I am excited to announce that pre-orders are now available on my book,
My Stylish French Girlfriends.
Writing this book has been an amazing adventure. It all started when the publisher Gibbs Smith contacted me, inviting me to introduce my girlfriends. Last spring and summer saw me on a mission, touring France and taking pictures of twenty inspiring French girlfriends, who generously answered my questions, and opened their homes and their lives to our cameras.
I chose women I know, from all walks of life, and from all over France. I wanted to show how these talented and creative ladies live; how beautifully they decorate their homes; how they care for their families; how creative and dynamic they are and how much the little details count. We didn’t style the homes for the book, but simply arrived and shot the way they live each day. This is authentic France at its best.
In the company of my girlfriends, I toured vineyards; sat at family dinners; shopped at Provençal markets; swam in mountain rivers; walked beside the ocean; ate dinner al-fresco in central Paris and rode horseback. I stayed in châteaux, country cottages, mountain homes and happy beach houses. The whole experience was a privilege that I shall never forget. The result is a big beautiful book, with a chapter about each of these lovely women, and an insider view on to their daily lives.
Here are a few sample pages, and over the next few weeks I shall be sharing some bonus pictures on facebook and instagram, as well as a short video about making the book.
It was a privilege to work with French photographer Franck Schmitt on this project; his good humour and easy going nature, made our photo shoots even more fun, and of course his photography is simply beautiful.
Pre-orders are available now over at Amazon. Just click HERE.
The official publishing date is 1 August. Thank you for all the words of encouragement I received since I announced the book, none of this would have happened without your support for the blog.
available on Amazon
50 comments
Congratulations Sharon to you and to all the lovely ladies who shared their homes. What a wonderful concept and I look forward to reading.
It’ll be a hit for sure!
x Deb
I do enjoy your blog and the photos. However I do get weary of all of the bloggers having something to sell or promote. Book, olive oil etc. etc. I guess it makes the world go round and I should just let it go. But it does get annoying.
I know it!
HI Gayle, I am sorry that you feel that way. I have been thinking about this a lot recently, following another comment similar to yours.
On my blog, any commercial promotion is only sporadic. I invite clients to join my brocante tours; I promote the Soft Surroundings home decor line and I now have a book to sell.
Any commercial activity on this blog has grown organically. The blog was not originally started as a selling tool, in fact I didn’t even think anyone would read me! The different activities and adventures have grown from readers’ requests, and in the case of the book, from being approached by my publisher Gibbs Smith.
If I may, I would like to defend the cause of bloggers who develop a commercial activity. To maintain a successful blog is a full-time job. There is no way around it. Writing, taking photos, finding the ideas, going places to interview or photograph, and then of course all the uploading and editing. Not to mention the very many emails that need to be answered. It is fun, but it is very time consuming.
I think it is a shame that a blogger could be judged for seizing an opportunity for some payback on that time and energy. There are not many situations today, where we would think it normal for someone to work a 50+ hour week for free.
I am not disputing the fact that you find it weary when a blogger promotes a product, just wanted to take the opportunity to voice a different view point.
Thank you for your comment
best
Sharon
Sharon keep doing what you are doing. I am delighted to see the visual delight of your blog.
Thank you Deborah, it’s great to have the support!
I am SO SO excited for you Sharon! This is one of those dream come true type of moments and a cherished one. I can only imagine what goes into publishing a book, the commitment and nail biting moments..and pure joy when you can say ‘DONE’ and then see the fruit of your labour. I am off to Amazon and looking forward to wrapping a few books for Christmas! Best wishes Sharon..sending you a big hug from Saigon. Jeanne xx
Hi Jeanne
thank you so much, I am very excited that my book may be among your christmas gifts!
warmest from normandy
Sharon
xx
Congratulations! I can’t wait to receive my copy!
Congratulations to you!
Wow. Oh, I am so beyond thrilled for you, Sharon! The book, your baby, looks just absolutely gorgeous. We all knew that it would be…and that it will be a smashing success too…
Félicitations and time to pop some champagne!!!
xo
Heather
I will send YOU ONE!!
XO
Congratulations. I look forward to receiving your book that I just ordered ! Fabulous !
Congrats, Sharon! I just pre-ordered your wonderful book…what a treat I’ll have in late summer with hot days here in the USA sipping tea and wondering around France with you through the pages! So thrilled for you.
Sharon……what a wonderful event! Any possibility of a signed copy? I am looking forward to reading it and remembering all that is unique and wonderful about France and her elegant ladies.
W O N D E R F U L……………….I so look forward to reading and seeing the photos!Think I may recognize a few homes!
HOW EXCITING!
Heather, I will get you a copy and send or I will HAND CARRY……………..this may be the ticket I have been looking for!Honey,I MUST take Heather THE BOOK and while I AM there will give her some driving lessons!!!You see there is another pair of DOGS I must meet!!!
ANY chance SHARON of a book TOUR here in CALIFORNIA????
XX
Congratulations, I can’t wait to spend relaxing hours enjoying! What a great idea for your beautiful book.
OMG where have I been??
This is beyond exciting Sharon.
I love the authenticity of the book and how you photographed as you found it when you arrived!
That is brilliant and so YOU!
Congrats my friend, you are something else:)
XO
I miss you!!!
