 |
Writing Made Them Rich #5: Peter Mayle
Peter Mayle was born in England in 1939. His fascination with France began at the age ofseventeen when, as the 'lowliest trainee' in Shell, hewas instructed to accompany his boss - a Mr. Jenkins -on a trip to Paris, and discovered that there was moreto life than fish-and-chips. Jenkins, needless to say,was a caricature of the Englishman abroad("personally, I never eat anything I can'tpronounce"). In his twenties he went to New York and becameadvertising copywriter for David Ogilvy. He laterreturned to England to a comfortable life inadvertising, with a salary higher than the PrimeMinister's. At age 35, after 'one committee meeting too many', heleft his career as an advertising executive and movedwith his wife and children to Devon in the south ofEngland to write children's books. In 1974 one of his books - 'Where Did I Come From' -became a best-seller, but because of an unfavorabledeal with the publisher, the book didn't make himwealthy. In his late 40's Peter Mayle moved with his third wifeto Provence in the south of France, where theyrenovated an old farmhouse. Their experiences became the subject for 'A Year inProvence' which was an instant success and spent threeyears on the New York Times best-seller list. It wastranslated into twenty languages and turned into a BBCseries. 'A Year in Provence' was followed by 'ToujoursProvence' and 'Encore Provence'. But his new-found fame came at a cost. Hordes oftourists and reporters descended on Provence lookingfor the writer and his house. Not realizing the book would become a best-seller,Peter Mayle had given an accurate description of thelocation of his house in the opening pages of 'A YearIn Provence'. Plagued with unwanted visitors, and suddenly unpopularwith the locals, Peter Mayle fled with his wife to Long Island. Four years later, when the hue and cry had died down,he returned to France and bought a large house nearAvignon. Peter Mayle's success with the Provence books spawneda new genre in travel writing - books by Englishmenwho leave the cold wet island, set up house insunnier climes and then write about the curious habitsof the locals. There's even a phrase for it: "Doing aPeter Mayle". You can get your copy of 'A Year in Provence' at:
http://www.ezine-writer.com/mayle.html ------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Southon has been writing for the Internet for over 3
years. He has shown hundreds of webmasters how to use this
simple technique to build a successful online business. Click
here to find out more: http://ezine-writer.com/
------------------------------------------------------------
MORE RESOURCES:
|
Writing's on the wall for McNabbESPNBy Ashley Fox | ESPN.com There is one franchise that would seem to be a perfect fit for Donovan McNabb, a place where he knows the system, the personnel, the expectations and the playbook, and he wouldn't have to mentor anybody.and more » |
|
Lisa Rinna on writing a book about sexCNN"The Big Fun Sexy Sex Book" is a fun and innovative guide to rejuvenating your sex life and libido, co-written with renowned sex therapist Ian Kerner (who writes about sex on CNN's medical news blog, The Chart). The vivacious 48-year-old actress is ...and more » |
|
How to Write About IsraelRight Side NewsWriting about Israel is a booming field. No news agency, be it ever so humble, can avoid embedding a few correspondents and a dog's tail of stringers into Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, to sit in cafes clicking away on their laptops, meeting up with leftist ...and more » |
ABC News (blog) |
Mexican Writer Carlos Fuentes Dies at 83Wall Street Journal (blog)By Jose de Cordoba MEXICO CITY – Carlos Fuentes, Mexico's most famous writer, and a world-known public intellectual, died Tuesday, depriving the nation of its most internationally recognized voice. Mr. Fuentes, a novelist, poet, diplomat, critic, ...In Writing, Fuentes Shed Light On Poverty, InequalityNPRCarlos Fuentes, Mexican Novelist Who Inspired Latin American Writing, DiesABC News (blog)Mexican author Carlos Fuentes diesABC OnlineLos Angeles Times -Reuters -San Francisco Chronicleall 941 news articles » |
|
Short story writer takes home Sophie Kerr AwardThe Star DemocratManion, an English major from Clarksville, took the prize with her submission of four short stories she considers to be works in progress, and excerpts of her thesis on the role of letter writing in literature a study that drew from the novels of Jane ...and more » |
Google News
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Should You Write a Book?
