Q&A by petite anglaise

Q&A

01.02.2008 9:09 ammisc

This almost feels like cheating, and I’d certainly categorise it as lazyblogging. But if Anna can get away with it, why the heck not… Plus, it’s a neat way of dealing with a lot of queries in one place instead of firing off emails or replying to individual comments. (Obviously the questions do not have to be book related.)

So. Ask me a question, and I will answer the first fifty. Everything you (n)ever wanted to know (and that you hadn’t already read here, here or even here…)

Fire away!

I’m posting the answers here.

87 comments »

As someone who also lives outside the UK, I’m interested in knowing whether you see yourself ever moving back or do you think you’ll stay in France for good?

Hazy | 9:17 am
You callin’ me lazy, biatch?

Oh bother, I just used up my question.

anna | 10:03 am
What did you want to ask the boy when you were on holidays?

Jessica | 10:36 am
Is tadpole’s dad aka Mr Frog an Italian born and raised in France who does not speak Italian which is why the wee one is speaks only three languages (English, French and Mandarin)?

May | 10:44 am
Oops! Pardon the typo error. Meant to type “the wee one speaks only three languages (English, French and Mandarin)”

May | 10:46 am
That snapshots thing you have on your site… is it a revenue source for you? Does it make a lot of money? It’s just that it’s a bit annoying to have that ugly window pop up all the time is all

chris | 10:49 am
In a nutshell, how did you learn French?

BlondebutBright | 10:59 am
What was the first purchase or big purchase with your book money?

Vonn Einstein | 11:03 am
Only three languages?

Apologies! (red faced and hanging my head down in shame)

That came out wrong. Let’s see if I can redeem myself.

What I really meant was three instead of four considering that she has Italian blood coursing through her body.

I admit that “only” really is a bad choice of word. Being proficient in three languages is no mean feat.

May | 11:47 am
Can I ask another one?

What do you miss most about England?

Hazy | 11:55 am
…And, following the MacBook, are you going to buy a bigger flat?

Claire | 12:11 pm
Are there things you wish you had never written about?

Anne | 12:12 pm
In your book are Tadpole and Mr Frog called Tadpole and Mr Frog or do you reveal names?

(I always wonder what Tadpole’s real name is. She looks like an Emilie but only because I know an Emilie of the same age with the same blonde curls! Argghh I’d love to knowwww!)

princesse ecossaise | 12:22 pm
Do you regret getting involved with ‘Lover’?

susie | 12:35 pm
Does Mr Frog have a new significant other?

Ali | 12:56 pm
I totally see myself in your response to n° 5, but as the years go by I personally find that my “grass is greener”, “all things French are better” vision is wearing off!
So, despite the fact that you confirmed that you can’t imagine yourself returing to the UK in the future, and that you still love France - what things DON’T you like about France? (There must be some!)

blondie | 1:38 pm
Do you ever get annoyed/upset when people make a comment on your blog about them not liking the subject or something like that?

cam | 2:15 pm
Is being a woman in France different to being a woman in the UK (eg. in the way people treat you or the way they expect you to behave)? I’m an Australian living in Tokyo, and my version of femininity sometimes seems a world away from the versions I see here.

Bec | 2:15 pm
What is your second book about?

Karen | 2:19 pm
If you could have only one wish in life, what would it be?

Oh, and I’ve got to ask this one, ‘moaner’ or ’screamer’

Steve... | 2:34 pm
May Mrs Albion and I come to your book launch.

Damian | 2:35 pm
which blogs do you read regularly? enidd feels it’s only fair to read everyone who comments on her blog, but then you have five million, zillion readers and enidd has her mum.

enidd | 2:51 pm
Do you see yourself having more children?

Nataliya | 3:10 pm
Are you and the Boy talking matrimony? Does Mr Frog approve of the Boy? Do your parents?

Please pick any one question

Isabella | 3:18 pm
How did you get your job with the English firm (the one that dooced you)? Were you recommended or did you reply to a job advert?

And, was it a hard decision to have Tadpole, or did it just happen? (Not in a bad way, but as in, without causing too much angst)?

Cheers,

Teaperson | 3:32 pm
Does your biological family know about the book?
(Please feel free to weed this one out before moderation if it is too personal)

Lesley | 3:39 pm
How was your first love and how do you feel about him now ?

Oxea | 3:45 pm
With your new foray into writing, did you ever dream of being an author while growing up?

