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| Photo credit: Berkley |
Juliet Blackwell is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels based in France, including The Vineyards of Champagne, The Lost Carousel of Provence, Letters from Paris, and The Paris Key. She also writes the Witchcraft Mystery series and the Haunted Home Renovation series. As Hailey Lind, Blackwell wrote the Agatha-nominated Art Lover's Mystery series. A former anthropologist, social worker, and professional artist, Juliet is a California native who has spent time in Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Italy, the Philippines, and France.
Synopsis:
Natalie Morgen made a name for herself with a memoir about overcoming her harsh childhood after finding a new life in Paris. After falling in love with a classically trained chef, they moved together to his ancestral home, a tiny fishing village off the coast of Brittany.
But then Francois-Xavier breaks things off with her without warning, leaving her flat broke and in the middle of renovating the guesthouse they planned to open for business. Natalie's already struggling when her sister, Alex, shows up unannounced. The sisters form an unlikely partnership to save the guesthouse, reluctantly admitting their secrets to each other as they begin to heal the scars of their shared past.
But the property harbors hidden stories of its own. During World War II, every man of fighting age on the island fled to England to join the Free French forces. The women and children were left on their own...until three hundred German troops took up residence, living side-by-side with the French women on the tiny island for the next several years.
When Natalie and Alex unearth an old cookbook in a hidden cupboard, they find handwritten recipes that reveal old secrets. With the help of locals, the Morgen sisters begin to unravel the relationship between Violette, a young islander whose family ran the guesthouse during WWII, and Rainier, a German military customs official with a devastating secret of his own. (Courtesy of Amazon.)
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Natalie Morgen made a name for herself with a memoir about overcoming her harsh childhood after finding a new life in Paris. After falling in love with a classically trained chef, they moved together to his ancestral home, a tiny fishing village off the coast of Brittany.
But then Francois-Xavier breaks things off with her without warning, leaving her flat broke and in the middle of renovating the guesthouse they planned to open for business. Natalie's already struggling when her sister, Alex, shows up unannounced. The sisters form an unlikely partnership to save the guesthouse, reluctantly admitting their secrets to each other as they begin to heal the scars of their shared past.
But the property harbors hidden stories of its own. During World War II, every man of fighting age on the island fled to England to join the Free French forces. The women and children were left on their own...until three hundred German troops took up residence, living side-by-side with the French women on the tiny island for the next several years.
When Natalie and Alex unearth an old cookbook in a hidden cupboard, they find handwritten recipes that reveal old secrets. With the help of locals, the Morgen sisters begin to unravel the relationship between Violette, a young islander whose family ran the guesthouse during WWII, and Rainier, a German military customs official with a devastating secret of his own. (Courtesy of Amazon.)
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
I’ve received truly touching notes from people dealing a difficult time in their lives –they’re in the hospital, or going through a divorce, or having job troubles-- who tell me that my books provided them several hours of sweet escape. As a lifelong reader who loves to escape through fiction, I find that a very high compliment, indeed!
I’ve received truly touching notes from people dealing a difficult time in their lives –they’re in the hospital, or going through a divorce, or having job troubles-- who tell me that my books provided them several hours of sweet escape. As a lifelong reader who loves to escape through fiction, I find that a very high compliment, indeed!
How is Natalie similar to or different from you?
Like Natalie, I was the annoying younger sister with my head in the clouds and my nose in a book as a child. But unlike her, I’ve never cared that much what other people thought of me – so in many ways I’m more like Alex, the older sister who takes a practical approach to life and just wants to get things done.
Like Natalie, I was the annoying younger sister with my head in the clouds and my nose in a book as a child. But unlike her, I’ve never cared that much what other people thought of me – so in many ways I’m more like Alex, the older sister who takes a practical approach to life and just wants to get things done.
If Off the Wild Coast of Brittany were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
Oh, that’s a tough one! To tell you the truth, I don’t see many movies these days so am behind on my knowledge of actors. Usually I like to suggest my beautiful and talented niece Eréndira Ibarra, but she’d be a better fit for my witchy books ☺.
Oh, that’s a tough one! To tell you the truth, I don’t see many movies these days so am behind on my knowledge of actors. Usually I like to suggest my beautiful and talented niece Eréndira Ibarra, but she’d be a better fit for my witchy books ☺.
But how about…
Natalie: Gillian Jacobs
Alex: Felicity Jones (though in my mind, Alex isn’t movie-star pretty, so Felicity might have to tone it down a tad ☺)
Jean-Luc: I thought of Jean-Hugues Anglade, but I think he’s too old! Maybe…Romain Duris?
Christine: Marion Cotillard
Violette: Adèle Exarchopoulos
Rainer: August Diehl
What TV series are you currently binge watching?
I’m always a bit behind everyone else when it comes to TV watching. I’m hooked on a fun show on Netflix called Midnight Diner, because I’ve been studying Japanese in preparation for traveling there as soon as COVID settles down. I recently binged on Bridgerton, and am currently in the middle of The Haunting of Bly Manor, which I’m enjoying immensely. I can’t get enough of old houses!
I’m always a bit behind everyone else when it comes to TV watching. I’m hooked on a fun show on Netflix called Midnight Diner, because I’ve been studying Japanese in preparation for traveling there as soon as COVID settles down. I recently binged on Bridgerton, and am currently in the middle of The Haunting of Bly Manor, which I’m enjoying immensely. I can’t get enough of old houses!
What is something you've learned about yourself during the pandemic?
I’ve learned that I’m enough of an introvert not to mind spending plenty of time at home!
I’ve learned that I’m enough of an introvert not to mind spending plenty of time at home!
Also, how lucky I am to have a home with a garden and a big dog to walk every day.
What is something you're hoping to do by the end of this year?
I would love to sit at an outdoor café in Paris and just watch the world go by. And I’d like to visit Japan as I had intended…but that might have to wait until the cherry blossom season of 2022.
I would love to sit at an outdoor café in Paris and just watch the world go by. And I’d like to visit Japan as I had intended…but that might have to wait until the cherry blossom season of 2022.
Thanks to Juliet for visiting with us and to Berkley for sharing her book with our readers.
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16 comments:
I'm a huge fan of the Skinnytaste cookbook1
A treasure for my daughter. One which I received when I was engaged many years ago and still use.
Baking cookbook--Midwest Made.
Cookbook for meals--The first book by the Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond.
I like to experiment & variety, so I like those basic cookbooks that only have 3-5 ingredients, so that I can add some different additions to make a dish all my own.
I'm afraid in my efforts to simplify, I am sans cookbooks. Google is my cookbook!
Cook' Country
i have my mom's old italian cookbooks but i go to pinterest for recipes
The Cook's Illustrated Cookbook (the big red one)
The basic Better Homes and Garden cookbook and google!
n/a
A cookbook I put together myself from family recipes.
I love and old Joy of Baking cookbook I found at a used bookshop.
A cookbook from our church with favorite recipes from the ladies
I don't have a go to cookbook anymore. I collect many recipes off the internet. I have many recipes memorized; so, I don't need to refer to recipes often. My go to cookbook used to be the Better Homes and Garden Cookbook. I still have it.
I love so many different cookbooks, but I would say Fannie Flagg's Original Whistle Stop Cafe Cookbook. It's a great tie-in to her classic novel Fried Green Tomatoes.
I use recipes from many family members.
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