You Don't Want to Know: A Short Story

Sometimes you really don't want to know...

When a French woman asks the elderly Reverend H.S. Watchman for directions outside a Phoenix grocery store, he instantly falls in love with her youth and beauty. He sees Dominique as a lost soul, and maybe, through helping her, he can forget about the aches and pains of aging.

But as he seeks to grasp this taste of youth, will he lose something important?

A short story by K. S. R. Burns, bestselling author of The Paris Effect.

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Author Interview

This is easy. I am a member of two book groups. We love talking about stories and characters, why we liked or didn't like a novel, what books and reading mean to us. I've done a lot of pondering about what makes a satisfying reading experience. Simply put, I wanted to write a novel that my book groups would enjoy reading and talking about.

What kind of story is The Paris Effect?

Reviewers call it an engrossing adventure that's both funny and touching. Literary types would probably say it's a coming of age story because the main character, Amy (who loves all things French, and is diet-obsessed and believes French women don't get fat), takes the first big risk of her life by running away to France, soon learning the truth of the expression, "Wherever you go, there you are." I call it a tale of self-discovery that for the reader doubles as a virtual mini-vacation to Paris, giving a unique glimpse of Paris life.

Many books have been written with Paris as the setting. What sets yours apart?

Who doesn't like a Paris love story? For many of us, Paris is the ultimate romantic dream destination. And don't get me wrong-Paris is truly as romantic as it's cracked up to be! But it's also a multilingual, multinational metropolis of street hustlers, diesel fumes, puddles of pee, and pickpockets. Amy encounters all of these and more, including some wonderfully kind strangers. She gets to know a Paris that few casual tourists ever see. And so will you. Thanks for reading!