Caffienated Cowgirl | 3:49 pm
what do you miss the most about living in England? (I don’t mean your family or your friends but actual things/accents/ places)

est | 3:56 pm
oups apart from fish and chips then ?

est | 4:03 pm
Whilst the end result of being ‘outed’ has obviously been pretty sweet, do you ever miss the anonymity that came with the early days of the blog?

Emily | 4:06 pm
Do you see yourself writing fiction one day?

Zoe | 4:20 pm
Do you hope your book deal will turn into a movie deal?
If so, who would you want to play YOU?

Victoria | 4:44 pm
Do you think there will be a book tour once PA is realeased?

Leslie | 4:51 pm
After you have fully reveled in the fun (and hard work) of Book #1’s launch, and wrapped up the work on Book #2 — what are your plans next, as a writer? In other words, do you intend to keep on writing, or do you prefer to explore some new direction professionally?

The Bold Soul | 4:55 pm
You became an icon in France about a year ago, when you made the headlines, eolas blog and the “20h”. What can you tell about the evolution of the number of french people connecting to your site? Have you been approached by any labour organization?

David | 4:58 pm
What’s your favourite cheese?

Hywel Mallett | 5:20 pm
Despite reading your wonderful literature, we know surprisingly little about you as a character. How do you think your best friend would describe your personality?

jus d'orange | 5:38 pm
Would you ever consider writing fiction or heading down that path?

Do you plan or structure your posts?

Congratulations on everything You are one of the reasons I was inspired to start blogging this month!

xx

Miss Tery | 5:55 pm
Will you be doing a book signing/promotion in the U.S when it finally releases here?

mindy | 5:56 pm
Fess up. What else did you say about me? No,my real question is what tips do you have for bringing someone up to be bicultural as well as bilingual?

galant colleague? | 5:57 pm
Can you tell us about your first sex experience ?

Severus | 5:58 pm
From some of the posts you receive do you sometimes feel that people are resentful of your ’sudden’ success as a writer? If so how do you feel about it?

sugar007 | 5:59 pm
No 26 beat me to the question. What is the current state of your relationship with your birth parents?

Franca Bollo | 6:02 pm
What was the first thing you remember writing for which you received praise?

Dave of the Lake | 6:09 pm
Ok, here we go…What one thing did you write about in your blog that you wish in hindsight you’d omitted?

Looking forward to reading the book!

kajsa | 6:12 pm
What does Tadpole think about your blog? Does she like seeing stories about herself there, or listening to herself sing? (One question, really. Just expanding on it in sentence 2)

Peg | 6:14 pm
sorry, just realized q#12 is basically mine, so much for imagination. So I’d like a second chance! How late did you got home after our blog meetup in april 2006?

kajsa | 6:16 pm
I cannot find in your blog when you first received offers to do a book. Was it before you were dooced or did the media attention in July 2006 bring you to the attention of the publishing world?

Secondly, what made you decide to not write about the firing in your blog for three months?

Zoe | 6:18 pm
Can you not tell us about your first experience?

Tim | 6:32 pm
From another expat Catherine:
Had you had any other writing published before you started your blog?

Cath | 6:33 pm
Ahem… first *sex* experience?

*Tssk*

Tim | 6:35 pm
What is your writing schedule like, if you have one at all?

Kristen Baumgartner | 6:44 pm
Do you have any hints/tips/words of wisdom for the lesser-known bloggers and aspiring writers among us?

swatt | 7:14 pm
What do you like most about being in Paris from a child-rearing point-of-view? Schools, childcare, etc.? I’m in the US, and have heard so much about France’s perspective toward new and working mothers.

Jenny | 7:47 pm
I know that Europeans have a lot more vacation (holiday) time then Americans. But, you have told us about so many trips, to see Mr. Frog’s family, trips with The Boy, trip to Morocco, hops accross the pond. Are all people in Europe able to travel so frequently, or did you just get a HUGE advance and Doocing settlement?

Lana Wood | 8:52 pm
Neat idea, this question and answer thingy.

Claire | 9:26 pm
Do you think you would ever stop blogging if writing became too time consuming / another reason?

Franglaise | 9:31 pm
Hi,

Can you let me/anybody to have a “search inside” of your book, or copy just a couple of pages to have something to get by till the book arrives? Please

Thanks

pchenge | 9:36 pm
Have you got any pearls of wisdom to pass onto the lesser-known bloggers and as yet unpublished writers among us?

swatt | 9:41 pm
erm, sorry, got carried away with the submit button. I’ll stop now…

swatt | 9:43 pm
Umm, exactly what is the age difference between you and the Boy? Your choice of nomenclature is intriguing.

