Paris Letters: One Woman’s Journey from the Fast Lane to the Slow Stroll in Paris

Feeling trapped and unfulfilled in her copywriting job, MacLeod began a process she hoped would transform her life. Within several months of pledging to write three pages a day in her journal, a question bubbles up: “How much money does it take to quit your job?… I needed to figure out how to save up enough money to fund my own sabbatical, or even better, get out of my job.” MacLeod (The Dating Repair Kit) contemplates the multitude of ways she can save or make $100 a day toward her goal for financial independence. She reassesses her spending habits and devises a plan for whittling down spending and boosting her savings. With her financial makeover successful, MacLeod leaves her corporate life in the States behind departing for two years of European travel. MacLeod sheds her vegan menu choices, falls in love with a butcher, and discovers what makes her happy. She decides to sell painted letters depicting her life in Paris through a subscription service, and with that, she creates a cash flow for her daily life. “I would create a painted letter, copy it, personalize each copy, and mail them off to people who love fun mail.” MacLeod engagingly takes readers on her personal odyssey, and offers them a sweet reminder of the joy found in learning to make your life one you really love. (Feb.)