Goodreads asked Eric Kirchmann:

How do you get inspired to write?

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.

flag