An artist in Paris: it could be you!

A residence is on offer! Check it out!

The City of Paris and the Institut français, France’s international agency for cultural policy affiliated to the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, offer a programme of residences dedicated to established writers and artists in the fields of visual and performing arts who have already achieved international recognition. The residences take place at the Recollets International Exchange and Accommodation Centre, a magnificent building in the centre of Paris, opened in 2003.

More info over here. Deadline for applications: 17th of June.

Montreuil

I am delighted to say that I will be roaming the aisles of the children's bookfair of Montreuil (near Paris) this December: manning the children's writers and illustrators' Charter's stall (http://www.la-charte.fr/), signing my Christmas opus on Hachette's patch and generally loitering and going 'oooh' and 'aaah' and spending plenty of money on my own crimbo list. If you're in the vicinity, do pop in!

An American (bookstore) in Paris

Well, that's good news, anyway. It seems that the emblematic American bookshop Brentano's is going to reopen shortly. The store, based in fancy-ish Avenue de l'Opéra in Paris, was forced to close back in June last year due to a phenomenal increase of its rent. A rescue has been staged, a rethink of the whole operation too, it seems, so the shop is ready to welcome English speakers (and Japanese tourists) once more. Ouf! as they say in Paris.