Lunch, taxes & Gerard Depardieu

I'm in Paris right now, and today I had lunch with a friend who has lived here for about 14 years. It was really interesting to learn about the changes in France since the new Socialist president, Hollande, was elected.

Since we talk about entertainment here on maggiewatersbooks, I wondered if you had heard about Gerard Depardieu's caper -- my friend told me about it. Apparently the super-famous French actor is so upset about the super-high tax rates on super-rich people here starting in 2013, he's threatening to give up his French passport.

The actor has already moved to Belgium to avoid the new tax rate: 75% on incomes over 1 million euros/year (which is about $1.3 million). That tax rate sounds incredible, but did you know that's what the U.S. tax rate was back in the 1950s? Granted, times have changed. There wasn't a euro back then, of course. and $1.3 million was worth a lot more then than it is now. Not that I would know, of course, but you get the idea.

Depardieu has paid about $190 million in taxes over the past 45 years, and he says he employs 85 people. Seems like he's already done his fair share, don't you think?

Oh, and I had a delicious coquilles St. Jacques for lunch. With a baguette, of course.

Connecticut murders: Taking a moment

I feel so much pain for the people who lost their children and loved ones in that shooting in Connecticut. It's been hard for me to concentrate on anything since then.

My last post mentioned a feeling of optimism in the air for 2013. After an event like this, it's difficult to feel optimistic about anything, right? I've felt a mixture of anger and grief that's hard to put into words.

So I'll sign off this post by saying that all of those dear children and adults who were killed in Connecticut are in my heart and mind today, and they will be for days and weeks -- even years -- to come.

My books are featured on Wisprings

A big "thank you" to Wisprings and Kirsten Erlich Davies for featuring my Pandora Chronicles books on the Wisprings website!

I meant what I said in the note about aspiring writers: Just go for it. Do your best work and don't wait for it to be "perfect" (whatever that means). Then put it out there for the world to read. And keep writing. Don't give up. How many great writers' work has never been seen for fear of "failure"? Don't be one of those people. There is an audience for what you write. You just need to find them.

I hope J.K. has some $ in the bank

Or some British pounds. :-)

I'm going on a little trip and wanted a new Kindle book to read on the plane. So hey, why not J.K. Rowling's new non-Harry Potter book, "The Casual Vacancy"?

Holy cow! Have you seen the user reviews for this book?

Maybe she doesn't care.

Maybe she doesn't read them.

And then there are the pro reviews, like the one in the NY Times: "Unfortunately, the real-life world she has limned in these pages is so willfully banal, so depressingly clichéd that “The Casual Vacancy” is not only disappointing — it’s dull."

Ouch.

Easy for me to say, right? I haven't written a bajillion best-seller. But if I had, those reviews would still hurt.

Found my fortitude

Yesterday was a difficult day, because I had to confront something within myself and then believe in a decision I'd made. I also had to share this decision with someone who I knew would be disappointed.

What I need to realize is that while some decisions are permanent -- like a tattoo -- others are not. This one is ... well, it doesn't have to be permanent. I can change my mind. I can admit to a mistake, if it turns out to be a mistake. Or I can celebrate my decision if it turns out, in fact, to have been the right one.

Tough day ahead

Today's word: FORTITUDE. I need to find the intestinal fortitude to do what has to be done today, based on a decision I've made. It's not going to be easy, because it's an emotional as well as a professional situation. I really hate doing tough stuff like this, especially when I have some lingering doubt about my decision. But it's really the best choice I can make, so let's just plow ahead. I'll let you know how things went today when I post here tomorrow.