'We haven't seen you in ages,' said Nicki, proprietress of the cafe at La Grande Galerie when I dropped in for one of her lovely cappuccinos on Friday afternoon. 'What have you been up to?'
'Nothing much,' I replied. And then I realised that this isn't actually true.
Since I last saw her I've written 40,000 words of Tout 3, started work on the publicity for the August launch of Tout Sweet in the US [left], visited the UK with Delphine for the royal wedding and attended a snail party.
At the snail party, hosted and cooked by the deputy mayor of a nearby village, we sang songs about escargots, including one (unlikely to appeal to feminists) about a man who loves his wife much more when she's made him snails for dinner.
The royal wedding trip was also fun. 'You must be so proud to be British,' said Delphine, as we watched the gleaming carriages and the horses trotting in formation towards Buckingham palace. And as I imagined all the work that had gone into that, I really was.
La Grande Galerie, as many blog readers know, is a wonderful meeting place, especially during the summer months and there is a lot happening in coming weeks, including a new French-English conversation group between 2.00- 5.00pm on Wednesdays.
Oh and finally a word of warning: Biff will be staying at the GG from Tuesday until Saturday this week. He loves visiting his friends there, so if you see him, I'm sure he'd appreciate a friendly pat.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS AT LA GRANDE GALERIE
17/5/2011 (and also 7/6/2011)
Peter Hoskins will be at the GG signing copies of his book 'In The Steps Of The Black Prince.' Peter walked 1,300 miles across France while researching his book, walking from Bordeaux to the Mediterranean and back. I'm very interested in this as the Black Prince spent one night locked up in the chateau in my village.
24/5/11
Vide-Grenier. A jumble sale with proceeds going to the Hope Association animal rescue.
25/7/2011
THE GRAND GALERIE'S THIRD BIRTHDAY. 4pm - late. There should be quite a few familiar faces at this event. More info nearer the time.
La Grande Galerie, 7 Rue Temple, 86400, Civray. Tel +33 (0)5 49 87 73 02; www.grandegaleriefrance.com
Hi Karen
Thank you so much for the publicity on your blog, however, probably because you were thinking about the plot of your next novel, you got the date wrong! I shall be at La Grand Galerie on the 21st June 2011 between 10am and 1pm.
Also with me will be Jocelyn Syms, author, with her fascinating book about colour, 'Colour Matters.'
I look forward not only to meeting you, Karen, but of course anyone else who is able to attend.
With very best wishes
Glyn Pope author of 'The Doctor, The Plutocrat, and The Mendacious (yes Mendacious) Minister.'
See http://glynpope.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.cactusrainpublishing.com/