Just a little heads up to say that if you happen to buy a copy of the Sunday Times this weekend, you are likely to find a shivering, goose-pimpled petite in a sheer red dress posing on a Paris roof terrace lurking somewhere inside the news review section…
This is not an article written by me, but a serialisation of the book. Which means that the extracts were not selected by me, and are taken somewhat out of their context, knitted together to make a (more or less) coherent whole. So while it’s great exposure, and I’m grateful to the ST for supporting “petite”, I think the portrayal of me may be a little skewed.
Part two of the serialisation will be in next Sunday’s edition.
I’m not sure Tadpole really comprehends how I came to be there:
I’ve created a facebook page, where I’ll be posting press links, book covers and book tour news, and where readers can leave reviews/comments. If you want to become a “fan” on facebook, the page is here. You may enjoy scrolling through to see if you can guess which one of my current “fans” is my future husband.
Photo ©Alistair Miller
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Wow, what an incentive to scroll!
Comment by Sunny — February 15, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
Also, surely it would be obvious, if there’s only one lemur?
Comment by Sunny — February 15, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
Too easy. That bed is in a few posts, not to mention the bed clothes. Hoping the bunny ears are Tadpoles.
Hmmm not bad.
Comment by Susan — February 15, 2008 @ 8:59 pm
Hi there!
I read about you on the BA2 and got curious, so I came visiting.
I will read through your blog, it’s great to see how far you’ve gone… I was at Bath Uni 1993-1996, school of Social Sciences, doing economics. I don’t think we’ve ever met…
Anyway, i just wanted to say hi.
Fiamma
Comment by Flame — February 15, 2008 @ 9:16 pm
I am going out early to get a copy for sure. Didn’t anyone blow hot air on you? Shame on the photographer.
The Cockroach Catcher
Comment by Am Ang Zhang — February 15, 2008 @ 9:25 pm
I’m going to guess Manuel with the bunny ears. Dunno.
Comment by Penguin — February 15, 2008 @ 9:54 pm
it is easy to find….he will be the best!!!!Good to know about Sunday Times I will not miss it..
Comment by penelope — February 15, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
@flame & petite what a small world I’m living in Bath!!
Comment by penelope — February 15, 2008 @ 10:48 pm
Might he be wearing pink bunny-ears and lounging on your scarlet sheets?
Comment by Peg — February 15, 2008 @ 11:24 pm
Sunday Times it is for me this weekend then. :)
Comment by teeweewonders — February 15, 2008 @ 11:32 pm
Gosh, really? And red too? And sheer to boot? Bloody hell, I can’t wait–not even a preview for those of us here who hang on your every word? :-) Anyway this is super news, P’tite and yummy too. Ahh the anticipation takes hold and the hair on the back of my neck begins to raise in a frisson of ohboyness! lol
Enough foolishness on my part. Tho I do hope the boy warmed you up a bit after that shivery session.
Many cheers from a
Beau definitely in suspense.
Comment by Beau — February 15, 2008 @ 11:37 pm
My vote for Petite’s fiance goes to Mr. Bunny Ears.
If he’s not it… is he available?
Comment by Annapolitan — February 15, 2008 @ 11:40 pm
I think your future husband is located on page eight with the intials RMN. Of course, I’m telling you this just in case I get a prize if I’ve chosen correctly ;)
Comment by Kasey — February 15, 2008 @ 11:43 pm
Can you give us a link? I’m in the USA and not sure which Sunday Times you mean since you are in Paris but from England. To me, The Times means The NY Times but I don’t think you mean that……
Ok, going now to see if I can see The Boy or rather The Fiance…. : )
Comment by linda from jersey (that's new jersey USA) — February 15, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
Manuel. Possibly Eric Capitan. But most likely Manuel.
Comment by Michelle — February 15, 2008 @ 11:53 pm
Gee, the lengths some writers will go to in order to flog their books! Watch this space for the continuing saga of the cyberspace equivalent of Tess of the d’Urbevilles.
Comment by gonzales — February 16, 2008 @ 12:02 am
Oh, Manuel. *swoons* — oh, sorry, that might not be appropriate. :)
Comment by Clarissa — February 16, 2008 @ 12:15 am
Or Rodolphe or David. You have too many fans! :) I am not stalking nor taking your challenge seriously. Promise! That would be weird!
Comment by Clarissa — February 16, 2008 @ 12:21 am
Please post a link if you can…
Comment by happyforyou — February 16, 2008 @ 7:17 am
Rabbit’s ears?
