Kaye Barley muses...

HALLIE EPHRON: Today it gives me the greatest pleasure to welcome Kaye Barley, our dear "Oh, Kaye!" who has blogged once a month for us since... forever... and is now stepping away from that regular gig. Fortunately, she agreed to come on as a guest.

Kaye, I “met” you via your blog, Meanderings & Muses. I know you started blogging ages ago (2008??)—tell us when and what got you started?  And where is it taking you these days?

KAYE BARLEY: In a very round-about way, I think Meanderings and Muses came to be because I quit smoking.

Evelyn David, author(s) and member of The Stiletto Gang asked me to write a blog piece about that. That was during the summer of 2008 (and I am still smoke free – yay!).  Then in September of that year, JT Ellison asked me to write a piece about how theinternet might be a “Virtual Montparnasse” for the blog Murderati.

Then I attended my first Bouchercon in October.  How could I not want to write about that?  I couldn’t wait to share that experience along with some pretty awesome pictures.   Talk about Fan Girl – that was me.

All these things seemed like fun things to share in my own blog, hence Meanderings and Muses was born.  But I wanted it to be about more than my ramblings about my own life.

After floundering around for a bit and after running the idea by several author friends I decided to try out an idea just to see if it would fly, and boy did it ever. I sent out invitations to some author friends asking if they’d be willing write a piece for yet another blog - about whatever they cared to write about.  Every invitation was met with a “yes.”

In January 2009 the author spotlights were kicked off by my dear friend Pat Browning.  I was a huge fan of Pat’s work, especially her essays.  She had a way of writing that was so comfortable.  Readers felt like they were sitting down for a cup of coffee and a chat with a close friend while reading Pat’s pieces.  Perfect for the atmosphere and ambience I hoped to have at my own blog.

What started as the 2009 Meanderings and Muses Dream Team of about 12 authors – one a month – grew to two authors a week (sometimes three), every week, in 2013.

By this time, many of the contributors had participated every single year. And I was beginning to get requests from people who wanted to come play.

But it had turned into more than I had hoped and was becoming more like work than fun for me. So at the end of 2013 I thanked all the guests one final time. 

Guests being a delightful mix of bestselling authors, mid list authors, unpublished authors, regional authors, poets, publicists and publishers, bloggers, friends of the mystery community and readers who read a bit of everything.  I was even able to convince my husband to write a piece and wasn’t the least bit surprised when the number of hits kept rising and rising and rising.

Meanderings and Muses author spotlights made its mark in the mystery world.  I’m always going to be quite proud of that.  How could it not with a line-up including...

