Why L.A.? Pourquoi Paris?

A pairing of two culturally diverse cites

New Book Reveals the Stark Differences – and Surprising Similarities! – of the City of Stars & the City of Lights

Contact: Sarah Miniaci
856.489.8654 x329 (U.S.) / 647.464.8029 (CAN)
sarah.miniaci@smithpublicity.com

“Los Angeles is my husband and Paris is my lover…”

Of all the world’s great metropolises, Paris and Los Angeles are among those that house the most significant and immediately recognizable cultural milieus. From the Champs-Élysées to the Sunset Strip, Marilyn Monroe to Brigitte Bardot, LACMA to Louvre, there is plenty for visitors and residents alike to fall in love with these storied cities – and in Why LA? Pourquoi Paris?, for the first time ever, they are revealed in parallel.

Written by Diane Ratican – a Los Angeles based entrepreneur who built a highly successful U.S.-France fashion import/export business, and calls Paris her second home – with illustrations by acclaimed artists Eric Giriat (Paris) and Nick Lu (Los Angeles), Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? is a gorgeous, full-color, 272-page collectible art book, travel guide, and personal journey. Playfully ‘connecting the dots’ between respective historical landmarks, architectural icons, style codes, and cultural peculiarities, Ratican weaves a compelling narrative throughout Why LA? Pourquoi Paris?, which is interspersed with quotes from famed L.A. and Paris residents such as Walt Disney, Jim Morrison, Coco Chanel, and Ernest Hemingway.

Colorful, charming illustrations by Girat and Lu – many of which are available to purchase as prints via online contemporary art dealer Image Republic – compare and contrast the foods, fashions, cultures, and cityscapes of the City of Stars and City of Lights. And, as an added bonus, precise GPS coordinates are included next to each illustrated page bringing the experience of these two incredible cities ‘off the page’ and into the real world!

Cleverly divided into seven distinct sections, Why LA, Pourquoi Paris? looks at:

  • Cityscapes & Landmarks Magifiques
  • Culture Célébre: Cinema, Entertainment & Glamour
  • Fashion, Style & Shopping à la Mode
  • Sports & Leisure
  • Communicating Ideas: Art & Culture
  • Cuisine & Dining
  • Cities in Motion

“I have lived in Los Angeles most of my life, and never tire of waking up each day to it,” writes Ratican in the book’s foreword. “It is an eclectic, energetic, and stunningly beautiful place.”

“However, like a true Parisian woman who believes she can have the best of both worlds, Los Angeles is my husband and Paris is my lover,” she continues. “Paris has its own drama and majesty, and like no other city I have ever traveled to, enables me to experience the privilege of being who I really am.”

A singular, delightful, and beautiful addition to the art book market brimming with joie de vivre and cool California glamour, Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? is set for release in September 2017, and will be a must-have for the bookcases, coffee tables, and suitcases of jetsetter, art lovers, culture enthusiasts alike.

About the Author:

DIANE RATICAN received her bachelor of arts degree in History and Sociology from the University of California Berkeley, and then earned her master of arts degree in Sociology and Education from UCLA. She started her career educating gifted children, and then moved on to become a risk-taking entrepreneur who built a highly successful business importing children’s clothing from France for upscale retailers across the U.S. Ratican’s excitement for and infatuation with Paris, her second home, plus her enthusiasm for her resident city, Los Angeles, uniquely positions her to engage readers to develop their own love affair with both of these dynamic destinations.

About the Illustrators:

NICK LU is a graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, with a degree in illustration. Nick lives in Los Angeles and works as an illustrator; his clients include The New Yorker, Wired, The Boston Globe, Bloomberg View, and Macmillan Children’s Publishing.

Beginning with serial illustrations for the French edition of ELLE magazine in 1996, ERIC GIRIAT has since flooded the magazine, advertising, and book publishing industries in many fields internationally, from fashion to economics, politics, psychology, children’s books, interior design, the luxury industry, culture, and portraits. He also works with fashion and product design, designing T-shirt and pullover motifs for JOOP! (Germany), pillows, giant stickers, and skirts for Dona Fusion (Brazil); Cognac bottles for Hennessy, and an organic bag for La Grande Epicerie Paris.

About Why LA? Pourquoi Paris?:

The second edition of Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? will be released in September 2017, and retail for $26.95 USD / €25, with distribution by SCB Distributors in North America and Groupe Flammarion in France.

Website: whylapourquoiparis.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/whylapourquoiparis/
Twitter: twitter.com/Diane_Ratican
Instagram: instagram.com/whylapourquoiparis/

ADVANCE REVIEW COPIES OF WHY LA? POURQUOI PARIS? AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Interview: “Los Angeles is my husband, Paris is my lover…”

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS
Contact: Sarah Miniaci
856.489.8654 x329 (U.S.) / 647.464.8029 (Canada)
sarah.miniaci@smithpublicity.com

FROM MARILYN MONROE TO BRIGITTE BARDOT, A CHARMING INSIDE LOOK AT THE UNLIKELY ‘SISTER CITIES’ OF LOS ANGELES & PARIS!

A lifelong Angeleno, from the first time Diane Ratican stepped foot in Paris when she was an eighteen-year-old university student exploring Europe, she knew she was destined to live there.

