About my writing : I am French-Canadian. I'm a French speaker living in the suburbs of Montreal, in the province of Quebec.

English is my second language. I learned to speak and understand it at a very young age, but only started actually reading novels in English when I was about 20. I've been writing bits and pieces over the past few years without actually getting a grip on a particular story. I write in both English and French; you might be interested to know that both languages have their pros and cons when it comes to writing. For instance, I find it easier to describe characters, places and things in English, but am more comfortable in French to describe sensations and feelings. That explains why my writing style in English is so descriptive, but also makes it a bit more challenging, to write intimate scenes or emotions. 

Translating French thoughts into English writing is a complex process. French and English syntax and grammar could hardly be more different, and it's not as easy as simply translating words. My biggest weakness lays in idioms and expressions: they usually can't be translated. Whenever I come across something that I have never seen before in English, I need to research it. It makes the writing and editing process much longer than it would, probably, for a writer whose natural language is English.

I am also a mother of two young boys, and a French teacher in secondary school. It takes a lot of my time, but I try to keep an hour or two at the end of the day to relax and write. It's my escape, and it's such a thrill to read your comments!

Enjoy!

Cover picture for Factors of Change : 
© Emmanuel Huybrechts, July 2009. 
http://blog.hibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Montreal_Skyline.jpg, found sept. 25 2014.