See on Scoop.it – Books Whether you’re an avid traveler, or a homebody searching for a quick escape from your daily routine, these quotes will speak to your sense of wanderlust. Jan Moran‘s insight: A few of my favorite writers weighing in on the importance of travel to them. See on mashable.com
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Fancy a glass of wine with dinner? In 1920, you’d have to have a doctor’s prescription for that elegant indulgence. In the US, the National Prohibition Act was in force from 1920 to 1933. During a recent visit to Napa Valley, I heard some amazing stories about how winery owners survived Prohibition. Some entrepreneurial vintners…
Today I’m pleased to welcome fellow writer Caroline Fardig, author of the new book, It’s Just a Little Crush. We had a good talk about writing, so I thought I’d share her inspiring story. Caroline had a dream; she took the plunge and started writing. In addition, she’s an indie publisher, which in my book means she’s a…
Once a year, from Paris to San Francisco, Sydney to Singapore, a crowd of strangers in garb of head-to-toe white gathers at mystery locations to . . . dine outdoors. A strange cult? A flash mob? It’s certainly more the latter than the former. The granddaddy of the flash mob, Dîner en Blanc (Dinner in White) has…
Recently I saw Eric Marienthal perform in an informal jazz session with other musicians, and I began to think about the similarities between a jazz musician and an entrepreneur. Jazz is visionary and demands cutting edge performances; a successful session requires leadership, collaboration, and nimble thinking. Musicians must often shift course on a moment’s notice.…
It’s every entrepreneur’s dream. The vision you had becomes a reality, and then, after years of struggling – and succeeding – a Big Company wants to buy your baby. That’s what I woke up to the other day, when an article in All Things D, or Digital, of The Wall Street Journal announced that Sephora had…
What’s the scent of money? What perfume would a stylish young woman wear in posh 1920s New York? If you’re Daisy Buchanan from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 book, The Great Gatsby, it had better be exclusive…and expensive. Actress Carey Mulligan does a superb job in capturing the effervescent nature of a gilded flapper girl, while Leonardo…
It’s finally official – just inked my name, so I’m thrilled to announce that my work has found a new publishing home! My superstar literary agent, Jenny Bent, founder of The Bent Agency, is also busy selling domestic and foreign rights to my upcoming historical novel, A PROMISE OF ROSES (2014). St. Martin’s Press bought world English rights…
Just have to share some great news with you! Not long ago I signed on with super agent Jenny Bent, founder of The Bent Agency. This week, Jenny made a two-book deal for me with St. Martin’s Press, a Macmillan company. Thank you, Jenny, for seeing something in my work that made you want…
One day, I was casting about for strong female leads in literature. Love ’em or hate ’em, you know who they (or, you) are: those pedal-to-the-metal, take-no-prisoners, never-say-die women we love to read about in our favorite books. Okay, I’ll be honest. I’ve been called “determined.” Some people say I never take “no” for an…
Chocolate has a long reputation as an aphrodisiac. Imagine…WebMD reports that “Aztec ruler Montezuma supposedly drank a chocolate-y concoction before visiting the women in his harem…And French doctors supposedly used it to treat broken hearts.” Check Your Choc-o-holic IQ Can’t resist this oh-so-chocolately quiz? Well, who could? Here’s the chocolate quiz, then come back to share your…
Though created in the nineteenth century, a duo of historic perfumes from two important perfume Houses, Guerlain and Dior, still reign supreme today. From 1925, created just after World War I (in the era of The Great Gatsby), Guerlain’s Shalimar was heralded as the first “Oriental” perfume, a blend of flowers with essential oils that originated in…
Two stylish perfumes created to withstand the passage of time: Fracas by Robert Piguet and Indiscret by Lucien Lelong. Commissioned decades ago by two French couturiers, these perfumes are quite exclusive. Both were resurrected and relaunched after disappearing from the market. And both are in the floral perfume family—lovely choices for spring. Fracas is an explosive…
A fan of the perfume Femme, Actress Mae West once said, “Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.” In this segment of the Vintage Perfume series, I’m featuring two vintage perfumes (neither of which are evil!), but if you love vintage you should try them both. Since my novel, Scent of Triumph,…
Jan Moran's Smart & Stylish: Ideas to enrich your lifestyle 