 Avery Aames Megan Abbott Patti Abbott Victoria Abbott Suzanne Adair Ellery Adams Riley Adams Michael Alatorre Tasha Alexander Lou Allin Beth Anderson Patty Anderson Susan Anderson  Donna Andrews Maggie Barbieri Donald Barley Wendy Bartlett  Cara Black Rachel Brady Peg Brantley Duffy Brown Pat Browning Brenda Buchanan Julia Buckley Robin Burcell Lucy Burdette Alafair Burke Tony Burton Sarah Byrne Bill Cameron Dana Cameron Chester Campbell Lillian Stewart Carl Cathy Lee Carper Toni McGee Causey Diane Chamberlain Joelle Charbonneau Laura Childs Jane Cleland Stacey Cochran Mark Coggins Jeff Cohen P.J. Coldren Meredith Cole Reed Farrel Coleman Alan Cook Thomas H. Cook E.J. Copperman Gary Corby Shelley Costa Cleo Coyle Elizabeth Spann Craig Bill Crider Deborah Crombie Lonnie Cruse Evelyn David Hilary Davidson Krista Davis Mark De Castrique Vicki Delany Deni Dietz Nan Dillingham Julie Dolcemaschio Alice Duncan Carola Dunn J.T. Ellison HallieEphron Linda Fairstein Nancy Peterson Farina Robert Fate Gerrie Ferris Finger Barbara Fister Jen Forbus Barbara Fradkin Shelly Fredman Leighton Gage Kate Gallison Kaye George Shane Gericke Gina Gilmore Debra Ginsberg Chris Grabenstein Andrew Grant Judith Greber Beth Groundwater Carolyn Haines Tim Hallinan Denise Hamilton R.J. Harlick Rosemary Harris Libby Fischer Hellman Sara J. Henry Sasscer Hill Beth Hoffman Judy Hogan Lesa Holstine Julie Hyzy Coco Ihle Roberta Isleib Dean James Nancy Lynn Jarvis Craig Johnson Larry Karp Toni L.P. Kelner Dana King Vicki Lane Bob Levinson N. J. Lindquist Mary Jane Maffini Victoria Maffini Morgan Mandel Margaret Maron Nancy Martin Ashley McConnell Jenn McKinlay Marilyn Meredith Jenny Milchman Celia Miles Robin Minnick Donna Moore Bobbi Munn Tim Myers Patricia Neeley-Dorsey Radine Trees Nehring Kris Neri Scott Nicholson Doris Ann Norris Karen Olson Mike Orenduff Alan Orloff Ann Parker Bronson L. “Bo” Parker Brad Parks Sandra Parshall Louise Penny Twist Phelan Dee Phelps Neil Plakcy Jonathan Quist Cornelia Read Mary Reed Gillian Roberts L.J. Roberts Chris Roerden Carolyn Rose S.J. Rozan Janet Rudolph Sandra Ruttan Hank Phillippi Ryan Karen Schinder Brandon Seidl L.J. Sellers Sarah Shaber Deborah Sharp Zoe Sharp Andi Shechter Clea Simon Joanne Campbell Slan Ben Small April Smith Sylvia Dickey Smith Alexandra Sokoloff Robin Spano Earl Staggs Kelli Stanley Patricia Stoltey Niki Strandskov Pari Noskin Taichert Marcia Talley Kathleen Taylor Pattie Tierny Elaine Viets Miranda Phillips Walker Robert Walker Kathryn Wall Mary Welk  Melinda Wells Jeri Westerson Molly Weston Shirley Wetzel Leslie Wheeler Sharon Wildwind Michael Wiley Simon Wood Nancy Means Wright Elizabeth Zelvin

Meanderings and Muses has gone through a lot of changes and now it’s become a place for me to do an occasional book squeal, share some of my photography, share a piece of poetry or art I’ve stumbled across. A place where I share stories and pictures about friends and family, and political rants. 

It’s a place I lean on and love.  And I have no idea what might show up there on any given day.

HALLIE: Whoa! That's some list!!

One of your “muses” was surely Harley. A corgi, AKA Harley Doodle Barley.  (And BTW I love the idea of that little energetic dog being named after a motorcycle.) He’s inspired you, your blog, and your writing. Tell us how.

KAYE:  Oh, Harley.  I miss that funny little dog every day of my life.  He would have taken this new kid, Annabelle, in hand and given her a good talking to.  He was a joy, a tonic, a mischievous little soul.  And he did “inspire” us to write a book with him – all about him, of course.  It sold quite well, and still picks up a new sale every now and then.

HALLIE: Tell us about Boone, your home in the North Carolina Mountains, and how it shapes your literary life.

KAYE: Boone.  Talk about a love/hate relationship!  

I adore our little house on the edge of the wilderness and I adore our neighbors.  This area of the North Carolina mountains is beautiful.  We have a small group of neighbors who are like family.  There’s nothing I enjoy much more than shopping in our little downtown area where we have some outstanding shops and galleries and a few good restaurants. 

I’m afraid, however, what I love most about it is slowing changing and disappearing.  

Developers love lopping off another mountain top to toss up another group of cheaply built houses/condos/apartments.  They’re starting to ignore their own rule about building height.  The university is taking over the sweet downtown area and housing prices are ridiculous, meaning many of the service people will be living outside of Boone and driving in to work.  One of the largest employers, Appalachian State University, doesn’t believe in raises for staff, and I could go on and on and on.  You may have seen Boone on the Rachel Maddow Show during a segment of voter suppression. 

North Carolina, in general, has been a challenge in recent years. It shapes my literary life in that I always find things here to photograph, to contemplate, and to write about.  It’s a dichotomy I’m constantly exploring.

