Summer Reading * WIN * Ma Folie Francaise

While we are officially on hols until Friday 17th Jan, NOW is the perfect time for you to curl up with a good book. So, we are thrilled to announce our summer reading competition that gives you the chance to win a signed copy of Australian author Marisa Raoul’s wonderful holiday read Ma Folie Française.

I first met the decidedly talented and equally beautiful Marisa Raoul in 2009 at the Reader’s Feast Writers at the Convent Festival, which is held annually at the Abbotsford Convent. In my role as Chair, Marisa was one of three authors I had the enormous pleasure of interviewing in front of an admiring audience. Ma Folie Française is a delightful Memoir in which Marisa skillfully recounts how she fell in love with a Frenchman, Jean, moved to south-west France, converted a mediaeval stone cottage into a B&B and unintentionally stayed for a decade. “I once lived in a place far, far away. A land where ‘les folies’ were a regular and standard occurrence. Where each day presented new challenges and endless temptations sought to ruin me” – Marisa Raoul, Ma Folie Française. You can read more of Marisa’s love of country life in her interview below.

To WIN a signed copy of Marisa’s gorgeous work Ma Folie Française, tell us in 25 words or less why you would love to live in rural France. Marisa has very generously offered to judge the winning entry* so sharpen your virtual pencils & email your entry along with your name, postal address + contact phone number to: danielle@thecountryphiles.com. Entries close 5pm Monday 6th January and the winner will be announced Friday 10th January 2014 via The Countryphiles blog + Facebook page. Enjoy + happy writing! x

Photo: Julie Adams Photography

Photo: Julie Adams Photography

You are an author, poet and lyricist. How inspiring! Tell us a little bit about your background – what path led you to where you are now?

I started writing as a very young girl. I was obsessed with poetry as a child and wrote many poems that I read now with great surprise. The words seemed to have been written by a mature woman and I laugh at how I managed to express myself in such a mature fashion at such a young age. I suppose my imagination worked way beyond my years and I believe my creative streak was an inherited trait from my mother’s family, who have always been involved in the arts.

You live in Sydney but you have travelled extensively & lived in many places including provincial/country France for 10 years. Tell us about French country life?

I moved to rural France after a major illness and wanted nothing more than to find a place that would offer me a gentle, clean and stress free existence. I had always loved France and Italy, having travelled there as a young girl with my parents. I could have never dreamed that my life would become so perfect living in a tiny French village but it was.

I loved every aspect of life there…the gentle pace of daily life, the fresh organic produce available, the pure mountain air, the café society, the friendships I forged and my wonderful bed and breakfast business which flourished with every passing year.

Is there anywhere in country Australia you think is akin to provincial France? Do you miss the country life?

I believe I found many similarities between French rural life and the years I spent living in South Eastern Tasmania. Tasmania has a magic about it and has held tight to its history, whether it be British or French. There is also a great similarity in the nature of the place, such wonderful countryside and fantastic local produce and wine. The lifestyle I achieved in Tasmania was the closest in comparison to my French life, whilst living in Australia.

Your writing seems effortless. Can you give us a little insight into your creative process?

I have always written as I speak. In other words, I just let the words flow. I have been told that my writing style is very intimate and perhaps that stems from this conversational style. My wish is that the reader feels present with me. That they find themselves in my shoes, living the story with me. I have always written my books in what I call little episodes, as I feel more comfortable recounting different events in my life as little mini stories in themselves. I hope it works for the reader as well as it does for me.

Where or who or what do you draw your inspiration from for your works?

Until now, all my stories have been based on my own life experiences. I love to share my own dreams, adventures and life lessons with others so this works well for me. I am inspired by the people I meet, the places I have been fortunate enough to visit or live in and the wonderful richness of life itself.

In my ” yet to be published” children’s books, I have let my inner child run wild and gone a bit crazy but my characters, who are either humanised animals or young children, travel constantly throughout the stories, so a little bit of me definitely resides within them.

