Author Interview:  Catherine Berry

How would you describe the type of books/genre you write?

• Book: Memoir
• Blog and magazine articles: A mélange of creative fact, observation and reflection.

What motivated you to start writing?

A somewhat forced return to Australia from living in France with my husband and three children. I really wasn’t ready to ‘turn the page’ and writing enabled me to be there without being there.

Tell us the journey you went on to get your books published (e.g. direct on your website, self-published, assisted-publishing, traditional publisher)

I am proudly self-published. In fact, I struggle when I hear or read disparaging comments towards my kind made by those who will only consider a traditional publishing route. I did send my manuscript to a few publishers but, honestly, it was not polished enough to have garnered any attention. I can see that now.

Undeterred – after all, spending 18 months writing is a great motivator to seeing a project through – I read everything that I could regarding how to go it alone. I came across vanity press options and initially thought that they were of interest but am now so grateful that I resisted. I didn’t think that I would sell many copies, so it was a financial decision to do everything myself and not start thousands of dollars behind the eight-ball by employing a vanity press publisher.

What publishing elements do you most enjoy and most like to avoid, and why? (e.g. design, marketing, formatting etc.)

I love the marketing but not the self-promotion. Confused? I found that distancing myself from the writer made the selling easier.

With the hindsight of being a published author, anything you would have done differently?

I would have approached the task of publishing with greater confidence.

What tips or advice would you give an aspiring indie author who is looking to self-publish?

Do it!

Sure, find your group or your team but don’t wait for the time to be just right as it rarely ever is.

What marketing or promotional tools or techniques do you use to reach your readers?

I blog, have a book FaceBook page, have an Instagram account (which I love), write magazine articles (some paid, some unpaid) and keep my nose to the ground for other social media opportunities.

By far, the most successful – and most rewarding – marketing has been my speaking program (libraries, bookstores, book clubs etc). Putting my hand up for these initially took some courage but one gig led to another and then another and finally to the wonderful position of accepting requests to talk.

What impact do you want your books to have on your readers?

My mother-in-law burnt several dinners as she was reading the book. She also told me that she laughed, and she cried, during the reading. Yes, this was my mother-in-law, but she was one of my earliest readers, and when she told me this, I realised that that was what I was hoping for. A reaction. Some emotion. That and encouraging everyone who reads my book to pack up and move across the world.

What’s your book’s elevator pitch or key selling points?

It is set in France. There are not too many people who haven’t, at some point, had a little flirtation with France.

What’s next on your writing journey?

Writing more. I’m sure that a direction will present itself.

About Catherine Berry

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.

Connect with Catherine

• Blog: www.butyouareinfrancemadame.blogspot.com
• Facebook: @butyouareinfrancemadame
• Instagram: @butyouareinfrancemadame
• Website for French holiday rental: www.ourfrenchvillagehouse.com

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