Katja Posted January 1, 2018 Share Posted January 1, 2018 Greetings, I am an agented, soon to be traditionally published author seeking help for my novel-in-progress (crime fiction) that takes place in Brittany and involves a British expat and her family. I know Brittany quite well and I'm an expat myself : I first moved to the US as a child, with my family, and then I moved to France as a graduate student. However, I'm afraid I'm lacking the perspective of someone who first moves abroad as an adult. Might there be a reader willing to take a look at the final draft and tell me if the expat experience is described correctly? Needless to say, any help will be greatly appreciated and acknowledged in the book. Best,Katja Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted January 1, 2018 Share Posted January 1, 2018 Do bear in mind that each "expat's" experience is necessarily unique to themselves so I am not sure whether someone on here could usefully say whether your description is "correct". The most the someone can say is whether it's plausible.BTW, you might have opened a can of worms talking about expats as opposed to immigrants. Depends on the day you say it and who is reading and whether they feel like a bit of an argument!Incidentally, I was saying to someone only yesterday that I am an immigrant because, unlike a "typical" expat, I don't have lots of disposable income, do not go back to the UK every so often, do not go to the local English-speaking church or other exclusively English-speaking activities, dine solely with English-speaking hosts, intend to go home after I reach the age of 70/when the grandchildren arrive/to die or be buried there and so on.But, good luck with your book! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katja Posted January 1, 2018 Author Share Posted January 1, 2018 Of course, yes - plausible is what I meant :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katja Posted January 2, 2018 Author Share Posted January 2, 2018 And, for the avoidance of doubt, this is not about "typical " expats, it's about adapting to a new culture, losing the support network, mis-interpreting the locals etc... so immigrant experience is relevant. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnie Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 I think that there is a huge difference between expats who came to France about 20 years or more ago and those who have come in more recent years. It's so much easier now with the internet and social media. One can retain links with UK in terms of online banking and purchases etc. Advice may be obtained from any number of forum sites, help lines etc and in English. I reckon that it was so much tougher in the pre-internet days. Just a thought.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroTrash Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 If it's fiction I really wouldn't worry too much about it. Try to minimise the factual details, people reading crime fiction don't want to read about the nuts and bolts of how France works in any case. As regards "the perspective of someone who first moves abroad as an adult", you only have to read the top few posts on this forum to see how widely different people's perspectives are and how some "expats" refuse to accept other "expats'" views.I'd be happy to take a look if you want (as a published short story writer" but unless there's something that looked at objectively really grates, I'm not sure I could help you a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katja Posted January 2, 2018 Author Share Posted January 2, 2018 Thanks so much to everyone, it means a lot. And a huge thanks to EuroTrash- I'll get in touch via a private message. Warmest wishes to all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 Don't forget to come back and tell us when it is in print and how it is received, will you?[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katja Posted January 2, 2018 Author Share Posted January 2, 2018 absolutely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katja Posted January 3, 2018 Author Share Posted January 3, 2018 HiThe p.m. doesn't appear to be working, I sent you an e-mail. Best,Katja Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Do you mean me, Katja? If so, please try again. PM, AFAIK, works OK but possibly not email.If it's any help, would you like me to PM you and see a) if it reaches you and b)if you can reply? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katja Posted January 3, 2018 Author Share Posted January 3, 2018 Hi Mint,I sent you a p.m.- hope it works!Please let me know. Best Katja Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loiseau Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Do you have to have made a certain number of posts before you can send/receive a pm? Maybe katja has not made enough yet to be able to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Loiseau, can't be that as I got Katja's PM all right.Katja, I have replied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katja Posted January 4, 2018 Author Share Posted January 4, 2018 Thank you to everyone, you have been wonderfully helpful and considerate. The p.m. are working now, all good. Have a lovely day! BestKatja Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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