Comment by Paola — February 16, 2008 @ 9:28 am
Do you suppose Gonzales might be Trevor? One thing I’ve noticed is he keeps coming back. Congratulations on the book, I hope it’s a best seller. As a long-time-lurking-UK-mother-of-2-wee-ones-living-in-Paris I’ve been enjoying your blog for years. And like Gonzales I keep on coming back.
Comment by Barbara — February 16, 2008 @ 9:49 am
Seb.. Pierre.. Romaric.. Rodolphe.. Eric.. Bunny Ears? I’m gonna have to vote for Bunny Ears too :-)
Comment by karina — February 16, 2008 @ 11:03 am
Well I haven’t had time to go through the 161 comments after your ‘question’ so I’m putting in my congratulations to you and your fiancé now. Hope the future brings you everything you desire. Bisous
Comment by sablonneuse — February 16, 2008 @ 11:30 am
I’m not sure I understand the utter fan-hood going on here. What are we fans of? A person? An idea? An overblown life or someone needy?
I thought only Americans bought into that culture.
I’m not clear why the question was popped. Who is this benefitting? How long have these people even been together?
So Mr. Bunny Ears is the man she’ll grow old with? Yikes. He looks more like sex-pot than husband material to me . . . and is he ever going to quit smoking? How does one grow old living on espresso and cigarettes?
Comment by Bretia Blog — February 16, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
You were on BA2?! Maybe my copy hasn’t arrived yet! (Modern Languages Euromasters Alum 2003-4) :)
Comment by stavroulix — February 16, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
Bretia, if you think that what is ‘going on’ here it’s just bullshit why do you take your time to leave a message and even go and check Mr Bunny Ears??
Just wondering if you were benefitting from this???
Comment by olga — February 16, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
Trevor is the Boy!
Comment by Ivette — February 16, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
@ No. 21 – are you always so unnecessarily rude to others?
Comment by Louisa — February 16, 2008 @ 5:01 pm
Just joined, scrolled through – if the rest of the comments are right and it’s the bunny-earred boy, not bad petite! Not bad at all!!!
Comment by Louisa — February 16, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
Hi Petite
Which supermarket in the UK is selling your book early? (I think I read that on your blog somewhere??)
Cheers
SG
Comment by Stratford Girl — February 16, 2008 @ 7:07 pm
Someone told me to read the blog, so I did. I got on here and I read up and I’m *honestly* trying to understand. I don’t mean to be rude. Truly, I don’t. I’m just not seeing the attraction here. I’m not seeing why we herald people who behave badly in the world.
Again, I just started reading, so maybe I’m missing something . . . we don’t know anything about “The Boy” except that he drinks a lot of espresso, smokes, doesn’t like to wake up in the morning, is prematurely gray. . . but would he make a good stepdad? Their relationship seems to be only about good sex. (Implied).
So my question was genuine. I thought maybe there were all these fans becaue Petit is an excellent writer, but no one’s seemed to read the book yet, so what are we fans of? (No one seems able to answer this.)
Doesn’t seem like responsible adults cheer on a woman who left the father of her child (I still can’t find the reason), whines about life and how much she drinks, then finds a good sex buddy and decides to marry him.
I don’t know. I must be totally missing something. Sorry!
Comment by Bretia Blog — February 16, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
Yes Bretia Blog, you’re missing the part where you
i) make judgments about petite’s morality and lifestyle based on your interpretation of what she’s written,
ii) decide to post a nasty (intended or not) comment about “heralding people who behave badly in the world”, and
iii) make me feel physically ill with your vitriolicity.
Comment by Tara — February 16, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
To Bretia!
I beleive that the problem is not with petite anglaise but the world that we created around us. If sex and naked women not involved, included in anything, people will not buy, or care of it. Talent is not always the most important.
Comment by pchenge — February 16, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
OK Here is my punt at the mystery, is there a prize like a signed copy of your work?
I was intrigued that others thought MR Bunny Ears was the guy, he may be but looks, and if it is him soorreee, closer to 40 than 30.
OK here goes – Sebastien Michaud. Looks about the right age and personality.
Best wishes K
Comment by kanus — February 16, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
Husband?
What? When? How?
I obviously haven’t been paying attention.
Comment by Yellow — February 16, 2008 @ 10:20 pm
@28, those of us who have been reading the blog for a while (18 months in my case), have already read the equivalent of a small book. We are just waiting to read how the same story is re-told in the book.
In order to prevent future unhappiness for you, may I suggest that if you stumble on a blog you don’t like, just move on and read some other blogs instead of annoying the loyal readers. There is no point in upsetting the blogger (who, in my opinion, should have deleted the comment in any case). Sorry Petite.
