me at the train station, and off we went for a day of sessions at a library in another part of town. This was really interesting because it was in a building that used to be the city hall, and it still functioned for some city business and had a police station. Hence, after the horrific Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack, the building has a security system installed, and it’s like going through security at the airport.
My visits at the library were great. Great kids. Here are a few of them.
When we went out for lunch, I was also extremely intrigued by these stencils, on the ground around Brussels.
Apparently your dog is expected to poop right in the red circle, then you can toss the poop in the bin. I can tell you that not all dogs obey the rules. Heh.
After my visits, I had a few hours before I was to do an appearance at a bookstore, so two of the librarians, the lovely Celine and Cynthia, took me back downtown and after I checked into my hotel they took me on an amazing, concise tour of Brussels.
1) I saw the Grand Place!
2) I ate Belgian frites with mayonnaise!!
3) I bought Belgian chocolate for Son!
4) I saw the Manneqin Pis!
5) I drank a Belgian beer in the square! (a Mort Subite Kriek).
It was the perfect mini-tour, and I’m really grateful to the two of them. I really enjoyed their company. Plus I still had time to have a power nap before my beautiful French publisher, Sophie Giraud, and Rozenn (again) picked me up at my hotel.
We walked over to the gorgeous art deco bookstore in the Galleries St. Hubert, Tropismes. Wow, what a store.
I was also really excited to see this, very close to the entrance, under a sign that read: “Stop! If you haven’t read these, you should:”
A fellow Canadian author! Also of course I was happy to see this:
I was nervous that no one would show up for my appearance. But lo and behold, they’d put out about 25 seats, and every one was occupied. Amazing! They were adults, largely librarians and book buyers and book sellers. We had a great evening. Sophie spoke about Helium’s incredible list of books, then I spoke about my new book and took questions from the audience. I think they were most excited that I’d written for “Degrassi Junior High!” One of the young women said “It was like Friends for our generation.Afterward, Sophie, Rozenn and some people from the bookstore – Thalis, her husband Max de Radigues and Waulter (I don’t know his last name) went to a restaurant near my hotel which served delicious traditional Belgian cuisine – and even more delicious Belgian beer. I had a Trippel Karmeliet along with my farci chicon (or is it the other way around?). We had a great evening – Max, Waulter and I solved the “Greece problem” (or tried), talked about shitty politicians (especially OUR shitty prime minister, Mr. “Climate Change? What Climate Change?” Stephen Harper), and I also found out that they too are authors – they’ve co-created a graphic novel, Max as author and Waulter as illustrator.
Finally it was back to my hotel for a few hours’ sleep before this morning’s very early start! But I will post about that tomorrow … now must sleep … but can I just say: I met my husband in Belgium (in Antwerp, a long time ago). And I was reminded of how much I loved Belgium. And not just the beer. It’s the Belgian people. They are really so lovely, and warm, and easy to talk to (so thanks, Catherine, Renee, Brigitte, Cynthia, Celine, Thalis, Max, Waulter, the teachers/students I met and all the others I met at the book signing).
Sara O'Leary says
I love the manneken pis! I hope you bought some suitable souvenir. This one is good: http://www.retrothing.com/2006/10/manneken_pis_su.html
Very useful for future school visits.
Now going to see if Ishmael Beah has a blog where he has posted a stealth photo of you.
Susin Nielsen says
Hahahaha Sara!
Robin says
But…but…what did you buy for Friend? 😉
Susin Nielsen says
Friend? What Friend? 🙂 Maybe Someone bought Friend a little something in London …