1. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am an American woman, married to a French man, and we live outside of Paris with our three children and a Brittany spaniel. There are two things I’m good at - cooking, and translating simultaneously in spoken French-English or English-French.
In the past, I’ve lived in Asia, Africa, and Manhattan. At one time I spoke fluent Mandarin, but as I never learned to read Chinese, I’ve since lost everything. I love the classics - music and literature (English and Russian).
Sometimes I miss my life of travel and adventure, but I think when I die, I’ll care more about the loved ones gathered around me than I will about anything I’ve accomplished.
2. Describe your book A Lady in France in 30 words or less.
A Lady in France is a memoir - a story of travel and grief, miracles and hope. The experiences may be unique, but matters of the heart are universal.
3. What was the hardest part of writing your book?
It was adding sensory descriptions to my skeleton of a first draft. But to be truthful, what should have been the hardest part was to pare it down and remove some of the irrelevant storyline. I followed the advice to keep it as is, but perhaps should have done away with some of it.
4. What books have had the greatest influence on you?
All of Dickens, and particularly Pickwick Papers. All of Austen, and particularly Pride & Prejudice. All of Dostoevsky, and particularly The Idiot. All of Twain, and particularly Innocents Abroad. I do read contemporary, but none have paralleled the insight I get when reading the classics.
5. Briefly share with us what you do to market your book?
6. How do you spend your time when you are not writing?
I look after my kids. I walk the dog. I nap (guiltily). I teach English in the home (reluctantly). I garden when the weeds are taller than the plants. I cook and entertain regularly. I teach the Bible. I’m an indifferent housekeeper.
7. What are you working on next?
I am currently doing a book-length series on my blog called The Viscount of Maison Laffitte - one chapter a week. If you want to delve into this free mystery/romance, Chapter One is here:
http://aladyinfrance.com/um-chapter-one/. I do realize that I might get all tangled up in the plot putting it out there like that without having actually written it first (other than briefly mapping it out), but this forces me to be disciplined about continuing to write regularly.
And I get to pretend I’m a talented weekly serial writer like Dickens.
