Abby has learned a vast repertoire of tricks including “playing dead,” “roll over” and “find your leash.” My favorite is “whisper,” which is a variation of “speak.”  Smart and driven to please, all it takes is a few treats and a day, to teach her something new.  Her two most-loved toys are a stuffed bunny and a large horse, which she knows respectively as “Bunny” and “Horsey.” She enjoys herding Horsey, and she expects you to “neigh” while you play with her. When she was younger, she adored the neighborhood park. She raced ball-loving dogs to their prize and if she got there first, she would bark at the ball as if to say “Here it is! Here it is!” As you can imagine, this always produced chuckles from spectators.

Like most pets, our Sheltie’s not perfect.  She doesn’t like to be left behind under any circumstances and she hates it when anyone, friend or foe, tries to come or go in her presence.  She’ll bark hysterically and spin around and around until someone yells “Abby, sit!” or “Abby, No!” Sometimes, we pick her up and she quiets down. Other times, we throw up our arms and laugh at her. Obviously, at our house, people don’t linger at the front door for goodbyes. Car rides are also a challenge. She’s overly vocal until everyone is secure inside the vehicle.

Our little girl has had some health problems lately. Just before our move to Arizona, she was diagnosed with Liver Disease. At one point, we didn’t think she would survive long enough to make the move, but we changed her diet, added a few supplements (including Milk Thistle) and she’s doing better. With luck, Abby will be with us for a few more years.

With this in mind, I researched common French names that might fit my characters. I tried them out and retained those that were a good match. A handful required more effort. Choosing a name for my main love interest, Adam, was difficult because it had to be plausible in both Morocco and France. Songais, the name I chose for the town had to sound French, but it couldn’t mimic any others in the region. My biggest challenge, was finding a name for the family’s chateau in France. I knew this term would be repeated over and over again and it had to be perfect. In my hometown of Kirkland, there is an old apartment building called “Mont Clare” just off of State Street. I never thought about it much until one day, during a walk with the dog, I glanced at the building, and it clicked. That’s it, I thought. I’ll call it the Chateau de Mont Clare. I loved the way this name rolled off my tongue. During a rewrite, my editor convinced me to alter the spelling to Château de Montclair, but the pronunciation remained the same.

Other decisions haunted me during the writing process. From the beginning, I struggled with how much French to incorporate into the story and whether or not to include translations. My editors gave me guidance here. We decided to keep most of the French and bring in translations only when it was absolutely necessary to the story line. Another challenge was finding data from 1979 on the LoireValley, the LoireRiver and the town of Tours. It took hundreds of internet searches and numerous travel books to supply this information. The most challenging dilemma of all was how much detail to include in my own love scenes? Wiping the sweat off my brow, I wrote and then rewrote these scenes until I could read them without squirming in my seat.

As you can see, writing French Illusions was challenging on many levels. It took three years and incalculable hours to complete my memoir, but I’m pleased with the result. I hope my readers agree.

1. It’s old advice, but so important. I strive to “show” readers what a character is doing rather then “tell” them.

Instead of  ”Monsieur Dubois was angry,” I wrote, “Glaring at his wife, Monsieur Dubois straightened up and turned toward me.”

Instead of “What time will you be home?” he asked, uneasily, I wrote, “What time will you be home?” he asked, his forehead wrinkled with unease.

2. When I come to the end of a chapter, I try to foreshadow things to come. I want my reader anxious to turn the page to find out what happens next. The following excerpt comes at the end of chapter 3 in my memoir.

Tapping the pamphlet against my lower lip, I pondered the differences between a larger more exciting city versus a smaller, quaint rural town. Both of them appealed to me on different levels. Songais offered me the opportunity to connect with the Dubois’s family, their relations, and townspeople on a personal level. Tours, on the other hand, presented prospects for friendships and romance while I studied French at the university.

My mouth slid into  a subtle smile. I didn’t have to choose. I could have both. The possibilities were endless.

3. Descriptions have their place, but I’ve always loved “white space” on a page, so I dialog a scene whenever possible. A few expressive interjections enhance the conversations and make them more interesting.

Turning toward Alexandre, I tried out a new phrase. “Donne-moi une pâtisserie, s’il te plait.” Please pass the pastry.

Madame Moulon noticed and congratulated me on my progress with the language. “Mademoiselle Kovic, votre français s’améliore.”

“Merci beaucoup, madame,” I replied, glancing at my patron, eyes hopeful.

