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33 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. I just wanted to let you know that your books are among my favourites, and have been a true inspirtaion to me. You're work has enlightened me on what it means to truly enjoy life and the little things I look over far too often. Congratulations on your success as a writer! I'm looking forward to looking into more of your work. Bon journee et bon sante!

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    1. Bonjour, Emily--Thank you so much for your sweet note. I'm so happy to hear from you and to know that my books have inspired you. I hope we get to meet one day when I'm on tour with Ooh La La! Merci beaucoup, Jamie

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  3. Wow is this weird!
    I am in Stockbridge for a family gathering and I wanted to show a friend an image of this painting of Main St.
    So I Google it and look for images..... and Voila they were posted by you! My former half a house neighbor.
    Bonjour Jamie...... Derek and Dolly

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    1. Bonjour, Derek--How wonderful! The world is so small. I miss you, Derek and hope to see you soon! xo Jamie

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  4. Bonjour, Derek (and Dolly too!) How nice to hear from you! Yes, what a coincidence. Hope we run into one another again at the Falmouth post office! In the meantime, Happy Summer! xo Jamie P.S. I'm speaking at the Falmouth Historical Society on Bastille Day (Sunday 7/14 at 3 p.m.)

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  5. Thank you for such a lovely read - I picked up Ooh La La 2 days ago and I am just itching to find some time to finish it. This happy book has provoked some intresting conversation between my boyfriend and I.

    When will you be in NYC? I would love to hear you speak. Thank you for your great work! Ive written a short but sweet review on my blog - fitnessfits.blogspot.com

    meems

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    1. Dear Marlena--Merci beaucoup for your sweet note! I've just subscribed to your fabulous blog! I absolutely love everything you're doing. And you are sooooo beautiful and stylish and FRENCH! I was actually visiting NYC to speak at F.I.T. last week! If I had known about you, I would have definitely wanted to meet with you. I probably won't be back again until sometime in the fall, but let's stay in touch. You can find me on FB where I post a lot and in the meantime, I send much love and thanks for all you do to make the world a prettier place to live! xo Jamie

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  6. i am reading ooh la la. it is so intriguing. i am 63 and have only started to take care of myself these past 5 years. my mom would never spend the money on herself for creams, makeup, etc, and we really didn't have the money, so i had to find my own way - with the help of good friends.
    i was wondering if you might consider having a week long (in the us for cost)boot camp or boarding school (french) for women to learn about all the things in the book - how to buy lingerie, how to be comfortable with yourself, about the waters, cosmetics & perfumes, etc. i think it would be so fun and worthwhile. it wouldn't have to be a fancy place. I'd be the first to go! also, i get the idea that french women are not jealous of each other, as some american women are. they encourage each other. love that.
    jeanne

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    1. Dear Jeanne--An Ooh La La Finishing School! What a brilliant idea! I would love to do that and will definitely give it some thought. I completely understand what you have to say about not being encouraged to spend money on creams, etc, but you know a lot of French women make their own facial masques with egg white and honey. They use lemon rinses for their hair and lavender in their baths. In fact, there are now classes in France to teach women to make their own beauty products and perfumes. Ooh La La! I do have to say that there is some jealousy among French women, but the big difference I see is that French mothers and grandmothers are much more willing to embrace the mantel of being an elegant older woman to mentor younger women (whether their daughters or simply younger friends.) Part of my mission is to be a mentor to American women of all ages, and in turn encourage femmes d'un certain age to mentor younger women. After all, we're all in this together! Please stay in touch! Love, Jamie P.S. You'll find me on FB too!

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    2. i would love to take those classes in france. what an experience. who sponsors the classes? have been to paris & le sabla de lone(sic)
      thanks for considering the finishing school. i think it would be great.
      jeanne

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    3. I would like to sign up. Hope to retire soon at age 62 and Ooh La La is so encouraging to women of all ages.

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  7. Dear Jeanne--I will get details about the classes and get back to you soon! xo Jamie

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  8. Dear Jeanne--Please contact Micheline Tanguy at michelinetanguy@hotmail.com
    She's an imaging expert based in Paris and she will help you. Please let her know I sent you. xo Jamie

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  9. I had just finished reading "Ooh La La!", and this weekend was rather dreary; I had a gift card to splurge on (small, but a card IS a card!), and decided to take it to Victoria's Secret rather than be "sensible" with it. I picked up the prettiest underwear I could find, and walked out into the outside world.Suddenly it dawned on me that my walk had changed.....simply knowing that I had these unmentionables in my hand made me more aware of my posture, and at the age of 66, I flet 40 years younger. I'm not sure whether the effect was due to the bag; next I'm going to take my lunch to work in the same bag as an experiment.....Whatever the result, thank you for giving me new glasses through which to look at myself!
    Alma H.

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    1. Dear Alma--Thank you so much for writing to me. I am so thrilled to know that my book inspired you to buy some pretty lingerie. You sound like a very elegant femme d'un certain age. I'll be very interested to hear about the results of taking your lunch in the pretty bag to work. I just switched from a over the shoulder bag to a vintage patent leather handbag and it's made all the difference. I am really aware of my posture now and I don't have backaches! So, the right bag is no trivial thing. Merci beaucoup for reading my blog and much love, Jamie

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  10. I loved Bonjour, Happiness so of course I had to get Ooh La La! I'm about halfway through the latter and am enjoying it every bit as much as the first. Not only is the topic of great interest and benefit, but I find your writing really transports me. I'm there with you--as your grandmother washes your hair, as you meet Josie Mermet, people-watching in Paris, whatever . . . You really have a gift and it's a beautiful experience to read your books. Thank you.

