**WIN!** Marc Levy Ebooks + a Long Weekend in Paris!

Marc Levy is the most widely read French author in the world. With 13 published novels in the past 12 years – all #1 bestsellers in France and in many other countries – his books have been translated into 45 languages with nearly 30 million copies sold.

Before his first novel, If Only It Were True, was published in the U.S., Steven Spielberg acquired the film rights for DreamWorks. The subsequent movie,  Just like Heaven, starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo, became a #1 box office hit.

Since that introduction US readers haven’t had easy access to the rest of Levy’s work, however. That is, until now.

International e-book publisher Versilio is now releasing the English translations of Marc Levy’s novels. To celebrate, they’re also running a sweepstakes. First prize is a long weekend in Paris for two, including roundtrip airfare and hotel. I thought y’all might like to know about that!

Other prizes include an iPad loaded with Marc’s novels. To be entered to win, participants need to answer 5 questions about Marc Levy’s novel All Those Things We Never Said by February 10. Winners will be announced on Valentine’s Day. Head over here to enter!

I’m pleased that the publisher is also offering a free ebook to a lucky paris (im)perfect reader specifically. (That’s you!)

To enter to win a free ebook, just leave a comment by 10 AM EST February 10. I’ll draw a name at random and get your free promo code to you! (Even if you don’t have an ereader, you’ll be able to download the book to your computer, so feel free to enter.) Good luck!

**Please note the comments below are only for the chance to win the ebook. To enter for a chance to win the trip to Paris, head over to Marc Levy’s fan page.**

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Serious Snowfall

The past weekend saw Paris covered in snow. It may be gone now, but for a few glorious days, the city was transformed. It’s the biggest snow I can remember.

Here are a few pictures:

Paris, The City of Light (New Time Lapse Video)

Snow in Paris!

Well, at least last night, though all evidence is already gone.

I’ve come from 11 days in Vermont where people bat nary an eyelash at several inches of the white stuff (witness photos below), but in Paris even flurries are an event. As it’s a rare occurrence, it casts the city in a different glow.

The excitement of the cityscape seen in a new way also drives this video by Benjamin Trancart. By now, time-lapse photography projects of Paris aren’t a revelation (perhaps the most well-known is Le Flaneur, which I also posted on the blog here), but this one  manages to add a fresh spin with its surreal effects and music by Yasawas-Amon Tobin.

Plus, it took 100,000 photographs to create the video of less than 4 minutes; whatever you think, that’s dedication!

There’s more info on the video and director over on Untapped Cities if you’re interested. If you simply want to watch, though, stay put and enjoy!

Three Year Blogiversary!

Today is my blogiversary and I’ve just returned to Paris!

View from a friend’s apartment

Merci in the 11eme.

Three years already. Happy birthday, baby. You keep growing so fast.

At 59 Rivoli

New cafe in my ‘hood

Thank you, lovely readers, for coming along for the strange and beautiful ride.

Rue de la Roquette; I pass this all the time.

Inside the new cultural center, Elephant Paname

Exciting futures ahead.

How is your new year going?

Faux Pas Friday Guest Post: Newcomer’s Follies

Greetings from snowy Vermont! I hope you all are having a lovely holiday season. I’m just starting the intense residency at Vermont College of Fine Arts (if anyone wants to follow along with just how intense, here’s the daily schedule.)

As I won’t have a lot of time to update the blog, I’m delighted to have a guest today. You may remember I interviewed Aurelia d’Andrea when her Moon Living Abroad in France guidebook was published. When I noticed Aurelia making funny comments on Facebook about her faux pas one day I said, tiens! Why don’t I invite her to contribute to Faux Pas Friday? I’m glad she accepted the invitation! And so, without further ado…

“Newcomer’s Follies” by Aurelia d’Andrea

If faux pas were an Olympic sport, I would be a gold medalist. The main difference between me and a true Olympian, though, is that I don’t have to train for my sport. Being a Socially Inept Expat just comes naturally, without even the slightest modicum of effort.

Since moving to Paris two-and-a-half years ago, this innate “gift” has flowered like an out-of-control weed. France, it seems, offers nearly ideal conditions for social awkwardness to flourish. I would’ve liked to have nipped this problem in the bud, but it’s too late for that now, and how do you nip when you don’t even know where to begin?

Winter Solstice

The shortest day of the year, the one with least light.

And it’s true there is darkness.

Here’s a song called “Winter Solstice,” haunting and beautiful for the day.

The light starts growing again now.

What will you bring into the light?

Home for the Holidays

There are plenty of bistros…

And the Croque Monsieur is a popular choice…

And that Arc looks kind of familiar

But of course this is my beloved New York, not Paris!