Madame Dubois opened her mouth, but no words of praise burst forth. Instead, she pointed to the teapot and asked me in English to pour her mother another cup of tea.

4. Visceral reactions, scattered throughout a book, adds depth. “Pulses race” and “guts tighten” when people get excited, frightened or angry.

Madame Dubois motioned us forward with her arm and we climbed the steps, stopping to rest on the first landing. When we reached the second, my stomach lurched as she grabbed the railing with one hand and her belly with the other.

5. Internalizations, when characters talk to themselves inside their minds, adds a personal touch to scenes.

For a moment, I was speechless, thinking: How many times has she told me this already? She was treating me like an irresponsible teenager and it was unjustified. “I’ve been very careful, so maybe there’s another explanation?” I said, struggling to keep my voice from cracking.

Perhaps you have a few writing tips of your own to share? I would love to hear them.

I’ll admit that we were in a fortunate position or I wouldn’t have asked him. In early Spring, after two failed attempts, we had finally sold our high-priced home in Kirkland. Overjoyed, we rented an apartment nearby and brain-stormed what to do next. Now that our daughters were gone, the endless gray skies and rain felt unbearable (especially to me).  Starting a new life somewhere else seemed equally daunting. Both my husband and I had lived in the Seattle area all of our lives, fifty-plus years.

Months passed as we researched our options. We concluded that our best opportunities lied in the Southwest. Narrowing it down even further, we focused on Arizona. Our dear friends had a winter home in the Phoenix area and we discovered that we could purchase a modest residence there with money to spare. Only one dilemma remained. How would we supplement our income once my husband left his current contract job? Royalties from sales of French Illusions would help, but we needed reliable monthly cash flow. More brain-storming produced an excellent solution. We decided to purchase two rental investment properties with our remaining money and manage them ourselves until full retirement.

There you have it. With some creative thinking, we reached our goals. We own a bungalow in Gilbert, a townhome in Chandler and our friends have graciously offered us the use of their home until we find one for ourselves. Arizona here we come!  I have only two remaining concerns about the move. How in the world will I cope with the high temperatures in the summer and how will I ever get my husband to remember to put on sunscreen?

When I first get up in the morning, I . . . press the button on the coffee maker and reach down to pet the dog. After I pour myself a cup of coffee, I check emails, “tweet,” and post something on my French Illusions Facebook Fan Page. Then, I turn to my writing.

The most important thing in my life is . . . my husband and our two girls. Our Sheltie, Abby, is pretty high on the list too.

I love to travel to . . . Europe. I’ve seen quite a bit of France and Greece, but I’ve only visited the city of Venice in Italy. I’d love to see more of this rich, diverse country.

In my spare time, I . . . love to garden. For me, it’s a relaxing, peaceful experience that rewards me with beauty and bounty during Spring and Summer.

One thing I learned about life was . . . don’t let it pass you by. It’s not too late to create your own memories so go out and explore the world. Life’s for living, after all.

One little known fact about me that might surprise you is . . . in 2001, I traveled back to the Loire Valley with my husband and our two daughters. The memorable trip included a visit to the small town where I had been an au pair twenty-two years earlier.

My favorite time of day is . . . around nine o’clock in the evening. I put aside my writing and shut down my computer. Ahhh, a glass of wine usually helps me unwind.

I love to write about . . . my travel experiences.

The most difficult aspect about writing is . . . how much detail to include in my own love scenes. Wiping the sweat off my brow, I write and then rewrite these parts until I can read them aloud without squirming in my seat.

My most favorite aspect about writing is . . . creating dialog. I’ve always loved “white space” on a page, so I look for every opportunity to add conversation to a scene. A few expressive interjections enhance the discussions and make them more interesting. Emotional cues, scattered throughout the dialog add depth. “Pulses race” and “guts tighten” when people get excited, frightened or angry.

When I became a published author for the first time, I . . . felt very emotional, especially when I saw French Illusions for the first time. My pulse rate accelerated as soon as I identified the package sent by my publisher. Rushing to get scissors, I cut open the box, lifted the flaps and pulled out the top copy. Caressing my book, turning it from side to side, my heart filled with pride. My book was gorgeous. I couldn’t believe it was mine.

The inspiration behind my book comes from . . . a mid-life crisis. About four years ago, after my husband and I dropped our youngest daughter off at college, I felt sad and confused about the future. I missed being a mom and I wondered how I would fill the void. Sure I had my part-time bookkeeping business, but it consumed only a few hours a day and it wasn’t interesting any more. I wanted to find something I could do that was more fulfilling. This prompted me to review what I like to call my “mid-life list.” This list, similar to a “bucket list,” led me to hunt down my diary from my au pair adventure in France and compose my memoir.