Liesl | 11:16 pm
Re: your answer to Q45
“paycheck”
!

You’ve been reading too much of the US version of your book, p’tite.

anxious | 11:18 pm
OK people. I’m going to finish these up to n° 63 and then call it a day. Fair, no?

petite | 11:42 pm
Whoops, I missed the fast fifty, hope you will answer anyway. Who are some of your favorite authors and what book(s) are you reading right now? AND do you have a favorite movie?

Small Town Diva | 11:47 pm
Really enjoyed reading this! Thanks for taking the time to answer all those questions!

Stratford Girl | 12:49 am
This is not a question. I would like to say “thank you Petite” for a most enjoyable set of answers (and also to the people who asked such interesting questions).

pierre l | 4:08 am
Just one more sneaky question…

What’s the one question you’re hoping no one will ask?

–paul

Paul Russell | 7:29 am
EEEEK I missed the first fifty, but I’d like to ask anyway: Petite, will you please consider asking your publishers to send a few copies of your book to bookshops in India? Not having a credit card makes it hard for me to get hold of things off Amazon.

Drusilla | 11:45 am
No question, but this is a really good idea for preparing for all the questions you’ll get during your personal appearances at bookshops. Wow, would that i had that sort of foresight.

Otolokowski | 1:17 pm
Love the blog and have done for a while.

With regards to horrible tea in France, have you tried making it in a teapot? I found it made all the difference, even though the teapot left behind in the student flat I lived in for a year looked absolutely disgusting.

R2 | 1:55 pm
Just in case, who would you like as actors and director for the *Petite Anglaise* movie ?

kuri | 8:46 pm
Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!
(Out with the ogre! In with good fortune!)

Have a good Setsubun (節分)!!! （＾_＾）

hana | 10:49 am
what do you do all day? weekday? weekend? do you watch tv?!

kara | 2:03 pm
As #37 got an answer…
Marmite - Love it or hate it?

Hywel Mallett | 2:57 pm
Thoroughly enjoyed your question and answer session. It certainly sounds as though your life is relatively settled at the moment. Do you hope it stays that way or do you miss the excitement of all the past ups and downs?

sablonneuse | 3:45 pm
i really enjoyed reading your answers…and i have to admit, your blog is one of my favorites on the net!

cheri | 4:40 pm
thank you for your answers, as well as links to the other places you have shared information about yourself.

Best wishes, I hope the book does well. A friend of mine–an Englishwoman living in France and blogging away, much like you– turned me onto your blog and I have enjoyed it a lot over the past years. I started reading soon after you started it, and went through your “doocing” with you, and your break up with Mr. Frog, and so on and so on.

I just don’t think you post enough these days! And, I admit that hearing about your work life was pretty interesting. Your current work situation–working alone, at home—has changed the content of your blog quite a bit and it seems narrower to me. You were very good at telling a story about people, places, and things,and I hope you return to that soon. I’ve missed your take on events and people.

Small Town Diva | 7:09 pm
This is not a question and is not meant as an interfering comment into how you write your (excellent) blog, but I was wondering why the “potted petite” section has not been added to since you were suspended from work, when so many (wonderful) things have happened since then…
Could it be because you haven’t finished processing the last year and a half just yet?

happyforyou | 12:24 am
Thanks for sharing so much of yourself.

running thread | 2:05 am
LOVE the responses! Thanks!

Kat | 2:09 am
OMG what have I always wanted to know!!!
Be right back!!!

xox Girl and the City (à Paris)

http://girlandthecity.wordpress.com

Girl and the City | 5:17 am
We’re all still waiting for an answer to the moaner or screamer question.

BundyGil | 12:09 pm
…Have a nice week!

Hanako | 7:43 pm
This is a question regarding Tadpole being half English/half French: I’m an English expat living in the US with 2 little boys & I’m wondering how you keep the English part of Tadpole relevant while you live abroad?

Chris | 8:27 pm
I know I’m way too late, but I’ll ask any way….do you and Tadpole (and the Boy) speak in English or French at home?

Lisa | 9:05 pm
I love your choice of Kate Winslet to play you. Before I heard your speaking voice (lovely by the way) in T.V. interviews, I always imagined her voice while I was reading your posts.

Jennifer B | 6:25 am

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