Sunday, April 5, 2020

Cara Black Takes us on an Escape to Paris!

RHYS:  It's always a treat to host my near friend Cara Black when her new book comes out. I have loved all of her books, loved traveling vicariously to Paris with Aimee. But this book is different and I want to shout about it from the rooftops: It's called THREE HOURS IN PARIS and it is a big WW2 thriller, think Three Days of the Condor only with a warm, real heroine. It took my breath away when I read it.

Now the sad part: it was supposed to be Cara's big break out book, the one that takes her to a new level. Only all her events have been cancelled. So I urge you to spread the word in any way that you can.

Here's Cara now to ease our minds with a little dose of Paris.

CARA BLACK:

Dear Reds, I hope you’re doing well and sheltering in place. Right now, I’m missing Paris and feeling la nostalgie. I’m thinking about some of the hideaways in Paris I’d go to write in, places to get inspiration. Those unique libraries, the corner cafes I love, and gardens in quiet, secluded spots bringing peace and that je ne sais quoi that breathes Paris. I’m so happy Rhys asked me to share a few with you. Even though we’re cooped up inside we can go virtually. And when this ends, I don’t know about you, but I’ll be on the first flight to Paris.


To me, Bibliotheque Mazarine is like a historic hideaway on the Left Bank. A librarian helped me locate a rare archive book then assigned me a 19th century desk overlooking the Seine. I loved the smell of the old paper, being surrounded by leather bound volumes and those old wooden ladders to reach the books under a fresco’d ceiling. Housed in a 17th Century building created by Cardinal Mazarin as his personal library, it contains the richest collections of rare books and manuscripts in France and is the country’s oldest library.
Amazingly, it’s open to the public. You just need to sign up and records and books are available to consult. The library is quiet, you hear pages turn and it’s full of historians, researchers and students.
I took many notes; descriptions, details for my story and soaked in the ambiance under a chandelier owned by Madame du Pompadour.

Cafe la Fontaine became my ‘fountain penning’ inspiration. The irresistible urge hit me when I was walking through the lively Charonne district and stumbled upon La Fontaine. This cafe, near a street corner, pulled me with it’s spiral staircase. I don’t think much has changed since the 19th century.
After my discovery, armed with French notebooks, and a new fountain pen, I went often to write over an espresso. A glass of Champagne. I’d go over my notes, update them and sketch out a scene for my book or work in progress. This is a cafe where you can sit for hours. Watch the neighborhood go by. Full of locals, habitués and the cafe owner greets people by name. A real place of the quartier.




Jardin du Luxembourg

The Jardin du Luxembourg is a wonderful park in the sixth arrondissement on the Left Bank - with a children’s playground, a puppet theatre, tennis courts, a place to play ‘boules’, and a pond to sail boats. When there I find a quiet spot, sometimes near a statue to sit and let the words flow. Writing for me happens in a quiet space.
The beekeeping school and working bee hives directly inspired a plot line when I was writing, Murder in Saint Germain. I mapped the area, walked its gravelled paths, then my characters did, too.


For a scene in my new book, Three Hours in Paris, my first ever standalone that comes out on Tuesday, I used the bench overlooking the Marie de Medici fountain, one that I’d sat on often. I’d listened to the gurgling water, felt the soft summer air and imagined a scene. This story is set in 1940 but where I sat felt timeless. My characters would feel what I had been feeling; the heat, the sounds of the fountain, the crunching gravel of the paths and in those days, cigarette smoke. It helped me bring the scene to life.


Cara Black’s book, THREE HOURS IN PARIS, her first ever stand alone comes out on Tuesday, April 7.

In June of 1940, when Paris fell to the Nazis, Hitler spent a total of three hours in the City of Light - abruptly leaving, never to return. To this day, no one knows why.

Cara Black, author of the Aimée Leduc investigations, reimagines history in a pulse-pounding spy thriller. One American riflewoman, one impossible spy mission, one shot at changing the course of history. THREE HOURS IN PARIS is an April Indie Next pick, received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal.

RHYS: Cara’s book tour, as many other authors book tours, has been cancelled. Some virtual events will be on her website at www.carablack.com as they happen. Many bookstores are still operating as of now. In fact some, like the Poisoned Pen, are doing virtual events and are not charging for shipping.
If you feel inclined to share Cara's book news and other authors whose books are coming out this month, or are able to support your local bookseller with an order, or request her and other author's books from the library, it would be heartfully appreciated. We are all in this together, thank you!