The most asked question about my book is . . . “What in the world were you thinking when you lied and pretended to speak French to secure the job as an au pair?”

The sole mission I am on this earth is to . . . leave behind a legacy. My footprint will be my two wonderful daughters and French Illusions, of course!

     At last, Madame asked me to serve the dessert, and we all sang Antoine a French birthday song. He wolfed down one helping and then another of the mousse before tearing into his gifts.
His most impressive present, an elaborate train set, came from his grandparents, followed by books from Collette, and toy cars and a sweater from Mummy and me. He beamed afterward, overjoyed with all of the attention. Unexpectedly, he twisted toward me and deposited a big wet kiss on my mouth.
“Mademoiselle Kovic et Collette sont toutes les deux belle ce soir!” he exclaimed. Everyone at the table burst out laughing, including me since I understood most of his comment. Antoine had shouted out that both Collette and I looked lovely tonight. Without a doubt, he considered his fête a success!

My favorite chapter to write was number 62 in the last section of my memoir. Throughout most of the story, circumstances required me to internalize my discontent and unhappiness with my life at the Château de Montclair. Within these pages, I finally had the opportunity to expose my true feelings in vivid scenes filled with passion and drama. It was a thrilling, rewarding experience for me.

I would love to hear from my readers – do you have a chapter or character you especially enjoyed in French Illusions?

Thank you for this interview, Linda. You self-published your latest book, French Illusions. Would you please tell us why you chose the self-publishing route?

A: I chose to self-publish my paperback through Dog Ear Publishing. They gave me control over design, editing, pricing and allowed me to retain all the rights to my book. All of these elements were important to me. Then, I contracted with BookBaby to create my eBook, which I published using my own Limited Liability Corporation called Dreamland Press. They charge a fee to create the eBook, but they don’t take a percentage of the royalties.

Take us through the process.  You had an idea for your book, you wrote it, then you decided to find a publisher.  What were your experiences with that?  Or did you decide to self-publish without looking any further?

A: I made a half-hearted attempt to find a publisher in the beginning. I fashioned a query letter and emailed selected agents specifically interested in memoirs. None of them responded favorably, but it didn’t matter. I had already moved on with plans to self-publish.

What different online stores carry your book?

A: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBookstore, Reader Store (for Sony), Kobo, Copia, Gardners, and eSentral.

Do you think that having your book self-published makes any difference to the media? Are they open to interviewing self-published authors or reviewing their books? 

A: It depends on which ones. I think old-line media, such as The New York Times, still cater to the big publishing houses and established authors. New media, particularly in the digital realm, seem more open to reviews and interviews with self-published authors. The Seattle PI and the Kirkland Reporter, local newspapers in my hometown, didn’t seem to care that I was a self-published author. Both of them ran online stories about French Illusions.

Authors who go the traditional route have an edge over self-published authors in regards to distribution to bookstores. How did you handle that as a self-published author? 

A: Yes, this is a difficult area for self-published authors. I’m focusing on social media to promote my book. When I reach a reasonable sales number, I’ll be able to approach local bookstores with proposals, such as book signings. They’ll take me more seriously if I come to them with concrete numbers.

On the other hand, self-published authors have the edge over traditional books in the regards that the author has all the control. I’d like to begin with your cover. Did you make it or did you have someone else design it? If you had someone else, can you tell us who it is?

A: Authorbytes, my website developer, came up with the idea for my cover, but Dog Ear Publishing actually created it.

Did you get someone to format it for you or did you do that?

A: Dog Ear Publishing came up with the interior design for French Illusions, including the idea to introduce each of the four sections with a photograph. Bookbaby handled the formatting of my eBook after I emailed a copy of the pdf.

What was the hardest challenge for you to self-publish your book?

A: Everything took longer than I thought it would. French Illusions was a highly complicated edit given the foreign setting. It took three different editors nine months to complete the process. Three more months passed while Dog Ear Publishing created the cover and produced the interior parts of the hard copy book. Another month slid by while BookBaby created my eBook file. Formatting issues ate up another month. It was a long, drawn-out process that kept me up nights.

What steps are you taking to promote it?

A: First, I created a detailed marketing plan. Then, I contracted with Steve Bennett at Authorbytes to construct a modern interactive website which includes widgets linking my Twitter account, my blog, my Facebook Fan Page and Pinterest. I stay active on all of these sites, posting to my blog once a week, Facebook once a day and Twitter every few hours. I’ve also signed up with Pump Up Your Book for a Virtual Book Tour.