What does a typical day in the life of ‘author’ Marisa Raoul look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?

It’s hard to say what a typical day in my life is like as I am forever moving, challenging myself and searching for the next story or project I can attack.

I have a very busy mind and I love nothing more than to be working on several projects all at once. Of course, if I’m in writing mode, I manage to switch off to the outside world and lose myself within my words. If there is any typical pattern to my day, I would have to say that I always read my emails first thing each morning and often chat to my friends in Italy or France early each morning, just before they go to bed. For me that’s the perfect way to start the day and it always puts me in a good mood.

When I am writing, I start after a relaxed breakfast and make sure I am sitting in a quiet, comfortable place where I won’t be disturbed. I don’t like outside stimulation of any kind when I’m writing and I often forget to eat and drink during the day. Often around 3pm I’ll realise all of a sudden how very thirsty I am. I love that feeling of being lost in my world where nothing but wonderful words exist. Its so peaceful and comforting there.

I often finish my day with a swim which releases the tension of being seated for so long and just because I love water! I then sit down with a glass of white wine and relax into the evening.

Living in provincial France for 10 years sounds like a dream come true! Do you consider yourself to be a ‘Countryphile’? i.e. Do you love country life? Why?

I was raised in a typical suburb of Sydney and always considered myself a city girl until my first visit to Italy when I was just 15 years old. I’ll always recall my first visit to my cousin’s little villa in the Castelli Romani. He lived amongst the endless vineyards and rolling green hills which surround Rome. I remember walking amongst the vines and feeling such a sense of serenity and belonging that has remained with me my entire life. I knew from that moment that I would one day live a life like that.

When we started visiting rural France in the late 80’s I knew that was where I wanted to be. I fell in love with the gentle life and wonderful nature. I became a Countryphile at that time and have never looked back. I am always at my happiest in the country.

When I am in the city I often reminisce about my country existence. I loved making everything myself from produce I had grown myself. I always felt a great sense of satisfaction from the simplest of things. To me, those things make a successful life. If your self esteem is raised through the tiny things you achieve each day, is that not success? I believe it is and that’s why I love the simpler life in the country.

What was the most CHALLENGING aspect of living in the French countryside?

The most difficult thing about settling into French rural life would have been the language barrier in the initial months. People are quite reserved and it was frustrating not being able to converse with them properly to reassure them of my good intentions.

Apart from that, I never found the life there particularly challenging in any way. Everything seemed simpler and easier and the country folk were warm and welcoming regardless of their initial reservations. I find city life far more challenging than country life and a lot more stressful. The country folk in France usually associate challenges with the weather – drought, flood, snow and ice. Your life there can often revolve around what the weather is doing or what phase the moon is in but if that’s a challenge…well bring it on.

Do you visit the country often? Your favourite country café and why?

In most recent years I have spent a lot of time in rural parts of Italy and especially the island of Sardinia which I love. My most recent experiences in rural Australia would have to be my time spent living and returning to my beloved Tasmania.

There is nothing more beautiful than the rolling hills running to meet the great southern ocean. I love that mix and consequently the wonderful produce and wine they produce.

An all time favourite place for me is in the tiny fishing village of Dunalley in the South Eastern corner. This dear little village suffered tremendously during this years forest fires and I was saddened by the loss when I visited in April this year.

In typical country fashion the locals have forged ahead and to my delight my favourite little eatery, the Waterfront Cafe, is better than ever. It resides in the old tuna cannery on the shores of Blackmans Bay with fabulous views beyond to Marion Bay.

The local chefs use only the very best of locally grown or fished produce and everything on the menu is simply delicious. They also offer a wonderful choice of Tasmania wines and great coffee. I would highly recommend a visit there to anyone travelling down the Arthur Highway.

What and where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?