Comment by pierre l — February 16, 2008 @ 11:11 pm
Petite: Congratulations! May your honeymoon last many decades!!
Bretia Blog: You *are* missing something: the understanding that Petite is a real person,free to make decisions without the approval of her readers.
Her reasons for leaving the father of her child are entirely between her and him,no matter to what
degree she may choose to bring her readers into her confidence.
She has been extremely generous with glimpses into her life ever since this blogs’ inception,and I feel that she has also been very brave. It takes guts and not a little heartbreak to survive so much loss in a short time (M.Frog,Jim,her job)especially being a single mother.
Petite deserves every moment of the success for which she has worked. No human being is perfect,but a lot of us can take a page from Petites’ book and learn how to turn circumstances around in order make our dreams come true!
Comment by Belle — February 17, 2008 @ 1:44 am
The Sunday Times is (of course) the Sunday issue of the London Times as those in the US know it ;)
Here’s the link …
As for married, read Petite’s post
http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2008/02/13/question/
Félicitations pour tout Petite.
Comment by tricked — February 17, 2008 @ 2:10 am
PS Not sure about the adverts next to the extract. “Have we found the next JK Rowling”, “A Bumpy Ride”, “Stoning Adulterers”, “Poison Pen”, “‘Til death did we party”. I’d have a word with my agent if I were you.
Comment by tricked — February 17, 2008 @ 2:44 am
mmm….I reckon Rodolphe :)
Comment by Bianca — February 17, 2008 @ 4:02 am
I thought Sebastian too! Although premature aging of bunny ears may be due to said cigarettes, coffee and alcohol. No worries Petite – my ‘boy’ (12 years older) is often mistaken for my daughter’s grandfather. Who cares? I was married and pregnant 10 months after we met. 8 years later – no regrets at all. Congratulations.
Comment by Ausfrench — February 17, 2008 @ 5:12 am
Ryan Skraba or Mike the Hat ,,,, LOL !!!!
Comment by ==Alaska — February 17, 2008 @ 7:27 am
I’ve just read the extract in The Sunday Times. It was great! I’ve been wondering how you were going to alter the blog to the book and now I see that it’s going to be a great read. I will definitely be getting a copy.
Comment by Hazy — February 17, 2008 @ 10:03 am
Just read the extract in the Times online. Very compulsive reading – especially given it fills in lots of blanks from old blog entries. Can’t spot the goosebumps in the picture by the way – great photo, so any freezing that did occur was well worth it. How exciting for you!
Comment by Nicola — February 17, 2008 @ 11:09 am
The Boy is the chap with the ears, isn’t he!? Surely that’s your bed and sheets – if I’m not mistaken they were in a photo some time back?
Comment by Hazy — February 17, 2008 @ 11:48 am
Got the times this morning. “lurking in the news review” was am understatement! More like all over the front page and then some! Looking forward to the book even more now! On a sidenote, “we” are fans of petite because she has been through some stuff in her life, came through the other side smiling, and told the story beautifully via her blog. You know, i normally find, when i visit a new blog, it makes more sense to read it from the beginning first before asking obvious questions. Just a suggestion!
Comment by Sam b — February 17, 2008 @ 12:05 pm
Just read the Sunday Times,I thought you said it was going to be a small artice, NOT front page of review!!! Can’t wait to get my book xox
Comment by Anne — February 17, 2008 @ 2:06 pm
@ Bretia, if you don’t understand then you aren’t meant to really.
Comment by Jules — February 17, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
Bugger Sam b beat me to it – I was just going to say you were most certianly not ‘lurking’. I enjoyed the piece, it was a good dirstraction having been woken up by the Carbon Monoxide alarm going off..
As to Bertia – hmmm. I hope you weren’t hurt Petite but to be honest I am glad that not every single person is fawning- because that seems to be the way of blogs at the moment. They are full of saccharine sweet comments that make me want to chuck – mostly American it has to be said.
Pithy, witty comments, unlike mine(!) are the best. Don’t you think? PS Couldn’t see any goosepimples..
Comment by Alice Band — February 17, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
Sorry Sam, there should have been a comma after the word ‘bugger’. It wasn’t an instruction!
Comment by Alice Band — February 17, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
Your picture looks like a woman in love. I’m jealous.
Comment by rodney — February 17, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
“Lurking somewhere inside the news review section”
Not sure I count the front cover of the Review section as lurking somewhere inside… but never mind.
As endearing as ever.
Comment by grayarea — February 17, 2008 @ 4:44 pm
Love Tadpole’s take on newspaper publishing!