HALLIE: Please, share with us your wish for the new year, and what books are on your bedside table…

KAYE: In semi-permanence on my bedside table are a couple of books by Pat Conroy including his cookbook which has some of the loveliest essays he’s written.  Also, his “My Reading Life,” and “Lowcountry Heart.”  

Additional permanent book residents include Rick Bragg’s “My Southern Journey,” and Neil Gaiman’s “The View From the Cheap Seats.”  I love essays and poetry for bedtime reading.  The books of poetry on that messy bedside table right now are Mary Oliver’s “Devotions,” Christopher Buckley’s “Star Journal,” and Ntozake Shange’s “Wild Beauty.”  The novel I’m reading is Dawn Tripp’s “Georgia: A Novel of Georgia O’Keeffe.”  Next up is Tahereh Mafi’s “Whichwood, a companion to her “Furthermore” which was pure magic.  And my oh so cherished Kindle Fire so I can have any book I might have a hankering for at any hour of the day or night.  Push a button and “POOF!” there it is.  More magic!

As far as the coming year goes, Donald has joined me as a retired person so we hope to just relax and enjoy time together.  We’re both nesters, so being at home is always nice, but we’re also looking forward to doing some traveling.  He’s agreed to go to Paris with me next September and we’ve already booked a small studio apartment on the Ile Saint-Louis for a week, followed by a train trip to Amsterdam where we have a hotel room booked for 3 nights.  Between now and then, just to make me quit talking obsessively about all things Paris, we’ll be making little day trips to Asheville and other places we enjoy that are close by, and a trip to beach is always on the agenda.

 
HALLIE: Are you working on a new book?

KAYE:  I’m working, sporadically, on two manuscripts.  One is another Whimsey novel in which I’m trying to tell Olivia’s story.  But, it feels like I’m just retelling the story of Whimsey, so I’m not happy with it.  We’ll see where it, and if, it goes.

The second is a novel which takes place in a small mountain town.  It’s a little darker.  One has to be careful not to poke at and peek under some fairly harmless looking rocks.  I’m having a whole lot of fun with this one, truth be told.  But I am a very slow writer, for which I have stopped thrashing myself.  

My favorite writing is creative non-fiction essays, so I find myself doing a lot of that, along with some short stories.

HALLIE: Kaye, we’re going to miss you as a regular contributor to Jungle Red, so I hope you’ll come back often as a guest.

KAYE: Hallie, being an Honorary Red for five plus years has been an honor.  It’s been fun and of course I’ll come back as often as allowed.  I thank Hank for the initial invitation which was a huge and fantastic surprise and I thank all the Reds for their friendship and support.  It’s a pretty amazing group of women I’ve been hanging with, I must say. 

HALLIE: Ending with a quiz for our readers, who have gotten to know Kaye over these last years. One of these is TRUE about Kaye… which one is it?

1. She danced on stage with Bruce Springsteen in Atlanta.

2. She sang on stage with Willie Nelson in Atlanta (just one short chorus of "On The Road Again").

3. She was on Atlanta TV getting a kiss from a camel.

4. She was part of the peanut gallery for the Howdy Doody Show.

5. She was on Atlanta TV helping Paula Deen make Shrimp & Grits

"Oh, Kaye!" sends a postcard from Paris

There must be a million quotes about Paris.  About its beauty, its sense of mystery and glamour. It's earned each and every one of those quotes, including Audrey Hepburn's "Paris is always a good idea."


But Allen Ginsberg summed it up pretty nicely, I think - - - 

"You can't escape the past in Paris, and yet what's so wonderful about it is that the past and present intermingle so intangibly that it doesn't seem to burden."

It doesn't seem to burden at all, in fact, it's perfect.


And here's another little quote I love - "Dreams do come true."

"Oh, Kaye!" chats about Paris

In case you haven't heard, I'm going to Paris.

My first trip to Paris.

F  i  n  a  l  l  y ! 

If you haven't heard, then I have to assume you don't live on Planet Earth since I've even been stopping complete strangers on the street for the past year to share my news.

