Ask the Author: Eric Kirchmann
Answered Questions (4)
Eric Kirchmann
As a new writer, the best thing has been connecting with other like-minded travelers. I have enjoyed interacting with readers, bloggers and bookstagrammers from all over the world. I wrote the book in large part to help others learn from our past mistakes in navigating French culture. Getting reviews and feedback that others have found the book helpful is a joy. It has also been a delight to receive emails from many of the places in France that are featured in the book.
Eric Kirchmann
Given I have a full time (actually two) jobs, I write in my free time. There are definitely days where I can sit down & a whole chapter just flows off my keyboard in an hour and other days where I truly hate the 3-4 sentences I manage to write in the same timeframe. I write for the pleasure of it, so on those tough days, I just leave it alone and come back another day.
Eric Kirchmann
Just go for it! I didn't write Your English is Better Than My French to sell a ton of books. I wrote it to self-actualize and also to help others travelling to France with tips on how to have a great experience. I chose to self-publish because I wanted to maintain artistic control and be involved with each step. Learning how to navigate each task took time and effort. I found a wonderful freelance editor and an amazing book designer online who are mentioned in my acknowledgements (My book designer really nailed the cover art!). Otherwise, I just kept plugging away until I was happy with the finished product. Just seeing the actual published copy was reward enough for all the work. I am no expert, for sure, but would be happy to talk with aspiring writers about my experience.
Eric Kirchmann
I came to this quite organically. We went on a wonderful family vacation when our children were quite young. Several years later, there were details about the trip that none of us could remember. Thus, on our next vacation, I scribbled down notes after each day. I kept those barely legible notes, and we were later able to remember and relive the trip.
On our first big overseas trip to France in 2014, I did the same. When I got home, I decided it would be better to type out the notes. As I did, it sort of turned into a travel narrative. I decided to make that one more autobiographical- adding the story of me and my wife meeting in junior high French class, growing up together, eventually getting married and raising three, now grown, children. I printed a few copies for my family thinking it would be something that could be passed onto future generations. Enjoying the process, I wrote a second, similar travel book about a fabulous trip to Italy in 2018 (also just printing a few family copies).
I wrote Your English is Better Than My French in 2022 after an amazing, three week spring trip to France. I gradually decided to try publishing it. After finding some of the information in blogs about French culture somewhat inaccurate, I added a travel "hacks" section to help others traveling to France learn from our (many!) mistakes. I fought off Imposter Syndrome and self-doubt to put it out there. I have truly been blown away by its reception.
On our first big overseas trip to France in 2014, I did the same. When I got home, I decided it would be better to type out the notes. As I did, it sort of turned into a travel narrative. I decided to make that one more autobiographical- adding the story of me and my wife meeting in junior high French class, growing up together, eventually getting married and raising three, now grown, children. I printed a few copies for my family thinking it would be something that could be passed onto future generations. Enjoying the process, I wrote a second, similar travel book about a fabulous trip to Italy in 2018 (also just printing a few family copies).
I wrote Your English is Better Than My French in 2022 after an amazing, three week spring trip to France. I gradually decided to try publishing it. After finding some of the information in blogs about French culture somewhat inaccurate, I added a travel "hacks" section to help others traveling to France learn from our (many!) mistakes. I fought off Imposter Syndrome and self-doubt to put it out there. I have truly been blown away by its reception.
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