Three fictional stories written in French, now translated to English, with original artwork. I write and Annie, my wife, illustrates.
Should You Read This Book?
This is the first and most important question
If you pledge to support our project, you will get the book! And we hope you won’t be disappointed while reading. Now let me tell you if you might be one of the readers that I am targeting.
I use writing as my form of artistic expression, just as my wife Annie uses painting, and others use acting or sculpting. Writing allows me to reflect on the values that I have learned. I’ve had the unique opportunity to live in Africa, Europe and America, in various stages of my life, as a child, engineer, teacher and entrepreneur.
Growing up in Algeria was eye-opening. When I first moved there, Algeria was a French colony. I experienced the war for independence from 1954 to 1962. During this time, my best friends consisted of young Arabs, Jews and children of French settlers. Each had their own stance on the war and we would speak at length about who was right and who was wrong and who was good and who was bad. This left me feeling practically neutral, as I could understand each perspective. I could see the positive and the negative in every situation or cause, to many of my friends dismay.
This had a huge impact on the rest of my life. Since then, I’ve refused to see life as black or white. You will see this ideology in my stories; villains can surprise us by changing, just as good people can be deceptive.
Another lesson life has taught me is how smart and capable children are. They should be taken seriously and considered as a person, rather than dismissed because of their youth. Parents should protect their children, without treating them as a possession.
Giving children the necessary knowledge and tools to overcome difficult situations will prepare them for success in life. How are children to learn if they cannot make decisions and have experiences of their own?
I believe children can be as powerful as adults and in two of my stories you will see this exemplified.
One more consistent theme in my writing, as well as my life, is loyalty and fidelity. I am 65 years old and have been married to Annie since March 1968. I am still in love with her.
About the book
All art in “Paradise Has Disappeared” was created solely for this project. The cover will feature a watercolor by Annie, while the drawings inside are monochrome for cost purposes. Book length is about 150 pages, containing three separate short stories.
The title I chose for the book of short stories is also that of the first story, "Paradise Has Disappeared".
You surely want to know a little bit about the three stories.
Let me introduce each of them.
Paradise Has Disappeared
How the Story Starts:For the first time in history, a woman has been elected as president of the republic of Pirada.
Pirada is a small country where the inhabitants fear that globalization could endanger the multiple benefits that they have been enjoying from the state for decades.
And the Piradians are very proud of these benefits, whether or not the country’s budget can afford them.
Just after the election, Rose-Marie Ségaldat, the new president, inadvertently discovers that her electoral triumph has brought her strong magic powers. She will use them extensively, deeply changing the life of the Piradian citizens, going much further than her wildest electoral promises.
How far can she go?
Read excerpt
La Jolla's Little Hero
How the Story Starts:He is not born yet, but he already has a name: Ekswai.
Not born yet: where is he? In his mother’s belly.
Because you don’t remember anything about your intrauterine life, do you think you had no awareness then?
Don’t you believe it! Ekswai can already talk and he shows an amazing cultural knowledge.
Read excerpt
Kuruk and Pirma
How the Story Starts:Marguerite is a resourceful little girl.
On that particular day, she happens to be visiting the Grands Airs museum with her father, the painter Amedeo Micoulosso.
Amedeo is a fine-art painter who is struggling to make a living out of his art.
For a short while, Amedeo has left Marguerite alone, in front of an abstract watercolor painting. The little girl is bored stiff. But suddenly she thinks that she can identify something in the abstract artwork: the picturing of two strange creatures. And she also finds out that she can communicate with these two figures!
This story will tell you how Marguerite will befriend Kuruk and Pirma the two mysterious beings and how she will take advantage of this friendship to successfully organize the next art show for her father.
Read excerpt
About the illustrations
Some of the illustrations that Annie prepared for our publishing project are offered as pledges, either matted or framed.
These pledges are all signed originals which are either monochrome ink drawings or watercolors that Annie also prepared either for the cover or for a future color publishing.
They are shown as thumbnails below and you can click on the image to go to our website and view an enlargement as well as more details (framing, dimensions).
