On our May 7, 2014 book launch day, we sat down in one of the authors’ homes and interviewed each other. This project being part of something much bigger than any of us individually, we wanted to document the process of how it all came together as much as possible to eventually share with others and to commemorate our work. Dawn connected us with the wonderful François Bourru who was there with a complete film and photography crew, and yet were all but invisible to us throughout the process. It’s not that we didn’t notice them of course, it’s just that the crew was so inconspicuous that we were able to chat freely with one another and really be ourselves for what will eventually be part of our press kit.
As the first group of us women gathered on a sofa, barefoot and relaxed, we each took turns to discuss how we came to get in on this project. Video camera-shy for as long as I can remember, I was thrilled that François and his team were so… well, cool. I told the story of how I, myself, had only recently joined the Paris Women of Success when I first heard about the book project, but it was clear to me from the moment I read Dawn‘s email introducing it that it was something I wanted to try to be a part of. I had discussed writing my own book for years with my then-boyfriend, but I have never sat down to compile it all and write it. We have quite the interesting story of how we met and the paths we took thereafter – together and apart – that we still agree would make an interesting book. But I had another love affair to write about first, and that was, of course, my love affair with France. Sanda posed the question in a recent post are we ever really ready? and I can completely relate to that sentiment. Indeed I have notes galore in my dozens of journals and notebooks destined for inclusion in my own published bookS, one of these days. But therein lies the issue… one of these days, Julia? Today is “one of these days”. That day last year that I said yes to this project was “one of these days”. The day I first sat down to write my chapter was “one of these days”. Was I ready? No more ready than I’ll ever be, but probably also no less so, either.
This project has given me a jolt of writing energy that I have been craving for a very long time. My life abroad inspires me in such deep ways that I just always am wanting to document every last moment of it – through writing and photography, especially. I’m so glad I put aside the “one of these days” attitude last year and went for it with Dawn and the Paris Women of Success.