What has been the best marketing tool or method you have used that has resulted in the most sales?

A: I don’t have all of the sales figures for my book, so I can’t say for sure. Google analytics shows that a targeted Twitter audience drives the most traffic to my website.

Do you have any advice you’d like to share with other self-published authors?

A: Hire a professional editor. I mean it. You can’t edit your own book. You won’t see the mistakes because you are too close to the writing. It will cost you a few hundred dollars for a line editor, a bit more if you need some in-depth editing, but it’s the best money you will ever spend. I cringe every time I read a negative review where the main complaint is formatting, spelling or punctuation. You want readers to judge you solely on the content of your story.

When I saw “Part One, The Dubois Family” and the oval containing the picture of the chateau from my cover, I actually yelped with delight. This photo, chosen by me, is an unnamed French chateau in the Loire Valley. The Point Wilson Bridge introduces “Part Two, Venturing Out of Songais” and a romantic table setting at a quaint bistro introduces “Part Three, Romance.”  I thought the wine glasses added just the right amount of ambiance.

Finding a picture for “Part Four, Escape” took some thought. Several ideas swirled around in my brain, such as a person running or open handcuffs, but these didn’t feel right. Searching for inspiration, I looked back at my own collection of pictures and uncovered this one. It is an actual photo from 1979 of the train I took two or three times a week into the city of Tours. The reason I could use this picture in my book was because none of the passengers are looking directly at the camera. If someone had been recognizable in the photograph, I wouldn’t have been able to use it. I had to protect the identity of the family I lived with.

Well, there you have it. Aren’t you glad you asked?

Mesmerized, I scrolled through the first pages on my computer screen. When I saw “Part One, The Dubois Family” and the oval containing the picture of the chateau from my cover, I actually  yelped with delight. This photo, chosen by me, is an unnamed French chateau in the Loire Valley. Although it’s larger than the one I actually lived in, the architecture is very similar. During my stay in France in 1979, I took several pictures of both the interior and exterior of the actual home I lived in, but I couldn’t use any of these photographs. It was important to protect the family’s identity. If you read my book, you’ll understand why.

When I sent the interior galley of French Illusions to my daughter, she loved the concept as well, but she suggested I change out the pictures introducing the rest of the parts in the book. At first, this seemed daunting, but I persevered. I’m glad I did. Below you’ll find an excerpt from my story that describes the photo introducing “Part Two, Venturing Out of Songais.”

            Rural landscapes disappeared, and we entered the city across a large bridge spanning the Loire.
            “This is the Woodrow Wilson Bridge,” Madame said, glancing my way. “During World War I, the United States Air Force had a strong military presence in Tours, and many people esteemed their efforts. When the town built the bridge in 1918, they named it in honor of the American president. The locals now prefer to call it the Pont de Pierre. That means stone bridge.”

My next post will cover the pictures in Parts Three and Four, so stay tuned…

It really doesn’t matter what kind of diary, or journal, you choose to take with you, just make sure it has plenty of space to recount a busy day on the road. There are lots of different options available today. Some people may choose to journal their trip on a computer or smart phone.  Trip Journal, for example is a highly rated app for iphone, Android, and Facebook. Rated #1 by Google, Trip Journal allows the user to track, record, document and share travel data with friends and family. If you prefer the old-fashioned method of recording a trip by hand, Real Simple has a great selection of travel journals priced from $10 to $80. One of these journals, allows the traveler to plot their route across a map on the front of the cover. Another contains an envelope to store mementos.

The main thing is, take your journal with you and try to write in it every day (or every few days). You might ask yourself, “How will I find time for that?” Often, the opportunity will present itself while you’re traveling on a plane or train. It only takes a few minutes to jot down or record the events of the day. When I traveled back to France in 2001 with my family, I kept a journal, and this approach worked well for me. Make sure to include the date, the names of places you visited, restaurants you dined at and people you met. By all means, chronicle unusual events.

Have I convinced you? I hope so. Below is the opening entry from the diary I took with me to France when I was twenty-one years old. It’s dated August 22, 1979.

“Since a person does not take a trip to Europe everyday, I have decided to keep track of the time I spend in this foreign land. I have written not only feelings, experiences, and hopes; but informational data that many someday be useful upon my return to the U.S.A. This journal shall surely be a reminder of the good times along with the bad.”