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Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’re slipping away to the sun-washed streets of Provence with Amour in Avignon, a sensual, theatrical romance by Jennifer Ivy Walker that celebrates love in all its daring, vulnerable forms. Set against the intoxicating backdrop of the legendary Festival d’Avignon, this novella blends art, passion, and self-discovery—where candlelit dinners, poetic confessions, and jealous glances unfold both onstage and off.
Mary Anne: Love and longing sit at the heart of this story. What inspired you to set a romantic triangle against the dreamy backdrop of Avignon?
Jennifer: I am a former high school French teacher, and several years ago, I won a National Endowment of the Humanities scholarship to participate in le Festival D’Avignon, the world-famous Festival of Theater that takes places every July in the city of Avignon, in the sunny south of France. Thar fabulous summer was the inspiration for my steamy novella.
Mary Anne: Your novel echoes the emotional dynamics of Cyrano de Bergerac. What drew you to weave this classic tale of unspoken love into Lily’s modern journey?
Jennifer: Since le Festival d’ Avignon attracts theatrical groups from all over the world, I decided to have my two principal male characters be part of a local troupe who welcome the American Lily for the part of Roxane in their performance of the classical play. And as they learn their parts and rehearse, the dramatic tension of the play mirrors their personal lives.
Mary Anne: Valentine’s Day is often about grand gestures. Which moment in the book best captures your idea of true romantic courage?
Jennifer: Ludo takes Lily to see a moving performance of Notre-Dame de Paris, a musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic story of the Hunchback of Notre-Dame. He likens himself to the misshapen Quasimodo and Lily to the beautiful Esméralda. She courageously convinces him that she loves him for his romantic soul, like the gypsy dancer who sees the hunchback’s tender heart.
Mary Anne: Ludo and Auguste represent very different kinds of attraction. Did you always know which man would ultimately win Lily’s heart?
than Roxane, who chooses the handsome Christian for his looks in the play, Cyrano de Bergerac. Lily chooses Ludo for his passionate, artistic soul rather than the dashingly handsome (but arrogantly vain) Auguste.
Mary Anne: The Festival of Theater setting adds drama both on and off the stage. How does performing a tragic love story heighten the characters’ real-life emotions?
Jennifer: In my novella, the roles that the main characters play in their dramatic production of Cyrano de Bergerac mirror the romantic jealousy in their real lives. It was very cool, writing a story where “art imitates life”.
Mary Anne: Provence is famous for passion, beauty, and art. How did the landscape and culture influence the romantic tone of the novel?
Jennifer: Provence is sunny, vibrant, and full of joie de vivre. I had Ludo take Lily all over the city of Avignon to show her the living heart of theatre in this unforgettable city. And as she discovers its beauty, she also discovers the beauty in herself.
Mary Anne: Lily begins the story adrift and lonely. How important was it for her romantic journey to also be one of self-discovery and confidence?
Jennifer: Lily was broken-hearted from a disastrous marriage, suffering from low self-esteem. Ludo helps her find herself while she does the same for him.
Mary Anne: Jealousy plays a powerful role in the plot. What do you think makes rivalry in love stories so compelling to readers?
Jennifer: Rivalry and jealousy fuel passion and intensity the plot. In Amour in Avignon, there is also a pervasive threat of real tragedy, like in the classical play, Cyrano de Bergerac—which Ludo, Auguste, and Lily are performing for le Festival d’ Avignon.
Mary Anne: If this story had its own perfect Valentine’s Day scene, what would it look like for Lily and her true love?
Jennifer: They do have the perfect Valentine’s Day scene in the novel when they dine outdoors and eat the sumptuous local fare and savor fabulous French wine.
Mary Anne: At its core, is this novel more about choosing the right person or about becoming the right version of yourself to receive love?
Jennifer: Learning to love yourself so you can love the right person when he or she comes into your life.
Our heartfelt thanks to Jennifer Ivy Walker for joining us and sharing the inspiration, artistry, and personal experiences behind Amour in Avignon. Her reflections on love, theatre, and self-discovery beautifully echo the spirit of the story itself—and remind us why romance set in Provence feels so timeless and intoxicating.
Check out the blurb:
When Lily joins their thespian troupe, portraying the lead female role, she discovers that real life mirrors the play they are rehearsing, for--just as Cyrano and Christian vie for Roxane-- Ludo and Auguste become intense rivals for Lily.
Handsome as a Hollywood movie star, Auguste is used to women falling into his bed. But when Lily spurns his amorous advances, drawn instead to the enigmatic Ludo, jealousy drives Auguste to seek revenge.
Will tragedy strike with a cruel twist of fate? Or will love triumph with Amour in Avignon?
Fall in love with Provence, passion, and second chances. Amour in Avignon is available now on Kindle. Pick up your copy HERE and escape to France today. ❤️
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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx