WRITING IS LIVING

Welcome to my website!

Who said, 'Never say never?'

Charles Dickens coined the phrase in 1837 in The Pickwick Papers.

There are two reasons I thought about this:
1. I resisted having a website.
2. I wondered when my book would ever be published.

 'Never say die!' Dickens said that, too.

My website is now the digital home of my book Biography of a Friendship.

 

Marie-Claude Arnott smiles and welcomes her website visitors standing at a red door open at the top.

Marie-Claude Arnott

BIOGRAPHY OF A FRIENDSHIP

The decades-long friendship between two women is turned upside down by a shattering diagnosis. 'Biography of a Friendship' is about the ebb and flow of life and its conundrums, romantic love and its complications, and the unexpected outcome of a loss. It takes readers on the author's introspective journey, set mostly in France and Switzerland. This emotional and candid memoir resonated deeply with reviewers, perhaps because sharing their stories is how women help each other.

Interview for the website Living with Cancer - July 22, 2024

PRAISE FOR BIOGRAPHY OF A FRIENDSHIP

“As a travel writer, this journey of a friendship, that shows and not only tells, took me on a different type of trip, one that made me reflect on my own experiences of loss, soothing those memories. I could not put the book down.”

—Karen Berger, New York Times bestselling author, 'America Great Hiking Trails'

“From the opening chapter of this beautiful story, I was invited into the heart of a friendship and the memories of an incredible woman. This memoir reads like a novel and takes the reader on a journey through the intertwined lives of two strong, funny, unapologetic, and colourful women as they navigate love and loss, strengthen their friendship over distance and time, and learn how to let go and say goodbye. This book will make you laugh and cry, and will serve as a reminder of the precious nature of life.”

—Kate Gajdosik, Producer, IMDb

“A compelling story that leads the reader into the warp and weft of the timeless meaning of friendship between two women. Time can heal, sometimes in unexpected ways.”

—Laila Radage, co-author, 'Through the Golden Age'

“From the perspective of grant donors, to help advance better treatment of pancreatic cancer, this book eloquently informs of the reality of patients and their families after diagnosis. It highlights the difficulty of such an emotional journey without the support of an organization such as PanCAN. It’s also the captivating story of a friendship.”

—Steve, and Cheryl Kole - PanCAN PurpleStride Silicon Valley/Promise & Progress Team Captain 

(Pancreatic Cancer: A Cause Close to My Heart)

This website is about my writing life.

Running a website is like gardening. It begins with a seed of an idea, and then it grows and multiplies. It's an ongoing journey. As for writing, it's a solitary activity until it becomes a story brought to life by readers. I hope Writing is Living will resonate with readers and writers alike.

 

About Me, and more.

Blog/News: Updates and events about the Biography of a Friendship and more.

Resources: Books and other writing tutorials that still help me hone my craft.

Travel: All stories are authentic and previously published digitally or in print.

Other Stories Previously published articles on various subjects.

Writing is Living is the digital home of my memoir, Biography of a Friendship.

Thank you for coming by!


 

In this News/Blog, I share my experiences with workshops, conferences, and other events.

Travel Stories

When I first traveled to places I’d likely never go back to—the world is a big place—I was frustrated and even sad to leave beautiful and interesting sites behind. Sure, I’d bring back photographs galore, mementos, and books, but they weren’t enough. They didn’t keep my memories alive. But writing stories about them would let me keep them forever.