Today I'm thrilled to be hanging out with Catherine Berry, author of
But you are in France, Madame. Let's dive straight in with the introductions.
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| Photo courtesy of Catherine Berry |
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Catherine was introduced to the French language at
high school in Australia and whilst immediately fascinated with this subject
had no idea that it would guide many of her life choices. With a dearth of Maths teachers at the time
of her high school graduation, she went on to complete a Maths Science degree
imagining that this would be her passport to employment.
In fact, it was her French that led her from
teaching posts in Tasmania to country Victoria, to France as an assistant to
the English teachers at her allocated schools in Grenoble and back to
Melbourne. A Graduate Teaching Diploma, a Graduate Diploma in Educational
Management, a Certificate in TESOL, a Masters in Education and roles in
educational leadership (Head of LOTE, Head of School, Head of Professional
Development) followed. This, alongside her marriage and three children, meant
that her inner Francophile took a back seat for quite some time.
A series of lucky coincidences ultimately led
Catherine, her husband and young family to set out on a French adventure of
their own. ‘But you are in France, Madame’ is this story. After several years
living in France, Catherine returned to Australia, but unable to turn the page
on their French adventure, she and her husband purchased a home in France
(search for Our French Village House in Talloires on the Annecy Lake).
Welcome to The Hippo Catherine. Just from reading your bio I can't wait to chat to find out more about you and your book. Pull up a chair and let's get started.
Did you ever consider writing under a
pseudonym?
My book is a memoir so it would not have made much sense to me to write under a
pseudonym, but I imagine that it would have freed me up to write more openly:
balancing harmony and truth is hard.
Do you often hear from your readers and
what do they say?
All the time… and I love it. In fact, before we left for France from Australia,
I would write ‘teacher’ on my job description. Now, I’m caught between writer,
self-employed and family consultant. Joking aside, I have communicated with
many people from around the world who are either dreaming of doing a major
family move, or those who want to bring France into their lives but are not
quite sure how.
What advice would you give your younger
self?
To trust in myself. I was never the popular kid at school, but I wish that I
hadn’t let that influence what I did and said.
What’s your favourite motivational
phrase?
I deliberately do not have one. In fact, when I see someone’s Instagram
account, or social media, flooded with supposed motivational sayings, I
generally run a mile. Sure, occasionally, I get caught out and laugh loudly at
cute drawings and funny sayings, despite myself. Generally, though, I love it
when people are the motivation, and not just bandying around phrases.
Where did your love of
books/storytelling/reading/writing etc come from?
Growing up in an era when households did not have television, there was one
radio per household and the phone was attached to the wall – and generally in
full earshot of all other family members – meant that escaping into books was
hugely attractive.
If you could spend time with a character
from your book who would it be and why? What would you get up to?
Oh,
I do. Everyday. I’d head straight back to the beginning.
You must have had fun if you want to do it all over again! 😉
You get a brilliant idea/thought/phrase
at an inappropriate moment (eg in the shower or driving) what do you do?
I
have a pen and paper next to the gear stick in the car and my ‘for later’
indecipherable thoughts fill the notes page on my phone. We are always told not
to write down passwords in case our possessions fall into the hands of the
wrong people. It would be fun to watch a crook trying to work out the passwords to
all my accounts from the mumbo-jumbo on my phone.
If you were a superhero what would you
be called, what would your super-power be and what would you wear?
Mum. Flicking bullies into outer space. I’m quite partial to the Wonder Woman
outfit.
That sounds like a good super-power and I think you'd look good in a cape Catherine! 😀
At the collège for a parent-teacher interview, I met
my daughter outside in the courtyard and she showed me up to her classroom. Her
teacher was busy chatting, so we waited patiently in the corridor. When he did
come out, he indicated that the meeting would take place downstairs and headed
off with us in tow.
Before sitting down, I introduced myself using my
first name, and put out my hand to be shaken. He mumbled back his full name as
he took my hand, although I suspect he would have been shocked if I had
actually dared use it. By this stage, I had already understood that teachers
did not expect to be questioned about their practices. Of course, I
did—question him, that is; politely and almost deferentially. There was a
slight pause, as he dipped his head to better digest what he had heard. Then,
with the assurance of a perfect, unarguable answer, he replied, “But you are in
France, Madame”.
Some months before, my husband, three children and I
had casually unzipped and discarded our comfortable Australian lifestyle and
slipped on life in the country of haute couture. On arrival, there was no
celebrity designer waiting for us, ready to pin and fit our new life to us; so
we threw it on and wore it loosely, tightly, uncomfortably, any old how—until
we learned for ourselves how to trim, hem and stitch à la française. This book
is testament to the joyous, but not always easy, journey that we took along the
way.
Our story ‘But you are in France, Madame’ was
written from the heart. If you love France, reading about France, are curious
about the lives of others or are planning your own trip to France, then this
might just be the book for you.
I think this sounds like a wonderful book and being a self-confessed curtain twitcher (please don't judge me!) one that would make for fascinating reading.
You can find out more about Catherine, her book and connect with her using the links below:
Instagram
I'd like to say a big thank you to Catherine for taking the time to stop by and chat with me today. It's been great fun getting to know you and I wish you lots of success with your book and for the future!
