Life Is A Foreign Language

by Rayne E. Golay

After thirty-seven years of her husband's infidelities, Nina has had enough! Wounded she files for divorce, leaves family and native France. She meets Michael with whom she experiences fantastic joy that tuns to agonizing sorrow when he is brutally torn from her. Alone and bereft, she must continue the legacy Michael has left; trust, the awareness that she is strong enough to survive on her own, against all odds.

234 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

CAUTION: My website url seems to have been taken over by some unknown, unauthorized spoofer. I retired from writing in 2015.

My award winning novel THE WOODEN CHAIR, published May 15, 2013 by Untreed Reads Publishing, was reviewed by Kirkus Review: Golay’s…novel examines the tumultuous relationship between a woman and her abusive, alcoholic mother. Winner of the Royal Palm Literary Award, Golay’s story is told in affecting prose. Revealed over the span of decades, it focuses on a few key spans of Leini’s life and the pivotal moments between her and Mira.

When I was very young, my mother used to read to me. As she was done reading “A Thousand and One Nights” my passion was born. I was no more than six years old when my father obtained a library card for me. Believe me, that was one of the happiest days of my childhood. To this day, I read at least three books a week.

In school, I always had high grades in composition and wanted to be a journalist, but my parents had other plans. I got a Masters degree in psychology, was certified as addictions counselor in England after studies in the United States.

Skilled in languages, from the age of fifteen I translated dialogues in Hollywood movies from English into Finnish and Swedish. This, my first paying job, came through my father, who was the Nordic managing director of a prominent American film company.

After graduation, I married, had two children in rapid succession. My then husband was transferred to Geneva, Switzerland, so that’s where we moved with our wonderful children.

In Geneva, I worked in a multinational company as an addictions counselor with responsibilities for all of the company’s European subsidiaries. During this time, I wrote two non-fiction books: one about alcoholism, another about dysfunction in the workplace. I also wrote the script to a 50 minute film on identifying the troubled employee. The film was used within the company as part of an educational program, which I facilitated. In my function, I was a frequent speaker on dependence at conferences and business groups. As I oversaw company sites throughout Europe and the then East Block countries, I’m fortunate to have traveled extensively.

As an avid reader, I’ve read most American, French and Russian classics, modern literature and poetry. It may seem that my books are autobiographical, particularly THE WOODEN CHAIR, but that’s not so. I believe in writing about what I know, so my life has parallels in Leini’s story, but I guess you have to read the book to find out more. The same holds true for my first novel Life Is A Foreign Language.

All my life I’ve longed for the sun and warmth. When opportunity presented itself, I took up residence in Florida. I live here with my partner, my best friend, David, my husband.

At present, I’m editing my third story.

Reviews

[David Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

After dissolution of her marriage, middle aged Nina has emigrated from France to live in southwest Florida. After a fall in her front yard she looks up into the blue eyes of the Michael who is destined to be her new lover. But after the infidelities of her former husband, Nina has trust and self-esteem issues. Michael is a good-hearted man and Nina eventually works through her issues, but life confronts her with a much bigger fall.

[Joanne Tailele · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyable but forgetable