When I visited the Waterfront Cafe in Dunalley a few months ago I enjoyed a fabulous scallop pizza. I suppose it’s the Italian in me that desired the pizza although I’m not one to usually go for “exotic” pizza toppings but in this case I wasn’t disappointed. It was accompanied by a Bream Creek Pinot Grigio, which was to die for.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Having just returned from four fabulous months in Sardinia, my Saturday mornings were spent relaxing over cappuccino and jam-filled cornetti at my local cafe whilst Skyping with my Mum back in Sydney. I can think of no better way to spend a Saturday morning, or for that fact, any morning of the week at a favourite cafe watching the world pass you by.

What ADVICE would you give those dreaming of relocating to provincial France and renovating a stone villa?

For anyone dreaming of making a life altering move to rural France I have a few words of learned wisdom I can share with you.

1. know the language or at least the basics to start with. You will always make friends and impress people much more if you fit in as quickly as possible and make efforts with their language.

2. Do NOT sign on the dotted line until you are absolutely certain of the building’s stability etc. Make friends with a reputable local builder and obtain a building survey.

3. If you are going to restore a historical building you might be subject to special laws and heritage restrictions so make sure you are aware of these first as they can add on a lot of unforeseen costs.

4. Restoring a historical building can also make you eligible to a French government grant and/or also a European community grant so check this with your local council. It can be quite a help with major renovations.

5. Talk to the locals about your plans, even before you make your purchase as they may very well have information that helps you make the right decision. They often have the “inside” knowledge on a building or place that a real estate agent or potential vendor would never disclose.

Famous last words….although I realise through my own experience we tend to make these purchases with our hearts, don’t forget to be practical and try not to make impulse buys. You could live to regret it!

What can we expect NEXT from you in the future?

I was recently blessed with the opportunity to write the lyrics of a modern opera in collaboration with a renowned Italian composer. The opera is based on the true life story of the 18th century poets, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning and I am truly proud and excited about seeing it go into production. I have started working on my third autobiographical manuscript and am planning a coffee table book on the food and culture of Sardinia.

What are you looking FORWARD to and why?

When people ask me, what are you looking forward to? I find it difficult to answer as I have so many ideas, dreams and projects that I wish to complete and achieve that I could talk to you about them until the cows come home!

In simple terms, I love the uncertainty of my life although it frustrates me at times. Does that sound crazy? Probably but the unknown is also very exciting.

What would be your DREAM project?

At this very moment in time, my dearest dream would be to see our opera go global and be performed in opera houses around the planet. I can think of nothing more exciting and satisfying.

I would also love to collaborate with a fabulous photographer like Carla Coulson, whose books I love. I’d love to produce a coffee table book about Sardinia with her as I adore her photographic style. We seem to have a very similar outlook on life and she holds that same extreme passion for France and Italy as I do. I’m sure we’d make a great team!

What do you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of country life?

Sometimes all it takes is just an hour of losing myself amongst my thousands of photos  from France and Italy, to cure me of my nostalgia. I love to cook typical dishes from my French country life for friends when I’m feeling nostalgic. I recently cooked up a French storm for a group of special friends in Sardinia and they were highly impressed. Impressing Italians with French food is a real treat and quite a challenge.

In recent weeks I have spent hours surfing the net for my next potential dream home. I just love jumping on immofrance.com and drooling over all the fabulous country homes and chateaux.

As recently as two weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to spend a week in the wonderful Castelli Romani, just outside of Rome. I was in heaven amongst the vineyards especially seeing it was harvest time and the countryside was buzzing with activity. I attended the fabulous Wine and Grape festival in Lanuvio, where I ate and drank the most delicious of local dishes and wines to the strains of Italian love songs and roman folk songs. The local wines flowed freely on every street corner and the ambience was magical. If I was needing a country “fix” then I was spoilt rotten for choice. Viva Country life!

* Judge’s decision is final. Winner announced via The Countryphile’s Blog & Facebook page on Friday 11 January 2014. No correspondence entered into. This is a game of skill and chance plays no part in it.