My love of travel and marriage to a Brit have meant that, at the age of 41, I have made a home in four countries outside the U.S. Throughout my life as an expat, food has always been my favorite portal to a culture: A country reveals itself in the way it breaks bread. In Singapore, citizens belied their buttoned-up reputation in the raucous aisles of the evening hawker stalls, where my favorite meal was nasi goreng, served up on a plastic plate and washed down with a large bottle of Tiger beer. In Berlin, pragmatic stereotypes prevailed, and I acquired a Teutonic appreciation for the importance of the first meal of the day, Frühstück. And in England, where I have lived the longest, I made a rookie error in assuming the tourist staple of high tea at a fancy hotel was the country’s quintessential meal, prim and proper as the Queen herself. It turns out that Sunday lunch, a far more languorous affair, holds that mantel. In the below excerpt from Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage, my memoir of life in the English Cotswolds, I recount one of my favorite experiences of this most British of meals…Read the rest over on Transitions Abroad, who were kind enough to post the excerpt.
Last summer the UK had the Olympics, but this summer isn’t too shabby either. The Stones finally played Glastonbury, Andy Murray won Wimbledon, and, according to Twitter, Kate Middleton is in labour as I type. To celebrate all things great about this Great British summer, there’s a Goodreads giveaway for my book, Americashire, running now through August 8th. Hurry on over and enter now. It’s open to UK residents as well as many of the notable former colonies (by which I mean Australia, Canada and the U.S.).
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Americashire
by Jennifer Richardson
Giveaway ends August 08, 2013.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
There’s an “All About the Book” feature on Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage over on IndieReader today. Check it out here.
Today Trish of Britrish.com hosted an interview with me about Americashire. Like me, Trish is a former British resident and current Californian. I used the interview as an opportunity to insult the British on their lack of breadth in salad offerings, as well as to implore them to give iced tea a chance. Hope you enjoy!
Books
That Would Never Happen at Home: Notes from an American ex-pat in England
Posted on June 4, 2013
Today’s stop on the Americashire blog tour offers musings on a variety of English behaviors that would simply never happen at home. Head over to Tiffany Talks Books to check it out.
Books
Americashire wins Best Travel Writing–2013 IndieReader Discovery Awards
Posted on June 2, 2013Just heading out of NYC after two hot but fun days in the city. The highlight was attending Book Expo America, where my book, Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage, based on this blog was awarded Best Travel Writing–2013 IndieReader Discovery Awards. Here’s a snap of me enjoying the moment!
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| With Amy Edelman,”Founder, President, and Cheerleader” of IndieReader |
Earlier this month, Pauline Kenny, another American in the Cotswolds, reviewed Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage on her blog, Slow Travels. You can find the review here, alongside great travel information for the Cotswolds.
The Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage blog tour kicks off today @ the Muffin with an interview and a giveaway. Check it out here.Upcoming stops include:
Thursday, May 9 @ CMash Loves to Read
Jennifer Richardson reveals what it’s like living with a chronic medical condition. Enter to win a free copy of Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage.
http://cmashlovestoread.com/2013/05/09/guest-author-jennifer-richardson-showcase-and-giveaway/
Friday, May 10 @ A Writer’s Life
Check out “Five Things You Won’t Want to Miss in the Cotswolds,” according to author Jennifer Richardson.
http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/2013/05/review-and-post-jennifer-richardson-and.html
Tuesday, May 14 @ Words by Webb
Jodi interviews Jennifer Richardson, author of Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage.
http://jodiwebb.com/news/5ws-with-jennifer-richardson/
Wednesday, May 15 @ All Things Audry
Author Jennifer Richardson discusses “The Question of Motherhood” theme from her book Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage.
http://www.allthingsaudry.blogspot.com/2013/05/welcome-jennifer-richardson-and-guest.html
Thursday, May 16 @ Words by Webb
See what Jodi has to say about the memoir Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage.
http://jodiwebb.com/reviews/americashire-a-field-guide-to-marriage/
Monday, May 20 @ Misadventures with Andi
Travel and food blogger Andi Fisher interviews Jennifer Richardson about her adventures in the English countryside.
