Well, that’s
it. In a few hours, I’ll be off to New York. And this is the day my American
and Canadian editions become available: just click on the covers on the
right-hand sidebar to order!
There’s a
good chance a profile of me in the Style section of a newspaper of reference
will be coming out on Thursday (if not then, the week after that). I’ll post
the link when the deed is done.
Meanwhile, my
friends over at Perfumeniche.com in Toronto have organized a fantastic
give-away for a full bottle of Séville à
l’aube (if SAs tell you it's sold out, don't believe them: the new batch is hitting the warehouse tomorrow and will be shipping in April).
To enter the contest, you need to have read the book and answered three questions
correctly to be eligible. To find out more, click here.
And since the
Commonwealth is definitely batting on my team, in spirit if not in the flesh, check out this item in the New
Zealand Gay Express, penned by the
incomparable Portia, who you may know from the Perfume Posse or Australian Perfume Junkies. Published courtesy of a new fragrance blogger from the Antipodes, Jordan River, aka The Fragrant Man.
Depicted
above: a room from the über-hip Ace Hotel where I’ll be staying in New York,
sourced from 4h10.com.
L'actu 
Articles
Oh, if only you were going to be in MY state...
RépondreSupprimerAmy, alas not. It's one week in New York y basta for this time... Typing this from the Ace Hotel, a place where you can have a whole conversation about Patty Smith and Debbie Harry with the cute bellhop!
RépondreSupprimerDear Denyse,
RépondreSupprimerI am so excited for you and to see you splashed all over the NYT! I'll be cheering you on from Seattle. I'm telling my NY people to go see you at Aedes. Lots of love.
Cait
Wish you were coming to Washington, DC, too! All the best, nozknoz
RépondreSupprimerCONGRATULATIONS Denyse. You will be a sensation and a scandal and a BEST SELLER!!
RépondreSupprimerLoads of love,
Portia xx
Cait, the Ace is a little bit of Seattle in New York, so we're connected. Found out that the NYT article was coming out earlier than thought just as I was waiting for a cab outside JFK, and squealed, much to the joy of the chic Italian couple behind me.
RépondreSupprimerNozknoz, which that could have been done too, but what with the distances...
RépondreSupprimerThanks Portia. Don't know about all that, but what's happening now is certainly great!
RépondreSupprimerVaya con perfume.
RépondreSupprimerWonderful news! And I just saw the write-up in the New York Times. Congratulations!
RépondreSupprimerJordan, thanks! The Perfume Lover is putting out quite a sillage here in New York...
RépondreSupprimerCheryl, wasn't that great, to be profiled in the NYT? Still can't get over it!
RépondreSupprimerCongratulations on the great success the perfume and book are having. I am not really an orange blossom man so the scent doesn't work on me, but I can say honestly and unobsequiously, that the book, which I got for my birthday and devoured hungrily, is the best book on perfume I have ever read. It was delicious, addictive, toxically sensuous and something I will read again for sure.
RépondreSupprimerAll the crap about it being 'overly erotic' and so on was also very irritating to me, as it is so obvious that despite what everyone says, perfume and sex DO go hand in hand, and you captured all of that angrily, beautifully.
Some of the experiences made me almost white with envy - the muguet chez Roudnitska, the way you have penetrated that world, the very fact of having your own perfume commissioned.
Others echoed my own, and made me laugh - the frankincense billowing from under the door particularly. I had my Japanese neighbours complain to my landlord about exactly the same thing, that moment where the black smoke gets completely out of control......
Black Narcissus, thank you for all your kind words. One struck me: "angrily". Oddly, the experience of adapting my book into French has made me realize the difference between that and English more deeply. One of the things I noticed was the potential of English for violent lyricism (i.e. the opposite of twee or maundlin). I think it has to do with the fact the language was never entirely cut off from Shakespeare.
RépondreSupprimerAs for critiques, I must admit I really didn't read much about myself... But I can never quite comprehend why people would feel exhibiting prudishness or censoriousness reflects well on them. They're such unappealing traits, especially in women or gay men, who have had the most to suffer from them... But no matter: I never wanted to write a bland book that would appeal to all and sundry. Just the book I felt needed to be written.
Congratulations!!
RépondreSupprimerThank you Carol!
RépondreSupprimer