In 1919, young American Sylvia Beach moved to Paris and opened a bookshop, Shakespeare and Company. She’d been to Europe with her family as a girl and as a young adult, yearned to live in Paris.
When I read about this pioneer in Noel Riley Fitch’s Sylvia Beach and the Lost Generation, I found a female role model for living an unconventional life. A bookish woman who moves to Paris to live a literary existence – that’s my kind of heroine.
I got a little obsessive. I did performance pieces. I drafted a play and a screenplay. I finally settled into writing a novel about Sylvia. I wanted more women to know about this incredible woman.
It took twelve years but I finally finished my novel, Chasing Sylvia Beach. Writing about Sylvia solidified my values of independence and community, reading and writing. These values are expressed in my novel’s themes of dreaming and belonging, expression and empowerment.
Leaping without a net
Sylvia didn’t know what she would do in Paris. She’d been brainstorming with her mother and it was possible – though not exciting – that Sylvia could run some kind of export business.
But when she met Adrienne Monnier, a Parisian who owned a bookshop, it soon became clear that Sylvia would set down bookish roots in Paris.
Sylvia believed in books and the people who wrote them. A natural connector, she was at the center of the Anglophone literary community in Paris. She helped writers, publishers and readers find their way to one another, and published James Joyce’s Ulysses.
As a bookseller, I’ve enjoyed the pleasure of connecting books and people. There’s magic in sharing the right title with someone at the right time. There’s a true spark in a conversation about a book you’ve both read. For both Sylvia and me, books provide an engaging means for forging deep and rewarding relationships.
As a writer, I seek to make those connections directly with my readers. As a businesswoman like Sylvia, I am committed to helping writers succeed in getting their words out satisfactorily.
Sylvia was graceful and kind, generous and passionate. By following her model of a life of heart and adventure, I seek to cultivate those qualities.
Decamping to Paris
Like Sylvia, I’m following my impulses, and they’re telling me to go to Paris. I leave August 17th and get to spend three weeks in Paris preparing for and leading my Curious Paris excursion.
I will be in Europe until October, when I return for a brief visit with my family and Alyson Stanfield’s Social Media Immersion workshop in Golden. Then it’s back to Paris where I’ll continue to coach, teach and write while I prepare my novel, Chasing Sylvia Beach, for publication. Update: I came back to Denver in late December, 2011.
In Paris, I feel more like my artist self. I spend less time at the computer but am still effective at work. I hope to release some of the American drive and stop working 12-14 hour days.
Like Sylvia, there are a lot of things I don’t know as I embark. Like my character Lily, I am leaving the familiar dream to experience the unpredictable reality. I have to go and see what happens.
Join me
With my artist leading, I will share my Paris world with you here on the Original Impulse blog.
Look for weekly Paris Minute videos, where I’ll share a peek into my Paris. I’ll share my illustrated Paris haiku, a colorful dip into my journals. Subscribe to the videos now to stay in the Paris loop.
I’ll be writing more about Sylvia and my process as I prepare to bring my novel (finally!!) to you.
What about you?
Who is your role model? What values and commitments do you share with that person?
Greetings from a fellow bookseller – I never realized that we once had the same profession ;-)) As you, I moved on (stayed in the publishing busisness – but became a “Textile Artist at Night”, too) but up to this day, I still get excited when I find a favourite book of mine at a flea market or so and I can get the person next to me to buy it! Looking forward to your Paris adventures, will be interesting to see where your journey takes you. As for your question about role models … hmmm … Nancy Crow? Lisa Call? Kathleen Loomis? I just adore how committed they are to their art – something that keeps me inspired and on track!
Frauke, yes, the bookseller in us never leaves, does it? When I teased out the themes of my novel, it became clear that much of this book is about connecting through books, which I love to do in life, too.
Thanks for sharing your role models. I think it’s so important for women to have other creative women lead the way!
Cynthia – your articles are always so inspiring and visceral for me! I can’t wait to play in Paris with you in just 3 weeks and to follow your Paris adventures via videos. Oui!!
Thank you, Sabine! I put a lot into them, so I am glad you resonate with my articles.
Paris approaches! I can’t wait, either. A bientot!
Well, I remember thinking at your birthday party, watching you surrounded by so many people who love and adore you, how odd it seemed to be jaunting off to Paris when you had such a full life in Denver. But, it really makes perfect sense. You can’t deny the juju and the connection to your book there. All perfect for your publication plans! I love the way you explain that here and follow your intuition without question (well, almost without :)). You’re an example, I’ve said it a million times. I’m still in awe and inspired and looking forward to the posts and videos and the launch in 2012! Bon voyage, as they say!!
Thanks so much, Karen! It’s interesting to me how much our location impacts us. We’ll see what happens in Paris!
I admire anyone who has the courage to follow his/her dreams! Sounds like you are going to have some wonderful Parisian experiences. I can’t wait until your novel comes out so I can read it. I’m intrigued!
Thanks, Beth! I can’t wait for you to read the book!
“In Paris, I feel more like my artist self.”
Love this, Cynthia. I look forward to reading more.
Hi Cynthia,
Your novel sounds like a wonderful & inspiring story and I can’t wait to read it! I always enjoy following your adventures via blog & video. Bon Voyage & Bonne Chance.
Thank you very, very much, Andrea!
Hi Cynthia ! My name is Maryann K . I heard your podcast with creative living with Jamie Ridler , I found you exciting , I immediately headed over to your blog and website , I love your travelling adventures to Paris and journaling about it . : )
Looking forward to the next adventure .
Welcome, Maryann! I’m glad you found us…stay tuned for more fun from Paris!
Cynthia this is very interesting I ‘followed’ another woman to Paris though not physically though a paper trail a scottish Suffragette called Ethel Moorhead. In the 20’s she went to Paris had an affair with a man half her age ! Ernest Walsh and started a literary magazine called This Quarter. I had made a film about Ethel’s life as a suffrage activist and wanted to find out more about what she did later in life. There is a fantastic blook by Shari Beinstock called Women of the Left Bank which is published by Virago in the UK and is a fantastic read for anyone interested in the huge contribution by woman to the arts in this period in Paris.
Mary,
Love it! There are so many women we can take instruction from. I’ve not heard of Ethel but I definitely want to see your film – how can I do that?
I’ve read Women of the Left Bank; it’s totally inspiring. I also loved Paris Was a Woman, a book and a film that makes me want to be in that time period. Guess that’s why I wrote a book set in 30s Paris!
Thanks for your comment; perhaps we’ll connect in person someday! Do you live in Glasgow or Edinburgh or somewhere in between? 🙂