I’m in the bread basket, as far away from de-boning a duck or boiling a lobster as I can get.
I went to see the new “Julie & Julia” movie last week, the one where Meryl Streep does a bang-up impersonation of the late great American French-food chef Julia Child and Amy Adams does a perfect job of making you hate 30-year-olds who think they are too good to work in a cubicle because they went to Tufts and edited a college literary magazine and should be famous. It’s a movie about how Julie and Julia got their books published, one through many years of dedicated hard work to produce something entirely original, and the other by whining on a blog about how unfair life is. They both cook.
Like Julia, I got my first book published when I was way past 40 (an illustrated travel memoir called When Wanderers Cease to Roam, when I was 52). And like Julie, I am a blogger. It took me thirteen years to get my book idea into a manuscript, one query to get an agent (I got very, very lucky), three months to get a publisher, and two years later I had a book on the shelves at Barnes and Noble so yeah, I’m a little bitter that I had to watch Julie type a year-long blog and voila: 65 agents and editors line up for her manuscript and then Nora Ephron makes a movie about her. Hey, world: Where’s MY movie?? Life is not fair.
I’m currently working on my second book, an illustrated travel memoir about France. This does not thrill my agent (she thinks France as a subject for a book is too limiting) and my editor warned me that nobody wants to buy a book about France; that is, until the movie “Julie & Julia” came out. Now books about France are the hottest topic (after vampires) and are flying off the shelves …
So I’m hanging in there, putting together my too-late-for-the-latest-publishing-craze book about my travels in France (the above illustration is a page from the Paris chapter) and trying to live a creative life here on Long Island. This blog will be about all that, and cats, tea, books, figuring out if there’s a spell-check button somewhere on this site, and whatever else it takes to get through a day. Like today, it’s the promise of a nice cold glass of Sancerre at dusk … maybe two glasses, and playing my old Stone Roses album REALLY LOUD.
My Book
I just saw the movie too. I could not believe Meryl Streep’s talent, nor Julia Child’s efforts.
But the way I feel about cooking, I have to give the 30 year old a little credit for cooking all those recipes and eating all that butter. She’s a better man than I am, Gunga Din (apologies to Kipling)
That movie reminded me how when you FOCUS on a passion, you can become quite good at that thing.
I see that in your book too, a focus on living the life you choose to the fullest. I look forward to hearing about Looong Island and France
(what a combo)
GOL!! (giggling out loud)
I went to see this movie with my 22-year old daughter who is addicted to the Food Network. She WOULD experiment with some of those crazy recipes that Julia first published, and I WOULD NOT. I seldom open a cookbook unless I’m brain dead about what to prepare, and then only use it for the kick-start that good food pictures provide.
I loved this movie, but I’ve just experienced almost the same amount of entertainment (in far less time) by reading this post, Vivian. Thanks for sharing. BTW, you’ve provided much inspiration about my dreams to have someone other than ME want to publish my books!
What’s this about CATS?
You sound very intelligent, and along with it, observant.
Looking forward to about what else you’ll tell us .
Isabel said “WTF, why do we have to move??” LOL I LOve that !!! And I agree, I like the old blog but I am alot like Isabel I think ?? I DO like being able to comment, and like Isabel, I will adjust and be comfortable and I applaude your bravery to move into this brave new ever changing damn IT world!!
And Ahhhh I would love to be working on a book about France, wanna trade places – into my office, paperwork and numbers crap – WTF??
and PS Love your Mom too!
ps – PS I loved the movie, and Loved Meryl (again) and yes it reminded me, Dreams do come true with undaunting focus and determination (and Wow Julia Child was some Woman!!) Ok I’m done for today.
Holy Sh*t! YOU wrote that book?? I love that book, When wanderer’s cease to Roam… and I’ve wondered about some of the places.. I live in Harrison, pretty close by, and have taught a bit at the Pelham art center.
small world.
PS.good luck with the next book…
Hi Vivian,
I love your work! I am currently reading your book. Haven’t seen the “Julie & Julia” movie yet, but plan to catch it soon. Loved today’s blog in “Wisdom Woman”. I a looking forward to the next entry.
Vivian, I love your book! I got it immediately after Jessica touted it on her site and have been savoring it ever since. Your depictions (both in words and pictures) of animals are masterful and I love the mitten spread. Mittens are sort of foreign objects to us here in SC, but your page of the orphans is wonderful! And your lettering is incredible! Thanks for all the great evenings I have had with your Journal.
How do you think of clever things to say EVERY DAY?
and write a book
and watch tv and go to movies
and take care of 14 cats
and visit your neighbors
and have tea time with hubby
and write write write
and take care of a big house
but you DO…….
Love the “Wanderers Book” I’m looking forward to the next one.
I bought ‘when Wanderers etc’ at a time when I was ill and sleeping most of the time, I was only able to read a few pages each day, i thoroughly enjoyed the book and the illustrations. will look out for the next book.
FANTASTIC. AS ALWAYS.
I haven’t seen the movie; my daughter says I will love it. I have your book and I love it too. I got mine after reading the review on Jessica’s blog also. No, life isn’t fair at all. What could we moan about if it were?