Celluloid Diaries: Writing in La Redorte (France)

Friday, September 28, 2012

Writing in La Redorte (France)

Over the past week, Gilles and I called La Redorte our home. This sleepy town in the southern Minervois region of France is situated near the Canal du Midi. We stayed in La Batisse, an 18th century winery restored to a luxury holiday apartment with courtyard, swimming pool, sauna and restaurant. The trip offered the perfect opportunity to mentally catch up on my new novel. I love writing in new places. The novelty clears my thoughts. So whenever I am blocked with my writing, I seek out new destinations. In La Redorte, I worked before breakfast when the world was still asleep. The rest of the day we meandered off to surrounding cities and geological sites until it was time to return and rest.

La Redorte La Batisse

Having just started a new novel, I couldn't help but keep story and characters in the back of my head for the duration of the trip. A one-day visit to the Spanish village of Cadaqués, right across the border, influenced the setting, events and characters in the book.

Cadaqués

The best place to jot down new ideas was near the gorge of the river Verdouble, hidden away in the Corbières mountain range. Here, the clear turquoise water flows through a series of waterfalls, pools and small natural lakes hollowed out by a rock.

Corbières mountain range
Gorge of the river verdouble
river Verdouble

Meanwhile, life has returned back to normal, to writing in bed with my cat. The weather is a lot cooler here in Belgium than it was in the South of France and I've already switched on the heater. I can't wait to see what the new novel will finally turn into.

94 comments:

  1. LOVE LOVE LOVE! I'm so jealeous of you, girl!

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  2. This looks absolutely amazing, and writing in bed with your cat sounds lovely. xx - Monica

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  3. this area is lovely i'm happy to enjoy France, next time you could try belgium^^
    isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. i'm a gfc follower: miki

    isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. What a great opportunity! Sounds like it was a fab experience.

    x Michelle

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  6. I'm not a writer, so I don't look for ideas. Usually, I have to many of them. I really can imagine writing in France, it should be perfect.

    spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com

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  7. GFC follower - Dovile

    spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com

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  8. another post to leave me dreaming *.*

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  9. I follow via GFC The Happy Booker

    ahappybooker at gmail dot com

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  10. Twitter follower @Donna224

    ahappybooker at gmail dot com

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  11. G+ Follower - Donna Smith
    ahappybooker at gmail dot com

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  12. Facebook Follower- The Happy Booker
    ahappybooker at gmail dot com

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  13. Pinterest Follower - Donna Smith
    ahappybooker at gmail dot com

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  14. Beautiful pictures! New GFC follower from the Aloha Hop!

    http://www.jandamom.com

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  15. WOW!!!!! I want to go to La Redorte NOW!

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  16. You're so lucky, I wish I was in France! Love the photos. Coming by to visit from the Aloha hop!
    Cheers,
    Char
    http://1epicmom.com

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  17. Thanks for the giveaway!

    pinkindle[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  18. Followed on Pinterest (Angie).

    pinkindle[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  19. What a gorgeous place! Thanks so much for the giveaway...

    vitajex(at)aol(Dot)com

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  20. THat's the best time in the morning in my opinion...when the rest of the world is still asleep.
    Writing with the pet is also nice :) .... except mine snores :)

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  21. GFC Heather @ Redheaded Bookworm
    hschrock24112 at yahoo dot com

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  22. FB Heather Baker Schrock
    hschrock24112 at yahoo dot com

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  23. Google + Redheaded Bookworm
    hschrock24112 at yahoo dot com

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  24. Pinterest Redheaded Bookworm
    hschrock24112 at yahoo dot com

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  25. Twitter @redhedbookworm
    hschrock24112 at yahoo dot com

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  26. posted on FB https://www.facebook.com/schrockalockalips/posts/283359105108180
    hschrock24112 at yahoo dot com

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  27. Tweeted https://twitter.com/redhedbookworm/status/251733921308499969
    hschrock24112 at yahoo dot com

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  28. What an incredible fairy tale house! I can see myself in Austen times with a parasol and a carriage arriving at the house!
    gfc Cordelia Fitzgerald
    FB Cordelia Fitzgerald
    G+ Cordelia Fitzgerald
    email cordfitz(at)gmail[dot]com

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  29. Happy Blogfest!
    tiffanyniekro at gmail dot com

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  30. Hi Vannessa - I follow your blog, twitter, google,FB - thanks for the opportunity:) Enjoy Blog Fest.
    kaydeeroyal at msn dot com

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  31. What breathtakingly beautiful pictures. I'm a new follower from the Aloha Friday blog hop. Hope you have a great weekend!

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  32. Beautiful pictures. Can't imagine a better place to be!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  33. Gorgeous pics! I would love to visit France, but I don't really ever see that happening. Thanks for doing this giveaway!


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  34. Lovely pictures
    mindfulhome at gmail dot com

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  35. Those photos are beautiful! I have to admit, I'm a little jealous. I've never left the U.S. Well, actually I've been to Canada but I don't count that. :)

    cheriereads(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. I'm a new follower.

    cheriereads(at)gmail(dot)com
    Cherie Reads

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  37. Liked on FB(Alina Popescu); follow on twitter(@megeara_erinyes); GFC Follower Alina.

    Thanks for the giveaway! New follower :)
    email: alinutza4u2004(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

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  38. oh how lucky and so beautiful. Thanks for sharing those lovely pictures.

