PARIS NIGHTS by Cliff Simon with Loren Stephens: Review and Giveaway
Cliff Simon
with
Loren Stephens
on Tour
October 24-November 2
with
Paris Nights:
My Year at the Moulin Rouge
(memoir)
Release date: July 15, 2016
at Waldorf Publishing
ISBN: 978-194384892-8
197 pages
SYNOPSIS
A memoir by the critically acclaimed actor Cliff Simon.
Paris Nights, the memoir of a South African soldier turned performer in the world’s most famous cabaret, delivers in a hugely entertaining way.
Little did Cliff Simon know that a single phone call and a one-way ticket to Paris would ultimately change his life forever.
Now the acclaimed television and film actor shares his journey from Johannesburg to the Moulin Rouge to Hollywood in his debut memoir, Paris Nights: My Year at the Moulin Rouge.
From a young age Cliff Simon knew he was headed towards big places. Having grown up as both a skilled gymnast and a competitive swimmer, performance was in his blood. But with the onset of Apartheid and the looming threat of war, he and his Jewish family soon retreated from Johannesburg, South Africa to the London countryside. Before he knew it, he joined the British swim team and was near Olympics-bound with a full-ride offer to a United States university.
But something wasn’t quite right. Instead, Cliff returned home and enlisted in the South African Air Force. Cliff’s habit of impulsive risk-taking would continue but ultimately pave the foundation for an experience most of us would only dream of. After he was honorably discharged, twenty-seven-year-old Cliff worked a series of odd jobs at a resort near the Indian Ocean until he received a phone call from an old friend inviting him to join him at the iconic Moulin Rouge.
Here begins the story of Cliff’s meteoric rise at the Moulin from swing dancer to principal in the glamour filled show, Formidable; his offstage encounters with street thugs and diamond smugglers; and the long nights filled with after parties and his pick of gorgeous women. Encounter the magic, the mayhem, and the glory that was and still is the Moulin Rouge.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Cliff Simon
is a well-known television actor, born in Johannesburg, South Africa.
He appeared for 7 seasons on the sci-fi thriller, Stargate as the evil Ba’al. Some of his recent appearances have been on CSI, 24, the Americans, and in the film, Project Eden.
Loren Stephens
has been twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize for the Best American Short Story,and her essays and short stories have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, Peregrine, the Montreal Review, to name a few.
Her novel “All Sorrows Can Be Borne,” set in Japan will be published in 2017.
Visit Cliff’s website and his fan page
Follow Cliff Simon: Facebook, Twitter
Visit Loren’s website: Write Wisdom
Follow Loren Stephens: Facebook
Follow Waldorf Publishing on Twitter | on Facebook
Buy the book: Amazon | Indiebound | Barnes & Noble | Target
***
My Thoughts
Not being a television watcher, I was previously unfamiliar with Cliff Simon, a successful actor who is well-known in the UK and to US watchers of Stargate. This was thus my first exposure to him.
The memoir was easy to follow. Once the introductory piece set up his move to Paris, we are taken back to Simon’s childhood, teen years and early adult life. There are no distracting spelling or grammatical errors either.
As one can imagine, Paris nightlife can be “colourful” and Simon’s varied background stood him in good stead dealing with fellow dancers, audience members, and various hangers-on. Although Simon stayed for only a year at the Moulin Rouge, no doubt he could have had a long and illustrious career there.
While his year at the Moulin Rouge was indeed interesting, it was but a small part of his exciting life and career, and thus not as major a part of the book as I expected.
Cliff Simon’s fans will no doubt find this well-written memoir of great interest.
I received this book free of charge from the author/publisher.
***
You can enter the global giveaway here or on any other book blogs participating in this tour.
Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter/Facebook, they are listed in the entry form below.
Visit each blogger on the tour: tweeting about the giveaway everyday of the Tour will give you 5 extra entries each time! [just follow the directions on the entry-form]
Global giveaway – international:
Five (5) winners will receive a kindle/mobi copy of this book
***
CLICK ON THE BANNER TO READ REVIEWS AND AN EXCERPT
Thank you fo reading my book and the review Debbie.
Much appreciated
Best wishes
You’re welcome Cliff – you’ve had quite a colourful life!
Great review! 🙂
Hi Debbie. Thanks for the comment about the writing. Was a “trip” worth taking to work with Cliff, and brought me back to one of my favorite cities. From Los Angeles, we wish you “a great day.” You made mine. Loren Stephens
You’re welcome, Loren. Thanks for stopping by Exurbanis.
Haha yes I have and kind of still do, it keeps me going