Comment by Peg — February 17, 2008 @ 4:45 pm
Bunny ears or Seb
Comment by Teaperson — February 17, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
Most likely Bunny ears, on second thoughts. Pink sheets look familiar.. (and the loved-up expression in his eyes kind of gives the game away…)
Comment by Teaperson — February 17, 2008 @ 5:04 pm
Hmmmmm! Mikael Gaupillat looks like a likely candidate…But then again, John Pagani (because of the little girl in his profile pic) might be “The One”….Pfft! I dunno!
I loved the Jerry Springer lookalike (Frank) LOL! :-)
Comment by Karma — February 17, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
OMG! It must be “Romaric” posing in a lovely pic taken in the Greek isles is what looks to be the backdrop….Am I right?
Comment by Karma — February 17, 2008 @ 5:52 pm
I bought the ST unrapped hastily and got the Review section in my hands!And there you are! a huge picture of a really gorgeous girl with red dress and a sparkling white smile!!! Well done congratulations
Comment by penelope — February 17, 2008 @ 6:25 pm
Indeed, “somewhere inside” she says – very nearly two pages including the front. A lovely article indeed. And thank you for warning us, as I normally boycott that paper because of what they did to One-Track.
Incidentally, my comment no 36 refers to a no 28 which has rightly been deleted, not to the current no 28.
Like Stratford Girl, I hope you will tell us which supermarket is going to be selling your book early.
Comment by pierre l — February 17, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
I read the article and just had to come and find your blog. Brilliant stuff. Makes my life look dull in comparison! Good luck with the book.
Comment by Rosie — February 17, 2008 @ 9:03 pm
Having read the extract from your book, just wanted to tell you that I think it’s great, and you’re great too!
(A long time lurker)
Comment by Michael — February 17, 2008 @ 9:32 pm
It just shows that to get anything good something must be sacrificed. Sometimes it is effort, sometimes it is other people. The reality is that every blood pumping, rose petal relationship turns into something that depends on something other than chasing the romance.
Somone made a criticism of those who judge the lifestyle of another. What makes this different is that criticism has been asked for by making a public affair of real life instead of writing pure fiction as an outlet. It is completely fair to criticise such public lifestyle advice by example.
It is perhaps an error in judgement to document in a blog or otherwise, the lives of people who are living and subject them to public spectacle. I have come to believe that even in matters of politics it is better to learn by analysing history in search of truth, talking to those who have been through it, etc.
It is also very dangerous to talk only to people who have just freshly decided to make such bold moves. Of course they are happy because of the novelty factor of it all, and the attention.
I just wonder what will happen when the current life that is awash in public attention now grows pale, and old? How will you envigorate it? Will you seek to understand, or seek to walk away?
There is always something bigger and better on the horizon, but it’s all a facade. You may realise it’s really the same. Yes, it’s a bit arogant and judgemental of me, but somtimes it is difficult to see a pretty “petite anglaise” sell what she has for a pot of porridge. …very male thing to say.
You may be right in the end. It’s not as if people on blogs really know eachother. I hope we all find a society which good advice and true love find us all.
Comment by Brian — February 17, 2008 @ 9:48 pm
Sadly Petite is nowhere to be found in the Scottish edition of the Sunday Times! You’ve been replaced by the Ecosse section…
Comment by Louisa — February 17, 2008 @ 10:19 pm
To Brian, and anyone else unfamiliar with the blog:
I feel it’s only fair to point out that I left Mr Frog in 2005. There is a lot more water under the bridge now, and the book was written with hindsight and heightened awareness of the fact that blogging about these events was not entirely healthy.
I ask myself a lot of questions in “petite anglaise” – and I don’t necessary find answers. But I’m certainly not blithely unaware of the less savoury side of personal blogging, and the extracts chosen may not accurately reflect that…
Comment by petite — February 17, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
If it is Mr Lapin then Lucky You!
Love the red dress in winter! Paris needs more red dresses like that!
Comment by Peggy — February 17, 2008 @ 11:47 pm
right, so i clicked the link in your sidebar and added you as a friend, and then realized that the “fans” was a link. i blame it on today being Sunday and me not wanting to use my brain until i have to tomorrow at work. so you can ignore the friends request as you dont actually know who i am, haha! :)
Comment by Lynn — February 18, 2008 @ 1:56 am
oh my god if it *is* mr bunny ears, then holy guacamole — he is super super super freaking hot wowowow GOOD ON YOU! DANG! JACKPOT!! ding ding ding ding!! sorry if this looks spammy.
i love you petite and i love your writing and you have kept me entertained in a more-than-superficial way for years. YEARS.