    GFC-BLHmistress
    FB-Dawna Newman
    Pinterest- http://pinterest.com/dawnanewman/
    Google+ Book Lover's Hideaway

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

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  39. Thanks for the giveaway!
    amandarwest atmgaildotcom

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  40. Thanks for the giveaway!

    fecheerleader@yahoo.com

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  41. Wow...writing abroad, what a dreamy-dream. Turning to nature is a real treat...also doing something that I've never done before, that can turn on the powers of creativity and inspiration.

    If you'd like to link up on the Photo Friday Blog Hop- you are welcome to add this or any other favorite post...http://www.ladiesholiday.com It's up all weekend. Enjoy! Cheers!

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  42. Wow...amazing places! I love that you, like me, is more attracted to places where theres water... its so peaceful!

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  43. Omg, that place is so beautiful!
    Loved it :D
    penny.is.foda(at)gmail(dot)com

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  44. Loved seeing your pictures from FRance! Thanks for the giveaway :)

    booklover1335 ( at gmail.com)

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  45. France looks like a great place to go for inspiration :)
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    by.evie at yahoo dot com dot br

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  46. I'd love to live in France! I've visited there for, like, a day, but I hardly think one day is enough for sightseeing.

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  47. Wow - France! I really want to visit there some day. Thanks for the giveaway!

    stephward84(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  48. What or where do you turn to when you're stuck for ideas? Can you imagine yourself writing in France?

    When I'm stuck for ideas, I just stop trying and play a game or check my e-mails or something. Then as my mind wanders it usually falls upon something good.
    I would love to write in France! I'm learning French and so I'm quite fascinated with the country now so it would be amazing to got here and write!
    Thanks for the giveaway. :)

    myhorseisaunicorn(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  49. How beautiful! I love the green picture of the water. kxw116[at]gmail.com

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  50. What a great place to write and find inspiration!
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  51. I was in Italy over the summer and the cities are so beautiful, even I wanted to write!
    Thanks for participating!
    OceanAkers @ aol.com

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  52. Those are beautiful pictures! I am not a writer, but I could imagine reading there. :)
    I have always wanted to visit Scotland and Italy.
    Thank you for the wonderful giveaway and good luck with your writing!
    trb0917 at gmail.com

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  53. I have only been to Cannes and Toulon/Cassis, and I wasn't really that inspired. Now Italy, that is an inspiring country, and I cannot wait to go back and do some writing.

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  54. This summer we went on a trip to Europe...Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels and London. If I got stuck writing, I would go to Bath England...it was such a cool place and a quiet town...many authors and celebrities go here to vacation and I can see why...it's so quiet!

    books4me67 at ymail dot com

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  55. Wow...beautiful photos. I'd love to visit there.

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  56. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
    cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com

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  57. I loved your photos. I could definitely write a tale in France. Where's my plane ticket. lol

    Lovely giveaway for the Bloghop.
    I tweeted the info @KMNbooks

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  58. Gorgeous photos! Thanks for the great giveaway.

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  59. Beautiful pictures, I would love to go to France or Belgium.

    GFC - proudarmymom32

    proudarmymom32(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  60. Facebook - Sue Sattler

    proudarmymom32(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  61. Google + - Sue Sattler

    proudarmymom32(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  62. Pinterest - proudarmymom32

    proudarmymom32(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  63. Shared on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sue.sattler3/posts/388330504569617

    proudarmymom32(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  64. Tweeted - https://twitter.com/armyma32/status/252255911861694464

    proudarmymom32(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  65. Thanks for the chance!

    GFC follower

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  66. Follow on Google+ - Donna S

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  67. Follow on FB - Donna S


    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  68. follow on twitter @donnas1

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  69. Nice pictures.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  70. Thank you so much for the chance to win an Amazon gift card! Please enter my name in your draw - djkirkby (AT) gmail (DOT) com

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  71. I'm a big believer in brainstorming - that's how I get ideas when I'm stuck.

    mdr AT likeminds.ca

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  72. Shared Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/107775560737547757892/posts/i9ThdWTLm3P

    elizabeth @ bookattict . com

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  73. Wow! Beautiful pics! France looks like an amazing place.
    daisykr_99 at yahoo dot com

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  74. The pictures are great! It would be so much fun to visit France, my husband's sister is on vacation there right now. I like the writing in bed with you cats, I am hanging out in bed with my daughter and cat napping next to me. If only I could nap during the day too.

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  75. GFC follower: ace5123

    E-mail, forgot on last post
    Ace5123 at yahoo dot com

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  76. GREAT giveaway and so generous!!!


    GFC reading mind

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  77. Gorgeous! def yes to seeing myself writing in France :) and you've helped me see it !! TY..
    appreciate your gvway offer for blogfest a LOT !

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  78. tweeted gvwy https://twitter.com/_eHope/status/252541989118156800

    ReplyDelete
  79. Thanks for the giveaway!

    dl(dot)love(dot)freedom(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  80. Following on GFC as Dinda_SI.

    dl(dot)love(dot)freedom(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  81. Google+ : Dinda Lestarini

    dl(dot)love(dot)freedom(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  82. twitter : @dien_da

    dl(dot)love(dot)freedom(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  83. oh my, this is stnuning. i would love to go there, i am in the uk so also close to france, i may have to make a trip soon, well, next summer :-)
    I am hosting a blog hop over at my blog today
    http://myfroley.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
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