48 comments:

  1. What lovely scenes, Cara. Thank you for sharing them with us.
    I am so looking forward to reading THREE HOURS IN PARIS. Perhaps you could tell us a bit about the story?

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    1. Joan, thank you! As Rhys says, it's my first ever standalone - I'm so late to the party here but it stemmed from a footnote in history. This small fact that Hitler came to newly occupied Paris for three hours. Only three hours and then left. No victory parade on the Champs d'Elysee or what you'd expect. I knew there was more to this and the fact Goebbels his propaganda minister, and pioneer of faux news, edited the newsreel of Hitler's visit!

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  2. Love, love, love the Aimee Leduc mysteries but any new book set in Paris by Cara Black would draw me in!

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  3. Cara, welcome to Jungle Reds and thankyou for the tour of some of your favorite spots in Paris.

    Your books are already on my To Be Read list. But also, I am a huge fan of James R. Benn's Billy Boyle, WWII mysteries and cannot wait for his next book in September. This week Jim told all of his followers and fans that your book is a MUST read. So, if the Jungle Red Writers and Jim Benn both say that this is the book to buy, I'm in. I'll order my copy this morning.

    It must be very disappointing to have to do your book tour virtually, but I do understand that many people are reading more during this forced time of isolation, I am for sure. I received one Rhys's books on Friday. I was so eager to get it, that I opened the door to thank the delivery man. He said that he is delivering tons of books right now. Silver lining? Anyway, good luck.

    Stay safe and well everyone.

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    1. So great of Jim to give a shout out. I love Billy Boyle! Did you know Aimée grandfather, Claude, made an appearance in his last book when Billy makes it to Paris at Liberation?

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    2. Yes, now I remember. I love that connection. Aimee is very high on my list of soon to read heroines.

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  4. Cara, you're such a good writer. Does this new direction mean an end to the Aimee Leduc series? I look forward to Three Hours in Paris, it sounds thrilling.

    Thanks for the mini-tour of Paris, and a sudden sense memory. On my first trip there it was mid-March, and Jardin du Luxembourg was beginning to wear spring color. From a block away I could inhale the purply fragrance of the masses of hyacinths in bloom in the park.

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    1. Hi Karen, thank you! I took this direction after much agonizing - writing a standalone for me was a real challenge. After 19 books in a series, at first I almost felt that I was being 'unfaithful' to Aimée. But then...the story passion took over. Love the hyacinths in JdeL!

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  5. Thank you for introducing us to places in Paris that inspired your writing. Three Hours in Paris is definitely a book that I want to read. Congratulations on its release on Tuesday, and I will definitely be spreading the word. Take care!

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  6. I love the Aimee Leduc series and am looking forward to reading your new standalone. Thanks for sharing some of your favorite places in Paris. I was there last summer and you’ve helped bring back some good memories.

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    1. Cindy C, I hope you'll enjoy Three Hours in Paris. And that you'll get back to Paris if not this summer...the fall?

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  7. Cara, you caught my attention with the description of your experiences at the Jardin du Luxembourg. I so loved that place near my hotel and restful. I'm now looking forward to read Three Hours in Paris.

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    1. Yes, danielle-momo the JdeL is so special...and lucky you to stay near the Jardin and enjoy the peace!

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  8. I pre-ordered this book and cannot wait to read it ... the next best thing to a Cara Black book is an actual trip to Paris!

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    1. Thank you dear Hallie! I keep hoping that when Debs is next in London and I'm in Paris that she can Eurostar over and maybe you could join us!!!

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    2. Wouldn't that be wonderful, Cara! Just imagine how much espresso we could drink and how much brainstorming the three of us could do!

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  9. I will be pre-ordering this as soon as I finish this comment. I already have two of your books stacked on my pile of TBR books, but this plot sounds thrilling.

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  10. I preordered instantly when I heard about this--I am SWOONING. to read it! And it will be at my door Tuesday. Hurray!
    And tell us MORE about it! And congratulations. xoxoo

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    1. Hank, you're a wonder, thank you! And thanks for asking :) Kate Rees, my protagonist, is from Oregon, a backwoods gal who grew up hardscrabble on ranches during the Depression. Did I mention she had 5 brothers, handled the ranch chores and hunted for their food? She's resilient, thinks on her feet. I saw her as an everywoman - daughter, sister, wife, and mother who loses the most precious things to her in war and vows revenge.

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  11. Cara asked me to add that she’ll be giving away a copy to one of the commenters

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    1. Rhys, I'll amend that to order my THREE HOURS IN PARIS book, from an indie bookstore and have it sent to the lucky winner. I'll be happy to sign it in person the next time!

