I’ve begun to try to learn a little bit of the French language in preparation a my planned research trip to Provence. Last year I was in Italy for almost 3 months, researching this same book: DISOBEDIENCE. Part of the book is set in Rome and the area around it, part in Provence, and part in Baltimore. I’d been to Rome many times, but never with the same focus, and not having researched a specific timeframe (1880-1920). I’d planned to be in Provence this spring (in time for lavender season), but The Balance is running behind schedule, so I’ve postponed my trip till the fall.
I’m starting with a simple class, just to refamiliarize myself with French vowels and pronunciation. When I was learning Italian, I initially focused on pronunciation and grammar and then moved on to building vocabulary. Having learned some Italian is helpful, since there are many root words shared with French, but they are obviously two different languages. I plan to combine tutoring with software and web-based programs to listen and I’ll get a grammar and a verb book, as well as a dictionary and a phrase book. If my experience in Italy in 2000 is any gauge, I’ll be lost at first, no matter how prepared I think I am.
DISOBEDIENCE is a supernatural thriller I started to write while in Baltimore. That’s where most of the book occurs, but parts are set in other places. This will be my first attempt at writing a book like this. Before DISOBEDIENCE, I plan to complete the first draft of I AM and then to get it ready to publish. My planned book releases are:
The Boy Who Ran 2013 (completed)
The Balance (Book 1) Spring 2015
I AM 2015 Late or Spring 2016
DISOBEDIENCE Early 2017
The Balance (Book 2)
The Balance (Book 3)
I have more books outlined beyond this—we’ll see how my plan goes.
Michael
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