At first, I didn't think it was possible. How could I tell the story of buying and renovating my apartment in Paris? There was so much to include, from cultural hurdle to language issues. (I am still wondering why there are a half-dozen name for sinks in French, just like the woman at the plumbing store in Paris, who I mention in the book, wondered why you could buy a toilet with a fly embossed at the bottom of the bowl.) If you want to know the answers to those, and lots, lots more, L'appart: The Delights and Disasters of Making My Paris Home, spills all.

It's taken me a few years to get it all down on paper, which I started documenting on my blog when I started out. But as things didn't quite go as expected, and the plot thickened, my focus was less on letting everyone in on what was happening, and more about keeping my precarious sanity.

L'appart was finally finished and sent off to the printer last spring, thanks to a few rounds of edits, and an unspecified amount of wine that I'll decline to comment on, and in just a few days (November 7, to be exact...), it'll be available at your local bookstore and online.

The book is a comedy of errors, seasoned with recipes such as almond stuffed croissants (croissants aux amandes), the kind offered up in Paris bakeries, and a caramelized apple-maple tarte Tatin (below) that you'll flip over - literally. There are recipes for individual Kouign amanns, buckwheat chocolate chip cookies, a bracing cocktail called The Truth Serum, which would have come in handy dealing with some of the characters I came across during the remodel, and a pain perdu (crisply caramelized French toast) recipe that I've been anxious to share for years. Just as I was anxious to get into my new kitchen and start cooking - and baking - again.

I'll be doing a post on my blog shortly with lots of pictures and stories, and looking forward to meeting many of you on my book tour (more below), that I'll be doing around the U.S.

(In related news, the e-book of The Sweet Life in Paris, my previous book about moving to Paris, is on sale for a limited time for the Kindle, Nook and in iBooks and Google Play - available in U.S. only.)

In other news, well, there isn't much else! I've had such an exciting year working on my book that I spent the last month getting ready for the launch. And I spent all day yesterday spending way too much on a new, larger phone, which I treated myself to, so I'll have fewer excuses for any typos that I might make online. As you can see from the photos above, every writer benefits from having an editor looking over their shoulder, and making good use of their red pen.

But I didn't forget about you, dear reader; I've got a special surprise French cookware giveaway that I'm ready to announce, and I'll be posting about that as well on my blog in the next week or so. Enjoy the book!

- David

Next week, November 7th to be exact, L'appart will be available. I'll be traveling out and about to meet many of you and sign your books...and in some cases, eat and drink. I'm packing my bag (singular - I'm doing so much traveling that I'm going carry-on), and hitting the road. Last month I gave a few interviews and did some podcasts:

I talked with Chris Kimball of Milk Street on his radio program.

There was a tête-à-tête with the lovely Géraldine of Comme une française for a video interview, where we chatted about her native country.

Justin Spring, author of The Gourmand's Way: Six Americans in Paris and the Birth of a new Gastronomy talked about The Process of Being French.

A très San Francisco podcast with Cornucopia on Paris, Birkenstocks, Writing, Blueberries, and Clams.

Charlie Hebdo comes to America. Will it work?
(Washington Post)

Trying to answer the Kosher Salt Question (Taste)

Stocking the shelves at Kalustyans, New York's great food emporium (Edible Manhattan)

15 of the most French Things That Ever Happened (Buzzfeed)

Community reacts (uh, not so well...) to a modern "fruiteria" in their neighborhood (mitú)

Can Food Waste in Paris Be Reeled In? (The Local)

Odd Cat Ad for German Supermarket Chain (The Mind Circle)

Memoir of Growing Up Fat Forces France to Look in the Mirror (NYT)

In a region rife with controversy, a discussion with Reem Kassis on how conflict eclipsed Palestine's food (The Independent)

Lying awake at night, worrying about buying a mattress because of those ads on the subway or métro? The War to Sell You a Mattress is an Internet Nightmare (Fast Company)

Paris launching sparkling water fountains (Citylab)

New anti cat-calling law proposed in France prompts debate, and some awkward comments (CNN)

Yup, you can walk out of the Louvre with a masterpiece (NYT)

It helps to listen to the other side: The power of engaging people with other points of view (Sarah Silverman)

Ottolenghi Beet and Ginger Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting - from Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh, who scores a hit with their new book, Sweet.

Caramel Flan - a book on French truck stops inspired this take on the classic crème caramel.

Kig ha farz - a lesser-known buckwheat specialty from Brittany makes an appearance on my plate.

Ibrik café is a lovely spot in Paris for lunch, or just a morning coffee.

Quiche with Greens, Bacon and Feta - I'm going to be making this again and again, with winter greens.

Mint-White Chocolate Ice Cream Shell - Miss the "magic shell" of your youth? This coating hardens on ice cream, creating the same crispy crunch.

Fall at the Market in Paris - come along as I stroll through an open-air market in Paris.

- dl