Alumna Juliette Mai Triozon releases powerful new novel "When the Frangipanis are in Bloom"
We had the pleasure of speaking with alumna Juliette Mai Triozon, whose passion for storytelling shines through in her second novel, When the Frangipanis are in Bloom. In her new book, Juliette weaves together fact and fiction to tell the moving story of Nam, her beloved nanny and second mother.
Orphaned at a young age and raised by her uncle, one of the last Mandarins of North Vietnam, Nam navigates love, loyalty, and life-changing choices through the upheavals of WWII and the decades that followed. Rich with war, sacrifice, and unbreakable bonds, the novel is a heartfelt tribute to the courage and resilience of the women who shaped Juliette’s life.
With When the Frangipanis are in Bloom, Juliette builds on the foundation of her first book, Waltzing with the Dragons, which centered on the life of her mother. What first inspired her to embark on these projects was her love of writing and her wish to preserve her past while sharing it with her two children.
Born in Vietnam to a Vietnamese mother and a French father, Juliette arrived in France in 1967 and studied at the Campus de la Grande Boissière until 1970, earning her French baccalauréat. Her years at Ecolint allowed her to feel fully accepted in a space where her identity needed no explanation. This sense of belonging contrasted sharply
with her earlier life in Vietnam. At Ecolint she discovered theatre, nurtured her love of writing, and formed lasting friendships that continue to shape her storytelling, an experience she cherishes and highlights in her latest novel.
For Juliette, writing is both simple and profound: “Take a sheet of paper and a pen, and let your heart and thoughts guide your hand!” she says. Through her work, she preserves the stories of the women in her family, sharing their strength, determination, and lasting impact with her children and readers alike.
When the Frangipanis are in Bloom closes Juliette’s saga on Vietnam, but her journey as a writer is far from over. She continues to write actively and is part of a local writers’ group, where she finds inspiration and exchange. On her blog, she shares short stories and flash fiction, offering readers glimpses of her creativity beyond her novels.
Her current project is to translate her memoir into French, another step in ensuring that her voice and the stories she carries reach across languages and generations. Stay tuned! Soon, she will return with a new work of fiction, continuing to explore the human heart across time and place.
When the Frangipanis are in Bloom is available on Amazon