Showcase: SCENT OF TRIUMPH by Jan Moran

SCENT OF TRIUMPH by Jan Moran (St. Martin’s Griffin; March 31):  In this debut novel by recognized beauty expert Jan Moran, an aristocratic French perfumer is caught in the perils of WWII. Her family torn apart by the impending German invasion of France and Poland, Danielle Bretancourt must decide whether to stay in Europe to find her missing son or flee to the United States to save whose remaining. Though heartbreaking at times, this story is inspiring as Danielle uses her passion of perfume to lift herself and her family out of the distress from the war. Jan is an expert in vintage perfumes and the creator of Scentsa, a touch-screen fragrance program in Sephora stores in the US, Canada, and elsewhere. Her knowledge brings a tangibility to the world ofScent of Triumph, as each chapter opens with a lyrical quote from Danielle’s journal.

JAN MORAN is the author of Fabulous Fragrances I and II, which earned spots on the Rizzoli Bookstore bestseller list. A fragrance and beauty expert, she has been featured in numerous publications and on television and radio, including CNN, Instyle, and O Magazine, and has spoken before prestigious organizations, including The American Society of Perfumers. She earned her MBA from Harvard Business school and attended the University of California at Los Angeles Extension Writers' Program.

Q.  What is your favorite book of all time?

 A. Just one? Oh, the pressure! It’s a tie between A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. No, really.

 Q.  Which character from ANY book are you most like?

 A. Definitely Emma Harte from A Woman of Substance. She’s determined and never takes no for an answer. She makes mistakes, but perseveres and triumph.

 Q.  What character from all of your books are you most like?

 A. My characters are fictional, but those who know me certainly see a few of my traits in Danielle Bretancourt, the main character in SCENT OF TRIUMPH. We both love a good Bordeaux, Mitsouko, and beautiful clothes. (If that’s not a Taurus woman, I don’t know what is.) Danielle loves her children, and is incredibly resourceful and determined — like so many women I know and admire.

 Q.  Which book would you love to take a weekend vacation inside of?

 A. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway. Paris of the 1920s -- what’s not to love?

 Q.  What do you want to be remembered for 100 years from now?

 A. SCENT OF TRIUMPH, a beloved award-winning film and book!

Actually, that I loved my family and managed to write a little.

 Q.  What is your favorite season?

A. Ah, spring -- I adore the fresh scents that perfume the air — jasmine, rose, gardenia, orange blossoms. Just breathe….

Q.  What inspired your book cover(s)?  Or what is your favorite book cover and why?

A. The stunning lavender and coral roses on SCENT OF TRIUMPH are lush and evocative – the colors are brilliant, and I can just imagine the scent of roses rising from the cover. There’s also a magnificent sepia photo of Paris on the cover.

Q.  Tell me something funny that happened while on a book tour or while promoting your book.

A. At one event we had four authors on a panel, but only a handful of people in the audience. As the night wore on we joked around, a faux fight broke out, photos were snapped, and it caused quite a ruckus when it hit social media! Honestly, we were kidding…

Q.  Are you working on something new?

A. Always! I’m finishing my next historical novel for St. Martin’s Press. All I can say is, if you like wine, you’ll definitely want to read this one. I also write a series of contemporary novels set in the beauty industry and Beverly Hills, so I’m always busy.

Q.  Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or those that are just stopping by?

A.  Find a little something to savor in each and every day. Books, shared laughter, a sunrise or sunset.