Congratulations Sharon! A great achievement and an inspiration to us all.
Very exciting! I can’t wait to read your book.
I was so excited to order the book on Amazon. All the way through it said free shipping and when I saw the final bill there was shipping charge of $14. What a pity.
Amazing….Congratulations!
I’m so thrilled that you are announcing this! I don’t have to keep my “secret” anymore now! Can’t wait to see this beautiful book Sharon & Congratulations!
Sharon, I am amazed by your talent and so excited about the release of your new book! I would love to review and feature you and your book on my site! Let me know if you would like that!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Sharon,
I couldn’t be happier for you! Congratulations! I have already pre-ordered! Just the first of many books to come!
xoxo
Rié
I am so excited for you, Sharon… your book looks truly, truly wonderful and I can’t wait to read and luxuriate over the photographs… Off to Amazon… 🙂
Hurry up August 1st… xv
Sharon,
Congratulations! What a creative take on French design and culture—through the eyes and homes of French girlfriends as first seen on your blog pages. Will you be offering signed copies through any Internet ordering sites? Or perhaps offering a signed copy in your annual August give-away events?
Judith
So so so proud of you,Sharon! What a fantastic accomplishment! Can’t wait to order my copy and when it comes, put it on the coffee table. Then when my friends admire it, I get to tell them that I know the author! Big congratulations coming to you from the Mississippi Delta!
Delaine:
The Mississippi Delta jumped at me from your post. Spent all my childhood summers in the small town of Collins, Mississippi with my grandmother. Wonderful memories!
Congratulations Sharon you must be over the moon that you have completed your book and we are so excited! Have just pre ordered my copy with Amazon and can’t wait to receive it. It will take centre spot on my coffee table for sure!!
A wonderful achievement.
Teena
Congrats – it looks like a truly great book, elegant but real – I am thoroughly looking forward to reading it 🙂
Your series on your girl friends has been one of my favorite in your blog. (May I vote for your series on local artists as basis for the sequel?) Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I will definitely be buying at least one for myself and I’m already thinking about holiday gift giving. Thank you for all you to Sharon!
I concur with all of the congratulatory comments above. Frustratingly, I can’t access Amazon to pre order via the links on this post.
A wonderful achievement for you and food to feed my francophile obsession! Warm regards.
Sharon:
How very exciting and congratulations to you! I will be ordering the book and so looking forward to having it in my hands. Again, Congratulations!!
Is not all like this! you have to live there to know!
Congratulations and Well Done…it looks wonderful!!! Leslie
Fantastic Sharon, I loved reading about your French friends. I’ll order the book directly.
Congratulations!!
Congratulations Sharon ,I hope to buy your book as it looks great.All the best hope it sells really well
Congratulations! The preview makes me want to see more !!
Marie-Hélène
Sharon, I have been reading your blog for at least two years now and I do not comment. Congratulations on your book and for providing us with a lovely blog which we may visit and see how you live. It has got to be a fulltime job and you do it with such grace. Bravo!
I am absolutely delighted for you and I cannot wait to purchase this book…It sounds positively wonderful!!
Congratulations, Sharon! I have enjoyed reading your blog for about three years now and thank you for the time and effort you put into it. My husband and I visited Normandy last year and absolutely loved it. Your book sounds wonderful – what an achievement!
Congratulations. I just love your blog, Sharon – one of the first I ever followed. It’s clear that a lot of your time and effort goes into making it the quality site it is. I especially enjoyed the series on your stylish French girlfriends so it was with genuine delight that I read about the book! Congratulations once again. Your success is well-deserved as far as I’m concerned! x
Congratulations. It looks like a very beautiful book, and from a first-class publisher. Looking forward to reading it.
Congratulations! It looks beautiful! Definitely adding to my to-buy list right now!
I, too, have followed your blog for several years; in fact, it is my first read each day. Thank you for sharing your time and talents with us. The book looks fabulous, and I ordered my copy immediately. Bravo to you!
I am happy for you Sharon as it has been a hugh committment. I will have to content myself with enjoying what you show us of your book in your posts. Truly I have appreciated meeting some of these dear ladies from your posts and they all seem charming; each in their unique way.
I do hope you will also consider in the future writing short stories and put them in a book as from the posts you have shared stories to us in the past this would be a very marketable book as well.
Also loved the arriondisements posts…….such lovely pictures.
Have you done anything in your kitchen which you mentioned to us in a post last year? Glad to see what you have done in your yard as that was also in my mind to ask you. You have a wonderful way with the belle fleurs that I was disappointed not to win the seeds from the fall flowers when you had your giveaway but alas the happy winner will enjoy their beauty this summer.
May your book sales be many and may the buyers delight in the beauty of your book..
With a happy heart,
Dear Sharon, I am over joy with the news of the book. I had went over the site and order the book and wait for the book to be available. I am so proud and so grateful to have a stylish French girlfriend like you.
Of all the things I miss since moving into the highrise, it’s the flowers & the garden I miss the most. I “hear” you on everything you’re saying in this post. It’s the creative anticipation and finally the fruition which is so satisfying. & those doggies!
You know I love dogs. I am buying your book for every single girlfriend I have as a special gift from you to us to them. Sharon, you are one amazingly gifted woman.
sending love….
Very Cool! I can’t wait to read it!