A highly successful entrepreneur who built a business importing clothing from France for upscale retailers across the U.S., Ratican’s excitement for and infatuation with her resident city and second home have led her to create the stunning new book, Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? [Illustre Books, September 2017] – for the first time ever revealing the stark differences and surprising similarities between these dynamic destinations.

Accompanied by vibrant, colorful illustrations from acclaimed artists Eric Giriat and Nick Lu, in Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? Ratican acts as a captivating personal tour guide, with tips, stories, and quotes pertaining to their respective historical landmarks, architectural icons, style codes, and cultural peculiarities of the City of Angels and City of Lights.

“The day I turned sixteen and got my driver’s license was the day I realized what it really meant to live in Los Angeles,” Ratican recalls. “My free spirit was liberated! It is an eclectic, energetic, and stunningly beautiful place, and I never tire of waking up to it.”

“But Paris, like no other city I have traveled to, enables me to experience the privilege of being who I really am,” she continues. “I want to share my Los Angeles and my Paris with art, architecture, design, fashion, and culture lovers. With sociology and history degrees that practically force me to seek out, on an analytical level, the unique aspects of every situation I’m in, these two cities have kept me intrigued and captivated for decades, and knowing them has given me the feeling that I am experiencing something greater than the sum of its parts.”

Diane Ratican has select availability for feature/profile and expert commentary interviews around the September 2017 release of Why LA? Pourquoi Paris?. Among the topics she can speak to include:

What to see, do, wear, eat, and experience in Los Angeles: home of Hollywood glamour, the Sunset Strip, suburban sprawl, boho-chic, and so much more!
The beauty, drama, and history of Paris: from its most famed museums to little neighborhood cafés to bucolic parks, tips on savoring the sophisticated and simple pleasures of the City of Lights like a true Parisian
The Yin-Yang relationship of everyday life between L.A. and Paris: the surprising things these seemingly disparate cultures and landscapes share in common
Making the decision to follow your dreams: how she created a life wherein living in Paris and L.A. became a reality
Historical and cultural trivia about these two iconic cities
Why she says Los Angeles is like her husband and Paris is like her lover
And much, much more!

DIANE RATICAN received her bachelor of arts degree in History and Sociology from the University of California Berkeley, and then earned her master of arts degree in Sociology and Education from UCLA. She started her career educating gifted children, and then moved on to become a risk-taking entrepreneur who built a highly successful business importing children’s clothing from France for upscale retailers across the U.S. Ratican’s excitement for and infatuation with Paris, her second home, plus her enthusiasm for her resident city, Los Angeles, uniquely positions her to engage readers to develop their own love affair with both of these dynamic destinations.

Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? will be released in September 2017, and retail for $26.95 USD / €25, with distribution by SCB Distributors in North America and Groupe Flammarion in France.

Connect with Diane Ratican on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and at whylapourquoiparis.com.

Why LA? Pourquoi Paris? Press Release – English

Download PDF Version

At the January 2017 Salon Maison et Objet, Image Republic will
be presenting the eponymous collection from the book, “Why LA? Pourquoi Paris?” by Diane Ratican. The illustrations within take us to key places in the cities of Paris and Los Angeles
and are the work of two illustrators, Frenchman Eric Giriat and American Nick Lu.

A 100% French company, Image Republic has been publishing works by famous press and newspaper illustrators for 5 years. We collaborate with influential, world-renowned artists, and offer
unusual, powerful and enlightening images… Our collections are exclusive; our prints are certified.

Each illustration is hand-mounted in the traditional way in our Parisian ateliers.

Our network of over 500 international sales points includes major department stores, museum shops, and designer boutiques and bookshops (Harrods, Conran Shop, Merci, Colette, MoMA, La
Librairie du Bon Marché…)

Image Republic prints are easily portable; whether mounted or printed on Velin d’Arches paper, each is presented in a personalized sleeve and is ready to frame.

Diane Ratican received her bachelor of arts degree in History and Sociology from the University of California Berkeley, and then earned her master of arts degree in Sociology and Education from UCLA. She started her career educating gifted children, and then moved on to become a risk-taking entrepreneur. This background uniquely prepared her to engage in this latest endeavor, as writer, conjuror of images, and artistic director. Her vision of art telling a story comes from her innate creativity and her talent as a collector and curator of art. To her, educating is communicating, and that is what she strives for in Why LA, pourquoi Paris? Sharing her enchantment with, and knowledge
of, both Los Angeles and Paris has become a complex project with all the depth and nuances of a richly textured tapestry. Her drive is what has navigated her through this process.

Nick Lu is a graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, with a degree in illustration. Nick is currently living in Los Angeles and working as an illustrator. Nick spends most of his time dreaming up interesting, eclectic things for his clients; notable clients include the New Yorker, Wired, Boston Globe, PlanSponsor, Bloomberg View, Hohe Luft magazine, Playboy Jazz, Poketo, Riney Advertising, and Macmillan Children’s Publishing.

Beginning with serial illustrations for the French edition of ELLE magazine in 1996, Eric Giriat has since flooded the magazine, advertising, and book publishing industries in many fields internationally, from fashion to economics, politics, psychology, children’s books, interior design, the luxury industry, culture, and portraits. He also works with fashion and product design, designing T-shirt and pullover motifs for JOOP! (a German company); pillows, giant stickers, and pareos (wrap-around skirts) for Dona Fusion (a Brazilian company); Cognac bottle design for Hennessy, and a biodegradable carry bag for La Grande Epicerie de Paris.

Download PDF Version