WRITERS ABROAD MAGAZINE: THE THIRD SPACE
From Here…
VANESSA COUCHMAN
What brought you to France, when and from where?
My husband lived in Limoges during the 1970s, before we
met, and loved la vie française. We then spent many holidays in
Southwest France. In 1997, we decided to buy a holiday home
with a view to retiring to France later. However, the more we
thought about it, the more we felt we could move over
immediately. My husband was working as a freelance
management consultant and could live anywhere within
reason. I was in a well-paid but stressful job and approaching
a career crossroads, but I felt I could do what he did. So I left my job and we moved here
from London. It couldn’t be more different!
What are the advantages of living in France for a writer?
I write historical fiction and France is blessed with a fascinating history and culture, as
well as having magnificent countryside and delightful towns and villages. France
provides endless inspiration and is also a country that appeals to many Brits, so there is a
ready-made audience for writing about it.
Has your writing output increased since you came to France?
I have been writing fiction for only six years, so the answer has to be yes! In England, my
jobs involved extensive writing and I now work as a freelance writer for clients. I also
write a blog about life in France, Life on La Lune. I hope to increase my fiction output,
since I’m winding down the paid work. Had I remained in the UK in a full-time job I
might never have taken up writing fiction.
Is there anything you find hard to cope with in France?
I’ve lived here for more than 19 years, so it seems more like home now than England.
However, I wasn’t born here and when we get together with French friends, many of the
cultural references are lost on me – singers, writers, humour, etc. I try to read a lot in
French, but there will always be a cultural gulf. As a published author, there are far fewer
opportunities in France to promote yourself and your work via bookshops, literary
festivals, etc., although more openings are starting to appear.
What impact did France have on you emotionally, sensorally or intel lectually and did
you incorporate this into your writing?
It’s had a huge impact. I’m now much more knowledgeable about French history and
culture and this feeds directly into my writing. Living in France also introduced me to the
island of Corsica, which has been French since 1768, where I set my first novel, The House
at Zaronza. Despite being French, Corsica has its own fascinating history and culture and
15 | November 2016