    Imagine my surprise, though, when by chance I checked out a new novel from the library titled The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Cafe, by Mary Simses and there in her acknowledgements, she credits you with encouraging and mentoring her to write this book, her first novel. Bravo! It's a charming novel that I highly recommend. I look forward to future books from both of you and would love to meet you sometime at one of your appearances.

    Mary

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  11. Dear Mary--Thank you so much for your sweet note! I'm so happy to hear that you enjoy my books. And yes, I mentored Mary Simses on her first novel. She was my writing student many years ago, and I'm so proud of her. She's a very talented gal. And sweet as can be. I would love to see you at one of my appearances. I will be in Connecticut next week, and I'll be sure to post the upcoming events on blog. Sending lots of love, Jamie

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  12. Hi Jamie,
    Do you ever come to the Southern California area? Have you ever participated in the LA Times Festival of Books? Love to have you out this way! Amy in LA

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  13. Dear Amy--I just saw your comment. I do hope to come to the Southern California area soon! I'll look into the L.A. Times Festival of Books, Thanks so much. Merci beaucoup! xo Jamie

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  14. I’m from Birmingham in England and I want to tell you how much I enjoyed reading Bonjour, Happiness! The simple philosophy of enjoying all the little things in life really sticks with me and I simply take pleasure in everything, never overlooking that beauty can be found everywhere. Keep the books coming please! xx

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    1. Dear Chantel--Merci beaucoup for you sweet note! I am so thrilled to know that you enjoyed my Bonjour, Happiness! And yes, I'll keep the books coming. In the meantime, you might enjoy my others--French Women Don't Sleep Alone and Ooh La La! French Women's Secrets to Feeling Beautiful Every Day. Love, Jamie

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  15. I am a fifteen-year old Francophile living in Los Angeles, and might I just say, your books have truly changed my life. I recently read Ooh La La and I am now reading Bonjour, Happiness. I was wondering: Do you have any additional advice for a younger woman on how to live very, very French? As you can imagine, I don't have a lot of free time or the ability to get a massage, really, ever! But I have found that I am able to incorporate a lot of the different ideas from your books into my life, and for that, I am eternally grateful! I am a huge fan of yours. More books, more books!

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  16. Dear Ava--Merci beaucoup for your sweet email! I'm so happy to hear you've enjoyed my books. That means so much to me. And to answer your question, my advice to you, as a fifteen year old, is to find a mentor as soon as possible. This mentor might be an older woman (even someone old enough to be your grandmother), a teacher, a friend of the family, even a college-age friend. Observe her style and how she approaches her life. Learn as much as you can by simply being in her presence. You might also find this mentor in books--history, or literature or film. This mentor doesn't necessarily have to be French, but rather, a woman who embraces the French philosophy of taking care of herself, embracing the feminine spirit and being mindful of everyday pleasures. Lastly, take French classes and look into your local Alliance Francais. http://www.afdela.org/ I hope this is helpful, dear Ava! Love, Jamie

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  17. Hi Jamie, just read the wonderful story of how you and your husband met. And to think it all started over an essay about cooking a chicken! Was so good that you had a second chance at love. I live in Sheffield, near the Peak District (setting for Pride and Prejudice and the Princess Bride) with my wife Eva. I'm thinking to order your Writers toolbox soon as I like to write when I can. Kind regards. Martin

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    1. Dear Martin--It's been almost two years since you wrote this lovely comment. I am just seeing it now! My apologies! I do hope you get a copy of The Writers Toolbox. I know you'll love it. And how lucky to live near the setting for Pride and Prejudice and The Princess Bride. It sounds enchanting and very romantic. Warm regards, Jamie

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  18. Bonjour Jamie, I watched your interview on the Daily Connoisseur and just had to read your books. I so enjoyed Ooh La La and it inspired me to make some changes and seek out my own joie de vivre. I have ordered you latest book and can't wait to read it next. Merci, Cheri

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    1. Dear Cherie--Thank you so much for this sweet comment! I do hope you enjoy "Parisian Charm School". I would love to hear what you think and in the meantime, I send you much love, Jamie

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  19. Hi Jamie, I am finishing up your book "Parisian Charm School" now and really loving it. J'adore! I love the title that you gave it. I thought only we Southerners used that term.

    Anyway, it intrigued me because I went to charm school as a girl. I went to two of them actually. They were both held in these big old Southern mansions, both white with wrap around porches. One was held downstairs in my dance school where I took my lessons for 4 years. The dance school was run by an old woman who loved to regale us all with her ballerina stories of dancing before the King of England. The charm school was run by her sister in the downstairs of the house.

    I went to another charm school very similar where I remember getting walking and sitting lessons as well as how to properly sip Pepsi-Cola out of a glass! Haha! We weren't allowed wine or coffee or tea. She thought the caffeine would wind us up. But we did get lessons in hair and make-up.

    Your book brought back great memories for me. I cannot wait to read your novel! Do you have a release date for it yet?

    Merci,
    Krissi

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    1. Dear Krissi--Thank you so much for this wonderful description of your experience in Charm School! I love all the details. You are so lucky to have had such a unique and very special experience! I wonder if I might correspond with you? I would love to have a phone date to ask you more about your time in the two schools, and especially about your experience with dance classes. I am writing a novel about a charm/dance school in Paris and would love to learn more about your experiences. My email is Jamie@JamieCatCallan.com Sending you love, Jamie

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    2. Hi Jamie, yes indeed! I'd love to speak with you. And you can ask me anything :-) I just sent you an email....

      Blessings,
      Krissi

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  20. Dear Jamie I read and re-read all your books. They are a joy! Thank you 😊

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