My affection for Ernest Hemingway’s “A Moveable Feast” is no secret to anyone who’s ever had a conversation with me about love, writing or Paris. There’s something innocent and naive about the book despite the obvious hardships he and his wife endured. I think about it often when I think of how I’d like to live with my husband in Paris writing and drinking wine. (Such a far off dream that I myself chased away…I could weep right now because of it.)

And since I know now I will never do Paris the way I imagined, I’ve focused on another aspect of intrigue and depth: “The Lost Generation.” The term was coined by author Gertrude Stein (and made famous by Hemingway) to characterize a general motif of disillusionment of notable American writers living in Paris after the first World War. The group consisted of Hemingway, Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Joyce, Ezra Pound, e.e. cummings, John Steinbeck…to name a few. The worlds greatest literary talent came together during a time when all was lost.

And so here we are, a new generation of young artists disproportionatley affected by economic shocks. How exactly does a young writer thrive when established and renowned authors are taking pay cuts just to keep their jobs? I suspect the answer lies in the internet, and online publishing, but most major houses are reluctant to make the plunge from print to digital. In the meantime, we self-publish and self-promote (for free) and hope that someone catches up to and on to us.

But we still need support and creative hubs on which to stand, so I’ve taken it upon myself to begin a new “Lost Generation” round table. A group of young artists who are emerging at the forefront of the new era in art and culture and just looking for more intellectual stimulation. Our first “dinner” is November 2nd and with any luck we’ll be able to meet up at least once a month. It’s just a way to converse intimately rather than through awkward social networking because truth be told, in these times, it’s just nice to surround yourself with inspiring people eager to leave their mark on the world…