Carole Bumpus is the author of the new book Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table, Book Two. It's the second in her Savoring the Olde Ways series. Her other books include the novel A Cup of Redemption. A retired family therapist, she lives in the San Francisco Bay area.
Q:
This is the second in your Savoring the Olde Ways series--how does
this book build on the first book, which also focused on France?
A:
The second book begins exactly where the first book left off—in Paris. This is
the same culinary tour, with the very same focus—families, traditions and
traditional foods.
Q:
Did you need to do additional research to write this second book in the series,
and if so, what surprised you this time around?
A:
In the second book, it is a continuation of the same journey, but we were
going through different regions. I am also delighted by the influences of each
region’s traditions and cuisine. And, also, I enjoy getting to know the people
who have a different perspective of the world and their history.
Q:
What did you learn about your friend Josiane's late mother, Marcelle, in the
course of working on the book?
A:
One of the main purposes of this actual trip was to search for traces of
Marcelle’s father. She was born on the last day of World War I (November 11,
1918) in Brittany, never knew her father, did not know where her last name came
from, and never knew if he had died during the War, or simply failed to return
home.
During
this journey, we were able to find answers to a number of very important
questions, especially: Who am I? My historical novel, A Cup of
Redemption, is based on Marcelle’s life.
Q:
The third book in the series focuses on Italy. What would you say are some of
the important differences--and similarities--between Italian and French food?
A:
This book was written before the French books, but the timing for publication
was set to follow the French books. The Italian journey was a one-month jaunt
throughout Italy and was where I fell in love with the connection of food and
traditions with families.
As
a retired family therapist, my interest was more about what holds a family
together and I discovered the answer to be found in the very traditional
ritual—the daily sacrament—of putting food on the table.
Q:
What are you working on now?
A:
Finishing up the Italian title, before working on possibly another Italian
journey (as I traveled there often) and/or one more French. Plus, there is also
Greece, or Turkey, or any number of wondrous places I’ve traveled.
Q:
Anything else we should know?
A:
I am also thinking of writing of my travels with World War II veterans
throughout France. Now, there is a real book. I traveled with these lovely men
and their families on their 65th and 70th anniversary of their “liberation
tours.” This was to gain background for my historical novel, A Cup of
Redemption.
What
I learned about World War II can now be found as a subtext in every book I’ve
written since.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Carole Bumpus.
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