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  12. Welcome Cara. How I’d love to be sitting by that pond in the Lux about now. And congrats on your new book

    Also big round of applause for Julia’s new book, Hid From Our Eyes, reviewed today by Marilyn Stasi in the NYT!!!

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    1. Finta thank you! I can't wait to read Julia's new book!

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  13. Your library is the place I want to visit if I ever travel to Paris. Not to do the research that you and others are/were doing but to just sit and admire and soak up the history. I love just sit and watch and admire history in places I don't live. And you find me a shady, quiet spot in a park, with a gentle breeze on a warm day, well, I'm in no hurry, are you?

    Only three hours in Paris and then he leaves, forever. Intriguing. This is definitely a book to read and then pass along to others. Thanks for bringing Paris into my apartment this morning, Cara. I hope your virtual events go well.

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    1. Deana Dale, yes the Mazarin library is amazing and a place to soak up history. It's a new world and we're all virtual now, thanks for the good wishes

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  14. Welcome, Cara. And thanks for the beautiful pictures. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Three Hours in Paris. It is everything Rhys says and more. Kate is an amazing woman. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish, couldn't turn the pages fast enough but at times had to pause and take a break from the suspense. Congrats on this release. I have been telling everyone what a fantastic story this is and will post my review on pub day. And of course I don't need to be entered in the giveaway. :-) sally

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  15. Thank you Grandma Cootie/Sally! So appreciate iT!

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  16. Your photographs made me long to leave this dang house! I've never been to Paris but have certainly read a lot of books set there. The premise of your book is compelling. Why did Adolph leave so suddenly? Can't wait to find out!

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  17. Cara,looking so forward to your book. I was lucky enough to spend some years in France, several of them in Paris and you have really caught its flavor. I love history and spent many hours in some of the other wonderful Bibliothèques in Paris but never the Mazarine.

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    1. Atlanta, every time I go there is something to discover. In Paris, turning a corner reveals a new place!

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  18. Rhys, excellent post as usual! I took a photo of you and Cara at Book Passage several years ago when I was there for a writing workshop.

    Cara, welcome back to Jungle Reds! Congratulations on your stand alone novel and it looks like a novel that I would love to read! When I visited Paris some years ago, we visited the Musee d'Orsay and the Louvre. I remember the Tuillieres (sp?) Gardens. I had a chocolate crepe with a cafe au lait on the Left Bank. I was pleasantly surprised at how kind most of the French people were, after hearing stories about how rude the French were. Everywhere I went, I noticed that the cheese shops had more goat cheese than the other kind of cheese.

    Diana

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    1. Nice to 'see' you again Bibliophile/Diana! Goat cheese rules.

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  19. Cara, that library!! I'm swooning! Hugs and huge congratulations on the new book. I discovered last week that I had somehow ended up with an ARC from Bouchercon! I left for a month in London only two days after the conference so I had never gone through my conference books. What a lovely surprise to find such a treasure--but I will be ordering a hard copy from PP, too. Readers are in for terrific read!

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  20. Debs, thank you so much and hope you enjoy. It was liberating and yet, scary to step outside my familiar zone and write a stand-alone. Setting it in wartime Paris alerted all my research antenna!

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  21. I'm a huge Aimee Leduc fan, and so looking forward to this new standalone. Thanks for sharing
    the wonderful photos and descriptions of your favorite spots in Paris!

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  22. This made me cry. SO lovely!!! Cara - that first plane back to Paris when all this is over? I'll be on it too. Thank you for this.

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    1. Oh thank you Kaye! Of course we'll be on that first plane, non? We'll meet up at Angelina's for a chocolat chaud then over to WHSmith bookstore again!

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  23. Cara, I love how you took a little snippet of history and grew a novel from it. Can't wait to read this! And thanks for the visit to some quiet spotsin Paris this morning. Much appreciated!

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    1. Flora, thank you and writing this took me back there, too. A wonderful pocket in time and place.

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  24. I never seem to spend more than a day in Paris...a shame, as it's such a breathtakingly beautiful city. Your new story sounds fabulous, and your Aimee Leduc series sounds wonderful, too. I had never encountered it before, so am SO glad I read this blog. Virtual visits to Paris are just the thing for now. :)

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  25. How did I miss this yesterday? I have lost all sense of time. Argh. Cara, I loved your book so much! I think it is just brilliant and your post about Paris warms my heart.

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