Marietta Spotlight On: Paris Blatecky (@parisbwrites)

Paris, a local blogger (and one of this year’s Best of Cobb nominees for Best Local Blogger!), is a true champion of Marietta’s history and charm. Her love for our community shines through everything she does—from showcasing the small-town magic of Marietta to writing her upcoming book, The Quiet Travels of Marjorie, a time-travel story set right here in Marietta, which she plans to publish this year.

Paris and I first met, fittingly, on Instagram, but our first in-person encounter happened by chance on the Square—she was leaving work, and I was heading to a birthday dinner at Marietta Proper. I spotted her retro heels and skirt and realized, “OMG that’s Paris!” so I shouted, “Hey Paris!” and we’ve been friends ever since.

Naturally, the Square would bring us together! Over time, we’ve bonded over our shared love for vintage style, local history, and the magic of this community we both adore.

Beyond her passion for blogging, Paris is also the marketing mastermind behind Lenny Hair Salon and The Reading Attic. She brings creativity and a love of storytelling to everything she touches, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into her story.

For this spotlight, I asked Paris some fun and inspiring questions that celebrate her work and connection to Marietta:

What first drew you to Marietta, and how has living here influenced your creative journey?

“My husband is originally from Georgia, and post-Covid he got an amazing opportunity to work back in his childhood state. We’d visited his family in Gwinnett County many times before, and I loved every visit to the Peach State! But I wanted our home to be somewhere close to the airport, Atlanta, and absolutely charming. I found Marietta, with its beautiful square and historic buildings, and knew right away this is where we were meant to be. Fast forward 4 years later and not only has Marietta truly become home, but it’s been so easy to tap back into my creative spirit. From the lively summer concerts on the Square to the sound of the passing train, to the “bubble couple” in the park and banjo gathering on Tuesdays in front of the Australian Bakery, not to mention the variety of eclectic local businesses, there’s so much here that inspires!”

The Quiet Travels of Marjorie, your upcoming novel, is set right here in Marietta, which is such an exciting project! What inspired you to weave our town into your story, and how does the setting play a role in the book?

“Gilmore Girls is one of my favorite TV shows and I thought it would be incredible to find a charming place like Stars Hollow for my own, and with Marietta, I did! After living in San Francisco for 10 years, I wanted to live a uniquely different life when I entered my thirties, which is exactly what I’m grateful for every day here—slower, but charming. I bike to town, I have my favorite coffee order at Cool Beans, I am friends with most of the vendors at the local antique shops. I wanted to capture these romantic little moments in my life into a story that I would want to read myself, and naturally, it all came together for this story about an outsider who moves into Marietta and realizes it was where she was meant to be all along. Someone, like my heroine who happens to be a time traveler, would instantly fall in love with Marietta because of its vibrance and also, rich history and incredibly preserved monuments and buildings. It was love that brought her to town, looking for a man she met in the past who was from Marietta, but in the end, she realizes that the real love story was the life she made here. And the best part is, it’s a real place!”

Your love of the ‘retro aesthetic’ shines through in your personal style and storytelling—what is it about that era that resonates with you, and how does it connect to your work? How would you describe your style?

“If we’re gonna start with my retro journey, we have to start with American Girl Dolls. American Girl did it RIGHT when I say it really inspired a whole generation of young girls to become interested in history through relatable books and young heroines whom you could play with as dolls with their own cool (and historically accurate) accessories! But AG showed not only how fascinating history could be, but that we as the readers were also part of the history in the making. I’ve always loved stories of the past, and how relatable they still are with a modern audience. Things also just seemed more well-crafted and beautifully designed back then, like clothing, furniture, and even the music had so much heart. I always love seeing antiques from fifty or seventy years ago and admire how much they must have gone through just to end up on this shelf here in Marina Marina. Classic, whimsical is what you could call my style, a bit of fifties and sixties. I like to joke I’m just an American Girl doll that grew up!”

If someone wanted to experience Marietta through your eyes, what are three must-visit spots you’d recommend?

“First, you gotta check out Lenny’s Hair Salon just off of the Square. It’s such a unique salon that houses an array of cool historic items like juke boxes, Braves memorabilia, vintage cameras, even a few historical items about Marietta are on display in the waiting area that looks like a Mid-Century living room! Next, I love a good stroll through the local antique stores. I could get lost in Park West Vintage with its many rooms, and Marina Marina is also lovely. The Westside Antiques where a big part of The Quiet Travels occurs is loosely based on Park West! Lastly, if you’re up for a good walk (or bike ride!) along the train tracks into the neighborhoods north of the Square, a good latte at Sessions Stands is a great way to round your day, sipping on your drink while watching the trains pass on the hill behind the cafe.”

What’s your favorite part of bringing Marietta’s history to life through your writing?

“When I first moved to Marietta, I got myself a book about Marietta from the History Center and sat on a bench near the fountain to read it, and what I loved at that moment was looking up at the same buildings that were shown in archives from the 1890s or the 1930s. So much of the city is unchanged, and that magical feeling that you’re in fact traveling through the decades was fun to play with in my story! When I first announced the book, a lot of people in the community suggested I feature this historic moment or this building or this house—but for all the historic places and people I mention, it has to feel organic to the story and not forced. So while I couldn’t capture everything, you get certain nods to places like Saul’s Department Store or the term The Four Lane when talking about Cobb Parkway—James J. Andrews even makes a small appearance at one point, when my main character Marjorie finds herself back in town in 1864 (you’ll have to read to find out how he comes into the story!).”

How do you balance your creative pursuits—blogging, marketing, and writing a novel—while staying so connected to the community?

“It was always easy before when I worked directly on the Square and always interacted with a lot of the locals throughout the week, but now that I’ll be starting a new job in Atlanta soon, I’ll only be around town on the weekends, which will make those days more special! All work is during the daytime, then writing is usually after I’m off the clock and have enjoyed a nice walk in the old city cemetery with my two dogs. Writing is how I unwind and get all those crazy thoughts out of my head. I have learned that timing is everything when it comes to your posting, so throughout my day I’m always mindful of when I can take 10-15 minutes to edit/post a video or picture for my own social media!”

As someone who’s found creative inspiration in Marietta, what advice would you give to aspiring writers or artists in our area?

“My advice is simply if you are stuck, step away from the work and get lost in things that inspire you—for me, that was going out on the town and letting Marietta give me the ideas I’d been missing from my manuscript. Creating a music playlist is also my favorite thing to do! The songs you listen to really will give you the feel and themes you’re looking for in your stories. Lastly, creating a community, whether online/ through social media or even right here in town, will help go a long way in terms of amplifying your work!”

Time travel is such a fascinating concept. If you could travel to any era in Marietta’s history, when would it be and why?

“I’d love to travel back to Marietta during the 1950s and see some of the places I referenced in my book for real, especially Hunt’s Ice Cream! Also, I’d love to see the 1899 Memorial Day picnic on the Square, which is featured in the Marietta History Center as the Color in Black & White Exhibit. That day seemed like such a lively and inclusive event that you don’t often see represented in historical Southern archives. It’s a great exhibit you must check out for yourselves!”

Paris, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. It’s been so inspiring to learn about your creative journey in Marietta and how this community has shaped your life and work. I can’t wait to read The Quiet Travels of Marjorie when it’s published and to continue following your journey as a writer and local champion.