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Authors Reading Books Darlene Foster Podcast TTT Season 4

Season 4 Episode 38: Darlene Foster Reading Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral

Darlene Foster

Welcome to Tea Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops are great places for book readings. There is something extraordinary about hearing the voice of an author reading their stories. Their voice and intonation are nuanced by the many hours of effort putting pen to paper.  They created the characters, structured the plot, and lived every twist and turn that creates bumps in the storyline. 

Public libraries and bookstores have expanded their reach into a global community. Book readings have gone virtual.  We are learning to embrace technology in new ways.  Welcome to the podcast series, “Authors Reading their Books”, which brings authors and their books from across the world to your home.  I invite you to put the kettle on and join the conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am thrilled to introduce Darlene Foster who has graciously agreed to be our guest author reading from her novel, Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral (An Amanda Travel Adventure Book 9) which I have pre-ordered to be delivered to me in Kindle and paperback format on September 13, 2022.    I confess that I wanted a preview of Amanda’s exciting new adventure in Paris – the City of Light or in French, La Ville-Lumière.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for joining Darlene and me on Tea Toast & Trivia “Authors reading their Books”.

And a special thank you, Darlene reading from Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral.  I look forward to tagging along with Amanda and her best friend, Leah, as they explore the exciting streets of Paris, the fabulous Palace of Versailles, and the gardens of the painter Claude Monet, while being drawn into the mystery surrounding the destructive fire of Notre Dame cathedral.

Listeners, I invite you to meet up with Darlene on Amazon, Goodreads and her website and blog Darlene Foster, which she created for writers, readers, travelers, dreamers, friends and friends she has not met yet.  It is a place where stories dwell.

Until next time, dear friends, save travels wherever you adventures take you.

Mandy Henderson on the Poetry of Katherine Mansfield – Tea. Toast. & Trivia.

By Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

36 replies on “Season 4 Episode 38: Darlene Foster Reading Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral”

It was a pleasure to hear Darlene’s excellent, and excellently read, passages from “Amanda in France.” I agree with you, Rebecca, that the Notre Dame fire scene is poignant indeed. (I’ve visited, or at least saw from a distance, that stunning cathedral five times during trips to Paris in 1979, 1980, 2004, 2007, and 2018.) And I loved Darlene’s words of wisdom, near the end of the podcast, about trying things — even if we wait years to do so.

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Thank you for listening in, Dave. It is time to go back to Paris! I understand from reading about the restoration progress that much will be accomplished this year. I was on the website “Friends of Notre-Dame De Paris” and learned about the clean-up within the cathedral. What a remarkable undertaking:

“The cleaning of Notre-Dame Cathedral continues! The massive operation to clean the walls, ceilings, vaults, floors, and stained-glass windows began in October 2021 and will continue through the spring. A thin layer of lead dust coated the cathedral’s interior in the aftermath of the fire. Cleaning and removing the lead dust conserves the integrity of Notre-Dame’s architectural elements and ensures a safe environment for the people working on the restoration. The work is carried out from the top down, to preserve the areas that have already been cleaned.”https://www.friendsofnotredamedeparis.org/notre-dame-construction-progress-update/

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Sorry Rebecca, but I was unable to register my comment. For what it is worth, here is my unsuccessful attempted comment.

Ah, la magnifique Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris! I know it well, from long ago, for more years than I care to admit, obviously long before the infamous fire of April 2019. One day I shall visit it again, when aging memory blurs out what its reconstruction could not restore the beauty of its beautiful aged look, from before that terrible fire. Jean-Jacques

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Thank you so much for your comment, Jean-Jacques, which came through beautifully. I was just reading an update on the restoration of Notre-Dame. “After the completion of the Safety Phase in 2021, this year marks an important step forward as we rebuild and restore Notre-Dame Cathedral.” https://www.friendsofnotredamedeparis.org/notre-dame-construction-progress-update/

Soon we will be able to return and see this magnificent cathedral. Meanwhile, I will be tagging along with Amanda and her friend Leah!

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I had never heard Darlene’s voice before, which added so much to the presentation. As you said in your introduction, authors know how the nuances and intonation of their characters.

I listened carefully and developed a clear image of Notre Dame Cathedral on fire as Darlene read her two passages.

My final takeaway is I appreciated Darlene’s message of following our dreams. She demonstrates this in her stories via Amanda and in her own life. I’m happy that she will be following her dream of visiting Prince Edward Island.

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I am delighted that you listened, in Pete! Tears came to me when Darlene read the emotional fire scene. I felt that I was there with Amanda. My mother Frances, has the entire collection of the Amanda adventures in paperback format. I know have the Kindle version of Amanda in France and will soon have the paperback version. I am with you on following dreams. Thank you for your lovely comments – so very much appreciated.

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I’d never visited Notre Dame Cathedral before, but I could hear the emotion in Darlene’s voice. That was a powerful example of why having authors share their stories adds to the emotion.

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It was so nice to listen to Darlene, Rebecca. Thank you for this series of podcasts.

I’m glad I’m not the only one who drifts immediately to the hunchback when thinking about Notre Dame.

I think we can all share in the description of the fire. We saw it, but seeing it through Amanda’s eyes was special.

This sounds like a wonderful book. Thanks again for bringing Darlene to us.

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Thank you Dan for listening in and for your heartwarming comments. I just received notification that Amanda in France has arrived on my Kindle and my paperback will soon be in hand. Frances, my mother, loves to read from a “real” book. I felt tears come when Darlene read the passage of the Cathedral burning. Darlene’s voice brought out the emotional drama of the scene.

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I have commented elsewhere, but I want to say here that your idea of authors reading from their own books is very original and a great, original idea! There is no better person to put the emphasis on the correct words! ! I am also waiting eagerly to read this book, I am glad we will be able to share the book and also our ideas after our reading.

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I so enjoyed listening to Darlene read from her new Amanda book. I love putting a voice to my author friends I only know online. And the music paired with the reading was perfect. I’ve been to the Cathedral, and Paris twice. Three times will be the charm, hopefully next year. Hugs to both ❤

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I agree wholeheartedly, Liz! Amanda’s enthusiasm is an powerful force. Darlene’s voice brought out the pathos of the fire – I felt tears come! Sorry for the late response – we have been travelling and in and out of internet.

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HI Rebecca, Hi Darlene, this is a great podcast. I really enjoyed Darlene’s reading of the two passages, especially the second. I can imagine that was a difficult scene to write as she had to make it up and it was very important to the story. My copy of Amanda in France arrived last week.

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What a wonderful read, Darlene. Like Rebecca, I felt like I just visiting the cathedral. Your descriptions were wonderful and I could feel Amanda’s awe. The fire scene was truly heartbreaking. And I learned something too. I didn’t know that the church’s art was called “The Poor People’s Book.” Of course, that makes sense. It was great hearing Darlene read. Thanks for hosting, Rebecca. ❤

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