http://misadventureswithandi.com/2013/05/americashire-a-field-guide-to-a-marriage.html
Tuesday, May 21@ Books I Think You Should Read
Jennifer Richardson discusses how her memoir developed out of a blog and what the writing process is like for her.
http://www.booksithinkyoushouldread.blogspot.com/2013/05/guest-post-jennifer-glen-author-of.html
Wednesday, May 22 @ Kristine Meldrum Denholm
Her husband’s depression has played a part in her marriage for as long as Jennifer Richardson can remember. Stop by for tips on how to write about mental illness in memoir.
http://kristinemeldrumdenholm.com/blog/?p=3192
May 27 @ Books I Think You Should Read
Liz Parker reviews Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage and offers readers a chance to win a free copy of the book!
http://booksithinkyoushouldread.blogspot.com/2013/05/review-and-giveaway-americashire-field.html
May 31 @ Choices
Learn more about Jennifer Richardson’s decision to live a child-free life in a guest post at Madeline’s blog.
http://madeline40.blogspot.com/2013/05/please-welcome-jennifer-glen-richardson.html
June 4 @ Tiffany Talks Books
Jennifer Richardson, author of Americashire, shares her experience living the life of an Ex-Patriot and participates in an interview.
http://tiffanytalksbooks.com
June 5 @ Thoughts in Progress
Ever wondered about the hybrid publishing model? Jennifer Richardson shares her publishing experience regarding her book Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage.
http://masoncanyon.blogspot.com
Here’s a recent list of top to-dos for spring in the Cotswolds that I put together. Links to all the places mentioned are below:
Details in the order listed:
Discover the Footpaths
- Cotswold Wardens http://www.escapetothecotswolds.org.uk/walking/guided-walks/
- Ordnance Survey Maps http://www.shop.ordnancesurveyleisure.co.uk/
Royal Treatment
- Highgrove Gardens http://www.highgrovegardens.com/
- The Highgrove Shop http://www.highgroveshop.com/
Horse Around
- Beaufort Polo Club http://www.beaufortpoloclub.co.uk/
- Cirencester Park Polo Club http://www.cirencesterpolo.co.uk/
Do as the Romans Do:
- Chedworth Roman Villa http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chedworth-roman-villa/
- Corinium Museum Cirencester http://coriniummuseum.org/
The Sound of Music:
- Cheltenham Jazz Festival http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz/
- Guiting Festival http://guitingfestival.org/
- Longborough Festival Opera http://www.lfo.org.uk/
- Opera Brava at Lodge Park http://www.operabrava.co.uk/venue_Lodge-Park-N.T._84.html
Literary Links
- Eyford House, where legend has it that Milton was inspired to write
Paradise Lost http://www.countrylife.co.uk/news/article/522057/England-s-Favourite-House-the-winner.html - The Mitford Sisters http://www.theswanswinbrook.co.uk/the-mitfords/
- Laurie Lee and the Slad Valley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slad
- Chipping Campden Literature Festival http://www.campdenlitfest.co.uk/
- Cheltenham Literature
Festival http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature/
Grow a Green Thumb:
- Hidcote Manor Garden http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote/
- Barnsley House Gardens http://www.barnsleyhouse.com/gardens
Savor the Flavors:
- The
Black Horse http://www.theblackhorsenaunton.co.uk/ - The
Village Pub http://www.thevillagepub.co.uk/ - The
Wheatsheaf Inn http://www.cotswoldswheatsheaf.com/ - Abbey
Home Farm Shop and Café http://www.theorganicfarmshop.co.uk/
Window Shop:
- Cotswold
Reclamation Company http://cotswoldreclamation.com/ - Daylesford
Organic http://www.daylesfordorganic.com/
Hi Everyone,
My book, Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage, based in part on this blog, is out now. I would love it if you check it out. Even better, join me in Berkeley this Thursday evening, May 2, where I will be talking books and drinking wine with eight other recently published writers. If you are in the area, please join us. All the details of this free event are here.