Comment by amy — February 18, 2008 @ 2:10 am
Great photo! Thrilled to have found your blog via several of my favorite Paris blogs. Congrats on your book!
Comment by Stephanie — February 18, 2008 @ 3:21 am
Hi Petite, long-time lurker, but I’ve never been driven to comment before. Having scrolled through these comments though, I just couldn’t resist chipping in to say how much I detest people that feel the need to make snap so-called “moral” judgements on other people’s lives and choices when they don’t actually have any grasp of the person or details of the situation involved.
It’s interesting too, that such people always tend to be bible-bashing religious conservatives. Those of us with more liberal views don’t,as a rule, take offence when others choose not to have sex before marriage, marry at 19 and proceed to have 6 children and remain ufullfilled and chained to the kitchen sink all their lives!
Well done Petite, you have guts, talent and class. All the best for the future.
Comment by L.P — February 18, 2008 @ 8:00 am
Marrant, on dirait une photo prise à la montagne.
Bonne promo.
Comment by marie-hélène — February 18, 2008 @ 8:58 am
It’s funny, there I was, freezing on a rooftop near Gare du Nord, and actually the result looks a bit like I was just photoshopped onto a view. Not so!
I’ve been looking at the photo trying to work out if those are really my arms. And has he whitened my teeth?
Comment by petite — February 18, 2008 @ 9:20 am
My guess in Rodolpe?
Comment by Sue — February 18, 2008 @ 9:29 am
Sorry, Rodolphe?
Comment by Sue — February 18, 2008 @ 9:30 am
Wow, so you have to be a bible-bashing (what does that mean?) religious conservative if you’re going to in any way disagree with any of this?
I don’t agree or disagree; I just read. But I do agree that it does seem there’s a lot of fawning. Oh well.
Comment by AmyGirl — February 18, 2008 @ 9:39 am
Gorgeous photo petite..
Did someone mention above that The Boy is Trevor? That’s not true is it?
Comment by David in London — February 18, 2008 @ 10:35 am
You look surprisingly unchilly for someone photographed in a succinct dress on a cold December day. You must have mastered the skill that all the celebs in Hello seem to have where they prance about all the London nightspots in the middle of winter with no tights on and without the slightest hint of goose bumps. Tell us how its done!
Comment by Hazy — February 18, 2008 @ 10:46 am
Lurking somewhere inside.
Hah!
Well done.
Comment by Damian — February 18, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
Ew. I got the story. No need to explain. At least some other commenters on the article page see it too.
Sorry to bother you guys or insult Petite. I wish I could take that back. This is just a very sad story.
Anyway, sorry for my earlier harsh words.
Comment by Bretia Blog — February 18, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
I’m guessing Manuel. I agree that the bed is a bit of a give away, if so, well done Petite and I hope you are both very happy (once again)
Also, I admit that I myself have been judgmental when reading a few of your blogs (we all judge! – and we shouldn’t!) but I’ve just read the extract from the times and thought ‘Wow’! This book deserves to be published. It is oh so easy to read your blogs and feel like we want to pass comment but I think the extract of your book already explains a lot and tells the real story especially the description of Mr Frog as being a kind, but sadly overworked Parisian. It is sad when love goes away, and difficult for all concerned, something which I think should be remembered before people start passing judgment on how you live your life.
Really looking forward to reading your book now. Once again, congratulations!
Comment by laroseanglaise — February 18, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
Loved the extract in the Sunday Times and am really looking forward to reading the book …
Comment by Stratford Girl — February 18, 2008 @ 3:02 pm
Guess we’ll have to wait for the wedding pics to find out who Mr Boy is (hey how about that for a new name for the Boy, very fitting now he is about to become a proper grown up)…that Sébastien looks well dishy in that pic mind…
Comment by Imaginary Friend — February 18, 2008 @ 8:25 pm
These new rude assh***s ;-))))))) Start at the beginning. Petite has been around for a while now. And I know when I started she had about 9 months of posts the I promtly read…
Good luck with your reading. Although more than likely you will be on another blog leaving some rubish …
Comment by ==Alaska — February 19, 2008 @ 12:59 am
I have just bought the Sunday Times (in Greece). I am so proud of you!
Comment by Irene — February 21, 2008 @ 8:29 pm
I caught the article and thought I may just hang around and see where this goes and how it gets there.
Ih and well doneon the eal – spotted or self promotion? Not bothered which really – just nosey :-)
Comment by Neil — February 25, 2008 @ 3:38 pm