When You Ask Me,"Why Paris?" draws the reader into the author's journey from trauma's haunting into her recovery of peace and even joy. Against the backdrop of Paris, Ortega's poems tell of quiet moments beside her daughter, as well as inner revelations that nudge her towards becoming a writer. Retracing steps through Paris over multiple trips that span two decades, the author invites the reader's presence in hopes that they will fall in love as well, with themselves, reclaiming dreams and establishing hope for what is to come.