Yes, yes, yes - I'm a bit of a pain in the neck when I'm excited about something.  I know, I know.  I can just go on and on and on about it all until I am on a person's last nerve.  Believe me, former husbands loved pointing out what a pain in the neck I could be.

But.

It's my first trip, so you know, I deserve to be excited, right?!

Oui!

Luckily, Don Barley finds my enthusiasm to be more of a plus than a minus.  Suffice to say, he is one of the good guys.  One of the best.

But, Don Barley is not going to Paris with me.

I'm going with three women friends.

Lesa Holstine -  I think some of you might know my friend Lesa (wink, wink 😊).  

And long, long time very dear friend, Vickie Smith.

And new friend to me, but very long time friend of Vickie's, Lisa Butler.

We've rented a wonderful house through Airbnb that Vic found for us.  

It's in Montparnasse.  And as it turns out, not far from the home of Jim Haynes.

Some of you are probably familiar with Mr. Haynes, but for those of you who are not, "nearly every Sunday for the past 30 plus years, Mr. Haynes, a Louisiana-born expatriate, has opened the doors of his former sculpture studio in Paris and invited the world to come dine in largely the same spirit."

There are several articles, and videos, about him on the web, including an interesting one from The New York Times.  

I am fascinated by Jim Haynes.  He has, however, been experiencing some health issues and is quite elderly, and I'm not sure the dinner parties will continue.  But.  We'll see.  Right now his webpage says to check back in September. 

But.  Who knows . . .  perhaps we'll see him sitting on his front step and we can say "Hey!"  That would be cool.

And, oh my, have we planned some adventures!

We will, of course, do many of the things you're supposed to do as a tourist in Paris. A boat trip down the Seine to watch the city light up in the evening, a trip to Versailles and Giverny.  Wandering through Montmartre, Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain, and Marais, and ice cream at Berthillon's on Île Saint Louis.  

And, this is timely, seeing as how there was an interesting piece here just a few days ago by Vicki Stiefel about tattoos.  

I have two tattoos and have considered another.  And have considered having it done while in Paris.  I've Googled and found tattoo parlors in Paris and I've Googled ideas for French tattoos.  

Some of these ideas are lovely, some are a bit too-too for my taste.  But.  I'll keep you posted . . .   It would, after all, be a souvenir that doesn't require any luggage space.

While checking our Parisian tattoo parlors, there will be much to do.  Much to see.

SO much to do and see, including a booklover's mecca  -  Shakespeare & Company

Because I'm one who believes, quite firmly, in stopping for a few minutes to live in the moment, where better to do this than some of the glorious parks, gardens, and squares in Paris?

One very small, very special, square is not far at all from Shakespeare & Company.

Square René Viviani

Besides having a lovely green area with benches on which to sit and rest your weary soul, and tired ol' feet, you get one of the best views of Notre Dame.

And, you get to quietly commune with the oldest living tree in Paris.  And, I have a "thing" for trees - wonderful old stately trees.  I seek them out, and they speak to me.  

Also, because of the way things are in our world right now, it's become important for me to think about things with a little more reflection than maybe I once did.  For that reason, while in Square René Viviani, I'd very much like to spend a quiet moment at a "sculpture decorated with stags’ heads and water drops that represent aspects of the legend of St. Julien. In addition, there are infants, some of whom have wings while others appear to be lifeless. Under the Vichy government (the govenment of France that collaborated with Nazi Germany from 1940 till 1944) more than 11,000 infants were deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz because they were Jewish. About one hundred of these children lived in the vicinity of this square in the 5th arrondissement. "

11,000 infants deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz because they were Jewish.  We need, I think, to be remembering this right now.

And, while we have agreed on many things we'll be doing together, there are some things that some of us want to do that others don't - like The Catacombs, for instance. 

And on those days we'll head off in different directions and meet back in our courtyard to chat and giggle about our day over a glass of wine and decide where to go for dinner.

Each of us agree that in addition to some planned outings, we also love the art of flâneusing, and allowing serendipity to have her way with us.

(anyone here read Lauren Elkin's "Flaneuse?"  I recommend it).

Museums, Gardens, Eating, and Shopping, oh my!

We're only going to be there a week, so we'll miss a lot and probably will just have to go back another time . . .  bless our hearts.

