I guess this post should really be called "The Morning After". My first book, Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes, was published by Little Brown on Feb 2nd. I'm an art historian by training and a journalist by trade. Ten years ago, I sat down to lunch in Paris with a charming Frenchman - and never went home. I always knew I wanted to write about the rich texture of interculture marriage and living abroad. I love to cook and explore the markets - and as I sat down to write about life in France I realized that most of the experiences that helped me discover my adopted home happened "autour de la table" - around the table. It was natural that the recipes became an integral part of the romance.

I've wondered for the past few months what it would feel like when the book was finally out in the world. Last October, I was lucky enough to have a conversation on this very topic with Diane Johnson, the author of Le Dicvorce and other expat adventures. Over tea and macaroons in Paris she gave me the following advice: "Don't expect your life to change. Not one bit. When my first book came out - I was so disappointed I went straight to the hairdresser and said, 'Make me a blond!'"

My first thought was, "God, am I that transparent?"

My second thought was "God, what if she's right..."

Of course Lunch in Paris has already changed my life in many ways - not the least of which is that I've spent the last week in Australia, where I was lucky enought to be invited to The Writers at the Convent festival.

It's been a treat to be in Australia - I'm trying to play in cool, but I keep having flashbacks to my early days as an art critic, when I payed for my own business trips and most of the time didn't break even. With a new baby at home (he is currently in NY with his dad learning to eat sweet potatoes), I admit that I was excited for the time alone. I love a good hotel bathtub. When dry, I did lots of radio interviews and meeting independent booksellers (who, gloriously, still hold great sway down under). This past weekend, I did two sessions at the Writers and the Convent festival. Australians are obsessive travellers, so they love to talk about journeys - real and imagined. Many interviewers asked me about the first line of Lunch in Paris: "I slept with my French husbad halfway through our first date." I told them that my mother laughed, so I can't have strayed too far from the pack. Everyone seems to be a bit in love with my husband - I think if he was here, they'd have him signing the books instead. I think he is surprised and maybe a bit frightened by this - he doesn't like the idea of becoming a cardboard cutout of himself. As for me, I'm feeling totally euphoric to be out there talking to readers about life (and food) in France. I love writing - but it can also be quite isolating. Sitting in front of my computer all day in Paris, I sometimes forget how much I like talking to actual people.

I think that talking to the independent booksellers had been my favorite part of this trip (that - and the trip to Sydney fish market for lunch). It's wonderful to meet passionate readers, and it's nice to know that in Australia, "word of mouth" means just that - word of mouth. (In the US, I get the sense that "word of mouth" means the Internet.) It seems to be working - they've done two flash reprints this week.

I feel so blessed with the team I'm working with - both at Little Brown (NY) and Harper Collins (Australia). Writing a book is like a relay race. You do your bit and you can only hope and trust that the people picking up the baton are as passionate (and perhaps as anal retentive) as you. I've been very fortunate. I pinch myself on a daily basis.

I'm on my way back to San Francisco today for an event on Thursday evening at Book Passage in the Ferry Building (speaking of great independent bookstores). San Francisco is one of my favorite cities - not to mention one of the foodie capitals of the world. So I'll grab a scone at the Noe Valley bakery and try to absorb everything that's happened in the last seven days. There will be more stories and photos on the Lunch in Paris blog - www.elizabethbard.com. Have a great week everyone! Happy writing!