I am madly in love with the French language – so in love with it that I’ve never actually tried to learn the language. Afraid that the mystery and enchantment will disappear the moment I grasp that “vous avez fait un pas dans le poo de chien” means “you stepped in dog poo” and NOT “I love the way you move”…(Anyway, seems I'm not the only one in love with the French. This photo was taken by my dear friend Adele in a Parisian style bar here in Hong Kong. Adele has gone one step further - she can seductively whisper a range of French one-liners!)
What I truly adore is how expressive the French are. Watching a French movie with English subtitles is an absolute blast. It is a multi-sensory feast of hand movements, pouting lips, facial expressions changing at the speed of light and then of course the moodiness of the characters. I love it.
Recently I did a travel-writing course through the YWCA. During the sessions I was seated opposite this woman who appeared to be quite shy, even timid. As we got to know one another we learned that both of us write in our second language. It was during our second session that each of us had to read out a few paragraphs from our homework assignment. When Sophie started reading I felt myself drawn into her words. She was describing a castle that she went to while traveling in Japan and her French accent combined with her movingly descriptive prose gave me goose bumps.
Since then, we try to meet up every now and then to discuss writing. This determined woman’s first children’s book got published earlier this month. My guess is that being married to an Englishman and having to bring up their two children in this “mixed” environment inspired her tremendously while writing and illustrating her book. On each vividly coloured page the story is told in both English and French.
In December I will be having a chat with Sophie about what inspires her. Not only do I hope to post a picture of Sophie in her studio; but also get her to share a short tutorial.
In the meantime if you can’t contain your excitement about this inspirational woman and her book please visit Sophie Paine here
“Are you my mummy? / Es-tu mon papa?”
By Sophie Paine
Be inspired!