Actually, Vickie and Lisa have been before so Lesa and I are counting on them for a lot of their Parisian knowledge.

We're also planning some "different" sorts of adventures.

While Lisa and Vickie are doing a wine and castles tour, Lesa and I are having breakfast with the giraffes at the Parc Zoologique de Paris.

Doesn't that sound fun?

I can't wait.

And we're treating ourselves to a 1920's style photo session.

One of the interesting, but lesser known, things in Paris I want to see is Le Passe-Muraille - 'the man who walks through walls'. It is a larger than life bronze statue representing a man half trapped in a stone wall. 

And, I want to go to Deyrolle

And, I'd like to see Rimbaud's poem, Le Bateau Ivre (The Drunken Boat) on a Parisian wall

And I intend to ride, and photograph, every carousel I can find.  

Including the Dodo Carousel, which is actually the Carousel of Extinct and Endangered Animals, and it's located in the Jardins des Plantes.  

I would very much like to visit at least one of the
les passages couverts (18th century glass-roofed shopping galleries).  

You can take a tour of them here



AND, I hope I can find and photograph The Angel of Rue de Turbigo

I've always been fascinated by architectural details.  What better place to find and photograph some of the most exquisite, magical architecture than Paris.  I will be in my own little version of heaven.

Windows and Doors and Angels, oh my!

I know I've already told you about some of the reading aka "research" I've been doing for the past year.

(Speaking of research.  Did you know there are apps you can load on your phone that will tell you where the closest public restrooms are?!  Well.  There are.  And, that's important stuff.)

I'm pretty sure I've told you how I've been saving my pennies 'cause a gal needs to be prepared for shopping while in Paris.

Excusez-moi, combien est ce foulard, s'il vous plaît?

Right?

Oui !

And I've probably told you about this delightful little book!

The Little Black Book of Paris.  

I adore this little book!

A small (4-1/4 inches wide by 5-3/4 inches high)  guidebook from Peter Pauper Press (https://www.peterpauper.com/product_info.php?products_id=5808). 

It's full of helpful information (and a lot of very fun information!)

It's broken down into chapters by neighborhoods, but not necessarily arrondissements.  

Each neighborhood chapter has sections on landmarks, arts and entertainment venues, restaurants, cafes, hotels, chic shops, and after-dark stops along with a fold out map for each neighborhood.

There are also some blank pages for adding notes.  Thus comes my only complaint - not enough blank pages, so I ended up making use of the margins on many pages, thanks to friends telling us about their favorite places to shop, to eat, to have hot chocolate, etc. (Daniel Hale says definitely Cafe Marly for hot chocolate) 

And by the way, Dear Travelers - Paris is not the only city with its own Little Black Book . . .  do check them out!

Another favorite book is this one, and I can't recommend it enough.  Even if you're not planning a trip to Paris, it's one you might enjoy

Due to all this "research," I have read a LOT about Paris during this past year, fiction and non-fiction.  So, I have, of course, ended up with  a huge list of recommendations, but I'll be posting that in a separate piece for those who are interested.

Except -

I have to tell you about this one.

A Paris All Your Own - Bestselling Women Writers on the City of Light

Contributing authors include Paula McLain, Therese Anne Fowler, Melissa Shapiro, Jennifer Coburn, Maggie Shipstead, Lauren Willig, Cathy Kelly, Rachel Hore, Meg Waite Clayton, Ellen Sussman, M. J. Rose, Susan Vreeland , Megan Crane, Michelle Gable, J. Courtney Sullivan, Julie Powell, Jennifer Scott,  AND our very own Cara Black. Edited by Eleanor Brown.  

"These Parisian memoirs range from laugh-out-loud funny to wistfully romantic to thoughtfully somber and reflective."

Speaking of our Cara.  She'll be leading one of her wonderful Aimee Leduc tours in Paris the same week we're going to be there, so we're going to be sitting in the audience in the tearoom at WHSmith while Cara talks about "Murder in Saint-Germain."

We're all pretty excited.

And guess what?

WHSmith has also ordered a few copies of my "Whimsey."

