FAQ

Here are some questions people frequently  ask me.  Have other questions?  Email me, and I'll try to post an answer! 

Q1.      How did French By Heart come about?

A1.      I guess I started French By Heart on the airplane to France, never for a minute thinking it would ever become a book.  I just wanted to make permanent the crazy and funny and bizarre things that started happening to us, and since I always loved to write, writing down my stories (and rewriting and rewriting) was a natural way of doing that.  I kept a journal as kind of a scrapbook for our family, and then about a year into our French life I got the idea that maybe someday I’d try to get the stories published separately in magazines or newspapers.  But the longer we stayed in France, the more I saw that the stories were connected, and that there was a bigger story—that of first falling in love with the idea of France, then moving there and being fish out of water, trying our hardest to fit in and to come to some understanding of French people, then realizing that we couldn’t be French and didn’t need to be, then fitting in somewhat and feeling at home…and finally feeling that though we truly loved France and its people more deeply than before, it was time to go home where we belonged.

            Perhaps the biggest motivation for me to write French By Heart was my neighbor, Madame Mallet, who looms large in the book.  How could anyone live across the street from her and not want to write a book?  Writing about our interactions kept me from losing my mind when she was driving me crazy, and helped me love her more deeply when she was being tender and caring, in her own odd way.

 

Q2.      How did you find a publisher?

A2.      It wasn’t easy!  After writing off and on for our four years in France, I spent another year rewriting some more (while mothering my three kids and working part time jobs,) researching how books get published, and deciding for sure that I was ready to put every ounce of my energy into it.  I worked long and hard getting my book in good shape, and then I spent hours and hours researching literary agencies, trying to find good matches.  When I had a decent list, I started sending query letters out to every one of them.  Only one agent asked for the manuscript, and ended up passing on it.

The very day that I got her rejection email I also got a call from a teacher friend at a high school where I had taught before, telling me about a full time job coming open that could probably be mine if I wanted it.  For me, this was a sign.  During my four years in France and the writing time afterwards, I had fallen in love with my paper and pens and computer!  I couldn’t imagine going back to a life where I wouldn’t have any time to write.  (I always had a hard enough time getting my students’ papers graded, let alone pick up a pen for fun!)  Whether it was divine intervention or not, I took that phone call as a message from God.  He/She was saying, “Look here, you, how much do you really want this?  If you don’t stop moping around about your rejection letters and start trying a little harder, a classroom will be waiting for you!"  (I liked teaching, but I LOVED writing.) 

So I asked myself if I could have my book published by anyone on earth, who would it be?  No question.  Broadway Books!  They published Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun, Bill Bryson’s books, and tons of other great ones.  Writers Market said that they didn’t accept un-agented queries, but I wrote one anyway, spending days and days on it making it the best it could be (since I’d only have one chance—if anybody looked at it at all)  and sent it off with a kiss on the envelope.  Apparently I was really lucky—I guess my letter slipped into the right person’s hands, and two weeks later, I got an email asking for the first chapter, and then more, and then more.  And then one day an email came with “Book Deal Proposal” in the subject line.  Ask my kids…I screamed and danced for at least an hour straight!  I’m still dancing!

 

Q3.      Any suggestions on getting published?  

A3.      I’m a little new at this to be giving advice, but I would have to say that when I started, I was tempted to spend all my time reading about getting published and how to find an agent, when what I really needed was to focus on writing and rewriting.  Once I decided to concentrate on doing nothing but writing and to put the other stuff off for a while, I started to really improve. 

Also, read, read, read.  Read with an author’s eye, paying attention to how the author grabs the reader’s attention, how she structures dialogue, etc.  Read a chapter that you love over and over, examining these things. 

And get up your courage to ask people you trust to read your work, and then listen to what they say.

Lastly--and most importantly--Don't give up!  Persistence and endurance are the name of the game!

            Books and other resources I recommend:

            Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott

            If You Want To Write by Brenda Ueland

            Writers Market

            Getting Your Book Published for Dummies    (Once you’re ready.)

             Also, there are tons of good websites/writers’ forums.  My favorite for publishing info?  My agent’s site: www.nathanbransford.blogspot.com.   

See Links for more.

 

Q4.      What are you working on next?

A4.      I’m glad you asked!  Currently I’m finishing up a sequel to French By Heart, which tells the story of the Ramsey’s rocky first year back in the land of big cars and smiley teachers.  It’s full of surprises and funny new characters—and even a few appearances by Madame Mallet!  I think you’ll love it.  

            Also I’m having a great time with a novel, which is new to me.  I’m not ready to tell too much, but if your interests include France, Southerners, and the occasional miracle, you're going to enjoy it!  It's so much fun!  More to come!

Q5.    How do you find time to write while raising your family?

A5.    Sometimes I manage to juggle pretty well, and sometimes I don't.  In a guest entry to my agent's blog, I wrote about my struggles to juggle the writing life with the mommy life.  Click here for my two cents worth on the subject, and good luck if you're also trying the juggling thing!