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
30
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Funding period
Jul 31, 2012 -
Sep 4, 2012
(35 days)
- First created · 2 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: LesJolisTresors.com
Pledge $4 or more
0 backers
Receive a "Thank You" postcard with an illustration of the book.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $5 or more
6 backers
An ebook of “Paradise Has Disappeared” in whatever format you desire (ePub, mobi, PDF). (Note: ALL backers at the $32 level and above will also get the ebook FREE along with the item they pledged for)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $9 or more
5 backers
A professionally printed copy of “Paradise Has Disappeared” to be picked up at our art gallery, Les Jolis Trésors. Located at 3226 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $14 or more
2 backers
A professionally printed copy of “Paradise Has Disappeared” delivered to any location in the US. (Shipping costs included in your pledge)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $26 or more
3 backers
A professionally printed copy of “Paradise Has Disappeared” delivered to any international location. (Shipping costs included in your pledge)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $32 or more
5 backers Limited (55 of 60 left)
An autographed and numbered limited first edition of the book, “Paradise Has Disappeared”. Includes shipping within the US. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $35 or more
0 backers
The French version of the three stories (in three separate booklets) also illustrated by Annie Clavel, shipped to any US address. For international delivery see below $45 pledge. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $44 or more
2 backers Limited (38 of 40 left)
An autographed and numbered limited first edition of the book, “Paradise Has Disappeared” Includes shipping to any country. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $45 or more
1 backer
The French versions of the three stories (in three separate booklets) also illustrated by Annie Clavel, shipped to any country. Includes shipping to any country. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $55 or more
3 backers
An inclusion of your name with a thank you on the credits page of the book! Plus an autographed and numbered limited first edition of the book, “Paradise Has Disappeared”! Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge. Includes shipping to any country.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $85 or more
1 backer All gone!
Receive the original monochrome drawing of “The Paradisians Lived By Hunting And Gathering”, signed by Annie (view this artwork at http://pl03.LesJolis.net). This piece will be beautifully matted and shipped to any country. View the drawings that you can pledge for on the left side of this web page or go directly to: http://drawings.LesJolis.net. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $85 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Receive the original monochrome drawing of “Twenty Years Later”, signed by Annie (view this artwork at http://pl01.LesJolis.net). This piece will be beautifully matted and shipped to any country. View the different drawings that you can pledge for on the left side of this web page or go directly to: http://drawings.LesJolis.net. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $85 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Receive the original monochrome drawing of “Adrénaline’s Home”, signed by Annie (view this artwork at http://pl02.LesJolis.net). This piece will be beautifully matted and shipped to any country. View the different drawings that you can pledge for on the left side of this web page or go directly to: http://drawings.LesJolis.net. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $85 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Receive the original monochrome drawing of “The Child Will Take Your Heart”, signed by Annie (view this artwork at http://pl05.LesJolis.net). This piece will be beautifully matted and shipped to any country. View the different drawings that you can pledge for on the left side of this web page or go directly to: http://drawings.LesJolis.net. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $85 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Receive the original monochrome drawing of “I'm the Placenta”, signed by Annie (view this artwork at http://pl04.LesJolis.net). This piece will be beautifully matted and shipped to any country. View the different drawings that you can pledge for on the left side of this web page or go directly to: http://drawings.LesJolis.net. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $98 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Receive the original watercolor of “Kuruk Is Happy”, signed by Annie (view it at http://pl08.LesJolis.net). This unique piece will be beautifully matted and shipped to any country. View the different drawings that you can pledge for on the left side of this web page or go to: http://drawings.LesJolis.net. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $98 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Receive the original watercolor of “Flashes Of Lightning”, signed by Annie (view it at http://pl09.LesJolis.net). This unique piece will be beautifully matted and shipped to any country. View the different drawings that you can pledge for on the left side of this web page or go to: http://drawings.LesJolis.net. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $98 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Receive the original watercolor of “Twenty Years Later”, signed by Annie (view it at http://pl10.LesJolis.net). This unique piece will be beautifully matted and shipped to any country. View the different drawings that you can pledge for on the left side of this web page or go directly to: http://drawings.LesJolis.net. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $130 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Receive the original monochrome drawing of “Melancholy Accentuates the Mystery of Adrénaline's Gaze”, signed by Annie (view this artwork at http://pl06.LesJolis.net). This piece will be shipped to any country in a beautiful green wooden frame. View the different drawings that you can pledge for on the left side of this web page or go directly to: http://drawings.LesJolis.net. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $270 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Receive the original watercolor of “Adrénaline”, signed by Annie (view this artwork at http://pl07.LesJolis.net) which will also be shown on the cover of the book. This unique piece will be shipped to any country in a beautiful metal frame. View the different drawings that you can pledge for on the left side of this web page or go directly to: http://drawings.LesJolis.net. Also delivered: ebook as described in $5 pledge.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
