‘A magnet,’ a ‘Mecca,’ an ‘incubator,’ a ‘hothouse’ for writers – all these things Paris has been called, and rightly so.’ This is the opening line of an enticing, well-researched book by Connecticut-born author David Burke entitled ‘Writers in Paris: Literary Lives in the City of Light.’ Dedicated to his lovely wife, a long-time film producer and editor, whom he describes simply as ‘the marvelous Joanne,’ David’s book is perhaps the most detailed of its kind and was one of t

Colorful, charismatic, creative and long-time literati leader – in many ways the modern ‘Sylvia Beach’ of today’s City of Light. That’s Mary Duncan – author, publisher, book-club organizer and incurable round-the-world traveler – whom I had the pleasure of meeting this month during a recent three-hour rendezvous at Café Panis opposite Notre Dame cathedral. Participants at this autumn’s special Paris Writing Retreat will have the pleasure of meeting this lovely lady in person

Summer reading led us to discover that Donegal, once again, is high on priority list for travelers. According to Fight Network, who produced The World’s Best Journey List for 2018 - together with more than 500 top travel journalists, agencies, bloggers and editors – a drive along the Wild Atlantic Way was ranked higher than a trip on the Shinkansen Bullet Train through Tokyo and Kyoto (Japan) and higher than a hike of the Blue Mountains in Sydney (Australia). And Donegal is h