One morning, you open your inbox and find several e-mails that will boost your business. There is an invitation to speak at a local group comprised of your best prospects.
A Quick Guide to ISBNs for Self-Publishers
ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a code assigned to every published book that uniquely identifies it in the marketplace.
Top 10 Common English Goofs by Web Authors
In reviewing and browsing web sites over the years, I have compiled a list of the most common misuses of English by web authors. Here they are in Letterman (reverse) order.
Five EASY Ways to Improve Your Business Writing
Have you ever wondered why some people can make millions writing books, and others (maybe you) can't even complete a simple business letter worth reading? Sure, natural talent probably accounts for some of their writing success. But really the best-selling authors achieved that level of success by devoting serious time and effort to perfecting their craft.
Apostrophe Usage Made Simple
According to one of my previous articles, whenever a Southernersays "Y'all watch this," get out of the way because those areprobably the last words he will ever say.Well, I'm a Southerner.
Unusual Points of View
Most writers are familiar with first and third points of view and their variations. But have you ever experimented with alternative points of view? Below are some less used points of view, what I call "unusual points of view.
Writing Helpful Help - A Minimalism Checklist
User documentation is all too often written by programmers for programmers. It tends to focus on the product's features, rather than the user's tasks.
Business Writing Tip: Question & Answer Format
Traditionally, business writing uses the "one thing after another" format, which usually means a plain recitation of the facts, circumstances, or whatever else needs to be said.But, we have a number of other options, and some of them may provide more responses or better responses.
Are You a Freelance Writer? - Then You Need a Website
As a freelance writer, it is important to present yourself to your clients in a highly effective way. One of the most effective methods that freelancers use is a website.
Aesop, Abraham Lincoln, and You
May I tell you about a writing technique shared by Aesop and Abe Lincoln?Let's look first at Aesop's timeless tale about the tortoise and the hare. It's the one that ends "slow and sure wins the race.
Inspiring the Poet in You!
Poems. Just the mention of them makes me smile.
Another Way to Show Your Expertise: Write a Book!
Maybe you should write a book! This is not as difficult as it sounds. You're already an expert in a field by virtue of your work experience and/or academic credentials.
Get Rich Writing With Your Computer Word Processor
Your computer is a writing machine, a word processor, a desktop publishing system that can make you rich and famous. The big seller on the internet is information products and you can get a flood of cash pouring into your home office from you writing.
5 Reasons People Like Technology White Papers
A good white paper is a paper that makes you look good.You look good when your white paper makes sense, when it's readable, when it concentrates on benefits and examples, and when it's easy to get.
Uncommon Advice for Beginning Novelists
1) Convince yourself you want to do something else. If you don't succeed, proceed to number 2.
Retail Margin, Trade Discount, and What it Means for the Author
DEFINITIONSRetail margin is basically the difference between your book's wholesale price and your book's retail price. For example, a book with a cover price of $10 and a wholesale price of $5 has a 50% retail margin.
Screenwriting - The Lone Wolf Story Structure Template
Story Structure Templates are the fastest way to write screenplays. One of the most well known and often used templates, which goes beyond three and four act structure, is the Hero's Journey.
Need a Book Coach, Ghost Writer, or Editor? Part 1
If you either want to write a book to help others create a better life and boost business or you already have your book nearly finished, you may need book coaching to answer all of your questions "What step to take next?" Many writers think that all they need is a good editor and their book will be ready for publishing and promoting.Maybe you think you don't have enough time to write it yourself.
Prolific Writers
Prolific authors write; they don't just dream about it. A good example is Georges Simenon of Inspector Maigret fame.
Groundbreaking Work
Every writer knows that the urge to write is not always present. As a result, the dedicated writer writes anyway.
|