Am I excited about seeing MY "Whimsey" on a shelf in a bookstore in Paris?

Pfffffft.

Well, yes.  Yes, I am.

But, did I tell you about my travel journal?

Right up front I'm going to admit making a mistake with this, but . . . 'tis done.

To those of you who love, use and appreciate a really nice journal, use a fountain pen and enjoy painting sketches in addition to writing - this is not the journal for you.

Debs will be one of the first to agree with me.

I got this leather bound journal on-line for not much money - $10 or $12 maybe.  And it is pretty.

But.

The paper is thin so forget using a fountain pen or paints.  Not only is going to soak through the page, it's going to soak through the next page too.  It is no Iona journal (darn it!). 

But it's working out okay now that I've discovered it's flaws.  One has to learn from one's mistakes, right?

I'm working with crayons and colored pens (ballpoint only!) and colored pencils illustrating some pages and jotting down some thoughts  before we get to Paris.

I'm like a kid with stickers, so yes, lots of stickers too.

I'm an on again/off again journaler, and have been all my life.  Remember those little leatherette diaries with the lock?  Santa brought me a new one every year.

One thing I have always been is a journaler when traveling.

This was in Greece many, many years ago.  When I go back and read the journal I kept for that trip, it's almost like being there.  It's enough to make me know that I will, one of these days, go back.

Sometimes while journaling, I might sketch a scene - it does not matter that I can't draw worth a diddly - I do it anyway.  


Sometimes I'm just capturing a thought.  Or writing down a quote, or a piece of poetry, or just a quick phrase that touches me in some way.


And because I'm excited about this trip, I've started my journal early.

See what I mean about not being able to draw?  I can't even color!  But.  You know what?  It doesn't matter.  It's all fun and creating is good for us.

And -

Stickers rock!

especially 3D stickers!  Who knew?!

Okay.


Packing.


Packing is hard.

Especially for some of us who are "nesters" and feel we need to have everything we own with us wherever we go.

So, I did a "practice pack."

Here's a couple pictures of some of the things I pulled out of the closet to choose from.

Casual little black dresses (okay - and, one little red dress) to be perked up with accessories.

I just grabbed some and tossed them onto the bed.

Then I decided what I'd wear on the plane, put a couple things back into the closet, and with the help of space bags, I packed up clothes, shoes, jammies, toiletries and undies.  And a few, very few, pieces of jewelry.


Resulting in . . . 


Ta DA ! ! !

One under-the-seat bag and a backpack.

Yes.  For real.  

Five little black dresses, one little red dress, two pairs of shoes, leggings, scarves, reversible cape, undies, jammies, travel size toiletries and make-up.  Space bags rock. 


However,

Once I proved to myself I could do this, I changed my mind.

What about souvenirs?!  I am not coming home from Paris without souvenirs (besides that "possible" tattoo, that is). 

Excusez-moi, combien, s'il vous plaît?


So.  I'm sticking with the small under-the-seat bag, but forgetting the backpack and carrying a tote/purse on the plane with me.  I have a small suitcase that would fit in the overhead, but, truth be told, I think I'm going to just check it.  I'll have really necessary items in my purse/tote and/or small under-the-seat bag. 

It's non-stop from Charlotte International to Paris, and if my suitcase gets lost for a couple days, I'll be okay.  If it gets lost for the entire week, I'll consider it a shopping emergency. 😊  

In Paris.  😍

A. Shopping. Emergency. In. Paris. 




Okay, so now, Dear Reds, I know most of you have already taken your very first exciting trip to Paris, and many of you have been back many times.

So, how about some sharing of your favorite places.

In particular . . .

Best crepes!

Best macarons!

Best coffee!

Best hot chocolate (Is it Cafe Marly like Daniel Hales says?)!

Best beef bourguignon!

Best breakfast!

Your favorite patisserie, boulangerie, cafe, bistro, restaurant?

Favorite place to shop - for clothes, for lingerie, for perfume, for stationery, for books, for small souvenirs to bring home for friends and family, for antiques, for jewelry, for scarves, for shoes?

Your favorite night spot for music?

Your favorite small art gallery?

Your very favorite thing ever about Paris !!!