How would you like to spend summers in Australia and then travel to a small village in France to bask in the northern summer during the other half of the year? Well, that’s the current reality of journalist and author Sheryle Bagwell – and in her new memoir, Letter from Provence, she not only documents her French experiences, but also connects to her late mother and the writings of 17th century French writer Madame de Sévigné. In this episode, Sheryle talks about writing the book, resisting her journalistic instincts and her experience publishing it.

00:00 Welcome
03:21 Writing tip: Don’t limit your writing identity
07:01 WIN!: Whispering Rooms by Genki Kawamura & Marie Kondo
08:45 Word of the week: ‘Manel’
10:12 Writer in residence: Sheryle Bagwell
11:04 Sheryle explains her memoir, Letter from Provence
12:30 A homage to her own mother and Madame de Sévigné
15:59 Telling a new story about France and her mother
18:14 Journalism vs memoir writing
20:00 Telling a personal version of events
22:27 The timeline of writing this book
25:16 Editing and shaping the initial draft
26:14 The publishing experience
28:36 The process of writing the book
34:44 The story of three women across time
36:45 Living between two worlds
37:28 The double life is possible
40:40 Future plans for writing
41:32 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook
Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

How would you like to spend summers in Australia and then travel to a small village in France to bask in the northern summer during the other half of the year? Well, that&rsquo;s the current reality of journalist and author Sheryle Bagwell &ndash; and in her new memoir, Letter from Provence, she not only documents her French experiences, but also connects to her late mother and the writings of 17th century French writer Madame de S&eacute;vign&eacute;. In this episode, Sheryle talks about writing the book, resisting her journalistic instincts and her experience publishing it.
00:00 Welcome 03:21 Writing tip: Don&rsquo;t limit your writing identity 07:01 WIN!: Whispering Rooms by Genki Kawamura &amp; Marie Kondo 08:45 Word of the week: &lsquo;Manel&rsquo; 10:12 Writer in residence: Sheryle Bagwell 11:04 Sheryle explains her memoir, Letter from Provence 12:30 A homage to her own mother and Madame de S&eacute;vign&eacute; 15:59 Telling a new story about France and her mother 18:14 Journalism vs memoir writing 20:00 Telling a personal version of events 22:27 The timeline of writing this book 25:16 Editing and shaping the initial draft 26:14 The publishing experience 28:36 The process of writing the book 34:44 The story of three women across time 36:45 Living between two worlds 37:28 The double life is possible 40:40 Future plans for writing 41:32 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-707/">Read the show notes</a>
Connect with Valerie and listeners in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2346749828883788/">the podcast community on Facebook</a> Visit <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> |&nbsp;<a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo – author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre. 

Everything you&rsquo;ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo &ndash;&nbsp;author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers&rsquo; Centre.&nbsp;