My Sweet Guillotine

Jayne Tuttle, acclaimed author of Paris or Die, returns to Paris with My Sweet Guillotine. In the wake of a bizarre, shocking accident in Paris, Jayne finds herself back in the city in a strange limbo. Ignoring the past, she tries to move forward. There is theatre. Love. New friendships. A new neighbourhood. But the accident haunts her, forcing her to confront herself and the experience in ways she could never have predicted. A tale of survival and the untold joys of life’s curveballs, My Sweet Guillotine captures love and trauma with profound insight. Confronting, funny, strange and real, this is a book about life, death and reinvention, rendered in exquisite prose.

'joltingly alive, beautiful and terrifying' – Helen Garner, The Age 'Jayne Tuttle is the real deal. She is all nerve endings and astute noticing. We don’t have anyone else in this country writing memoir quite like Jayne.' – Claire Thomas, author of The Performance   ‘Jayne Tuttle’s writing is irresistible – at once totally enchanting and gripping. A writer who has perfected her craft.’ – Ceridwen Dovey, author of Garden of the Fugitives  ‘Jayne Tuttle’s writing is a delicious delight.’ – Christos Tsiolkas   ‘A witty and observant raconteur… the love child of David Sedaris and Helen Garner.’ – Linda Jaivin  'A love letter to a maddening, and dangerous, city' – Sally Pryor, The Canberra Times 'A beautiful and riveting account of recovery and rebuilding.' – Tiah Beautement, Sunday Times 'Tuttle’s My Sweet Guillotine is a subtle mix of escapist writing that will appeal to any person feeling any affinity with Paris. But it also engages with deeper questions of trauma and survival. The author’s literary talent is undeniable.' – Charlotte Mackay, French Australian Review

Jayne Tuttle is the author of Paris or Die (2019) and My Sweet Guillotine (2022). Paris or Die was developed into a solo theatre show with director John Bolton and performed in 2021 and 2022 in a variety of venues including La Mama in Melbourne, Australia. Jayne graduated from the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in 2006 and went on to live and work in France as an actor, voice-over artist, playwright, translator and bilingual copywriter. Jayne was awarded the Eric Dark Flagship Fellowship in 2021 from the Varuna Writer’s House. She co-owns The Bookshop at Queenscliff in coastal Victoria, Australia.

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